2011 has been a year of weather extremes thus far, from crippling winter storms to a record number of deadly tornadoes. Flooding rains across the Mississippi River basin have produced record floods with a very high cost in property damage. Now our attention turns to the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season and while we're all hopeful that this hurricane season does not follow the unprecedented year of weather extremes we have witnessed so far, we must all be ready well in advance for any potential tropical system. Advanced preparation will go a long way to make life a little easier for you and your family before a storm arrives, during the storm and after the storm leaves.
Expectations and forecasts for this season are for another year of above normal activity as La Nina (favorable for tropical development) is gradually weakening in the equatorial Pacific. The opposite of El Nino, La Nina features cooler than normal equatorial Pacific waters and this traditionally leads to less wind shear across the tropical basin of the Atlantic. The La Nina event should fade out completely this summer if long term forecasts hold. End result, we would expect a more normalized pattern across the tropical Atlantic to arrive later in the hurricane season. That being said, you should not prepare for the hurricane season based on the forecast number of storms. It only takes one storm to make for a busy season and this is what you and your family need to be prepared for. We all remember 1992 with powerful category 5 Hurricane Andrew as it raked across south Florida. That season produced only 6 named storms. In contrast, 2010 had 19 named storms but impact on Florida and the United States was minimal in comparison.
We hope this 10 News Hurricane Guide will serve you well this Atlantic hurricane season. Inside you'll find valuable information to cover all aspects of storm preparation, a detailed tracking guide featuring tropical facts and figures, plus important supply and medical checklists to ensure you are ready for any storm. Always remember, 10 News meteorologists, your local Weather Authority will be with you through this hurricane season with the latest information and forecasts to keep you ahead of the storm. Feel free to contact any of us if you have questions or comments. Visit our weather webpage at WTSP.com or search the iPhone / Android app store (keyword: WTSPweather) for the latest severe weather information.
Best wishes for a safe season, 10 News Weather Authority