Good News!
The current spate of increased hurricane activity will only last another 20 years!
Gee, it's a good thing we didn't put all our oil refineries in the Gulf...
Gee, it's a good thing we didn't put all our oil refineries in the Gulf...
posted by Management at 12:51 AM
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NHC head says hurricane activity to stay elevated
by Mark A. Hofmann
Posted on Sept. 21, 2005 12:04 PM CST
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WASHINGTON—The current period of above-average hurricane activity could last another 20 years or even longer, according to the director of the National Hurricane Center.
"The 1940s through the 1960s experienced an above-average number of major hurricanes, while the 1970s into the mid-1990s averaged fewer hurricanes," said NHC Director Max Mayfield on Tuesday.
"The current period of heightened activity could last another 10 to 20 years or more. This increased activity is due to natural cycles of hurricane activity, driven by the Atlantic Ocean itself along with the atmosphere above it," he told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction.
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"While we must focus our energy on addressing the impacts of Hurricane Katrina, we also need to look to the future," said Mr. Mayfield.
"Katrina will not be the last major hurricane to a vulnerable area, and New Orleans is not the only location vulnerable to a large disaster from hurricane. Houston/Galveston, Tampa Bay, Southwest Florida, the Florida Keys, Southeast Florida, New York City and Long Island and, believe it or not, New England, are especially vulnerable. And New Orleans remains vulnerable to future hurricanes," he said.
After discussing various aspects of the way the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—of which the NHC is a part—conducts its predictions, Mr. Mayfield made clear that all signs point to continued higher-than-normal hurricane activity for the foreseeable future. He noted that Sept. 20—the day he appeared before the committee—is near the historical peak of the hurricane season.
As of the time of his appearance, 17 tropical storms—nine of which grew into hurricanes, of which four were major hurricanes—had formed during the current hurricane season.
Mr. Mayfield said NOAA currently projects that 18 to 21 tropical storms will form this season, which runs though the end of November.
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