The 2010 hurricane season forecast is in (updated)

Image by Flickr user mira d'oubliette

Update May 28:

The National Hurricane Center released an ominous forecast for the 2010 hurrican season on Thursday.

The forecast predicts that the 2010 season may spawn as many as 23 named tropical storms, 8 - 15 hurricanes and up to 7 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher).

"This season could be one of the more active on record," National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration administrator Jane Lubchenco said in a news release. "The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared."

The 2010 government forecast is based on the weakening of El Nino, the warming trend in Pacific tropical waters which created high altitude winds shearing hurricanes in this hemisphere the past few years. Record warm water temperatures also will feed storms crossing the Atlantic this year.

Both The Post and Courier and The State have more on the hurricane forecast.


First reporting:

Colorado State University's 2010 hurricane season forecast is in, and the numbers are looking higher than usual across the board.

The team gave a 69 percent chance a major hurricane will make landfall somewhere on the U.S. coast, compared to a historical average of 52 percent. They also predicted a 45 percent chance that a major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. East Coast; the historical average is 31 percent.

In total, the Colorado State team predicts 15 named storms of at least tropical storm strength, with eight becoming hurricanes and four of those major hurricanes. Charleston has been lucky as of late, but all we can really can do is hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.

Read more in The State.

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