Why do hurricanes pick on one area each year?

[Armstead]

Last year it was Florida that got zapped with multiple hurricanes.

This year it's the Gulf Coast.

Is this a coincidence, or are hurricanes driven into the same general areas for a reason?

[pitohui]

1. it isn't quite coincidence

the same overall situation might persist for awhile, for instance, in the yr of florida's hurricanes, a high pressure ridge sat over the new orleans area, preventing the storms from moving that far east

[expatriot]

2. no, it's because they're bullies.

quit trying to make excuses for them.

[soothsayer]

3. Why do hurricanes always seem to hit on weekends?

just like most snowstorms (in DC anyway)

[ellenfl]

4. i was wondering about the weekend thing myself.

frances really screwed up my labor day weekend last year.

the track that hurricanes take has to do with atmospheric conditions. the weather system that sent 'canes to florida last year has moved west this year and is guiding the storms to the west and into the very warm gulf waters. hurricanes gain strength from warm waters and the gulf is a perfect feeding ground for them. that's my understanding of how it works.

personally, i think that the east coast of florida has not gotten any storms this year because i finally bit the bullet and bought hurricane shutters last year . . . which went up AFTER jeanne swept thru. too bad i couldn't get them earlier last year. :shrug:

ellen fl

[geomon666]

5. Um...the east coast of Florida did get hit by a hurricane.

It was called Katrina.

[ellenfl]

6. i was referring to the portion that

got hit last year . . . twice. even tho' fema gave away $30 mil in dade and broward counties last year, they did not suffer a hit.

ellen fl