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Hurricane forecast: 'No letup' in weeks ahead
Just as Hurricane Gustav was dissipating and three tropical storms were brewing in the Atlantic, forecasters predicted that September hurricane activity would be well above normal for the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season.
Five named storms should form this month, according to Colorado State University forecasters William Gray and Phil Klotzbach. That tally includes newly named tropical storm Josephine but not Hurricane Gustav or tropical storms Hannah and Ike, as they were named in August.
Of the five predicted storms, four are expected to become hurricanes, meaning they would have winds of at least 74 miles (119 kilometers) an hour. Two are forecast to become major hurricanes Category 3 or higher, with winds exceeding 110 miles (177 kilometers) an hour.
Low atmospheric pressure and warm seas encourage storms, and both are present now in the tropical Atlantic Basin which includes the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico (map) according to Klotzbach.
"We have seen some of the lowest pressure readings on record in the tropical Atlantic during August," Klotzbach said in a statement. "Water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic remain at above-average values.
"A combination of these two factors typically leads to an active September."
Jeff Masters, director of the private weather forecasting service Weather Underground, said he agrees with the prediction of an active September.
"I don't see any letup over the next two weeks," Masters said. "There could be two to three active named storms all the time in the Atlantic for the next two weeks."
In April, Colorado State's Klotzbach and Gray had forecast a "well above average" 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. They pointed out in the new statement that June and July were also very active, spawning three named storms: Hurricane Bertha, Hurricane Dolly, and tropical storm Cristobal.
Including tropical storm Arthur, which formed in May, ahead of the official season, 10 of the 15 named storms forecast in April have already taken shape.
Hanna, Ike, and Josephine
As Hurricane Gustav wanes, forecasters along with U.S. residents from the eastern Carolinas to the Gulf Coast are warily watching tropical storms Hanna, Ike, and Josephine. Just as Hurricane Gustav was dissipating and three tropical storms were brewing in the Atlantic, forecasters predicted that September ... more -
Strongest storms grow stronger yet
A new study finds that the strongest of hurricanes and typhoons have become even stronger over the last two and a half decades, adding grist to the contentious debate over whether global warming has already made storms more destructive.
I think we do see a climate signal here, said James B. Elsner, a professor of geography at Florida State University who is the lead author of the paper, being published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.
The study, which also found that more typical, less powerful tropical storms had not become stronger over the 26-year period studied, is consistent with other researchers; hurricane models, Dr. Elsner said.
With oceans expected to continue warming, “one would expect more 4s and 5s, he said of Category 4 and Category 5 hurricanes, those with maximum sustained winds of at least 131 miles per hour.
About 90 tropical cyclone storms form each year around the world. In the Atlantic, the stronger ones, with winds of at least 74 m.p.h., are hurricanes; the equivalents in the Pacific and Indian Oceans are typhoons. Ten named storms have formed in the Atlantic this hurricane season, which continues to the end of November.
Heat from the warming oceans will provide more energy to spin up hurricanes and typhoons, but the changing climate could also heighten conditions like wind shear; winds blowing at different speeds and different directions at different altitudes; that tend to tear a storm apart.
Because of these environmental factors, most storms fall far short of their maximum possible intensity. But Dr. Elsner, along with Thomas H. Jagger, a postdoctoral researcher at Florida State, and James P. Kossin, a research scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, reasoned that warmer waters increased the possible intensity and that storms that develop in ideal conditions might have become stronger.
Having examined satellite data from 1981 through 2006, a period in which sea surface temperature rose to 83.3 degrees Fahrenheit from 82.8 degrees, they concluded that the highest wind speeds of the strongest storms averaged 156 m.p.h. in 2006, up from 140 m.p.h. hour in 1981. The increases in cyclone intensity were greatest in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Because the data came from one set of satellites, the scientists avoided some of the calibration difficulties that had troubled earlier studies.
