Monday, May 20 2013 9:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 01:15:38 GMT
A massive tornado touched down to the southwest of Oklahoma City Monday afternoon. Starting out as a classic funnel it quickly became a giant half-mile wide wedge tornado as it proceeded east north eastMore >>
A massive tornado touched down to the southwest of Oklahoma City Monday afternoon.More >>
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:50 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:50:22 GMT
MOORE, OK (RNN) – In one of the few positive stories to come from the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma, an elderly woman was reunited with a four-legged friend she thought was dead. Barbara Garcia, a residentMore >>
Elderly resident Barbara Garcia frantically called for her dog after the tornado had leveled her house, but with no success.More >>
Friday, May 17 2013 7:16 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:16:53 GMT
One person has died in a crash near Harrisonville, MO, Thursday evening. The crash happened on Missouri Highway 7 and Walker Road. It involved a car and a tractor-trailer. Harrisonville is in Cass County.More >>
Savannah Nash celebrated her 16th birthday last week. She died Thursday when her car slammed into a semi while she was texting during her first time driving by herself.More >>
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:56 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:56:05 GMT
A North Carolina woman is charged with trying to poison five family members after one of them refused to share some cheese with her. A statement from the Nash County Sheriff's Office said 24-year-oldMore >>
A North Carolina woman is charged with trying to poison five family members after one of them refused to share some cheese with her.More >>
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center issued its outlook for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, and near-normal development is expected.
During the season, which lasts from June 1 through November 30, the CPC says there is a 70% chance that there will be anywhere from nine to fifteen named storms with winds of 39 mph or greater. Of these storms, four to eight will strengthen into hurricanes. One to three will ultimately become major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.
An average season sees twelve named storms with six hurricanes, including three major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher.
"NOAA's outlook predicts a less active season compared to recent years," said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D. "But regardless of the outlook, it's vital for anyone living or vacationing in hurricane-prone locations to be prepared. We have a stark reminder this year with the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew." The 1992 season which saw Category 5 Andrew's development only produced six named storms.
Factors that favor tropical development include this year's high-activity area in the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. The 1980s were relatively quiet, but activity has been much greater for the last fifteen years. Sea surface temperatures in most of the tropical Atlantic are also near-average.
Two factors that could keep storms at bay are strong wind shear, hostile to hurricane development, and cooler sea surface temperatures in the far eastern Atlantic. Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction center says that if El Niño develops later this season, conditions could be less favorable for hurricanes in the peak months (August-October). Then we'd likely see those numbers at the lower end of the range.
It's important to remember that this outlook does not predict how many storms will make landfall. It only takes one storm to hit land and cause widespread destruction.
