The
National Hurricane Center's forecasters are predicting another
above-normal hurricane season for 2005. Oriental (and Pamlico
County) was pounding by Hurricane Isabel in September 2003 with
massive flooding.
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Hurricane
Isabel hits Oriental in September 2003
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While
2004 did not have a hurricane directly visiting our area, it
was a nerve racking season. Fifteen named hurricanes visited
the east coast, many causing much destruction to Florida. And
almost every one of them had a path that caused nervous eyes
in Pamlico County to keep track of the storms progress.
This year is predicted to be a similar "above-normal"
hurricane season as 2004.
NOAA's prediction for the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season is
for "12 to15 tropical storms, with seven to nine becoming
hurricanes, of which three to five could become major hurricanes"
according to a May 16 NOAA news release. It added "Forecaster
confidence that this will be an active hurricane season is very
high."
Hurricane
Ivan taken Sept. 15, 2004 before slamming into the US Gulf Coast.
Ivan was one of four hurricanes to strike the state of Florida
in 2004. (NOAA photo)
NOAA's
Atlantic hurricane outlook reflects an expected continuation
of above-average activity that began in 1995. Since that time
all but two Atlantic hurricane seasons have been above-normal.
Hurricane season starts on June 1 and ends November 30.
Although
it's too soon to predict where and when a storm may hit land,
NOAA still cautions the public to be prepared.
"Last
year's hurricane season provided a reminder that planning and
preparation for a hurricane do make a difference. Residents
in hurricane vulnerable areas who had a plan, and took individual
responsibility for acting on those plans, faired far better
than those who did not," said Max Mayfield, director of
the NOAA National Hurricane Center.
In contrast
to the Atlantic, a below-normal hurricane season is expected
in the Eastern and Central Pacific.
Beginning
June 1 TownDock.net will again add the Tropical Storm Weather
Center to its online weather pages. The Tropical Storm Weather
Center will include tracking data and images of active storms,
as well as predicted paths from NOAA and other available hurricane
tracking models.