This study offers definitive evidence that there are more of the very strongest hurricanes around the world, even though the total number of storms globally shows hardly any trend, said Kerry A. Emanuel, a professor of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who suggested in 2005 that global warming had already intensified cyclones. A new study finds that the strongest of hurricanes and typhoons have become even stronger over the last two and a half decades, adding... more -
Haiti facing storm 'catastrophe'
Haiti faces a "catastrophe" after being hit by a series of storms in recent weeks, President Rene Preval has said.
Three storms in less than 21 days have killed 170 people and forced thousands to flee their homes in the Caribbean nation, officials say.
The latest, Tropical Storm Hanna, could prove even more deadly than one that killed more than 3,000 people in 2004, Mr Preval warned. Haiti faces a "catastrophe" after being hit by a series of storms in recent weeks, President Rene Preval has said. ... more -
Vancouver airport at risk of flood
Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport are at risk of being washed out as a result of rising sea levels, flooding and more frequent storm patterns, a climate researcher says. Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport are at risk of being washed out as a result of rising sea levels, flooding and more f... more
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Triple Threat; Hannah, Ike, & Josephine Brewing Up Trouble
MIAMI (CBS4) ― Tropical Storm Hanna continues to blast the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Haiti with gusty wind and torrential rain.
At 2 p.m., the center of Hanna was located about 420 miles southeast of Nassau; at latitude 20.6 north, longitude 72.9 west.
Hanna has drifted to the west-southwest for much of Tuesday. The storm is expected to begin moving to the northwest Tuesday night or Wednesday. On this track it will move over the southeastern Bahamas Tuesday evening and central Bahamas on Wednesday.
Hanna grew into a hurricane Monday but was downgraded Tuesday morning.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 70 mph with higher gusts. Hanna could regain hurricane strength Wednesday or Thursday.
Hanna's path is uncertain. One forecaster at the National Hurricane Center says "it could hit anywhere from Miami to the Outer Banks of North Carolina."
A hurricane warning remains in effect for the central and southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the northern coast of Haiti from Le Mole St. Nichoas to the northern border with the Dominican Republic.
Hanna is expected to produce 4 to 8 inches of rain over the southeastern Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos and eastern Cuba; some isolated areas could receive up to 12 inches. Rainfall of 6 to 10 inches is possible over the Dominican Republic and Haiti which could cause life threatening mud slides and flash floods. Swells from Hanna are expected to increase the risk of dangerous rip currents along portions of the Southeast coast over the next couple of days.
NASA has delayed the move of the space shuttle Atlantis from an assembly building at Florida's Kennedy Space Center to the launch pad by at least one day. The move had been scheduled for Tuesday in preparation for an October mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.
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TS Ike Strengthens In Central Atlantic
MIAMI (CBS4) ― The ninth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Ike, has strengthened a little over the central Atlantic.
At 11:00 a.m. the center of Tropical Storm Ike was located about 1,110 miles east of the Leeward Islands, near latitude 18.9 North and longitude 45.0 West. The storm is headed west at 18 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph with higher gusts. This general motion is expected to continue during the next two days.
Some strengthening is forecast in the next few days. Some models show the storm becoming a hurricane on Wednesday.
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Tropical Storm Josephine Forms Off Africa
MIAMI (CBS4) ― Along with Tropical Storms Hanna and Ike, South Florida now has to keep an eye on Tropical Storm Josephine.
The tenth Tropical Depression of this year's hurricane season has formed into Josephine in the far eastern Atlantic.
At 11 a.m., the center of Josephine was about 120 miles south-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands; latitude 13.2 north, longitude 25.3 west. The system is moving to the west near 15 mph and is expected to track to the west and northwest over the next several days. On this forecast track the center of TD 10 will remain south of the Cape Verde Islands and pass them Tuesday night.
The system's maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph and some strengthening is expected in the next 24 hours.
