WSI Issues August Update for 2009 Hurricane Season
Weather Authority Maintains Forecast Numbers Despite Active Month in Atlantic
Andover, MA, August 25, 2009 — WSI Corporation’s updated 2009 hurricane season forecast maintains their July outlook for 10 named storms, 5 hurricanes, and 2 intense hurricanes (category 3 or greater). As of this release, there have been 3 named storms (Ana, Bill, Claudette), 1 hurricane (Bill), and 1 intense hurricane (Bill).
The forecast numbers continue from July to August because
there have been no significant changes in the current El Nino event. The
2009 forecast numbers remain quite close to the long-term (1950-2008)
average of 9.8 named storms, 6.0 hurricanes, and 2.5 intense hurricanes,
but are significantly lower than the numbers from the relatively active
seasons of the past 15 years.
The 2009 WSI tropical forecast comes on the heels of a very successful
2008 forecast. The WSI December forecast values of 14 named storms, 7
hurricanes, and 3 intense hurricanes were slightly smaller than the final
observed 2008 values of 16/8/5. The subsequent updates improved the forecast
further, as the April 2008 updated forecast values of 14 named storms,
8 hurricanes, and 4 intense hurricanes were the most accurate amongst
the publicly-available forecasts issued last spring.
“After a rather late start, the Atlantic season
has really kicked into gear with three storms developing over the last
10 days. Ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic have warmed up considerably
during the past month, but this warming likely represents only a shallow
surface layer and probably isn’t indicative of any substantial increase
in total available energy," said WSI seasonal forecaster Dr. Todd
Crawford. “On the other hand, the El Nino event has not yet created
a particularly destructive wind shear environment across the tropical
Atlantic yet, and the strength of the event itself has flattened out at
relatively weak levels in recent weeks. Our current forecast of 10 named
storms certainly seems well within reach at this point.”
Energy and agricultural traders, insurance professionals and risk managers
look to WSI for accurate, timely weather information around the clock
and across the globe. The next seasonal forecast update, which will include
forecasts for fall and early winter temperatures, will be issued on September
23. This will be the final update on the 2009 tropical season.
About WSI Corporation
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insurance, risk management companies and financial institutions, worldwide,
trust WSI to supply them with easy-to-use, timely and expert weather guidance
to help anticipate market volatility, mitigate risk and make critical decisions
with confidence. WSI is a member of The Weather Channel Companies and is headquartered
in Andover, Massachusetts, with offices in Birmingham, England. The Weather
Channel Companies are owned by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the
private equity firms, The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. For more information,
please visit us on the web at www.wsi.com
or call us at 877.WSI.CORP or +44.121.233.7600.
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