Lest we forget.. The Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico & Atlantic are heating up

[SoCalDem]

We're only a few weeks away from the start of Hurricane season.. It's going to be a bumpy ride, all 'round.
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/real-time/wavetrak/sal.html

[Gabi Hayes]

1. What, me worry?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2835309&mesg_id=2835309

[merh]

2. I can assure you

I don't need a reminder x(

[aquart]

3. Angels and ministers of grace defend us.

[Blackhatjack]

4. Those of us on the Atlantic Coast are very worried this year...

With the change in ocean Pacific winds from El Nino to La Nina the projected path of Hurricanes this year is much more likely to strike the Atlantic Coast than pass into the Gulf.

Our national guard is depleted, and we are very vulnerable on our coastline.

We could have a loss of life that far exceeds the storms that hit Florida last year, and no where near enough Guard, equipment and supplies to help those affected.

We are keeping our eyes glued to weather reports throughout the hurricane season.

[tkmorris]

5. Yes it certainly is SoCal

I am glad you brought it up, hurricane season is just around the corner and it is time to make sure you're prepared.

On the other hand, your graphic is of the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), which, while an important component in tropical storm forecasting, is independent of the warmer water temperatures mentioned in your subject line. I really hate to nitpick, but anyone thinking "water temperature" while looking at that pic is going to get mighty confused.

[SoCalDem]

6. Click the link and it shows water vapor etc..

and air currents too.. Since west africa is where they start, I always check that site to see what's up over there :)

[SoCalDem]

7. Here's another I check on.. water surface temps only

http://www.windfinder.com/weather/water_surface_temperature_atlantic_ocean.htm

[Cetacea]

8. Yes, if it reaches 2005 levels it is most certainly bad news. eom.

[Ghost Dog]

11. May be just my imagination but the Gulf Stream/Atlantic Conveyor,

(downward/return leg) judging by these surface temperatures, is looking rather weak (ed. look at the relatively cooler surface water (these are south-flowing 'return' currents) welling up off the Saharan coast)?

I'm in the Canary Islands, so I'll be watching ocean temperatures around here to see if we could get a repeat, or worse, of Tropical Storm Delta that 'grazed' us, causing plenty of damage, two seasons ago.

[joshcryer]

9. I know the Pacific has hurricanes too, is it possible for one to come up and...

...hit Southern California? I think they're called typhoons in the pacific? Anyway, something skirting Baja... up into California... is it possible? (I know these storm systems move from east to west, but what if one was trending north?)

[SoCalDem]

10. they just send us rain.. They slingshot towards Hawaii

instead of hitting California..

I guess fires, mudslides, droughts & eatchquakes are enough for us :) whew!

We sometimes do get powerful winter storms :(