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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: Where are the storms? Worst ones are often late [don't stop being very afraid] http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent($('#storyBody/h1:first').text ()), 'delicious','toolbar=no,width=700,height=400'); return false;">del.icio.us Sure, by recent standards, the hurricane season has started a little slowly and government experts slightly trimmed their full-season forecast Thursday. But don't take anything for granted, scientists said. Many seasons that begin sluggishly eventually produce disastrous hurricanes -- anyone remember Hurricane Andrew? -- and end up as above average or even hyperactive overachievers. ''If you look back at some extremely active years, it's not unusual at all for the first hurricane to form on the 15th or 20th of August and then have the season take off,'' said Stanley Goldenberg, a scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hurricane Research Division on Virginia Key. ''The first storm can be the one that clobbers you,'' he said. Example A: Hurricane Able, born Aug. 13, 1950, a year that produced nearly three times as much hurricane activity -- measured by total wind energy -- as a normal year, Goldenberg said. Example B: Hurricane Bonnie, born Aug. 22, 1998, the first hurricane of that year, which ended up with twice the normal amount of hurricane activity. Example C: Hurricane Cleo, born Aug. 21, 1964, again the first hurricane of that season, which produced nearly twice the normal amount of seasonal activity. And, of course, Andrew, which devastated South Miami-Dade on Aug. 24, 1992, as the first named storm of the year -- a Category 5 powerhouse. ''One scary thing about Andrew is how a season can be dead and then, come mid-August or the third week of August, here comes the activity and devastating landfalls,'' Goldenberg said. ``We are just now entering the peak three months of the season.'' Still, let's enjoy the tranquility for as long as we can. On Thursday, government forecasters slightly narrowed their full-season prediction of activity. NOAA forecasters now expect 13 to 16 named storms that grow into seven to nine hurricanes, including three to five that become intense, with winds above 110 mph. Before the six-month season began June 1, they predicted 13 to 17 named storms that become seven to 10 hurricanes, three to five intense. Last week, forecasters from Colorado State University also slightly reduced their full-season prediction. Experts note that full-season predictions tend to be less accurate than real-time ''operational'' forecasts of an actual storm, which are produced by a different team of scientists. So far, the season has produced three tropical storms and no hurricanes, though -- as Goldenberg noted -- the historically most active period is just beginning. Another sobering fact: Even the latest seasonal forecasts suggest above-average activity. ''We remain in an active period,'' said Gerry Bell, NOAA's lead seasonal hurricane forecaster. ``The fact that we've seen no hurricanes so far means absolutely nothing.'' Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest
#1. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#0)
(Edited)
Oooooooo, notice how that chart peaks on Septmber 11. Coincidence? I don't think so. It proves that al-Queefer is going to destroy Amerika. I hope my nearest Freedom & Liberty Camp is ready.
Holy mad cows!!! This is a great insight. I shall be retreating to undisclosed locations between now and then.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
Where is Dr. Neil Frank when we need him?
"A functioning police state needs no police." - William S Burroughs
We don't need anyone to tell us that THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
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