Category Archives: National Weather

National Weather, Natural Disasters, Thornton Weather

North Metro firefighters head to Arizona; Crews to battle massive wildfire

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North Metro Fire Rescue District's Reserve Engine 4 loaded up for transport to Arizona to battle the Wallow Fire. (North Metro Fire)
North Metro Fire Rescue District's Reserve Engine 4 loaded up for transport to Arizona to battle the Wallow Fire. (North Metro Fire) Click the image to view a slideshow from the massive wildfire.

Four firefighters from North Metro Fire Rescue will be joining nearly 2,000 others from across the nation in battling a monstrous wildfire in Arizona.  In less than two weeks the Wallow Fire has exploded to cover more than 600 square miles and sent smoke as far as the Denver area.

The hometown heroes from North Metro will be taking along a reserve fire engine to help battle the blaze.  Two firefighters and a watertender from Eagle River Fire will round out a Colorado contingent of personnel with additional deployments possible.

The fire, believed to have been started by an unattended campfire, has burned 389,000 acres making it the second largest fire in Arizona history.  It is burning largely in the Apache National Forest in the eastern part of the state and now threatens to cross into New Mexico.

More than 3,000 firefighters from across the nation, 197 engines, 61 watertenders and 16 helicopters and a number of aerial tankers were battling the blaze as of this morning.  Personnel and equipment continue to pour into the area.

Below is the latest on the blaze from Inciweb.  For more coverage of the fire, visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

Wallow Fire Update

For Immediate Release: June 9, 2011 9:00 a.m.

Fire Information: 928-333-3412 (Daily from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)

Slideshow: Firefighters from across the nation battle Arizona's Wallow FireWebsite Info: www.inciweb.org Twitter: www.twitter.com/AS NF

Flickr (photos): www.flickr.com/apachesitgreavesnf

Date Started: 5/29/2011

Number of Personnel: Approximately 3,012

Location: south and west of Alpine, Arizona

Including 24 hotshot crews and 79 handcrews

Cause: Human – under investigation

Equipment: 18 dozers, 197 engines, 61 watertenders

Size: 348,235 acres based on last night’s infared flight

Aircraft: 16 helicopters

Percent Contained: 0%

Injuries to Date: 3 minor injuries

Structures:

4,018 threatened; 1 damaged; 16 lost

Area Command Team 3 (Jim Loach, Area Commander) is now managing the Wallow Fire

Media should call 480-331-9554 to coordinate interviews.

There will be media briefings today at 10am and 9pm at the Rest Stop on Hwy 60, north of Springerville.

Current Evacuations

· Full evacuation of Eagar and Springerville. The evacuations were ordered by the Apache County Sheriff’s Office about 4:00 p.m. on June 8.

· Sunrise, Greer, Blue River, Alpine, Nutrioso, and the following subdivisions along highways 180/191: Escudilla Mountain Estates, Bonita, White Mtn. Acres, and the H-V Ranch. This area includes County Road (CR) 4000, CR 4001, and CR 4225.

· The evacuation center is located at Blue Ridge High School, 1200 W. White Mtn. Blvd., Pinetop-Lakeside.

Pre-Evacuation Alert

  • A pre-evacuation alert has been issued by Apache County for Greens Peak, Hidden Meadow and the surrounding areas.

· A pre-evacuation alert has been issued by Catron County Sheriff’s Office for Luna, New Mexico.

  • Residents in the communities affected by this fire are asked to remain prepared in the event an evacuation order is needed.

Residents with livestock or animals that need care should contact the Apache County Sheriff’s Office (928) 337-4321 or the Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office (928) 865-4149.

Road Closures

· The Arizona Department of Transportation reminds motorists traveling that the following closures on state highways remain in effect:

-more-

· Nearly 20 miles of U.S. 60 has been closed from Springerville to the New Mexico state line due

· to the Wallow Fire in eastern Arizona. This closure stretches from milepost 384 to 401.

· State Route 260 is closed in both directions east of the Hawley Lake turnoff (State Route 473 junction) and Eagar. SR 260 is closed between mileposts 372-398 near Eagar.

· State Route 373, a 4.5 mile-long highway that connects the town of Greer in eastern Arizona with SR 260 west of Eagar, is closed.

