Three major US hurricanes could dampen tourism

Ally · 05-18-2006, 02:42 AM

Expect three major hurricanes this year in the US, predicts forecaster AccuWeather.

The storm-battered Gulf Coast will be most at risk in June and July, the forecast said.

The year 2005 set records for hurricanes that devastated New Orleans and other coastal cities.

"The 2006 storm season will be a creeping threat," said AccuWeather chief forecaster Joe Bastardi. He predicted five hurricanes would hit the US coastline.

Early in the season, the Texas Gulf Coast faces the highest likelihood of hurricanes, he said. Through the rest of the season, the Carolinas will have the highest risk.

At the tail-end of the hurricane season, the Northeast and southern Florida could have the most problems, he predicted.

Last year, eight tropical storms landed in the US. Among them was Hurricane Katrina, the costliest storm on record, causing more than $80 billion in damage.

Report by David Wilkening

(TravelMole)

Ally · 05-22-2006, 11:12 AM

The forecast is for another very active season

This year's Atlantic hurricane season will be "above normal", according to the US climate agency.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) predicts there will be 13-16 named storms, four of which will be "major storms".

But it says 2006 will be less active than last year's record-breaking season which saw Hurricane Katrina cause widespread devastation.

The US hurricane season starts on 1 June and lasts until 30 November.

"Noaa is predicting an above normal hurricane season, with 13-16 named storms, of which eight to 10 are predicted to become hurricanes," the agency's administrator, Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, said on Monday.

He said four to six of those hurricanes were predicted to become major storms, reaching category three or above.

"Although we do not anticipate reaching or exceeding last year's extraordinary tally of storms, these forecast numbers exceed the seasonal forecast average," he told reporters at a news conference.

Vice Admiral Lautenbacher said the seasonal average involved 11 named storms, including six hurricanes - two of which go on to be category three or above.

"In many respects, our folks are taking the pulse of the planet and developing the kind of forecasts that will be more accurate and better able to prepare the public in the future."

"Remember, it only takes one hurricane in your neighbourhood to make it a bad season."

(BBC)

Cruise Cat · 05-24-2006, 05:08 AM

Hopefully, Mother Nature will take it easy on us this year!

Ally · 05-24-2006, 05:10 AM

I don't think it will be the case, Chuck. All forcasters are saying its likely to be another rough year, maybe not such intensive storms but certainly more of them.

But as with most things, only time will tell.