Hurricane predictions released


BALTIMORE (December 8, 2005) ­
The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season may not be as
volatile as 2005, according to the newest
predictions from hurricane expert Dr. William Gray.


Gray and fellow University of Colorado researcher
Philip Klotzbach released an initial forecast for
the 2006 season earlier this week, calling for 17
named storms and nine hurricanes - five of which will be intense.

Last week the National Hurricane Center (NHC)
released its 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
summary, noting that the season was
record-breaking on several levels. The 2005
season had 26 named storms with 13 hurricanes -
seven of which became intense hurricanes. The
first two numbers broke old records of 21 and 12,
respectively. The 2005 season was also the first
time since 1851 that three cateogory five storms occurred within one
season.

The number of hurricanes in the 2005 season may
also change. Researchers often upgrade a storm's
strength after studying the meteorological
details of it after the season. The NHC said the
storms Cindy and Emily may be upgraded after further study.

According to the NHC, had the 2005 hurricane
season been average, there would have been only
11 named storms and six hurricane - two of which would have been
major.

Posted December 8, 2005 9:42 PM - Disaster News Network