Everything about the Atlantic hurricane season was big -- lots of powerful storms that spawned hundreds of deadly tornadoes, many deaths, an unprecedented onslaught on Florida, a huge damage toll and millions evacuated.
[...]
By the numbers, the 2004 season has produced 15 storms, nine of them hurricanes. Six were "major" hurricanes with sustained winds of more than 110 mph.
[...]
In the Caribbean, Grenada, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic and Haiti sustained serious losses. Ivan damaged 90 percent of Grenada's housing stock, and Jeanne, as a tropical storm, spawned floods that killed about 3,000 people in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas.
[...]
The last decade brought more Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes than any 10-year period in history. That trend could continue for another two or three decades, officials said.
Two or three decades? Don't count on it. These are permanent results of global climate change. It'll only get worse over time. Mark my words.
Next year's Atlantic hurricane season will again be more active than usual but is unlikely to be a repeat of this year's disaster, a noted storm forecaster said on Friday.
On the heels of the most-destructive season in more than a decade, Colorado State University professor William Gray said the 2005 season will produce 11 tropical storms and hurricanes, slightly more than the average but four less than last year.
[...]
Of the 15 tropical storms in the 2004 Atlantic season, nine developed into hurricanes. Six of those were major hurricanes, with sustained winds of more than 110 mph.
I call BULLoney. Forecasters are about as accurate as Madame Mooshka Future Seers.
Two or three decades? Don't count on it. These are permanent results of global climate change. It'll only get worse over time. Mark my words.
11-30-2004 11:05 PM
