3 major hurricanes to hit US this year: AccuWeather

[boise1]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three major hurricanes will strike the United States this year, with the storm-battered Gulf Coast most at risk in June and July, forecaster AccuWeather predicted Monday.

The outlook comes after a record-setting hurricane season in 2005 that devastated New Orleans and other coastal cities along the Gulf, and dealt a heavy blow to the U.S. oil industry that sent energy prices to record highs.

"The 2006 storm season will be a creeping threat," said AccuWeather Chief Forecaster Joe Bastardi. He projected that five hurricanes, three of them with winds over 110 miles per hour, would hit the U.S. coastline.

"Early in the season the Texas Gulf Coast faces the highest likelihood of a hurricane strike, possibly putting Gulf energy production in the line of fire," he said. "As early as July, and through much of the rest of the season, the highest level of risk shifts to the Carolinas."

http://tinyurl.com/s4whl

[Divernan]

1. I place more trust in NOAA than AccuWeather, Santorum's big contributor.

I do not like to see Accuweather promoted on DU. If Accuweather succeeds in its' bribing of Santorum to get their bill passed, our national weather service would not be allowed to provide any weather ifo to the public (for free) which a private weather forecaster is selling. It's a do not compete bill. And I think all US residents and visitors deserve free & instant access to weather forecasts, particularly in light of the severe and sudden weather events which threaten health, safety and property.

[Dead_Parrot]

2. I put more trust in Phantom Powers's magic 8 ball...

It's tricky enough trying to predict where an existing huricane will go, never nimd trying to work out exactly how many there will be and which ones will hit the US. "It will be a bit last last year" is probably the closest you can get.

[phantom power]

7. It's the most cost effective decision-support tool you can buy.

Sure, there are tools that make "better" decisions. But they're so much more expensive! Cost/benefit ratios clearly favor the 8-ball.

[boise1]

6. Sorry, wasn't aware of this when I posted

Pretty appalling -> http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/epaper/2005/04/21/m1a_wx_0421.html

[yellowcanine]

3. Ian't this kind of like saying it will rain sometime in the next 6 weeks?

Don't three major hurricanes hit somewhere on the U.S. nearly EVERY year?

[phantom power]

4. Historically, no. Cat-4 or 5 landfall is uncommon.

Cat-1 or 2 landfalls are more common.

[yellowcanine]

5. Well he said three over 110 mph so that is Cat 3. Not saying 4 or 5

Maybe it isn't a total no brainer but it seems to be a bit of one particulary if he claims success if there are 3 over 100 mph - and knowing Joe Bastardi - he will.

[BadgerKid]

8. Historically, 1/3 of 'canes are Cat.3,4,or 5

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdec.shtml?