Six hurricanes, including three that will be severe, will occur next year from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, a Colorado State University hurricane forecaster predicted Monday. Although the number is more than the number of hurricanes this year, the total is within the statistical average for the past 45 years, said William Gray, who releases hurricane forecasts every year. In 1992, Gray correctly forecast four hurricanes, including one severe one. He also predicted 15 hurricane days; 15} hurricane days actually occurred. A hurricane day is four six-hour periods when a storm is observed to have hurricane-force winds. "Last season was a strange one, because the only severe hurricane was Andrew, which we all know was a devastating storm," he said. "Overall, 1992 was a statistically inactive year for hurricane activity. But I know people impacted by Andrew will have a hard time thinking 1992 was an inactive year." Gray has forecast 11 named storms for the Atlantic Basin in 1993, including six hurricanes, three of which will be severe. He based the forecast on the direction of equatorial stratospheric winds at two levels, rainfall in West Africa and forecasts for the strength or weakness of the weather phenomenon known as El Nino. Correction The wrong first name was given for Perry Harvey Jr. in the ETC. column Monday.