Wednesday, December 1, 2010
(Dive Travel Business News - December 1, 2010) -- The six-month Atlantic hurricane season that started June 1 and ended yesterday on November 30 was one of the most active ever recorded. The National Hurricane Center has characterized the past season as a "gentle giant."
In addition to 21 tropical depressions, the hyperactive 2010 Atlantic Hurricane season produced 19 named storms (tying for third alongside 1995 and 1887). Twelve of this year's named storms became hurricanes including five major hurricanes of Category 3 or above, defined by sustained winds between 111 and 130 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Only 1933 (21 storms) and 2005 (a record 28 storms) were more active. But with 12 actual hurricanes, the 2010 season ties with 1969 for second most hurricanes.
According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, parent agency of the hurricane center, an average season would see 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes, . Before the 2010 season began, the National Hurricane Center predicted an "active to extremely active" season with 14 to 23 named storms and 8 to 14 hurricanes.
The 2010 season started with Alex, the first Atlantic hurricane to form in June in more than 40 years, and ended with Tomas on Halloween weekend. Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic got hit with heavy rains several times during the six-month season, wiping out roads and bridges. Nicaragua and Honduras got pummeled. Hurricanes Karl and Paula caused damage in Mexico. U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. John de Jongh requested disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency three times due to flood damage from named tropical storms.
St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Barbados were particularly hard hit by Hurricane Tomas that roared through the Caribbean and Central America in late October, killing 41 and causing more than $500 million in damage. St. Lucia's Prime Minister Stephenson King described Tomas as the island's "worst natural disaster." Floods and landslides closed roads leading to the airports, bringing tourism to a standstill for a week.
According to the National Hurricane Center this year's hurricanes caused $11.2 billion in damage and directly killed 259 people.
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