· U.S. 191 is closed between Alpine and north of Clifton (mileposts 176-253).

· State routes 261 and 273, the main access roads to Big Lake and Crescent Lake in the White Mountains, are closed. SR 261 is closed starting approximately seven miles south of SR 260 to Crescent Lake (mileposts 395-413) and SR 273 is closed between the SR 260 junction and to the SR 261 junction (mileposts 378-394).

· U.S. 180 is closed between the SR 260 junction near Eagar and the New Mexico state line (mileposts 403-433).

· For current road conditions , please visit http://www.azdot.gov/

Fire Update

Last night, fire crews concentrated their efforts prepping roads and dozer lines for burnout operations south of Route 851 and Circle Flat area that leads into New Mexico. Fire activity increased on the west side of the fire towards the communities of Greer and Eagar due to high wind and low humidity.

Crews are currently stationed at Big Lake to reduce travel times, ensuring firefighter safety. Structural protection is in place in Greer, South Fork, Eagar, Alpine, Nutrioso, and Escudillo Flats. Firefighters will be conducting burnout operations on the northern and eastern portions of the fire to p limit the fire’s spread. Firefighters continue to hold line, mop-up, and patrol other areas of the fire. Creeping, smoldering, and active backing fire with short upslope runs was observed yesterday on the southern portion of fire. Firefighters are constructing indirect line and conducting burnout operations. Today southwest winds of 8-15mph with gusts to 25 mph are expected.

Closures

Due to extreme fire conditions, the Apache National Forest is closed to all public entry. See website for closure order details. Please see the Forest website for more information:http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/.

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Fire Restrictions: A Temporary Emergency Closure Order

was issued effective June 3 at 12:00 p.m. (noon). For more information, please call the Arizona fire restrictions hotline 1-877-864-6985 or visit http://www.publiclands.org/firenews/AZ.php.

Public Information

For Wallow Fire Information, please visit http://www.inciweb.org/, www.twitter.com/AS NF, andwww.flickr.com/apachesitgreavesnf or call (928) 333-3412, (702) 308-3238, (702) 308-3357, or (702) 308-8227. Please let us know if you would like to receive updates via e-mail. Public information officers are also posting information in local communities and the evacuation center located at Blue Ridge High School in Pinetop-Lakeside.

National Weather, Natural Disasters

Stunning satellite imagery shows damage path of deadly EF3 Massachusetts tornado

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The Bay State is not one which is normally associated with tornadoes having only seen 152 twisters in the past 60 years – up until last week.  Massachusetts took a big hit last week though as a massive tornado ripped through the Springfield area killing four people.

Satellite imagery released by the USGS and NASA (below) shows the scar the EF3 tornado left on the earth as it ripped a path 39 miles long.  The image taken by Landsat shows the path of the half-mile wide tornado as it cut through Sturbridge and beyond.

The twister first touched down near Westfield and then moved into Springfield after crossing the Connecticut River.  Both areas saw extensive damage to buildings and homes as the twister moved through.

As it moved east the tornado debarked trees and struck the town of Monson where extensive damage was seen.  It eventually hit Brimfield Sate Forest and then the Southbridge Airport.

When it was done, four people were killed  and 200 injured.  Latest estimates put the damage cost at $90 million making it the most costly natural disaster in the state’s history.

Two smaller, EF1 rated tornadoes also struck nearby on the same day.  One caused a damage path 3.6 miles long and the other 1.3 miles long.

Related:

Image taken by the Landsat satellite on June 5, 2011 showing the damage path from an EF3 tornado that struck Massachusetts on June 1, 2011. (USGS / NASA)
Image taken by the Landsat satellite on June 5, 2011 showing the damage path from an EF3 tornado that struck Massachusetts on June 1, 2011. Click the image for a larger version. (USGS / NASA)
National Weather, Natural Disasters

NOAA releases statistics highlighting devastating April tornado outbreak

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Tornado Tracks: April 24th through the 29th, 2011. (NOAA)
Tornado Tracks: April 24th through the 29th, 2011. (NOAA) Click the image for a larger view.

The devastating tornado outbreak that struck across the southern United States last month continues to be analyzed by the National Weather Service.  At latest county 326 people were killed and as many as 305 tornadoes resulted in in the outbreak.

