Forecast for the 2000 Hurricane Season

The Atlantic Hurricane Season began on 1 June and should end by 30 November. Most of the storms are predicted for the months of August and September. This year, the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast a fairly active season, with at least 11 tropical storms, of which seven might turn into hurricanes, three of them severe.

NOAA has explained that the increased activity is due to the influence of the La Niña meteorological phenomenon, unusually cold waters in the Pacific that have a wide-ranging impact on weather patterns worldwide. At the same time, a less well-understood climatic phenomenon has led to higher-than-average temperatures in the Atlantic, compounding the problem.

In the case of the Caribbean basin, which includes Central America, it is expected that one of these events will hit the region in August or September, although the date cannot be fully predicted.

The names

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the names of the hurricanes that will take place worldwide are repeated every five years. They are chosen alphabetically and at random from a list of names in Spanish, English, and French. This year’s list includes the following storms: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Keith, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie and William. The same names will be employed in 2005. However, the names of unusually devastating events, such as hurricanes Hugo, Joan, Cesar, Georges, and Mitch, are taken off the list permanently, since specialists and historian will continue referring to them for many years. Everyone, but particularly the media, should bear in mind that no hurricane name should ever be translated. Hurricane Joan, for instance, was incorrectly labeled “Juana” in several Central American countries. And Georges should not be referred to as “George”, or “Jorge”.