
HURRICANE SEASON GETS UNDERWAY: NOAA WARNS AGAINST INLAND-FLOODING HAZARDS "HIDE FROM THE WIND, FLEE FROM THE FLOOD"
June 1, 2000 — The year 2000 hurricane season officially begins today. NOAA scientists say residents along the East and Gulf Coasts and in the Caribbean Islands should brace for an expected above-average Atlantic hurricane season. The forecast indicates stronger, longer-lasting storms are possible and warns some could pose a threat to land during the hurricane season. An above-average hurricane season typically brings 11 or more tropical storms, of which seven or more become hurricanes, with three or more classified as major. (A major hurricane packs maximum sustained winds surpassing 110 mph and is classified at Category 3 or above on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.) (Click here to see animations of 1999's hurricane season, including Hurricane Floyd, and B-Roll of NOAA's P-3 Orion "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft. You'll need Real Player to view this video.) "The greatest influences in this forecast continue to be the on-going La Niña and a lesser-known climate phenomenon of warmer than normal Atlantic Ocean temperatures that affect hurricane activity over very long time scales," said NOAA Administrator D. James Baker. "La Niña is defined by cooler-than-average sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. During last year's hurricane season, La Niña was bold, and clearly defined, and gave forecasters more certainty. This year, La Niña's end is in sight," Baker said. He added: "Even if La Niña fades by August [as the current forecast suggests], La Niña's remnants and other influences will still likely bring more storms than usual." Baker said these influences have already established a global-scale atmospheric circulation pattern ripe for hurricane activity by contributing to: - lower wind shear, which is critical for hurricane development
- a more favorable mid-level jet stream from Africa, which energizes developing storms
- lower surface-air pressure, which makes it easier for storms to develop
- warmer ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic, which favor stronger storms
During the August-October peak season in an above-average year, Baker said, many of the storms develop over the tropical Atlantic and then move toward the Caribbean Islands or the United States. "This puts coastal areas and the Caribbean Islands at a much higher risk of experiencing a tropical storm or hurricane," Baker added. Max Mayfield, the newly-appointed director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., warned Americans not to overlook the dangers of inland flooding from land-falling storms. Hurricane Floyd is a perfect example of a storm that produced heavy inland flooding. "Unfortunately, most of the 56 U.S. citizens that died as a direct result of Hurricane Floyd lost their lives from inland flooding," Mayfield said. "Inland flooding is the deadly by-product of hurricanes that can not be ignored. However, he cautioned, "The greatest potential for loss of life from a hurricane remains storm surge. When an evacuation order is given, it should be treated as a life or death matter."
Mayfield said the best advice to follow during hurricane season is "hide from the wind and flee from the flood." If a hurricane is bearing down, go to the safest part of your home, away from windows. Strong hurricanes can cause great structural damage. If inland flooding is forecast, you must head for higher ground. Follow evacuation instructions issued by state and local officials. Click image for larger view Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jack Kelly, director of NOAA's National Weather Service, said one of the best ways to get accurate, updated warnings of hurricanes is NOAA Weather Radio. The newest models of these special radio receivers can be programmed to sound an alarm when dangerous weather approaches. "Every home, school, office, church or business along the East and Gulf coasts should have a NOAA Weather Radio, and be prepared to respond when the warnings are announced," Kelly said.
Forecasters will issue another hurricane outlook in August, which will update the one released May 10. The hurricane season ends Nov. 30. The archived webcast of the May 10 hurricane news conference is available at "Hurricanes: Nature's Greastest Storms." A recap of the 1999 hurricane season, graphics and other hurricane information is also available on that site. For more information visit NOAA's Climate Prediction Center to view the hurricane season outlook. Satellite Imagery of Atlantic Hurricanes Climate-Watch, September 1999 — Summary of Hurricane Floyd and Colorized Satellite Images NOAA's WD P-3 Orion "Hurricane Hunter" Aircraft NOAA's National Hurricane Center All About Storm Surge 1999 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON STATISTICS ATLANTIC HURRICANE 1999 SEASON SUMMARY Media Contacts: Curtis Carey, NOAA's National Weather Service, (301) 713-0622 or Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, Miami, Fla., (305) 229-4404 -end-
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