Thread: US forecasters upgrades 2011 hurricane outlook

US forecasters upgrades 2011 hurricane outlook
Story Created: Aug 04, 2011 at 10:49 AM America/New_York













MIAMI (AP) - U.S. government forecasters say they're even more confident that this Atlantic hurricane season will be above-average.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters said Thursday that they now expect up to 19 named storms to develop during the hurricane season that ends Nov. 30. They expect seven to 10 of those storms could strengthen into hurricanes.

The lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center in Washington says key climate factors predicted in May continue to support forecasters' expectations for an active season. Those factors include exceptionally warm ocean temperatures and the possible redevelopment of La Niña, a weather phenomenon that reduces wind shear over the Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic.

The six-month Atlantic hurricane season began June 1, but the peak period for hurricanes runs from August through October

Whine! Whine! That's NOT good news.

Hurricanes Followers! We've booked a cruise for November 12th (Oasis ... Western Caribbean) and never have booked one in the fall any earlier than Thanksgiving Week before.

What are our hurricane odds? Honestly, we don't care about any sort of changes in the itinerary. Getting to Florida to get on the ship is our only concern.