The next update on Tropical Storm Josephine will be at 5 p.m. MIAMI (CBS4) ― Tropical Storm Hanna continues to blast the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Haiti with gusty wind and torrential rain. ... more -
Love Story: Young WI kayakers circle Lake Superior and celebrate their love
Ashland, Wisconsin residents Alissa Weitz, 26, and Brian Castillo, 23, will soon be completing their 1,300 mile journey around Lake Superior.
They are a couple in love with Lake Superior and each other - on a modern day lover's adventure.
They arrived in Marquette in late July and spent Lake Superior Day hiking with friends and swimming including jumping off the tall cliffs at the city’s “black rocks.”
A big part of their quest is educating the public about the environmental value of Lake Superior.
Averaging 25 miles a day - with their longest day over 40 miles.
They encountered water temperatures as low as 38 degrees, fog outside of Marquette, rough waves outside of Houghton, Michigan that prevent them from rounding the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula - and instead cut through the Keweenaw Waterway.
They left Ashland, Wisconsin on July 1 and hope to complete their two-month journey around the first week of September.
Weitz is a native of Dubuque, IA & Castillo is a native of Madison, WI.
Graduates of the Northland College outdoor education program in Ashland, Wisconsin, the couple were competitors working for different kayak guiding companies when they met two years ago and fell in love.
They are documenting their adventure at:
http://www.sessiononsuperior.blogspot.com
Thanks to Down Wind Sports in Marquette, Brian picked up a new kayak due to problems with the one used during the first part of the trek. Sea Kayak Specialists of Marquette provided tools and space to repair their equipment.
This video was made in cooperation with the Cedar Tree Institute, Earth Keeper Initiative, Earth Healing Initiative and Turtle Island Project, all northern Michigan non-profits protecting Lake Superior.
Special thanks to the Lake Superior Binational Forum for helping make this video possible.
News coverage of Alissa, Brian:
Marquette:
http://www.miningjournal.net
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/513...
BlogsMonroe:
http://www.blogsmonroe.com/expatriate/2008/07/25/pair-a...
Ashland paper:
Marquette Photo:
http://www.ashlandwi.com/articles/2008/07/24/news/doc48...
Story prior to trip:
http://www.ashlandwi.com/articles/2008/07/02/news/doc48...
WX Channnel:
http://uservideo.weather.com:80/item/GY56YQ4K0TH0B3CS
Lake Superior Binational Forum
Lissa Radke, LSFB US Coordinator
715-682-1489
http://www.superiorforum.info
Northland College in Ashland, WI:
http://www.northland.edu/Northland
Clean Wisconsin:
http://cleanwisconsin.org
Down Wind Sports:
http://www.downwindsports.com/index.html
http://www.downwindsports.com/about.html
http://www.downwindsports.com/paddling.html
Owners: Bill Thompson, Todd King, Jeff Stasser and Arni Ronis
Marquette: 906-226-7112
514 N. Third Street
Marquette, MI
49855
Houghton: 906-482-2500
308 Shelden Ave.
Houghton, MI
49931
Sea Kayak Specialists:
http://www.seakayakspecialists.com
http://www.seakayakspecialists.com/html/about_sks.html
http://www.seakayakspecialists.com/html/contact_us.html
Sea Kayak Specialists
PO Box 94
Marquette, MI
49855
Sam Crowley
http://www.glsks.org/sam_crowleypage.htm
Nancy Uschold
906-250-4238
Other links:
http://caskaorg.typepad.com/caska/2008/07/superior-sess...
UM Sea Grant
http://www.seagrant.umn.edu
http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/fieldguide
EcoSuperior Enviro:
http://www.ecosuperior.com
Environment Canada:
http://www.ec.gc.ca
Turtle Island Project official website:
http://www.turtleislandproject.org
Earth Healing Initiative:
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org
Cedar Tree Institute: Michigan Earth Keepers, Manoomin Project & 2008 Zaagkii Wings & Seeds project
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org
Earth Keeper TV
http://www.youtube.com/yoopernewsman
Turtle Island TV (youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/MunisingWhiteHorse
Earth Healing TV
http://www.youtube.com/user/EarthHealingTV Ashland, Wisconsin residents Alissa Weitz, 26, and Brian Castillo, 23, will soon be completing their 1,300 mile journey around Lake Su... more -
Forecasters: Gustav could soon be Category 2 hurricane
Hurricane Gustav pushed closer toward Haiti's southern coast Tuesday, as the National Hurricane Center said it expected the storm to reach Category 2 status by day's end.
