| The awesome destructive force of Hurricane | | | | The above information, and much more, will be |
| Katrina, in 2005, has re-awakened the world to | | | | used by Federal, State and local governments to |
| what a powerful hurricane can do, in the wrong | | | | help anticipate their needs for 2007, so that they |
| place at the wrong time. The year 2007 could | | | | can respond adequately to the increased risks |
| produce more of the same, with increased | | | | that are faced by all the States that border the |
| Hurricane activity forecasted for the Atlantic | | | | Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. |
| Ocean producing more Hurricanes than normal, | | | | Individual citizens should also take precautions, as |
| and with a higher strike probability on the U.S. | | | | the hurricane season nears, to protect their lives |
| coastline. | | | | and property. By remaining vigilant during the |
| The Tropical Meteorology Project, at Colorado | | | | hurricane season (1 June to 30 November) and |
| State University is the entity that produces our | | | | taking prudent action when a Hurricane Watch or |
| most reliable, and most widely used hurricane | | | | Hurricane Warning is issued, citizens can do much |
| forecasts. Each year, for the past 24 years, Dr. | | | | to protect themselves and their loved ones from |
| William Gray and Doctorate Candidate Phil | | | | the type of destruction and loss that the victims |
| Klotzbach study worldwide weather trends, and | | | | of Hurricane Katrina suffered, and are still trying |
| past activity, and then apply sophisticated | | | | to fully recover from, today. |
| computer modeling to attempt to forecast what | | | | There are many ways to keep informed of |
| we can expect in the upcoming year. Their | | | | hurricane activity; the author of this article has |
| forecasts have historically been surprisingly | | | | created a website ( that is designed to be of |
| accurate, given the difficult nature of the subject. | | | | effective help in all aspects hurricane awareness: it |
| What they tell us for 2007 should serve as a | | | | provides complete and current worldwide |
| warning, far in advance of the actual need. | | | | hurricane tracking, weather radar, tracking maps, |
| For example, during the last century, the | | | | current hurricane watches and warnings, |
| probability of a major hurricane (category 3, 4, or | | | | multimedia and much more, for all hurricanes and |
| 5) striking somewhere on the U.S. coastline in any | | | | tropical storms. In addition it also provides an email |
| particular year has been 52%; in 2007 that | | | | notification service, to notify you by email when |
| probability climbs to 64%. | | | | any hurricane watch or hurricane warning is |
| Also, during the period 1950-2000, there were on | | | | issued, so you will never be caught off-guard. |
| average 5.9 hurricanes per year, in 2007 we can | | | | As the hurricane season of 2007 draws near, and |
| expect 7 hurricanes, an ominous increase. | | | | threatens to be very intense, we can at least |
| During the same period of 1950-2000, there were | | | | take heed of the warning. If past history is any |
| on average 9.6 "named storms" (which are | | | | indication of future performance, our government |
| tropical storms and/or hurricanes), in 2007 we can | | | | agencies will be hard pressed to deal with a |
| expect 14. | | | | large-scale disaster. So, individually we should |
| Finally, the Atlantic basin Net Tropical Cyclone | | | | ensure that we are ready for whatever may |
| (NTC) activity in 2007 is forecasted to be about | | | | come. |
| 140 percent of the long-term average. | | | | |