What follows is NOAA’s latest update on the events:

From NOAA:

NOAA’s preliminary estimate is that there were 305 tornadoes during the entire outbreak from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 25 to 8:00 a.m. April 28, 2011. NWS created a table to provide clearer insight into the preliminary number of tornadoes. Each of the three categories in the table below has different levels of confidence/accuracy.

  • Eyewitness Reports are the least accurate/reliable because long-lived tornadoes like those in this outbreak tend to be reported multiple times. This artificially increases the number of tornadoes.
  • NOAA’s Estimate is based on expert analysis of the Eyewitness Reports compared with the details coming out of the Tornadoes Surveyed by NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFO). It is the statistic NWS uses in public announcements since it is the best estimate at the time. The numbers will change (typically down) as WFOs complete their storm surveys.
  • Tornadoes Surveyed by WFOs is the latest confirmed number of tornadoes surveyed by the National Weather Service.
Preliminary Tornado Data Table
Date Eyewitness Reports NOAA’s Estimate Tornadoes Surveyed by WFOs (to date)
25-26 55 40 25
26-27 111 75 42
27-28 268 190 134
Total: 434 305 201
  • The NWS Storm Prediction Center issued severe weather outlooks five days in advance and tornado watches hours in advance.
  • NWS Weather Forecast Offices issued life-saving tornado warnings, with an average lead-time of 24 minutes. NWS issued warnings for more than 90 percent of these tornadoes.
  • NWS decision support for this event has been extensive. NWS Weather Forecast Offices in the affected areas of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia advertised the potential for severe weather in the Tuesday through Wednesday timeframe since late last week. Local offices provided direct decision support services to meet the specific needs of local emergency manager partners and the general public. NWS Weather Forecast Offices issued Hazardous Weather Outlooks up to six days in advance noting the greater threat of strong, long-track tornadoes was expected.
  • The largest previous number of tornadoes on record in one event occurred from April 3-4, 1974, with 148 tornadoes.
  • NOAA will conduct a detailed analysis of tornado numbers using all available data to make any final determinations about records.  This typically takes months to complete.

There were approximately 326 fatalities during the entire outbreak from April 25 to April 28.

There were approximately 309 fatalities during the 24-hour-period from 8:00 a.m. April 27 to 8:00 a.m. April 28. This is currently the fifth deadliest day of tornadoes on record.

  • The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado during the April 2011 event caused at least 65 fatalities. This tornado had a maximum width of 1.5 miles and a track 80 miles long
    • These are the most fatalities from a single tornado in the United States since May 25, 1955, when 80 people were killed in a tornado in southern Kansas with 75 of those deaths in Udall, Kansas.
    • The deadliest single tornado on record in the United States was the Tri-State tornado (Mo., Ill., Ind.) on March 18, 1925, when 695 died.

According to National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Storm Survey teams, there were 24+ killer tornadoes in six states–Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia–that caused an estimated 326 fatalities.

The National Weather Service Storm Survey teams have upgraded to EF-5 the tornado that hit Neshoba, Kemper, Winston, Noxubee Counties in Mississippi.  The Weather Service has documented three (3) EF-5 tornadoes in this outbreak.

EF-5 Tornado Locations

  • Northern Mississippi/Eastern Arkansas
    • Smithville in Monroe County
  • Mississippi (NEWLY UPGRADED TO EF-5 FROM E-4)
  • Northern/Central Alabama (WFO Birmingham Warning Area):
    • Hackleburg in Marion County

The following are the tornado fatality breakdowns by state:

  • 4 – Arkansas
  • 35 – Mississippi
  • 236 – Alabama
  • 31 – Tennessee
  • 5 – Virginia
  • 15 – Georgia

Note:  All numbers are based on combined NOAA and historical research records and current fatality estimates. The historical research records extend back to 1680.

