UT OH, La Nina Forming May Mean More Atlantic Hurricanes ---NOAA Link

[Blackhatjack]

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2805.htm

LA NIÑA MAY SOON ARRIVE --Feb 28 2007

Recently, cooler-than-normal water temperatures have developed at the surface in the east-central equatorial Pacific, indicating a possible transition to La Niña conditions.

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“Although other scientific factors affect the frequency of hurricanes, there tends to be a greater-than-normal number of Atlantic hurricanes and fewer-than-normal number of eastern Pacific hurricanes during La Niña events,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “During the winter, usual La Niña impacts include drier and warmer-than-average conditions over the southern United States."

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THis sure seems to be the weather we are experiencing in southeastern US.

With the National Guard deployed overseas, this could be really bad for those of us living in hurricane-prone states.

[Dr.Phool]

1. I decided that I'm going to start betting prepared in March

Just so when hurricane season kicks in, I'll be already prepared, and won't have to run around like crazy.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

5. Same here.

Every time I visit the grocery store, I pick up a few cans of vegetables and canned meat and tuna, and two gallons of water (and now, a pack of diapers). Also have a hand-cranked radio (that charges cell phones too) and battery operated lights with extra batteries. By the time we need them, we'll have a well-stocked pantry.

I also heartily recommend getting some packages of Plylox (www.plylox.com) and cutting some plywood now. Installs in seconds. I've already cut mine, attached some clips, and labeled them.

[upenn264]

2. Shame and eye raising

You know, most of the hurricanes affect the South and each year and these storms get more intense they continue to deny global warming. This gives new meaning to "Shooting yourself in the foot." Oh, isn't this where all the oil is drilled? I guess they are dumber than I though.

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. Oh please

perhaps you should look at a map depicting percapita election results. You will find that most of the country - including the south - is neither red or blue but purple. That means (1) there are dumb folks everywhere and (2) there are a good number of politically liberal folks in the south.

[newyawker99]

8. Hi upenn264!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Blackhatjack]

3. It is not just the National Guardsmen deployed, it is their equipment also...

When hurricane Fran struck, the National Guard played a vital role because they were HERE and so was their equipment.

Imagine for a moment what a similar Fran-like hurricane would mean without the Guard at home.

The surge is taking even more overseas.

Dems need to get themselves in gear and start bringing them home.

[Feron]

6. I have a wait and see attitude..

Forecasting how active a season will be is just a guess. Even if a season is inactive, all it takes to make that unimportant is one strong storm bearing down on your area.

I'm just hoping that the La/Ms coasts avoid a hurricane again this year.

In the meantime, all you can do is make sure that your supplies and preparations are finished by the start of the season.

[Blackhatjack]

7. With hurricanes it is definitely a numbers game...

YOu are right, all it takes is one to hit you and none of the other numbers matter.

However, if you live in a 'hurricane prone state' like I do, it is not 'whether we will be hit by a hurricane" but rather 'when will we next be hit by a hurricane.'

THe occurrences of La Nina and El Nino tend to increase the likelihood that more storms will form in the Pacific or the Atlantic oceans, depending upon which forms.

So paying attention to proof of La Nina forming for us southeastern citizens is recommended.

[Lisa]

9. and western wildfires too ...

More than a decade ago, some researchers I know in Arizona found a linkage between El Nino and fire -- the year or two after an El Nino tend to be bad, because the extra moisture from the El Nino stimulates vegetation growth, and that adds to the fuel load. As you say, Blackhatjack, policymakers and regular folks like us can be saved a lot of heartache if we pay attention to advance warnings of increased risk.