Hurricane Season Gets an Early Start
Although the official hurricane season doesn’t officially get started until Monday, June 1, the first tropical depression of the season was declared earlier today. Tropical Depression One lies over the Gulf Stream to the east of Virginia, and may develop into Tropical Storm Ana later tonight or Friday before it dissipates over the weekend. The storm is not expected to affect land.
The Weather Service released its 2009 hurricane season outlook recently, calling for a 50% chance of a normal season, a 25% chance of a below normal season, and a 25% chance of an above normal season. They estimate 9 to 14 named storms, with four to seven hurricanes, and one to three major hurricanes.
Meanwhile, Accuweather’s Joe Bastardi is calling for a lighter than normal hurricane season. He is predicting three storms with tropical force winds to reach the US coast, with possibly two being hurricanes and one being a major hurricane. This compares to eight storms affecting the US coast in 2008, with four hurricanes and no major hurricanes.
Storm names for 2009 are Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Joaquin, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor and Wanda.
Keep up with tropical weather activity this season at our Tropical Center.
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