Hurricane season officially begins

ST JOHN'S, Antigua, Wednesday June 1, 2011 – As the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins today, disaster organisations in the Caribbean have urged citizens to ensure they’re fully prepared.

Emergency organisations across the region have been issuing statements reminding of the need to be ready for a season that is predicted to be more active than average.

According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) prediction, there will be 12-18 named storms of which 6-10 will become hurricanes and 3-6 major hurricanes. This in comparison to a normal seasonal average of 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes suggests an active hurricane season.

Colorado State University’s Dr Philip Klotzbach and Professor William Gray, in their April 2011 release, projected that there will be 16 named storms, nine hurricanes and five major hurricanes.

“These forecasts by no means indicate exact locations where systems will develop, how they will move or where they will strike,” residents have been warned.

The 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season was significantly more active than the normal season, with 19 tropical storms developing, tying with 1995 for the third highest number of storms on record. Twelve of those storms developed into hurricanes, the second highest total on record behind the fifteen observed in 2005.

Five of the hurricanes became major hurricanes, that is, measuring Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Hurricane Earl had the greatest impact on Antigua & Barbuda and the Leeward Islands in 2010.

“Local authorities and the general public are therefore urged to prepare in advance and to take the necessary precautions in case watches and warnings are issued,” said a statement issued in that twin-island nation.

The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services said it is monitoring the development of all systems and any other severe weather situations which threaten the Leeward Islands and British Virgin Islands.

The names prepared for the 2011 hurricane season are: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince and Whitney.

The hurricane season will run until November.