2008 Woodie Awards
Do not be caught unprepared this hurricane season
T.R. Risner
Weather Reporter
Issue date: 6/11/07 Section: News
After a quiet 2006 hurricane season that had been forecasted to mirror 2005's active hurricane season, meteorologists fear the public will turn a blind eye to this year's hurricane forecast. El Nino has dissipated and the gates to the Gulf of Mexico are open again for tropical systems.
During the 2006 season, an El Nino surprisingly formed. This is where a portion of the eastern Pacific Ocean becomes warmer than normal. It causes winds in the upper atmosphere to blow stronger than normal from west to east over the Gulf of Mexico, which makes it very difficult for storms to enter or form in the Gulf. The 2007 hurricane season began without an El Nino in sight. This is a cause for concern for hurricane forecasters.
Dr. William Gray's famed Atlantic hurricane forecast predicts 17 named storms, nine of those becoming hurricanes and five being intense or major hurricanes during the 2007 season. The Colorado State University meteorologist forecasts a 49 percent chance of a major Category 3 or above hurricane striking along the Gulf Coast somewhere between the Florida Panhandle and Brownsville, Texas.
He also expects there will be not be an El Nino appearing this year. The atmosphere appears to be setting itself up for an above normal hurricane season once again.
With predictions like the one above, everyone should be prepared for the worst. The most important thing to remember is to prepare early. As the storm approaches all of the following items will be harder to find. Here are some tips and items to help with preparation.
Items to have in a kit before the storm approaches:
- Flashlight and plenty of batteries
- Fresh water, one gallon daily per person and enough for two weeks
- A source of information, battery-powered radio or TV
- A weather radio is also a good source of information
- First-aid kit
- Non-perishable foods, enough for two weeks
- If possible, a generator and extra fuel is always good
Some things to have if you plan to ride out the storm at home include:
During the 2006 season, an El Nino surprisingly formed. This is where a portion of the eastern Pacific Ocean becomes warmer than normal. It causes winds in the upper atmosphere to blow stronger than normal from west to east over the Gulf of Mexico, which makes it very difficult for storms to enter or form in the Gulf. The 2007 hurricane season began without an El Nino in sight. This is a cause for concern for hurricane forecasters.
Dr. William Gray's famed Atlantic hurricane forecast predicts 17 named storms, nine of those becoming hurricanes and five being intense or major hurricanes during the 2007 season. The Colorado State University meteorologist forecasts a 49 percent chance of a major Category 3 or above hurricane striking along the Gulf Coast somewhere between the Florida Panhandle and Brownsville, Texas.
He also expects there will be not be an El Nino appearing this year. The atmosphere appears to be setting itself up for an above normal hurricane season once again.
With predictions like the one above, everyone should be prepared for the worst. The most important thing to remember is to prepare early. As the storm approaches all of the following items will be harder to find. Here are some tips and items to help with preparation.
Items to have in a kit before the storm approaches:
- Flashlight and plenty of batteries
- Fresh water, one gallon daily per person and enough for two weeks
- A source of information, battery-powered radio or TV
- A weather radio is also a good source of information
- First-aid kit
- Non-perishable foods, enough for two weeks
- If possible, a generator and extra fuel is always good
Some things to have if you plan to ride out the storm at home include:
Be the first to comment on this story