The computer models for Tropical Storm Ida for the next five days show wide disagreement.
With less than a month to go to the end of a fairly uneventful 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Ida formed on Wednesday afternoon in the southwestern Caribbean Sea.
Ida is the ninth storm of the season.
From the beginning, meteorologists have said not to expect a lot of tropical activity this year. In August, hurricane experts downgraded the forecast due mostly to the formation of an El Niño.
Philip J. Klotzbach and William M. Gray with the Tropical Meteorology Project, estimated that 2009 would have about four hurricanes, 10 named storms, four hurricanes and two major hurricanes, above Category 3 in strength.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, called for a 70 percent chance of seven to 11 named storms, of which three to six could become hurricanes, including one to two major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5).
Thus far this season, nine named storms have formed and two have strengthened in hurricanes. Hurricanes Bill and Fred were major hurricane.
While Ida is still too far away to know for sure how strong it might get or if it will threaten the United States, officials say it is close enough to remind everyone that hurricane season is not over yet.
Pinellas County officials urge resident to continue to be prepared and to make plans in case a storm threatens the area. The most important steps include:
- Know your zone. Residents should find out today what their evacuation level is. This information can be found at Pinellas County’s Emergency Management website, by calling (727) 453-3150 or by checking a utility bill or the recently mailed Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice.
- Prepare your survival kit. It is possible that residents will spend the first five to seven days on their own after a storm makes landfall. A survival kit should contain at least water, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a battery operated or crank radio, a car cell phone charger and necessary medications. A complete list of supplies can be found on the county’s website or in the Surviving the Storm hurricane guide available at city halls and libraries.
- Stay in the know: Since conditions can change rapidly this time of the year, residents are urged to check a weather forecast at least daily to stay aware of the situation in the tropics.
- For more information on how to build a hurricane preparedness plan, visit Pinellas County's Emergency Management at www.pinellascounty.org/emergency, or call 727-464-3800.
Gerry Bell, NOAA’s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster, urged the public to not let down their guard.
“A hurricane can strike any season,” Bell said. “It only takes one to make it a bad year, so stay prepared.”
For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit TBNweekly.com’s hurricane guide.
To keep an eye on the latest tropical weather, visit TBN’s online tropical weather center
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