[Bristol-Birds] Active 2010 hurricane season could bring rare birds to NET-SWV region.
- From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Bristol-birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2010 22:01:09 -0400
The coming summer and fall could be an "active to extremely active" hurricane
season in the Atlantic Ocean, U.S. forecasters with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration predicted.
There is a 70 percent chance that three to seven major hurricanes will swirl in
the Atlantic in the six months following the start of the hurricane season on
June 1, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
"If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on
record," said Jane Lubchenco, the under secretary of commerce for oceans and
atmosphere, and NOAA's administrator.
Last year's hurricane season was below average, with only nine named tropical
storms, three of which were hurricanes. The National Hurricane Center said it
was the lowest number of tropical storms for the Atlantic basin since 1997.
Hurricane activity in the mid-Atlantic or Gulf Coast of the US often leads to
rare birds carried into Northeast Tennessee or Southwest Virginia by the
remnants of hurricanes as they pass through our area. South Holston Lake and
the Musicks Campground area has developed a significant reputation due to the
many exciting species found there in the past 10-15 years.
A report released in April by Colorado State University's forecasters William
Gray and Phil Klotzbach also said that this year's hurricane season could be
difficult, but they predicted only 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four
major hurricanes.
A typical season has 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes,
according to NOAA. The hurricane season ends November 30, although later storms
have been known to happen.
The forecast predicts between 14 and 23 storms with top winds of 39 mph or
higher, the threshold for tropical storm status.
It predicts eight to 14 of those will become named hurricanes, with winds
topping 74 mph or higher, and three to seven of those will become major ones,
meaning Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Category 3 storms
have sustained winds of at least 111 mph.
Forecasters have said that El Nino conditions will dissipate by summer and that
unusually warm tropical Atlantic surface temperatures will persist, leading to
favorable conditions for hurricanes to develop and intensify.
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- » [Bristol-Birds] Active 2010 hurricane season could bring rare birds to NET-SWV region. - Wallace Coffey
