2019 Peak Hurricane Season is Here!
Hurricanes are one of the most destructive and yet most fascinating weather phenomenon on this planet. These forces of nature are called Typhoons and Cyclones in other regions of the world; however their nature is all the same no matter you live. The Atlantic Hurricane Season is defined as June 1st to November 30th. While in the Pacific the season begins on May 15th. This article will look at the naming system behind the storm, their history in specific regions, and what you can do to prepare for the next hurricane.
Despite the 6 month window of potential hurricane activity, the core of the season is late August through early October. This is when the majority of storms form and when hurricanes frequently reach their peak intensity. Each year government and private organizations put out their seasonal forecasts. This season NOAA predicts a near-normal season, with a 30% chance of above-normal activity and a 30% chance of below-normal activity. Scientists from Colorado State University predict a near normal season as well. Both agencies consider everything from global weather patterns, to historical data, and present day trends to determine their seasonal forecasts. While forecasting still has a ways to go, there is no doubt it only takes one storm to forever change the life of someone.
The United States has an expansive coastline and as such some parts are more prone to hurricanes than others. The service HurricaneCity has complied the following list to show which cities get hurricanes the most often:
1. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina: Every 1.34 years
2. Morehead City, North Carolina: Every 1.52 years
3. Grand Bahamas Island, Bahamas: Every 1.63 years
4. Wilmington, North Carolina: Every 1.69 years
5. Cayman Islands (most affected area in the Caribbean): Every 1.73 years
6. Great Abaco Island, Bahamas: Every 1.81 years
7. Andros Island, Bahamas: Every 1.84 years
8. Bermuda: Every 1.86 years
9. Savannah, Georgia: Every 1.91 years
10. Miami, Florida: Every 1.96 years
It quickly becomes apparent that there is not a single place along the coast that is immune to the potential of a hurricane. They can strike anywhere with a 1-2 year return frequency.
The final aspect of a storm that a homeowner should know is the Saffir-Simpson Scale. This is based on the wind speeds of the storms. A low pressure is considered a tropical depression until winds reach 40 mph. At this point the storm is declared a tropical storm and receives a name. The name list follows the alphabet starting at A and alternates between boy and girl names. Once a tropical storm reaches winds of 74 mph it is then declared a Hurricane. The categories range from 1 to 5 and damage becomes exponential as a hurricane climbs the scale. There has been a push recently to add a Category 6 for the most extreme of storms.
Now that you know a little about Hurricanes, it’s time to protect your home. All homeowners living coastal communities should have a hurricane plan in plan. There are many homes and business that raised to prevent flooding, but don't have that luxury. This is where flood sandbags comes into play. They are made from burlap or polypropylene plastic and are effective at keep water at bay when stacked correctly. Experts recommend filling flood sandbags up to around 40 pounds and placing around your home to hold back the water. This has been an effective in many towns and all throughout history. When it comes to hurricane preparation there is no such thing as being too prepared.
There is no doubt hurricanes will form this season and they will strike the coastline somewhere. While the details are hard to nail down more than a few days in advance, homeowners can prepare right away by having flood sandbags on standby. It is good to have peace of mind during hurricane season.
View more information about our flood sandbags or contact us today!