The forecasters warned that Gustav, now a Category 1 hurricane with winds nearing 90 mph (145 kph) and higher gusts, could become stronger before reaching land later Tuesday.
The storm is expected to weaken slightly as it moves over Haiti, the hurricane center said, but it warned that the storm would restrengthen before approaching eastern Cuba on Wednesday.
Earlier, the center said the storm could become a Category 2 hurricane before reaching Haiti on Tuesday. iReport.com: See images of flooding in Dominican Republic
Category 2 hurricanes have sustained winds up to 110 mph, and storm surges are generally 6 to 8 feet above normal.
Gustav may become a "major hurricane," or a storm that has reached at least Category 3 status, over the next few days, forecasters said. Hurricane Gustav pushed closer toward Haiti's southern coast Tuesday, as the National Hurricane Center said it expected the storm... more -
Kite surfer rides Faye
I thought this video was pretty amazing but the guy is said to be in critical condition.
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Environment The Era of Catastrophe? Geologists Name New Era After Human Influence...
A striking report from the front lines of science suggests we're officially entering a period in which humanity may simply outrun history itself.
Way too long to post here...Click the link to read A striking report from the front lines of science suggests we're officially entering a period in which humanity may simply outrun... more -
Vietnam floods toll rises
At least 100 people have been killed in deadly floods and landslides triggered by a tropical storm which lashed northern Vietnam over the weekend.
Dozens more are still missing and disaster officials expect the toll to rise as rescue workers reach isolated areas two days after Kammuri slammed into the nine provinces.
On Sunday the Storm and Flood Prevention Centre said rescue work was hampered by inaccessibility to the affected areas because roads were either submerged or completely washed away.
The incident has been described as the biggest natural disaster to hit the country this year.
Vietnam's National Meteorology Centre has forecast more severe flash floods and landslides in several northern mountainous provinces including Lao Cai, Yen Bai
and Phu Tho.
Lao Cai, bordering China was the most seriously hit area with more than three dozen killed by landslides and flash floods, provincial officials said.
"This is the deadliest natural disaster to hit Lao Cai in 20 years," said Thao A Tua, a villager in that province.
Phao Duan Seo, a villager in Tung Chi, said the floods swept everything away houses, belongings "and most of my family members".
"My son and I survived, but I have nothing now." At least 100 people have been killed in deadly floods and landslides triggered by a tropical storm which lashed northern Vietnam over ... more -
Lightning, Thunder and Tornado Storm Cause of Death and Destruction in Chicago, Mi...
Three tornadoes, one with winds up to 135 mph., were confirmed from last night's Midwest storm that raged from Chicago to Indiana, toppling trees, lighting fires and blowing rooftops off as it went. At least one death is blamed on last night’s storm after a tree fell on an Indiana man's car, CBS News 2 said. Fourteen fires, loss of power to 248 blocks, more than a dozen flooded viaducts and 2,000 emergencies related to downed tree branches were confirmed, the Chicago Tribune said. More than 350 flights were canceled Monday night at O’Hare International Airport, NBC5 said. Wrigley Field evacuated after first being paused for delay and then canceled.
Last night was the end of my Midwest vacation, and I was happy to be heading back to the San Francisco Bay Area, flying out of O’Hare Airport in Chicago, IL. Right before we were supposed to board our flight, it started raining hard outside and before long we realized we were in the middle of a huge storm. I took the above picture from the waiting area in front of our United flight. We were delayed 4 hours and even then had one of the most turbulent plane rides I had ever been on.
