May 31, 2008
Atlantic SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT
AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE...ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF FORMER
EASTERN PACIFIC TROPICAL STORM ALMA...IS CENTERED OVER THE GULF OF
HONDURAS NEAR THE COAST OF NORTHERN BELIZE. THE LOW IS MOVING
SLOWLY WESTWARD...AND THE CENTER IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INLAND OVER
THE YUCATAN PENINSULA DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS. HOWEVER...
SATELLITE IMAGERY AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THIS SYSTEM IS
BECOMING BETTER ORGANIZED...AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM IF
THE CENTER REMAINS OFFSHORE THIS MORNING. EVEN IF NO DEVELOPMENT
OCCURS...LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODS ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE
NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS OVER PORTIONS OF HONDURAS...EL SALVADOR...
GUATELAMALA...BELIZE...AND SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO. FUTURE TROPICAL
DISTURBANCE STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED ON THIS SYSTEM AS NECESSARY.
FOR INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE CONSULT STATEMENTS
FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
Tropical storm misses oil platforms
From the Calgary Herald:
The storm struck Nicaragua's Pacific coast Thursday with winds near 104 kilometres per hour, killing three people as strong gusts toppled trees and power lines and ripped roofs off flimsy homes.
A seven-year-old girl died in Honduras when she was swept away by a current as she tried to cross a raging stream close to the border with Nicaragua, authorities said.
People died in this storm - and the headline is about the oil platforms.
May 30, 2008
Jamaica keeps an eye on Tropical Storm Alma
The Jamaica Gleaner has a story today about Tropical Storm Alma (a Pacific storm) possible bringing a little bit of weather to Jamaica:
The Meteorological Service is, however, advising that Tropical Storm Alma does not present any immediate threat to the island, but the system will continue to produce instability over the central and western Caribbean over the next two days.
As a result, the island is expected to see an increase in cloudiness with periods of showers and thunderstorms, which might be heavy at times.
These conditions are likely to affect most parishes throughout today and Saturday, especially during the afternoons and late evenings.
May 29, 2008
Tropical Storm Alma forms off Central America
Tropical Storm Alma forms off Central America, first of the eastern Pacific season. This a Pacific storm so we will not be covering it closely - our focus here is on the Caribbean region. You can get more info for this storm here: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
May 26, 2008
Travel Insurance for Hurricane Season
The 2008 Hurricane season is almost here. If you are planning travel to the Caribbean region from June to November, it probably is a good idea to look into travel insurance. We have an affiliate program with CSA - you can get a free quote from them on-line right now - and if you purchase insurance it helps to support this site.
Remember - to be covered, you must purchase your travel insurance before a storm is named by the National Hurricane Center, either as a tropical storm or hurricane.
Active hurricane season forecast
The Caymanian Compass is reporting on the possibly strong 2008 Hurricane season:
NOAA, which operates the National Hurricane Center in Miami, predicted between 12 and 16 named storms; six to nine hurricanes; and two to five major hurricanes with winds of at least 111mph. An average hurricane season has 11 named storms including six hurricanes, two of which become major hurricanes.
Gerry Bell, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center's lead seasonal hurricane forecaster said the main factors influencing this year's forecast include the multi-decadal signal and the anticipated lingering effects of La Nina.
The multi-decadal signal is a cyclical combination of oceanic and atmospheric conditions that have increased hurricane activity since 1995.
"One of the expected oceanic conditions is a continuation ... of warmer-than-normal temperatures in the eastern tropical Atlantic," he said.
April 10, 2008
2008 Hurricane Season Will Be "Well Above Average"
We heard the same thing last year, but the experts are again calling for a pretty severe hurricane season. Only time will tell.
Hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University (CSU) predict a "well above average" 2008 hurricane season, with 15 named tropical storms gathering between June 1 and November 30.
March 27, 2008
2008 Atlantic Hurricane Names
Hello everyone - things have been quiet here since the end of the 2007 hurricane season. We are dusting off the furniture and have plans to do some fixing up soon - adding new features, RSS feeds, and perhaps a redesign to the whole hurricane section. As always - we hope it is a quiet one!
Here are the names for the 2008 season:
Arthur
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gustav
Hanna
Ike
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paloma
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred
It would be great to get some more feedback, comments, etc. from all of you this year.