Weather boss warns of busy storm season
(CNS): While 2020 has already proved to be quite a year for the Cayman Islands, the country’s top weather expert is now reminding people that, regardless of our troubles so far, the forthcoming Atlantic hurricane season could cause even more. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake in January, the dump fires and now the pandemic will not reduce the risk this season, which forecasters say will be above average, as they predict 16 named storms and eight hurricanes, four of them major.
In his round up of the 2019 season and the review of the one due to start in less than two months, John Tibbetts, the director of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, said the natural and man-made disasters so far this year do not make us immune to storms.
“With everything going on and what we have been through this year we must now turn our attention to the hurricane season. Please be reminded that, regardless of what has happened, it does not decrease the possibility of the Cayman Islands being impacted by hurricanes,” Tibbetts warned.
He said that Cayman takes its guide for the season from the Colorado State team’s April 2020 forecast, which calls for an above average season with four major hurricanes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) prediction is the second guide and that will be available in May.
The Colorado scientists said they expected a slightly busier season because of the likely absence of El Niño and a warmer Atlantic Ocean.
“Tropical and subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures are currently warmer than their long-term average values and are consequently also considered a factor favoring an active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season,” the team said in a press release about the predictions.
El Niño tends to increase upper-level westerly winds across the Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic, tearing apart hurricanes as they try to form. In its absence, storms can form more easily, and coupled with a warmer ocean which provides fuel for tropical cyclone formation, this favours more cyclone activity.
The team predicts that 2020 hurricane activity will be about 140% of the average season. By comparison, 2019 was about 120% of the average. However, Hurricane Dorian devastated the northwestern Bahamas and Tropical Storm Imelda caused tremendous flooding in portions of southeast Texas.
It only takes one storm to devastate the region it hits, and Tibbetts warned people not to be complacent if the early part of the season, from 1 June, is quiet.
“During the season, there are usually low numbers of hurricanes in the first half, leading the public to question the accuracy of the forecast. The peak is considered to be around mid-September and the second half of the season tends to produce very powerful hurricanes, some of which form in the western Caribbean,” Tibbetts warned.
“The three problems with these late season storms forming in the western Caribbean include possible short warning times, erratic paths and potential of rapid intensification,” Tibbetts said, as he pointed to Cayman’s experience with Hurricanes Mitch in 1998, Michelle in 2001 and Paloma in 2008. “Residents not aware of the late season climatology of the region may be caught preparing for a weak storm but get caught when a major storm hits.”
Storm and weather information from the Cayman Islands National Weather Service can be found on the CINWS website, as well as its Facebook page and weather app.
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Category: Science & Nature, Weather
The same credible weather ostriches that don’t think we need any seismic instruments or investigation of multiple strong local tremors in a 24,000 foot deep, unexplored abyssal trench just 20 miles away.
These guys are no better at predicting the entire season than anyone. They always say it will be worse because there are no consequences if it’s quiet and they are wrong.
Cause they are stupid
What a crap year this is turning out to be.
drinking must continue!
And it shall
Life. Live strong and greatful or weak and complaining. Your choice. No one of us will survive this. The only difference among us is the quality of life lived.
sex, drug and rock & roll
Why is it so dry this year, John, at least in the eastern districts? I can’t remember it as dry as this.
Forecasts are a literal life-or-death gamble for people trying to decide if their homes will soon be in a disaster zone or not.
5G Coverage Could Set Back Accurate Weather Forecasts By 30 Years
https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/23/18637356/5g-interfere-weather-forecast-24ghz-frequency-band-satellite-predict-hurricane
“As reported by The Washington Post and CNET, the heads of NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warn the issue could set back the world’s weather forecasting abilities by 40 years — reducing our ability to predict the path of deadly hurricanes and the amount of time available to evacuate.”
You idiots will believe anything you read.
Weather experts call for further dialogue to limit 5G impact on weather forecasting
https://spacenews.com/passive-microwave-5g-ams-2020/
“Anyone who thinks the international weather community has given up the fight to protect key portions of the radio frequency spectrum from 5G interference is mistaken.
After losing a battle at the International Telecommunication Union’s World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 in Egypt, meteorologists, atmospheric scientists, aerospace engineers and radio frequency experts met at the American Meteorological Conference to plan their next campaign.”
House committee sounds alarm over 5G interference with weather forecasting
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/coronavirus-pandemic-covid-19-latest-news-2020-04-03/
8:34pm, The Verge, REALLY! They write BS for ad money!
When is CIREBA going to issue it’s usual “it’s a great time to buy”statement.
LOL
Just this once, they might be right. Wait another month or so though
good luck getting finance….
Who said I need finance?
…”…..even a broken clock….” and all that….
…or the other great CIREBA one (usually from the number 1 member) …”we’re at the bottom of a ramp and we’re about to take off….”
Every year they say the same thing, even when they forecast a lighter year they then change is they just don’t know
I don’t know, either.
You’re obviously not paying attention
Theyve been saying this since September 11th 2004.
Come down 2021 already
Absolutely know need to report this right now! We know the season it upcoming, but to rub salt in our wounds and give more stress at this time is uncalled for! We know the seasons. Enough!
no* typo
Knowledge is power.
Well, we are about as screwed as my sleeping schedule at this point. Expect a surge at the supermarkets again, and at the liquor stores. The governments gonna have to issue Xanax for every citizen just to get through this year. That’s all folks!
Isn’t that just a lovely little pick me up?
Let the stress levels increase and the mental breakdowns begin. This is not what we need to be hearing right now.
It’s not bothering me. Why is it bothering you? I swear, some of y’all act let you just got dropped on this planet yesterday. Hear right now? Have you been listening for the last decade? Chill with the Drama.
When can we expect the locusts?
In May
Hahahaha! I needed a good laugh!
Wow some good news. I think I will go and watch FOX news.
How about all that ganja that was seized just as this was coming down? My guess is that it’s not going to waste. Can the RCIP please share🙏
best news organization there is
Anyone tell me not to pray I’m telling them to get lost!
O.K. you can pray———————————— but it’s a waste of time. There are no Gods.
I’m a goddess
What else could 2020 possibly throw at us!? A busy hurricane season would be the icing on the hell-cake…
Yup, and then the cows will come home, pigs will fly, hell will freeze over, the government will know how many people are here, tourists will be able to return, and Mac will get arrested. In that order of probability.
excuse me but we don’t have any time for any hurricanes…we are dealing with the corona virus.
One good Ivan sized storm will rid us of the Covid pretty quick.
Nah. Ignorant comment on many levels as well.
But not Mac, right ?
Mac is the gift that keeps on giving through coronavirus and hurricanes. West Bay people are so fortunate and will always vote him in.
Create some job too