From today, June 1, until November 20, the Caribbean, including the Dominican Republic, the Gulf of Mexico and eastern United States will have hurricanes on the mind.
And since this year the temperature of the sea water is warmer than usual, the meterologists expect the 2005 hurricane season will be very active.
The two major source of pre-season predicitions are NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the US governments hurricane experts, and TMP (Colorado State Unversity's Tropical Meteorology Project), the project headed by Dr. Gray). Both seem on the same page with respect to their predictions.
NOAA predicts 12-15 named tropical storms; TMP predicts 15
NOAA says there will be 7-9 hurricanes, 3 to 5 of which will be at least Category 3. TMP expects 8 hurricanes, 4 of them being at least category 3. Category 3 are storms with wind strength of 111 to 130 mph and can cause extensive damage. The worst storm, a Category 5, has winds greater than 155 mph and can cause catastrophic damage.
And TMP states that the US mainland and the Caribbean have an above average change of being hit by at least one major hurricane.
The custom is to give the storms the names of people, both male and female. The names we will be hearing about this hurricane season are:
Atlantic storm names for 2005:
Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Jose, Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilma.
As a personal aside, this is the first year in more than 20 that I haven't had a boat moored or anchored in an area where hurricanes were expected. I must say, it is a load off my mind as we begin another hurricane season.
And since this year the temperature of the sea water is warmer than usual, the meterologists expect the 2005 hurricane season will be very active.
The two major source of pre-season predicitions are NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the US governments hurricane experts, and TMP (Colorado State Unversity's Tropical Meteorology Project), the project headed by Dr. Gray). Both seem on the same page with respect to their predictions.
NOAA predicts 12-15 named tropical storms; TMP predicts 15
NOAA says there will be 7-9 hurricanes, 3 to 5 of which will be at least Category 3. TMP expects 8 hurricanes, 4 of them being at least category 3. Category 3 are storms with wind strength of 111 to 130 mph and can cause extensive damage. The worst storm, a Category 5, has winds greater than 155 mph and can cause catastrophic damage.
And TMP states that the US mainland and the Caribbean have an above average change of being hit by at least one major hurricane.
The custom is to give the storms the names of people, both male and female. The names we will be hearing about this hurricane season are:
Atlantic storm names for 2005:
Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Jose, Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilma.
As a personal aside, this is the first year in more than 20 that I haven't had a boat moored or anchored in an area where hurricanes were expected. I must say, it is a load off my mind as we begin another hurricane season.
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