Planalytics sees Active 2008 Hurricane Season
UPDATED: 2:30 pm EDT May 31,
2008
New York (AP) --
Private weather forecaster Planalytics expects a more active Atlantic storm and hurricane activity in 2008 than in the 2007 season, the company said on Friday."We are looking for an active season, with 12 threat periods and up to 16 events, a slightly more active hurricane season than the previous year," the company said in a webcast ahead of the official June 1 start to the season.Planalytics defines a threat period as a meteorological situation that indicates a likely tropical development, which could include an event, or named storm.In 2008, the forecaster expects eight to 11 of the threats to become hurricanes, and three to four of those of turning into intense hurricanes."An active season is projected," said chief forecaster Jim Roullier, adding that the ingredients for an active season were present and expected to continue.Tropical Storm Alma, the first cyclone of the Americas hurricane season, slammed into Nicaragua's Pacific coast on Thursday, killing one person as winds toppled trees and ripped roofs off flimsy homes. But Alma hit land before it could gather enough strength to become a hurricane.
Visit the Planalytics PageIn 2007, the U.S. had only one minor storm and none in 2006 after a very active and deadly 2005 hurricane season where Katrina and Rita decimated the Gulf Coast.Strong storm activity was expected to center on the Western Gulf of Mexico, with less storm activity than normal anticipated in the eastern half of the Gulf, Planalytics said.The Texas coast from Brownsville to Corpus Christi was at risk from two storms beginning in the middle of June to early July. In late August and early September, two more storms could form, the company said.Corpus Christi is home to three oil refineries with a total capacity of 587,000 barrels per day.Below normal storm activity was anticipated in the central Gulf of Mexico to western Florida with most storm activity seen late in the season, from the end of September to early October. The season officially ends November 30.The East Coast was at moderate risk for storms from late July to early August with activity focused in the Carolinas. The threat returns to the region in late August.Planalytics' forecast of 12 to 16 named storms is line with government estimates.Last week, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast 12 to 16 named storms this season, with six to nine becoming hurricanes.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Visit the Planalytics PageIn 2007, the U.S. had only one minor storm and none in 2006 after a very active and deadly 2005 hurricane season where Katrina and Rita decimated the Gulf Coast.Strong storm activity was expected to center on the Western Gulf of Mexico, with less storm activity than normal anticipated in the eastern half of the Gulf, Planalytics said.The Texas coast from Brownsville to Corpus Christi was at risk from two storms beginning in the middle of June to early July. In late August and early September, two more storms could form, the company said.Corpus Christi is home to three oil refineries with a total capacity of 587,000 barrels per day.Below normal storm activity was anticipated in the central Gulf of Mexico to western Florida with most storm activity seen late in the season, from the end of September to early October. The season officially ends November 30.The East Coast was at moderate risk for storms from late July to early August with activity focused in the Carolinas. The threat returns to the region in late August.Planalytics' forecast of 12 to 16 named storms is line with government estimates.Last week, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast 12 to 16 named storms this season, with six to nine becoming hurricanes.Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
