Atlantic hurricane season starts with forecast of frequent storms
Xinhua,June 02, 2018 Adjust font size:
HOUSTON, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The half-yearlong Atlantic hurricane season in 2018 started Friday with forecasters expecting wild storms to happen as frequently as last year.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a 70-percent likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms this year, of which five to nine could become hurricanes, including one to four major hurricanes.
On average, the hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
Forecasters said the possibility of a weak El Nino and near-average sea surface temperatures are two factors that are driving the outlook.
Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Around 85 percent of the extreme weather phenomena occur between August and October. Historical figures show the Texas Gulf Coast is at its most vulnerable between mid-July and mid-September.
This year's hurricane season was heralded by tropical storm Alberto formed on May 25 in the Caribbean Sea. The storm produced torrential rains, flooding, mudslides and high winds. It killed two TV reporters as they covered the storm in North Carolina.
Hurricane winds can cause storm surges and tornados. The heavy rains associated with hurricanes threaten not only coasts, but also inland areas hundreds of kilometers away from the shores. In some cases, flooding can occur days after a hurricane hits.
Hurricane Harvey, the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years, blew ashore on Aug. 25, 2017, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and damaging nearly 200,000 homes. Texas officials estimated that the state would need 61 billion U.S. dollars for recovery.
In order to prepare residents for extreme weather conditions, the annual Houston/Galveston Extreme Weather Ready Expo will open on Saturday.
The free public event, drawing over 2,500 attendees each year, provides families with presentations, interactive exhibits and weather forecasts so as to keep the whole community informed of potential disasters. Enditem