27 Sep
2004
27 Sep
'04
7:19 p.m.
Florida had a (waaaay) below average of hurricanes
during the 70s, 80s
and
90s. When Mom and I moved to South Florida in 1979,
we were there less
than a
month before Hurricane David threatened the area, only
to turn north at
the
last minute. Then ... nothing until Hurricane Andrew
in 1992. Then ...
nothing until Hurricane Irene in 1999.
It took me living here 20 years before I experienced two hurricanes---my
girlfriend's kids took less than 2 years before experiencing two
hurricanes.
Only now are we getting to above average hurricane
activity (at least in
South Florida) so *now* perhaps we'll see better built homes.
Or homes for sale *real cheap* (which doesn't bother me in the
slightest).
-spc (At least it seems to have quieted down in the Atlantic ... )
According to last week's New Scientist , you're facing another 10-20 years
of high hurricane activity - unfortunately.
It says :
" Hurricanes have been on the increase over the past decade as part of a
multi - decadal cycle. Hurricanes are more likely to form when the Atlantic
is warm - as from the 1930's to the 1960's. The decades since the 1960's saw
fewer hurricanes , but numbers have risen since 1995 and may not have
reached the predicted peak yet. This hurricane season has received more
attention mainly because many hurricanes over the past few years have failed
to make landfall in the US. "
" Look at the Caribbean and it's a different story " - says Alberto
Mestas-Nunez from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in
Miami.
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996446
Geoff.