Tunderbar - please forgive my laziness. You don't need to look up how
many hurricanes and "major" hurricanes the 2008 seasons has produced,
nor how this compares with the long-term averages. I checked the web
myself.
Sorry - but the numbers just don't support your answer that the number
of Category 4 hurricanes has been "actually, less than the average."
Here are the cites:
======================
(1)
From a NOAA press release, 2006:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2634.htm
On average, the north Atlantic hurricane season produces 11 named
storms, with six becoming hurricanes, including two major hurricanes.
In 2005, the Atlantic hurricane season contained a record 28 storms,
including 15 hurricanes. Seven of these hurricanes were considered
"major," of which a record four hit the United States. "Although NOAA
is not forecasting a repeat of last year's season, the potential for
hurricanes striking the U.S. is high," added Lautenbacher.
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(2)
From a SCIENCE DAILY news story, citing William Gray of Colorado State
University:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0409133718.htm
ScienceDaily (Apr. 10, 2008) The Colorado State University forecast
team upgraded its early season forecast today from the Bahamas Weather
Conference, saying the U.S. Atlantic basin will likely experience a
well above-average hurricane season.
"Current oceanic and atmospheric trends indicate that we will likely
have an active Atlantic basin hurricane season," said William Gray,
who is beginning his 25th year forecasting hurricanes at Colorado
State University.
The team's forecast now anticipates 15 named storms forming in the
Atlantic basin between June 1 and Nov. 30. Eight of the storms are
predicted to become hurricanes, and of those eight, four are expected
to develop into intense or major hurricanes (Saffir/Simpson category
3-4-5) with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.
** Long-term averages are 9.6 named storms, 5.9 hurricanes and 2.3
intense hurricanes per year. ***
*** = emphasis added by J. Fernbach
=================================================
From the National Hurricane Center at
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2008atlan.shtml
This web pages indicates weve seen eight hurricanes so far in 2008,
and 17 named storms. That's more than the averages cited in the
Science Daily story.
2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season
SNIP.
Tropical Storm Arthur PDF MSWord
Hurricane Bertha PDF MSWord
Tropical Storm Cristobal PDF MSWord
Hurricane Dolly
Tropical Storm Edouard
Tropical Storm Fay
Hurricane Gustav
Hurricane Hanna
Hurricane Ike
Tropical Storm Josephine
Hurricane Kyle
Subropical Storm Laura
Tropical Storm Marco
Tropical Storm Nana
Hurricane Omar
Tropical Depression Sixteen
Hurricane Paloma
====================================
(3)
From Wikipedia, 2008 hurricane season:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_At...rricane_season
Wikipedia indicates that there were 5 (FIVE) major hurricanes in
2008 so far, with major being Cat 3 and upwards.
[CF Dr. William Grays forecast of 4 major storms of Category 3 or
greater.]
Three of the Major hurricanes became Category 4 storms, at least
briefly: Gustav, Ike, and Omar (very briefly).
Ironically, one of the "weak" Hurricanes, Hurricane Dolly, reached
only Category 2 intensity, but was the fourth-costliest hurricane in
Texas history, because of the flooding it inflicted on the Galveston/
Houston area.