An article from National Public Radio predicts this summer’s hurricane season to be “Quiet.” That’s not a great way to summarize a hurricane season. It’s like comparing a Jay Z concert at Madison Square Garden to YoYo Ma at Carnegie Hall. Either way a concert is going to happen. It’s a matter of how loud it’s going to be…and, depending on your age, if you need to bring earplugs.
What the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are saying is this year’s hurricane season is expected to be lower than normal. There is a chance that we will see approximately 13 tropical storms. Of these 13 storms, 3 to 6 of them will become hurricanes. Of the 3 to 6 hurricanes, 1 or 2 may grow to a class 3 hurricane.
The average season is: 12 tropical storms, 6 hurricanes, 3 hurricanes a class 3 grade or more.
But don’t be lulled to complacency because the season is expected to be lower than average. Hurricane Sandy went from a class 1 hurricane to a tropical storm just before the eye of the storm made landfall in New Jersey. Still the death toll was 34, total damage estimated at $36.9 billion, and two years after the storm some neighborhoods are radically reshaped.
So regardless of the “Quiet” forecast, you still should be prepared. We talked previously on our blog about what do to do before, during, and after a storm hits. You can also check out the FEMA web site that is dedicated to knowing more about hurricanes and what steps you can take to be prepared.
Remember the maxim “A weather forecaster is the only person who can be wrong and still maintain his job.” So be prepared regardless of what the forecast says.
