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July 20, 2005

Just Another Hurricane Season?

By: Rowan Wolf

Is this just another hurricane season? I think not. We just had the fifth named storm - a record for a season that has started early. I heard a climatologist from the National Weather Service remark that "We usually see this strength storms in September." I also heard some other report (I watch The Weather Channel a lot) say that the early and strong storm season was not a symptom of global warming. Excuse me?

My understanding is that hurricanes are caused by warm ocean temperatures. The reason the season generally starts later is because the water isn't warm enough. The reason that strong storms occur towards the end of the "season" is because that is when the ocean in the mid-southern Atlantic is the warmest. If we are having end of the season storms starting in June and firing off at a rapid rate, it seems that the water is warmer earlier - that is definitely an affect of global warming.

Further, if the water is warm enough to be spawning severe storms in June and early July, what happens at the end of the season? Dennis was a (low) Category 4 hurricane but quick slowing brought it down to a 3. Emily was a high 4 that dropped to a 3. At this rate, it seems highly likely that at least several Category 4 and 5 hurricanes are going to make landfall this season. They are predicting 20 named storms for this season. Contrast this to the June 1, 2005, Colorado State University prediction of around 170% of the average seasonal activity, or 15 named storms and 8 hurricanes. AccuWeather had an article on May 16, 2005 - Above Average Number of Hurricanes To Hit U.S. Mainland in 2005. What is the average? Roughly eight with two to three being significant. It is now the middle of July, and we have had five. Above average indeed.

The number of storms has been increasing steadily. Can they really write it off as a fluke forever?

Posted by Rowan at July 20, 2005 10:54 AM Category: Global Warming

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Comments

No Carribean cruises for me in the near future. By the time I actually have the interest and the money, all of those islands and possibly parts of Florida, Louisiana and the other southern coastline states will be submerged. All that melting glacial water has to go somewhere.

Posted by: Shawna at July 22, 2005 9:21 AM