Didn't the hurricane season just end, you may rightfully ask yourself.
It did, on Nov. 30, but today the Colorado State University forecast team issued its 2008 outlook, and they say it is highly unlikely to be as kind to U.S. taxpayers as the 2007 season.
For the season that begins June 1, 2008 and ends Nov. 30, they foresee a total of 13 named storms, or one fewer than this season’s. To get a name, a storm has to have winds of 39 m.p.h. or better.
The forecasters, Philip Klotzbach and William M. Gray, warn of a high likelihood that at least one major hurricane, with winds of 111 m.p.h. or better, will make U.S. landfall -- something that did not happen this year.
Loyal readers (see "Hurricane Season, Post Mortem" below) may recall that the 2007 season left an early Christmas present for U.S. taxpayers. Not a single major disaster was declared for a hurricane this fiscal year, according to Ashley Small, spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Scroll back to 2005, the year of Katrina, and FEMA committed $37.8 billion to clean up for hurricane disasters.
Comments (3)
Where is Larry Kanes Blog?
Posted by ed | December 7, 2007 9:04 PM
Posted on December 7, 2007 21:04
O.K. folks,, I guess these guys need another 15 minutes ..This report is silly, coming out on Dec 7th. The least they could do is wait until May 1st, then they wouldn't have to keep changing the numbers. Anybody hear of the boy who cried wolf?
Posted by steve | December 8, 2007 4:36 AM
Posted on December 8, 2007 04:36
There's a big market (energy) that is moved indirectly on Dr. Gray's forecasts. Even though the forecasts aren't directly marketed or sold to the energy sector it does give traders -- and meteorologists in the energy sector -- an idea of what may be forthcoming.
Posted by Tom, Phillyweather.net | December 10, 2007 10:13 AM
Posted on December 10, 2007 10:13