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Experimental Long Range Impact Chances (Issued By Our Team).
Hurricane Tracker Alert Levels (Risk of Being Impacted)
Experimental Long Range Impact Chances (Issued By Our Team).
Hurricane Tracker Alert Levels (Risk of Being Impacted)
In its 2013 Atlantic hurricane season outlook issued today, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an active or extremely active season this year.
For the six-month hurricane season, which begins June 1, NOAA’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).
These ranges are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
“With the devastation of Sandy fresh in our minds, and another active season predicted, everyone at NOAA is committed to providing life-saving forecasts in the face of these storms and ensuring that Americans are prepared and ready ahead of time.” said Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., NOAA acting administrator. “As we saw first-hand with Sandy, it’s important to remember that tropical storm and hurricane impacts are not limited to the coastline. Strong winds, torrential rain, flooding, and tornadoes often threaten inland areas far from where the storm first makes landfall.”
Three climate factors that strongly control Atlantic hurricane activity are expected to come together to produce an active or extremely active 2013 hurricane season. These are:
“This year, oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the Atlantic basin are expected to produce more and stronger hurricanes,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “These conditions include weaker wind shear, warmer Atlantic waters and conducive winds patterns coming from Africa.”
NOAA’s seasonal hurricane outlook is not a hurricane landfall forecast; it does not predict how many storms will hit land or where a storm will strike. Forecasts for individual storms and their impacts will be provided throughout the season by NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.
New for this hurricane season are improvements to forecast models, data gathering, and the National Hurricane Center communication procedure for post-tropical cyclones. In July, NOAA plans to bring online a new supercomputer that will run an upgraded Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) model that provides significantly enhanced depiction of storm structure and improved storm intensity forecast guidance.
Also this year, Doppler radar data will be transmitted in real time from NOAA’s Hurricane Operations Center Hurricane Hunter aircraft. This will help forecasters better analyze rapidly evolving storm conditions, and these data could further improve the HWRF model forecasts by 10 to 15 percent.
The National Weather Service has also made changes to allow for hurricane warnings to remain in effect, or to be newly issued, for storms like Sandy that have become post-tropical. This flexibility allows forecasters to provide a continuous flow of forecast and warning information for evolving or continuing threats.
“The start of hurricane season is a reminder that our families, businesses and communities need to be ready for the next big storm,” said Joe Nimmich, FEMA associate administrator for Response and Recovery. “Preparedness today can make a big difference down the line, so update your family emergency plan and make sure your emergency kit is stocked. Learn more about how you can prepare for hurricane season at www.ready.gov/hurricanes.”
Next week, May 26 – June 1, is National Hurricane Preparedness Week. To help those living in hurricane-prone areas prepare, NOAA is offering hurricane preparedness tips, along with video and audio public service announcements in both English and Spanish, featuring NOAA hurricane experts and the FEMA administrator at www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/.
NOAA’s outlook for the Eastern Pacific basin is for a below-normal hurricane season and the Central Pacific basin is also expected to have a below-normal season. NOAA will issue an updated outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season in early August, just prior to the historical peak of the season.
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm353137.htm?source=govdelivery
Contact
Media
Craig Urness
(503) 905-4467
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 18, 2013 – Galveston Shrimp Company has issued a precautionary voluntary recall of its pre-packaged Texas Gulf Shrimp due to foreign material found in a bag. The pre-packaged bags are shipped to HEB Stores. Customers who recently purchased pre-packaged Gulf Shrimp are encouraged to check their refrigerators and/or freezers.
“Galveston Shrimp Company is committed to delivering the highest quality product to our retail partners, and in turn, their customers,” said Nello Cassarino, President of Galveston Shrimp Co. “This recall is precautionary to ensure the integrity of our products.”
Below is the list of products affected by the recall:
Description and UPC Code (Sold by the bag)
Medium Raw Wild Gulf Brown Shrimp, 51/60 Count
Medium Raw Wild Gulf White Shrimp, 51/60 Count
Large Raw Wild Gulf Brown Shrimp, 41/50 Count
Large Raw Wild Gulf White Shrimp, 41/50 Count
Large Raw Wild Gulf Brown Shrimp, 31/42 Count
Extra Large Wild Gulf Brown Shrimp, 26/30 Count
Extra Large Wild Gulf White Shrimp, 26/30 Count
Jumbo Wild Gulf Brown Shrimp, 16/25 Count
Jumbo Wild Gulf Brown Shrimp, 16/20 Count
Jumbo Wild Gulf White Shrimp, 16/20 Count
Colossal Wild Gulf Brown Shrimp, 10/15 Count
Colossal Wild Gulf Brown Shrimp, 10/15 Count
Preliminary count of tornados from yesterday’s storms is 10. The National Weather Service will conduct damage surveys today in Hood, Johnson, Montague and Parker counties. Tornados are rated based on the damage they cause, not by any sort of estimated wind speed, so we will not know the exact nature of each storm, its path and rating until surveys are completed later today. Thankfully, the weather today is expected to cooperate in Hood and Jonson counties, the hardest hit areas, so cleanup and damage assessments should not be impacted by continued severe weather. We do have a chance at storms redeveloping this afternoon; however, they are expected to occur in areas north and east of the DFW metro area or well south of DFW. Confidence in the exact timing and location of additional storms today is not 100%, so further updates will be forthcoming. Forecasted highs today in the areas affected by yesterday’s tornados is expected to be in the upper 80′s to low 90′s with breezy conditions. David returned to Texas overnight and will also be traveling out to the damage zones and will provide updates on what he sees later today. Our heartfelt prayers continue to go out to all those who were affected by yesterday’s storms.
Graphic below courtesy of the National Weather Service office in Ft. Worth