After I woke up this morning I checked the internet for information about the storm and found out it was even worse than I thought it was. Here are some links with information about this storm.
Chicago Tribune report
This link provides information about the storm, as well as user submitted pictures and videos of storm damages and lighting.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-chicago-we...
NBC report
Talks about tornadoes, fires caused by lighting, and airline delays at O’Hare
http://www.nbc5.com/weather/17102554/detail.html
CBS News 2 report
http://www.kgan.com/template/inews_wire/wires.national/...
Has information on death in Indiana
Some YouTube Videos
The AP report:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkzZ8LFg_Z4
This video shows some sweet lightning shots:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMQ2grfv8gY
This video has funny music, but also a map of the storm:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TqjyrqHyaw&watch_re...
What are some other peoples experiences in this storm? Three tornadoes, one with winds up to 135 mph., were confirmed from last night's Midwest storm that raged from Chicago to Indiana... more -
US government aims to tame storms with 'hurricane modification'
With winds that rip apart buildings and can produce more power than a nuclear bomb, it would seem humans can do little against the devastating force of a hurricane.
The United States government, however, has other ideas and is now attempting to pit some of the world's best minds against these indomitable forces of nature, the Telegraph reports.
Critics say attempts to tinker with such powerful weather systems could have unintended consequences for the climate
The Department of Homeland Security has asked scientists to draw up new plans on how hurricanes and other tropical storms can be weakened before they hit land.
Three years after Hurricane Katrina caused more than $50bn of damage and killed 1,800 people when it blasted through New Orleans, American government officials have asked for a new programme into hurricane modification.
Scientists believe they can weaken the strength of tropical storms and steer them off course using a range of methods that include spraying fine particles into hurricanes or cooling the sea water in areas where they form.
But attempts to tinker with such powerful weather systems will alarm critics who believe modifying hurricanes could have unintended consequences to the climate, and could leave governments open to lawsuits if they fail to prevent storms with the new technology.
William Laska, programme manager of science and technology at the Department of Homeland Security, said it was essential if future loss of life and destruction was to be avoided.
He said: "We do not want to stop hurricanes completely as this could cause other unintended consequences. Hurricanes are part of the world's natural balance and provide a vital source of rainfall for many areas.
"But if we can decrease the intensity of a hurricane from a level five to a level four, then the amount of damage can be dramatically reduced."
The project has been given an estimated price tag of around $64m (£32m) over six years. Scientists will first conduct tests using models and small scale experiments before the most promising idea is developed for large scale testing.
Among the plans is a scheme to seed hurricanes with microscopic particles of salt that have been released into a storm from an aircraft. Research has shown that such seeding can cause hurricanes to dump large quantities of rain over the sea before it reaches land. The rainfall also carries away the heat that powers the hurricane, weakening it.
Other schemes aim to weaken or prevent hurricanes by cooling the sea temperature.
Other scientists have suggested using thousands of floating buoys in the ocean, which would harness wave power to pump warm surface water down and draw cold water from 650 feet below the surface to the top, or spreading a thin film of oil on the surface of the ocean in front of developing storms. This, scienctists believe, would reduce evaporation from the sea's surface and decrease the amount of heat drawn from the sea by the hurricane.
What do you think? Should we just leave this devastating and powerful act of nature to its own devices? Is this a fairly typical 'we're more powerful even than nature!'-type approach from the US government, or a genuinely helpful attempt to protect it's people? With winds that rip apart buildings and can produce more power than a nuclear bomb, it would seem humans can do little against the dev... more -
2008 1,300 Mile Kayaking Odyssey: Young Wisconsin couple circumnavigating Lake Sup...
(Marquette, Michigan) - It’s a 1,300 mile, two month odyssey - kayaking around the always beautiful and sometimes treacherous Lake Superior
Ashland, Wisconsin residents Alissa Weitz and Brian Castillo are promoting the protection of Lake Superior - the world’s largest freshwater lake.
