Nov 30, 2007 11:00 pm US/Eastern
The U.S. Dodges Hurricane Season 2007
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The United States breathed a sigh of relief Friday, as the Atlantic hurricane season officially ended. South Florida in particular enjoyed an overall trouble free season as no hurricanes made landfall in the area for 2007.
The country was up against alarming predictions for 2007. But despite global warming threats the United States came through virtually unscathed. Only one hurricane – and a minor one at that – hit the country during the June-to-November period.
But
CBS4 Storm Specialist Bryan Norcross says 2007 was still a record breaking season. Hurricane Felix is the fastest storm ever to strengthen into a Category 5 hurricane, taking only 51 hours to grow in strength. This was also the first year that two Category 5 hurricanes made landfall: Hurricane Dean and Felix.
However, this year's amount of storm days was 31% below average, and the Ace Index, which measures total energy created by storms, was 18% below average. These are numbers consistent with an inactive hurricane season.
"The NOAA prediction we issued in May was 7 to 10 hurricanes," said Chris Landsea with the National Hurricane Center. "We trimmed it down in August to 7 to 9."
Ultimately only six hurricanes formed this year, proving the predictions wrong. Some unfavorable elements to hurricanes such as a high wind shear are being partly named responsible for not letting more storms to strengthen. Regardless, there is much work scientist have to do to come up with more accurate long-term predictions.
Officials do worry that the public will become indifferent and overconfident when warned to prepare for next year.
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