Ongoing (preliminary) List of Tornadoes by EF Rating (EF0 to EF5):
EF-5 3
EF-4 11
EF-3 21
EF-2 47
EF-1 62
EF-0 57
Total: 201
National Weather, Natural Disasters

The South tries to recover amongst devastation of 2nd deadliest tornado outbreak on record

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Damage from an EF5 tornado that struck Smithville, Miss., on April 27, 2011.
Damage from an EF5 tornado that struck Smithville, Miss., on April 27, 2011. Click the image for a slideshow of the devastation. (NWS)

With entire towns reduced to rubble and damage spread across seven states, people in the southeastern United States began the long task of recovery.  The tornadoes that struck this past week claimed 341 lives and achieved the unwanted status as the 2nd deadliest single-day tornado outbreak in U.S. history.

President Barack Obama toured the devastated city of Tuscaloosa in Alabama yesterday saying, “I have never seen devastation like this. It is heartbreaking.”

The National Weather Service received 211 tornado reports during the outbreak, a number that will be reduced once duplicates are removed.  No matter the number of twisters, the results were nothing short of devastating.

One tornado that struck near Smithville, Mississippi has received an EF-5 rating – the highest possible.  Meteorologists estimate that twister packed winds of 205mph.  A tornado in Georgia was rated an EF-4 and at least five EF-3 tornadoes struck Alabama.  Weather service officials say they expect more twisters could receive the highest rating as they continue their investigation.

With 341 lives confirmed lost and the number expected to continue to grow, the outbreak ranks as the 2nd deadliest single-day outbreak on record.  It surpassed the “Super Outbreak” of 1974 and a 1932 outbreak in the Deep South.

Some are speculating the toll will grow enough for the event to become the worst in history, a truly nightmare scenario.  The Tri-State tornado on March 18, 1925 claimed the lives of 747 people.  One tornado alone in that outbreak tracked 234 miles across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

Slideshow: DigitalGlobe, NASA and Geoeye satellites provide view of tornado devastation
Slideshow: DigitalGlobe, NASA and Geoeye satellites provide view of tornado devastation

Obama has promised to speed federal aid to the region as governor’s in the hardest hit states declared states of emergency. “We can’t bring those who’ve been lost back. They’re alongside God at this point … but the property damage, which is obviously extensive, that’s something we can do something about,” the president said.

Damage estimates continue but an untold number of homes have been destroyed, certainly a number in the thousands.  Insured losses could reach between $2 billion and $5 billion which would push the disaster into the top 10 list of most expensive natural disasters in US history.

We are providing complete coverage of the tornado outbreak on Examiner.com.  Please visit the following links for more information.

Photo slideshows:

Related stories:

National Weather, Natural Disasters

Disaster strikes: Worst tornado outbreak in more than 30 years hits the South

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A tornado is seen ripping through Tuscaloosa, Alabama. View more images in the slideshow below.
A tornado is seen ripping through Tuscaloosa, Alabama. View more images in the slideshow below. (Credit: yfrog / bamawx)

A virtually unrivaled severe weather outbreak hit the southern United States yesterday bringing death and destruction.  The death toll from the event continues to climb and now ranks as the second worst since 1950.

The evaluation on the number of tornadoes and their power has begun by the National Weather Service.  The Storm Prediction Center recorded 164 reports but a number of those will be eliminated as duplicates of the same twisters.

Harold Brooks, a meteorologist with the SPC, told the Associated Press that he believed as many as 60 reports may be attributed to a single long-track tornado.  He further said that some may have achieved the EF-5 rating, the highest possible that generates winds in excess of 200mph.

Recovery efforts across the nation’s South continue as resources continue to arrive.  The Red Cross and other relief agencies were sending personnel from across the nation to help with search and rescue and to help with the distribution of water, food and other necessities.

  • Check out images and video of the tornadoes below

More than 1 million people were still without power this evening in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.  The Browns Ferry nuclear power plant west of Huntsville lost power from the storms but was able to safely shut down.

Alabama announced 11 more fatalities bringing the state’s losses to at least 195.  Overall at least 284 people across six states were killed making the disaster one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.  Only the “Super Outbreak” of 1974 caused more deaths.

Photo slideshow - Death and destruction in Alabama in the wake of tornado outbreak.
Photo slideshow - Death and destruction in Alabama in the wake of tornado outbreak.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox said, “I don’t know how anyone survived.”  The mayor toured his city by helicopter and was stunned by the devastation. “We have neighborhoods that have been basically removed from the map,”Maddox said.

