Days before the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane season on June 1, the National Hurricane Center reported that it is currently tracking its first storm -- an unnamed tropical depression -- for 2009.

Unlikely to make landfall due to its northeastern course, the tropical depression is situated offshore the Atlantic Coast.

Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that its forecasters are projecting a season with "near-normal activity," with fewer storms than last year.

In line with forecasters at Colorado State University, NOAA sees a 70% chance of nine to 14 storms in 2009, four to seven of which could intensify into hurricanes.