Hurricanes - Reconciling the experts

WeatherStreet.com shows us in a normal to below normal hurricane season. This article states: 2006 Tropical Storm Season Now Below Normal

Part of the reason for the slow season is that tropical western Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are running about normal, if not slightly below normal (see graphic below, which shows SST departures from normal).

In contrast, at the same time last year SSTs in the same region were running well above normal. Part of the reason for the slow season is that tropical western Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are running about normal, if not slightly below normal (see graphic below, which shows SST departures from normal).

Now cut to a Reuters article on the same subject: Atlantic hurricanes could rev up any time They have a different take:

Last year's wildly busy Atlantic hurricane season changed many people's expectations, but it is perfectly normal for the first two or three months of a season to be fairly quiet.

And

So far this year, only three tropical storms have formed -- Alberto, Beryl and Chris. Strong wind shear -- the difference in wind speed and direction at different levels of the atmosphere -- has disrupted some of the tropical weather systems that eventually become cyclones.

And

Max Mayfield, director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, said there are signs of increased activity near the west coast of Africa, source of the troublesome "Cape Verde" hurricanes that grow powerful on their long trip across the Atlantic.

If you read the two articles, one says simply that the oceans are cooler and thus fewer storms. The other never mentions this fact, but says it is wind shear that is clipping the storms before they get started. Of course, the implication is that global warming should be causing more storms, like we told you would happen, but other forces are preventing the storms from forming. But wait… they’re coming… be afraid, be very afraid.

Anyway, how can you reconcile the two articles, and because of the recent Reuters fauxtography scandels, which article do you trust as truth?