WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the 2007 Atlantic
hurricane season officially comes to a close on November 30, NOAA
scientists are carefully reviewing a set of dynamic weather patterns that
yielded lower-than-expected hurricane activity across the Atlantic Basin.
As a result, the United States was largely spared from significant
landfalling storms. However, several noteworthy events took place,
including two back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes hitting Central America
and the rapid near-shore intensification of the single U.S. landfalling
hurricane.
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As a whole, the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season produced a total of 14
named storms, including six hurricanes, two of which became major
hurricanes. NOAA's August update to the seasonal forecast predicted 13 to
16 named storms - of which seven to nine would be hurricanes, including
three to five major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher. An average
season has 11 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes, including two
major hurricanes.
"The 2007 Atlantic hurricane season produced the predicted number of
named storms, but the combined number, duration and intensity of the
hurricanes did not meet expectations," said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead
seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. "The
United States was fortunate this year to have fewer strong hurricanes
develop than predicted. Normally, the climate patterns that were in place
produce an active, volatile hurricane season."
The climate patterns predicted for the 2007 hurricane season - an
ongoing multi-decadal signal (the set of oceanic and atmospheric conditions
that have spawned increased Atlantic hurricane activity since 1995) and La
Nina - produced the expected below-normal hurricane activity over the
eastern and central Pacific regions. However, La Nina's impact over the
Atlantic was weaker than expected, which resulted in stronger upper-level
winds and increased wind shear over the Caribbean Sea during the peak
months of the season (August-October). This limited Atlantic hurricane
formation during that period. NOAA's scientists are investigating possible
climate factors that may have led to this lower-than-expected activity.
All in all, one hurricane, one tropical storm and three tropical
depressions struck the United States: Tropical Depression Barry came ashore
near Tampa Bay, Fla., on June 2; Tropical Depression Erin hit southeast
Texas on August 16 and Tropical Depression Ten came ashore along the
western Florida panhandle on Sept. 21; Tropical Storm Gabrielle hit
east-central North Carolina on Sept. 9, and Hurricane Humberto hit the
upper Texas coast on Sept. 13.
Also this year, the U.S. was reminded of the dangers of inland
flooding. "Texas and Oklahoma experienced deadly flooding when Erin dumped
up to 11 inches of rain. Fresh water flooding is yet another deadly aspect
of tropical cyclones," said Ed Rappaport, acting director of NOAA's
National Hurricane Center.
Other noteworthy statistics of the season include:
-- Eight storms formed in the Atlantic Basin during September - tying
September 2002 for having the most storm formations during any given month.
-- For the first time in recorded history, two Category 5 hurricanes
made landfall in the Atlantic Basin during the same season. Hurricane Dean
hit the Yucatan Peninsula near Costa Maya on Aug. 21 with 165 mph winds,
followed by Hurricane Felix on Sept. 2, near Punta Gorda, Nicaragua, with
160 mph winds.
-- With a central pressure of 906 millibars, Hurricane Dean had the
third lowest pressure at landfall - behind the Labor Day 1935 Hurricane in
the Florida Keys and Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 in Cancun, Mexico. Dean is
also the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic Basin
since Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida in 1992.
-- Hurricane Humberto grew from a tropical depression with top winds of
35 mph into a hurricane with winds of 85 mph within 24 hours - only three
others storms (Celia 1970, Arlene and Flora 1963) intensified faster during
a 24-hour period from below tropical storm strength.
-- NOAA's Climate Prediction Center will release an official summary of
the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season in January 2008. NOAA will announce its
2008 hurricane outlooks for the Atlantic, East Pacific and Central Pacific
in May.
NOAA's Atlantic and East Pacific hurricane outlooks are official
products of its Climate Prediction Center in collaboration with scientists
at the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Research Division and the
Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. NOAA's Central Pacific Outlook is an
official product of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu,
Hawaii, and in collaboration with the Climate Prediction Center.
On the Web:
NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov
NOAA's National Hurricane Center: http://www.hurricanes.gov
NOAA's National Weather Service: http://www.weather.gov
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