Forecaster raises Atlantic hurricane number

MIAMI (Reuters) – The noted Colorado State University hurricane research team on Wednesday raised the number of tropical storms and hurricanes it expects to form in the upcoming Atlantic storm season.

The team founded by forecasting pioneer Bill Gray increased its outlook by two tropical storms to 15, and by one hurricane to eight, compared with a long-term average of around 10 and six, respectively, for a storm season.


… Based on our latest forecast, the probability of a major hurricane making landfall along the U.S. coastline is 69 percent compared with the last-century average of 52 percent,” said Gray protege Phil Klotzbach, who now leads the CSU team.

“We are calling for a very active hurricane season this year, but not as active as the 2004 and 2005 seasons.”

… The two seasons made financial markets acutely aware of the threat the massive storms pose because of their potentially devastating impact on U.S. and Mexican oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, on commodities like oranges and cotton and on cities and people.

Reuters