Records Abound in 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Numerous Major and Active Storms Both Mark the Year
Nov 27, 2008
The National Hurricane Center has released its take on the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Forecasters monitored and tracked some 16 named storms during the year. Eight storms grew to hurricane strength and five became major Category 3 or greater hurricanes. In terms of total named storms, the season tied for the fourth most active year and tied first fifth busiest year for total number of hurricanes.
An average year will experience around eleven named storms, making the 2008 hurricane season one of the most active ones monitored since record keeping begin 64 years ago. Hurricanes are of particular interest to mariners that live in areas subject to the storms because of the damage they cause to vessels both moored and at sea. There are many precautions boaters can take to protect their vessels.
In a press release announcing its findings, NOAA Climate Prediction Center's Lead Hurricane Forecaster Gerry Bell, Ph.D. says, "This year’s hurricane season continues the current active hurricane era and is the tenth season to produce above-normal activity in the past 14 years."
Records and Highlights of the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season
There were many records and events of interest to hurricane forecasters during 2008:
- A record six tropical cyclones consecutively struck the mainland of the United States - They were Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike
- A record three major hurricanes struck the island of Cuba - They were Gustav, Ike and Paloma
- This was the first season were major hurricanes developed in each of five consecutive months from July to November
- The longest-lived tropical cyclone recorded in July, Betra that lasted 17 days
- Tropical storm Fay made a record four different landfalls along the coast of Florida during August
- Category 4 Paloma was the second strongest hurricane recorded in a November with peak winds of 145 miles per hour
Suspected Causes for the Above-Normal Hurricane Season
Researchers with NOAA have brought forward a few reasons on why they think the 2008 season in the Atlantic saw so many tropical cyclones:
- The continuing ocean and atmospheric conditions known as multi-decadal signal are ongoing
- The light wind shear effects of the last La Niña that started in the fall of 2007 have remained
- Tropical Atlantic Ocean temperatures are roughly one degree Fahrenheit warmer than normal at the peak of the hurricane season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will issue an initial outlook for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season sometime in May of 2009.
In releasing this report for 2008, Director of National Hurricane Center Bill Read says, “The information we’ll gain by assessing the events from the 2008 hurricane season will help us do an even better job in the future. With this season behind us, it’s time to prepare for the one that lies ahead.”
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