After the first evacuation of New York City, flooding throughout the upper East Coast, and the screeching halt of the underground transportation service in multiple states many people eagerly hoped the first hurricane of the season would be the last. As evacuations are finally cleared, rivers have finally crested, and cleanup has begun from the arrival and departure of Hurricane Irene a new storm develops and forms into yet another hurricane
Hurricane Katia is currently headed WNW at 20 mph with the maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. The center of the cone of uncertainty has the hurricane headed straight for North Carolina. According to the Weather Channel Hurricane Katia is already forecast to become a major hurricane. As with any storm, tropical or otherwise, the path of this hurricane can and will change. The path of this hurricane should bring some peace of mind to the people of Cuba, Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic & Haiti as the current path has this hurricane headed well to the North of the islands.
Hurricanes are named according to a revolving 6 year list. The name Katia has replaced the name Katrina after the terrible devastation Hurricane Katrina spread throughout New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. It takes a committee’s decision to determine whether or not a name will be retired; in general names are reused unless they cause severe property damage and loss of lives.
With the peak of hurricane season upon us now is the time, if you haven’t done it yet, to create a hurricane plan, practice it, and prepare. Remember to have your weather radio on alert and monitor your local news to stay abreast of not only Hurricane Katia’s progress but all weather related storms during this hurricane season.
Sources:
NOAA: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/nhc_storms.shtml
NOAA: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at2+shtml/024712.shtml?5-daynl#contents
Weather Channel:http://www.weather.com/