States of emergency were declared in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia.  President Barack Obama announced that he would speed federal aid to the disaster stricken region and would visit Alabama personally on Friday.

For complete coverage of the tornado outbreak, please visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

Do you know what to do when severe weather strikes? Learn how to protect you and your family:

National Weather, Severe Weather

Good Friday tornado strikes St. Louis airport; Twister rated EF4

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Extensive damage seen at St. Louis airport after tornado strikes. (Twitpic / LakishaJackson)
Extensive damage seen at St. Louis airport after tornado strikes. View more images in the slideshow below. (Twitpic / LakishaJackson)

Severe weather struck the St. Louis area Friday evening bringing large hail, damaging winds and powerful tornadoes.  One twister tore a lengthy pass through the city hitting the airport and causing extensive damage to the facility and nearby homes.

The most significant component of the storm system was a powerful EF4 tornado packing winds of more than 166mph at its peak and causing damage nearly one-half mile wide at the widest point.  Initially touching down west of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, the tornado followed a 22 mile long path destroying homes and causing extensive damage at the airport.

At the airport tornado sirens were sounded as the storm approached and many of the estimated 500 travelers at the airport sought shelter.  The powerful tornado struck and blew out 60 percent of the windows in the main terminal building and partially lifted the roof on Concourse C.

On the grounds of the airport baggage carts were tossed about and the tarmacs were littered with debris.  Parking areas saw cars smashed and thrown into each other like toys.

Residential areas to the west of the airport where the tornado first touched down bore the brunt of the damage, particularly in the community of Bridgton.  Many homes were reduced to piles of wood and cinder while trees and power lines were downed.

After crossing the airport the tornado continued on its path damaging other buildings and homes.  Extensive roof damage was caused to the First Baptist Church of Ferguson and a Little Caesars Restaurant saw its roof torn completely off.

Slideshow: Lambert-St. Louis International Airport struck by tornadoThe tornado then crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois.  Three homes saw their roofs torn off while others sustained significant damage.

Despite the twister’s lengthy path of destruction and powerful nature, no fatalities were reported.  At the airport five people were treated for relatively minor injuries.

Do you know what to do to protect yourself and your family when severe weather strikes? The same type of events that struck in recent days can and do occur in Colorado.  Check out our Severe Weather Awareness series for more:

National Weather, Natural Disasters

Three-day severe weather outbreak kills dozens across nation’s south

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Debris is scattered through Sanford, North Carolina in the wake of one of dozens of tornadoes that truck in the past three days. (Yfrog / SanfordHerald http://yfrog.com/h4rystdj)
Debris is scattered through Sanford, North Carolina in the wake of one of dozens of tornadoes that truck in the past three days. View more images in the slideshow below. (Yfrog / SanfordHerald http://yfrog.com/h4rystdj)

One series of storms moved across the southeastern United States over a period of three days and wreaked havoc along the way.  In their wake more than three dozen people are dead from the severe weather that brought tornadoes, hail and wind.

On Thursday Oklahoma and Arkansas were the first to experience the severe weather that spawned a line of storms hundreds of miles long.  Nine lives were lost in those two states between tornadoes and deadly winds.

Friday the storms moved to the east and visited their destruction on Mississippi and Alabama.  Seven fatalities were recorded including a mother and two of her children.

Mother Nature was not done yet and created an amazing display of storms as the weather system continued on its deadly path on Saturday.  The Carolinas and Virginia were next on the hit list where as many as two dozen people have been killed.

The most destructive tornado struck near Sanford, North Carolina with dozens of homes and businesses reduced to rubble.  A Lowe’s Home Improvement store suffered a direct strike collapsing the front half of the store.  Miraculously no one was killed in the structure.

An untold number of homes and businesses have been destroyed in the severe weather outbreak.  Trees and power lines were toppled and hundreds of injuries recorded.

Slideshow: Severe weather outbreak kills dozens, destroys homes and businessesThe death toll from the three-day severe weather outbreak continues to climb with some accounts pegging the number at 45 or more.  The Storm Prediction Center recorded 230 reports of tornadoes over the period and the event is by far the most extensive and deadly weather event thus far in 2011.

