This Friday (Nov 30) marks the end of the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season. And, for the second year in a row, expert predictions for an above normal season turned out to be a bit too high.
A total of 14 named storms, including 6 hurricanes developed in 2007, making this an "average" season for the Atlantic Basin.
Only 1 weak hurricane, and several tropical storms struck the United States. A far cry from the 2005 season that spawned hurricanes like Katrina and Rita.
But this season did bring about some stronger storms, most of which impacted impoverished and vulnerable nations in the Caribbean and Central America.
Hurricanes Dean and Felix ramped up to Category Five status, the highest on the intensity scale. Dean and Felix were also the first two Atlantic hurricanes since records began in 1851 to make landfall in the same season as Category Five storms.
Hurricane Humberto also became the fastest developing storm on record to be so close to land. It strengthened from a 35 mph tropical depression to an 90 mph hurricane in 14 hours while only 15 miles off the coast of Texas.
Why so fewer hurricanes than expected? Former National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield told the Miami Herald, "the past several years have humbled the seasonal hurricane forecasters," and pointed out there's a long way to go in the science of hurricane prediction.
So as the season comes to a close, remember, it's simply a date. While hurricanes have formed after the "end" of the season, it appears unlikely this year.
Count your blessings Dean and Felix stayed away from the United States. However, southwest Virginia will likely feel the effects from the lack of tropical rain this season, well into the start of next year's season.
View the entire hurricane season tracks and facts.
--Brent
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