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Tropical Storm Noel forms in Caribbean
By SUZETTE PORTER
| Article published on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007 |
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| The 2:15 p.m. (EDT) Sunday five-day forecast track from the National Hurricane Center shows Tropical Storm Noel about 150 miles south-southeast of the Port-au-Prince, Haiti. |
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PINELLAS COUNTY – Tropical Depression 16 strengthened into the 14th named storm of the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season on Sunday afternoon.
Recent reports from an Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft show that maximum winds were near 50 mph with higher gusts. Tropical systems are categorized as a named storm when they reach wind speeds between 39 and 73 mph.
At 2:15 p.m. the center of the storm was located about 150 miles south-southeast of Port-Au-Prince Haiti. Noel was moving toward the north-northwest at about 5 mph. The center was expected to near the southwestern peninsula of Haiti Sunday night.
Florida Division of Emergency Management officials cautioned that the forecast track was highly uncertain due to varying environmental conditions surrounding the storm and advised residents and visitors to south Florida and the Key to monitor future forecasts.
Although, no major hurricanes have made landfall in the United States this season, and no system has posed a significant threat to residents in Pinellas County, officials, including Tom Iovino with the county’s Communications Department, still preach that “it only takes one to make a bad season.”
Hurricane experts William M. Gray and Philip J. Klotzbach, at Colorado State University, are forecasting a very active end to the 2007 hurricane season.
In an updated forecast released on Oct. 2, Gray and Klotzbach call for four named storms, two hurricanes and one major hurricane to form during the months of October and November.
Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration concur that the end of the season could be active.
Pinellas County Emergency Management officials continue to urge residents to keep a close eye on the weather.
Residents who do not know their hurricane evacuation level should visit www.pinellascounty.org/emergency or call 727-453-3150. Evacuation levels also are printed on Pinellas County Utility bills.
Citizens with special needs and those who plan to utilize a pet shelter need to pre-register, host home arrangements need to be completed, and all plans put in place.
2007 season summary
- Thus far this season, 13 named storms have formed - Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dean, Erin, Felix, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Melissa and Noel.
- 2007 is the fourth season to have more than one Category 5 hurricane (1960, 1961, 2005).
- The only Atlantic Hurricane Season with two Category 5 hurricanes to make landfall (Dean, Felix).
- Dean was the first hurricane of the season and the first major hurricane of the season.
- Dean and Felix were two of the strongest hurricanes to make landfall since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
- Hurricane Dean lasted for 3.75 days as a major hurricane. This is the most days that a single major hurricane has accrued during the month of August since Frances in 2004.
- Hurricane Felix had the fastest rise from tropical depression to Category 5 –51 hours.
- Hurricane Humberto was the fastest to go from tropical depression to hurricane strength - 18 hours.
-Hurricane Humberto was the first hurricane to make landfall in the United States since 2005.
- Eight named storms formed in September, tying the record set in 2002.
- Only 3.5 hurricane days occurred in September, which is the lowest number of hurricane days observed in September since 1994.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.
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Article published on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007
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