NEW YORK: The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season officially ended Thursday. While early predictions were dire, it was a tame affair. The six-month season, from 1 June to 30 December, had only nine tropical storms and hurricanes. Weather pundits had forecast some 16.
The last activity came with Hurricane Isaac in late September and dissipated in early October.
The unexpected phenomenon offered some welcome relief to people along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, who bore the brunt of two major hurricanes of the decade, including Hurricane Katrina, which killed 1,500 people and caused damages worth $80 billion. In 2005, there was a record of 28 storms, including Katrina and Rita. 2004 saw 15 storms.
In 2006, weather experts said only two of the nine storms to hit Atlantic had gained hurricane strength -- Gordon and Helene -- but these were just shadows of the 2005 performance. There were no category 4 or category 5 hurricanes for the first time since 1997. Also, there were no hurricanes that crossed the U.S. coast to hit the mainland.
Some weather experts feel the relatively weak storm activity could be the result of the warming of the Pacific waters -- an El Nino effect -- which has interfered with hurricane activity in the Atlantic. However, they do not want to hazard a guess on this account for 2007, though many feel favorable conditions for a busy season remain.
Gerry Bell, lead forecaster of the U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, says El Nino developed quickly and the atmosphere responded rapidly, reducing hurricane activity during an otherwise active era that began in 1995. "We got a much welcome break after a lot of the coast had been compromised in the last several years, but this is a one-season-type break," he added.
The weak season, however, brought cheers to oil refiners and operators of offshore rigs. There were no major disruptions throughout the season and this has helped them proceed to the next year in comparatively stronger financial health. The lull helped most of the operators to carry out major repairs, which will help them to optimize output in 2007.
For 2007, Bell will not give out a forecast as of now. Storm-watchers will have to wait until mid- to late-May 2007 for predictions, he said.