For more on this story visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

Do you know what to do to protect yourself and your family when severe weather strikes?  The same type of events that struck in recent days can and do occur in Colorado.  Check out our Severe Weather Awareness series for more:

National Weather

Severe weather tears across the south, nine killed

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The town of Tushka, Oklahoma saw extensive damage Thursday night when a tornado struck claiming at least two lives. (Twitpic / snickeraddict15 - http://twitpic.com/4l42do)
The town of Tushka, Oklahoma saw extensive damage Thursday night when a tornado struck claiming at least two lives. (Twitpic / snickeraddict15 - http://twitpic.com/4l42do)

Two days of severe weather have spawned more than two dozen tornadoes, dropped softball size hail and unleashed damaging winds.  The storms which have affected five states turned deadly and claimed the lives of nine people.

Yesterday a massive line of storms stretching from northern Kansas down to southern Oklahoma struck.  The town of Tushka, Oklahoma took a direct strike from the storm destroying many homes and as many as five school buildings.  Two elderly women were killed.

Early this morning the same storm system moved to the east bringing powerful winds to 80mph.  Seven people were killed including a six-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl.  The boy’s life was claimed when a tree six feet in diameter fell on the family home.

Today the severe weather has continued as the storms continue their terrifying rampage.  More than 40 tornadoes have been reported, most in Mississippi and Alabama, and as of this writing they continue their movement east.

Extensive damage has been seen in both states.  In Talladega, Alabama, NASCAR officials were warning fans to be ready to evacuate as the racetrack is under a tornado watch until 9:00pm.  With tens of thousands of fans on site, officials prepared evacuation routes should the need arise.

Below is video from storm chasers as one tornado crosses a highway in Jackson, Mississippi.

National Weather, Natural Disasters

Video captures tornado ripping through northwestern Iowa

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Saturday evening the stage was set for severe weather across the nation’s heartland and Mother Nature came through in spades.  More than a dozen tornadoes were reported as were scores of significant hail events.

Despite the number of events most resulted in little damage.  However one tornado, by some accounts as big as three quarters of a mile wide, struck the town of Mapleton, Iowa.  This massive wedge tornado struck at 7:21 CDT and caused significant damage in the town.

The video below was captured by storm chasers as they tracked the dangerous tornado.

National Weather, Natural Disasters

CSU hurricane forecasters predict very active Atlantic season

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Forecasters are warning of a very active hurricane season and an increased potential for landfall in the United States. (Natural Disasters Examiner)
Forecasters are warning of a very active hurricane season and an increased potential for landfall in the United States. (Natural Disasters Examiner)

Forecasters at Colorado State University released an updated 2011 Atlantic hurricane forecast that if it holds true, portends a very eventful season.  The forecast warns of a 175 percent above normal level of activity and most troubling warns that the United States is overdue to get struck by a major hurricane.

The 2010 hurricane season was a busy one and saw the third most named storms on record but mercifully, none made landfall in the United States.  For the 2011 season the CSU team expects things to be slightly calmer but still far above normal.

CSU forecasters are calling for 16 named storms during the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season.  Of those they expect nine will become hurricanes and five of those will be major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher).

These estimates far exceed the historical 1950 to 2000 average.  During that period the Atlantic averaged 9.6 named storms per year, 5.9 hurricanes and 2.3 major hurricanes.

The team warned that whether a hurricane forecast calls for above or below normal activity, residents should always be equally prepared.  Dr. Phil Klotzbach said, “It takes only one landfall event near you to make this an active season.”

Breaking down the team’s analysis further, they gave a 72 percent chance that at least one major hurricane will make landfall along the U.S. coastline.  By comparison, the long-term average probability is 52 percent.

This recent 9 of 11-year period without any major landfall events should not be expected to continue.
~ Dr. William Gray

By region CSU forecasters put a 48% chance on the probability that a major hurricane will strike the East Coast.  Nearly matching that they said there was a 47% probably a major hurricane would hit on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Dr. William Gray noted that overall the Atlantic Basin is primed for significant hurricane activity.  He said that since 1999, only the 2004 and 2005 seasons saw a major hurricane make landfall in the U.S. and this scenario is not likely to continue.  Gray warns, “This recent 9 of 11-year period without any major landfall events should not be expected to continue.”

More hurricane news from the Natural Disasters Examiner: