Updated 2006 Hurricane Season Forecast

Just in from Dr. William Gray at Colorado State University...

Information obtained through March 2006 continues to indicate that the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season will be much more active than the average 1950-2000 season. We estimate that 2006 will have about 9 hurricanes (average is 5.9), 17 named storms (average is 9.6), 85 named storm days (average is 49.1), 45 hurricane days (average is 24.5), 5 intense (Category 3-4-5) hurricanes (average is 2.3) and 13 intense hurricane days (average is 5.0).

The probability of U.S. major hurricane landfall is estimated to be about 55 percent above the long-period average. We expect Atlantic basin Net Tropical Cyclone (NTC) activity in 2006 to be about 195 percent of the long-term average. This early April forecast is based on a newly devised extended range statistical forecast procedure which utilizes 52 years of past global reanalysis data. Analog predictors are also utilized. We have maintained our forecast from our early December prediction as the Atlantic Ocean, although cooling slightly with respect to climatology, remains anomalously warm and central and eastern tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures anomalies have continued to cool. Currently, weak La Niņa conditions are observed. We expect either neutral or weak La Niņa conditions to be present during the upcoming hurricane season.

See his full outlook here:

http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2006/april2006/

Dr. Gray makes it clear "global warming" has nothing to do with the increased hurricane activity. I am sure the national media will not report anything like this. Too bad; Dr. Gray's work is simply brilliant.
Posted by Alan Beck  
on April 5, 2006, 8:49 am
IE has done it again. Have to scroll down to read the posts. I switched to Mozilla at home. Pleased so far!

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Posted by  
on April 5, 2006, 9:29 am
Alan...
All of us in the weather group use Mozilla Firefox (or is it Foxfire?) It works great and does not have the problem that IE has in displaying large posts...

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Posted by  
on April 5, 2006, 9:48 am
Wish we had that here at work! I have heard a disturbing report this morning from what I consider to be a very reliable source. Jeffco EMA did not test the tornado sirens this morning because the schools were concerned that it would disturb students taking the standardized tests. This is insane!!!

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Posted by  
on April 5, 2006, 10:26 am
Alan...
I see your point, but I would side with the EMA and school officials. Those tests are very competitive and the startling sound of the sirens could derail their train of thought unless they were advised before starting to ignore the sirens.

They will probably run the siren test tomorrow. They often delay it a day when even moderate thunderstorms are in the area.

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Posted by Alan  
on April 5, 2006, 11:21 am
I can see their side I suppose. Just got concerned since severe weather is predicted for Friday. Sirens are primarily for outdoor warning, but you know what people say if one malfuntions in their area.

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Posted by   www
on April 5, 2006, 12:16 pm
On James' suggestion I downloaded Mozilla Firefox at home last week. I liked some things about it but I haven't completely gotten used to it yet, so I still have IE as my default browser. I guess the older I get the more I am set in my ways. I need to use it more until I get used to it. I think the 'search' feature didn't work the way I expected.

By the way, the boys and I listened to Weather Brains last night after baseball practice. That was a very interesting account of 4/3-4/74. I really enjoyed it. Thanks!

http://mikewx.blogspot.com/

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