Hurricane Activity About to Heat Up?

With us already seven weeks or so into this hurricane season, we haven't had any major storms here in Florida yet. What gives? There's some recent news items about the fact that the season has had a slow start, and how that doesn't really mean anything about how the rest of the season will go.

On the AOL.com homepage last night was a featured story, "Worst of Hurricane Season Still To Come" in which Jim Loney of Reuters reports that, even with our slow start this year, the peak activity is yet to occur. September 10 is the historical peak, with increased activity expected from August 20 through October 14, and according to experts, writes Loney, this year is still expected to be busy.

Some hurricane predictors are backing off a little from their forecasts, but not by much. As Loney's article points out, WSI Corp, a Massachusetts-based provider of weather-driven business solutions, has adjusted their predicted number of storms, from 15 to 14, and the number of predicted hurricanes from 8 to 6, with 3 being Category 3 or higher. They cite a couple of reasons: the Gulf waters are still "relatively cool" and the "lack of an El Nino event". It's interesting to note that WSI's report also predicts a slightly reduced threat to the western Gulf, and an increase in the threat to the eastern Gulf and (yikes) Florida.

So, in the immortal words of Han Solo: "Don't get cocky, kid". Just because we've caught somewhat of a break so far, that is no reason to think that preparation is still not needed. Get ready, folks, cause 'there's squalls out on the Gulf stream...big storm's comin' soon'...(thanks for the tip,JB)...

Regards,
Stormy