2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season...IS HERE!

June 1st marked the beginning of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane season. It's not like flicking a switch, tropical storms will not pop up overnight. But activity will be increasing throughout the next several weeks and months before peaking in September.

Every year forecasters put out predictions about the number of storms. Here's one predicting above average activity. And another one calling for a normal season of activity. I ALWAYS take these numbers with a grain of salt. At times us weather-folk have been known to make a mistake on the 7 day forecast...So how can you expect forecasters to predict the number of tropical storms in a whole season?

I do not, nor do I claim to do long-term forecasting (or hurricane forecasting). In fact, any meteorologist on TV who posts hurricane predictions is stealing them from someone else. (An insider secret) I myself am uncomfortable posting someone else's work. Wouldn't you be?

Here are the names this year: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Joaquin, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor, Wanda.

There are six lists of names that continue to rotate. The lists only change when a storm is so devastating, the name is retired and another name replaces it. Sorry to all the Katrinas out there...no more storms named after you!

Any questions, ask!