The twenty somethings departed Bayfield, Wisconsin on July 1 and hope to complete their journey by September.
The kayaking duo left Marquette, Michigan on Tuesday afternoon, July 22, 2008 to continue their journey.
They arrived in Marquette for Lake Superior Day 2008 - this year that was July 20 2008.
Lake Superior Day is sponsored by the Lake Superior Bi-national Forum and is held annually on the third Sunday of July.
Alissa and Brian spent Lake Superior Day hiking with friends and swimming including jumping off the tall cliffs at the city's "black rocks."
A big part of their quest is educating the public about protecting Lake Superior and why the largest of the Great Lakes is so important..
The trek takes them through the Canada and the United States including Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Averaging 25 miles a day - with their longest day was about 40 miles.
They encountered water temperatures as low as 38 degrees, fog outside of Marquette, rough waves outside of Houghton, Michigan that prevent them from rounding the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula - and instead cut through the Keweenaw Waterway.
Thanks to Down Wind Sports in Marquette, Brian picked up a new kayak because of problems with the one used during the first part of their trek.
Weitz is a native of Dubuque, Iowa and Castillo is a native of Madison, Wisconsin.
Alissa is 26 years old and Brian is 23 years old.
Graduates of the Northland College outdoor education program in Ashland, Wisconsin, the couple were competitors working for different kayak guiding companies when they met two years ago and fell in love.
The Kayaker's (Alissa Weitz, Brian Castillo) "Session on Superior" blog about trip around the lake:
http://www.sessiononsuperior.blogspot.com
This video was made in cooperation with the Cedar Tree Institute, the Earth Keeper Initiative, the Earth Healing Initiative and the Turtle Island Project – all northern Michigan-based non-profits seeking to protect Lake Superior.
And special thanks to the Lake Superior Binational Forum for helping make this video possible..
Greg Peterson for Earth Keeper, Earth Healing and Turtle Island TV
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News coverage of Alissa, Brian:
Marquette paper:
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/513...
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Ashland paper:
Marquette Photo:
http://www.ashlandwi.com/articles/2008/07/24/news/doc48...
Story prior to trip:
http://www.ashlandwi.com/articles/2008/07/02/news/doc48...
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WX Channnel:
http://uservideo.weather.com:80/item/GY56YQ4K0TH0B3CS
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Lake Superior Binational Forum
Lissa Radke, LSFB US Coordinator
715-682-1489
http://www.superiorforum.info
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Northland College in Ashland, WI:
http://www.northland.edu/Northland
---
Down Wind Sports:
http://www.downwindsports.com/index.html
Owners: Bill Thompson, Todd King, Jeff Stasser and Arni Ronis
Marquette: 906-226-7112
Houghton: 906-482-2500
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Sea Kayak Specialists:
http://www.seakayakspecialists.com
Sam Crowley, Nancy Uschold
906-250-4238
---
EcoSuperior Enviro:
http://www.ecosuperior.com
Environment Canada:
http://www.ec.gc.ca
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Video made in cooperation with:
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Turtle Island Project official website:
http://www.turtleislandproject.org
Earth Healing Initiative official website:
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org
Cedar Tree Institute: (Michigan Earth Keepers, Manoomin Project and the 2008 Zaagkii Wings & Seeds project)
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org
Earth Keeper TV
http://www.youtube.com/yoopernewsman
Turtle Island TV (youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/MunisingWhiteHorse
Earth Healing TV
http://www.youtube.com/user/EarthHealingTV (Marquette, Michigan) - It’s a 1,300 mile, two month odyssey - kayaking around the always beautiful and sometimes treacherous Lake Sup... more -
Saharan dust storms sustain life in Atlantic Ocean
Research at the University of Liverpool has found how Saharan dust storms help sustain life over extensive regions of the North Atlantic Ocean Research at the University of Liverpool has found how Saharan dust storms help sustain life over extensive regions of the North Atlant... more
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Lightning Strikes Woman As She Shoots Video
Jessica Lynch was shooting video of a rain storm and was suddenly struck by lightning, capturing it all on video. Luckily she wasn’t injured, just a bit shook up.
