Computer-enhanced satellite image of Hurricane Katrina, dated Aug. 28, 2005, as one of the worst storms in U.S. history moved through the Gulf of Mexico. Katrina caused 1,836 confirmed deaths and over $82 billion in property damages.
Five of those named tropical storms --- including Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon and Helene --- are predicted to intensify into hurricanes.
According to Jill Hasling, CCM and president of the Weather Research Center in Houston, Texas there is a 46 percent chance of a Category 3 or stronger hurricane to form this year in the Atlantic. There’s also a high chance that three additional tropic storms or hurricanes will make landfall somewhere along the United States coast.
“We’re forecasting a 60 percent chance of a tropical storm or hurricane making landfall along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Key West, Fla. and along the Georgia to North Carolina coast during the 2012 Hurricane Season,” says Hasling. “We believe there will be eight named storms with five of them intensifying into hurricanes.
The non-profit Weather Research Center, which is also home to the national Weather Museum, has an 89 percent forecast accuracy rate and has been making forecasts since 1985.
The meteorologists at the Weather Research Center use a model called Orbital Cyclone Strike Index (OCSI) which uses the solar cycle to predict the risk for coastal residents each hurricane season.
Founded in 1987, the non-profit Center manages a worldwide forecasting operation and provides ground-breaking research to scientists around the globe. Meteorologists work on severe weather advisories, marine forecasts, long-range outlooks, environmental studies and forensic meteorology services.
The Weather Museum is located at 5104 Caroline in Houston, Texas, within the Houston Museum District.
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