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EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was
written prior to the formation of Tropical Storm Erin &
Hurricane Dean. These storms will be covered in later
editions of the Jambalaya.
The
Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1st.
However, Mother Nature forgot to look at the calendar with
Subtropical Storm Andrea forming on May 9th off the
Southeastern United States. Tropical Storm Barry formed across the
Southeast Gulf on June 1st, eventually making landfall
near Tampa Bay, Florida, as a borderline tropical storm/tropical
depression. No major damage was reported. However, the East Coast
did benefit from the rainfall it deposited the next couple of days.
What can
we expect for the remainder of the season? Official forecasts from
NOAA calls for a very high likelihood of an above-normal hurricane
season, with 13-15 named storms, 7-10 hurricanes, and 3-5 major
hurricanes. Dr. Bill Gray’s (Colorado State University) forecast is
similar, with 17 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes.
Unlike last year, we will not have an El Niño to inhibit the
formation and maintenance of tropical cyclones across the deep
tropics, but rather neutral conditions similar to what was observed
during the 2003-2005 seasons.
Whatever
the number of storms forecasted, it only takes one storm to
devastate an area. The key is advanced preparation. One way the
National Weather Service in Lake Charles can help you prepare this
year is through the Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas
Hurricane Survival Guide. This guide can be obtained by
clicking here.
For a
Gulf of Mexico Tracking Chart, click
here or
here.
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www.nws.noaa.gov 
