The National Hurricane Center is noting two disturbances over the eastern tropical Atlantic that are worth watching. Disturbance #1 is very disorganized and the NHC has put its chances of making it to tropical depression status in the low range. However, it could bring some beneficial rain to the southern Caribbean islands about midweek. The odds of development are low because it will be plowing into super hostile upper winds as it nears the Caribbean. Disturbance #2 is s

The National Hurricane Center is painting a large yellow area to watch in the central tropical Atlantic. Notice there is no X designating the center of the system in question. That's because that disturbance is still over Africa. It's forecast to move off the coast about Tuesday. Long-range computer forecast models give the system a decent chance of developing into at least a tropical depression in that area late in the week, but the NHC is keeping the odds in the low categ

Forecasters at Colorado State University issued their final seasonal forecast today. The numbers didn't change from July. They predict a total of 9 named storms forming in the Atlantic Basin with 4 becoming hurricanes, and 1 of those systems reaching at least Category 3. We've already had two named storms, of course: Arthur and Bertha. If you missed them, don't worry. They were easily forgettable. But that means, if the forecast is perfect, only 7 more named storms will dev

Indications continue to be strong that this hurricane season won't be like the active seasons we've seen lately. Before I talk about El Niño and the factors that are expected to shape this season, let me remind you of two very quiet years in the not-too-distant past. Lessons from the Past Hurricane Season 1983 featured only four!! named systems. Storm #1 was Hurricane Alicia, which came ashore over Galveston Island about 1:00 AM on August 18. It raked downtown Houston wit