Thank you – No hurricanes in Keys since 2005

SEAN KINNEY

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

The six-month Atlantic hurricane season ended quietly on Nov. 30 with only one storm making landfall on the East Coast. In the Florida Keys, it has been a hurricane free decade since Hurricane Wilma hit in 2005.

According to data maintained by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center, eight named storms with winds of 39 mph formed; six hurricanes with winds 74 mph or higher were recorded; and two hurricanes were designated as “major” with winds of 111 mph or more.

Hurricane Arthur hit North Carolina in July.

The quiet tropical season was in line with predictions from weather experts.

Louis Uccellini, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service, took the opportunity to re-emphasize preparedness despite the prolonged lull.

“Fortunately, much of the U.S. coastline was spared this year with only one landfalling hurricane along the East Coast. Nevertheless, we know that’s not always going to be the case,” he said.

“The ‘off season’ between now and the start of next year’s hurricane season [on June 1] is the best time for communities to refine their response plans and for businesses and individuals to make sure they’re prepared for any potential storm.”

Although there wasn’t much tropical action in the Atlantic, the North Pacific hurricane season, which runs from May 15 to Nov. 30, was the busiest since 1992 with 20 named storms, 14 hurricanes, eight of those “major.”

“A combination of atmospheric conditions acted to suppress the Atlantic hurricane season, including very strong vertical wind shear, combined with increased atmospheric stability, stronger sinking motion and drier air across the tropical Atlantic,” Gerry Bell, lead hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, said.

On the Pacific season, Bell said: “Conditions that favored an above-normal eastern Pacific hurricane season included weak vertical wind shear, exceptionally moist and unstable air, and a strong ridge of high pressure in the upper atmosphere that helped to keep storms in a conducive environment for extended periods.”

In Key West, the end of Atlantic hurricane season was marked, as is the custom, with a ceremonial torching of the red and black hurricane watch and warning flags; that annual event takes place at sunset on the Truman Waterfront.

 

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]