It's over
2008 Hurricane season ends today
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After six months of watching television meteorologists, checking weather Web sites and generally watching the skies, today marks the end of another above-average hurricane season for the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
An average Atlantic hurricane season has 11 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes and two of those becoming major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.
This year, there were 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and five major hurricanes.
That matches what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s forecast called for in the August update — 14 to 18 named storms, seven to 10 hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes of Category 3 status or larger.
“We had no Category 5 (hurricanes) this year, but we had three Category 4 hurricanes,” said Barry Keim, Louisiana state climatologist.
One of those Category 4 hurricanes was Hurricane Gustav. Although not a Category 4 hurricane when it hit Baton Rouge, the storm’s heavy winds caused widespread damage in and around East Baton Rouge Parish.
Keim said more “active than average” hurricane seasons can be expected for the foreseeable future because the long-term cycle of above-average sea temperatures, which started in 1995, continues.
Even though hurricane season 2008 is over, the 2009 season starts in just six months. An early forecast of what to expect next year will be announced by the Colorado State University team on Dec. 9.
An average Atlantic hurricane season has 11 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes and two of those becoming major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.
This year, there were 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and five major hurricanes.
That matches what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s forecast called for in the August update — 14 to 18 named storms, seven to 10 hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes of Category 3 status or larger.
“We had no Category 5 (hurricanes) this year, but we had three Category 4 hurricanes,” said Barry Keim, Louisiana state climatologist.
One of those Category 4 hurricanes was Hurricane Gustav. Although not a Category 4 hurricane when it hit Baton Rouge, the storm’s heavy winds caused widespread damage in and around East Baton Rouge Parish.
Keim said more “active than average” hurricane seasons can be expected for the foreseeable future because the long-term cycle of above-average sea temperatures, which started in 1995, continues.
Even though hurricane season 2008 is over, the 2009 season starts in just six months. An early forecast of what to expect next year will be announced by the Colorado State University team on Dec. 9.
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