"From what i understand, it went through my left hand holding the camera, crossed my back and exited out of my right hand holding onto the metal railing. No entry or exit wounds, just a really good zap!" she said. Jessica Lynch was shooting video of a rain storm and was suddenly struck by lightning, capturing it all on video. Luckily she wasn’t i... more -
Rare Unseen Fog Storms Pictures Released
Fog caught on camera can create some amazing pictures. Two weather fronts converging at the same time, coming in very fast, with deafening winds bring very rare fog storms as these cool pictures show. Fog caught on camera can create some amazing pictures. Two weather fronts converging at the same time, coming in very fast, with deafe... more
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Hurricane Bertha gaining strength
Hurricane Bertha, currently sitting in the Atlantic southeat of Bermuda is thought to be regaining its strength, and forecasters warn that it "could continue to intensify".
The US National Hurricane Centre however, said that it was "too early to determine the extent to which Bertha could impact Bermuda". Hurricane Bertha, currently sitting in the Atlantic southeat of Bermuda is thought to be regaining its strength, and forecasters warn ... more -
Bertha becomes 1st hurricane of 2008
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Bertha became the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season early Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A satellite picture from 5:45 a.m. ET Monday shows Hurricane Bertha over the Atlantic.
As of 5 a.m. ET, Bertha was 845 miles (1365 km) east of the northern Leeward Islands and was moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph.
It was packing winds of 75 mph -- the minimum for hurricane status.
Additional strengthening is expected during the next couple of days, according to forecasters.
The hurricane center said it is still too early to determine whether Bertha will eventually affect any land areas.
The five-day forecast map shows Bertha passing near Bermuda, but hurricanes are unpredictable and their routes often change during a forecast period. See Bertha's predicted path »
Don't Miss
iReport.com: Are you ready for hurricane season?
Interactive: Hurricane Tracker
The storm formed Thursday in the far eastern Atlantic, off the coast of Africa, near the southern Cape Verde Islands. MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Bertha became the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season early Monday, according to the Nationa... more -
Unbelievable storm
Warning, you may need to take Dramamine to enjoy this clip.
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Typhoon Fengshen Hits Hong Kong
Hong Kong's stock exchange, schools and public transport were suspended Wednesday morning after severe tropical storm Fengshen brought heavy wind and rainfall to the city.
Hong Kong's observatory issued the first typhoon signal number eight of the year, the third highest of a four-stage storm warning system indicating gales or storm-force winds were expected, on Tuesday night.
But the warning was lowered to strong wind signal number three at 11.15 am (0315 GMT), as wind speeds dropped to 41-62 kilometres per hour.
"The public should remain on the alert as occasional gales continue to affect the western part of the territory and over offshore waters," said a spokesman for the observatory.
Fengshen, literally meaning the God of Wind, has killed more than 1,000 people in the Philippines and took a surprise turn towards the southern Chinese city Tuesday night.
The storm had initially been expected to swing into the South China Sea from the Philippines and track northwards to Taiwan but instead veered northwest, the observatory said.
The storm, at about 60 kilometres northeast of Hong Kong on Wednesday, is forecast to weaken and move north or north-northwest at about 14 kilometres an hour further into China's Guangdong province.
The observatory said it was heading towards Shenzhen, just over the border from Hong Kong, but had not caused any major damage.
Tourists were stranded in Macau last night after ferry services between Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen were halted.
Some taxi drivers in Hong Kong took the opportunity to raise fees as people began the after-storm scramble to work.
Hong Kong's stock market was due to reopen at 2.30 pm (0630 GMT). Hong Kong's stock exchange, schools and public transport were suspended Wednesday morning after severe tropical storm Fengshen br... more
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