On the Hurricane Front: CO State University Forecasters Predict Busy Season
The Colorado State University (CSU) forecasting team reported that the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season will likely be a busy one with 15 tropical storms, of which eight will turn into hurricanes,
The prediction mirrors what was forecasted by the CSU in April, which called for four of the eight hurricanes to become "major" storms, the most destructive type, with sustained winds of more than 110 miles per hour (177 kph).
The average hurricane season produces roughly 10 tropical storms and six hurricanes.
The CSU forecast said warm Atlantic sea temperatures, along with low pressure at the ocean's surface and low levels of vertical wind shear, would contribute to an above-average season. Hurricanes draw energy from warm water, while vertical wind shear, a difference in wind speeds at different altitudes, can disrupt nascent storms.
"Conditions in the tropical Atlantic look quite favorable for an active hurricane season," lead forecaster Phil Klotzbach said in a statement.
The official six-month Atlantic hurricane season began on Sunday. The first cyclone of the year, Tropical Storm Arthur, formed a day earlier off the coast of Belize and moved quickly inland.
Published on June 3, 2008
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