See this thread for more entertainment and opposing points of view

See Here

As explained before, weather-related disasters are not something new, and not something new since the Bible was written. Weather has taken place since the formation of the planet, some 4 billion years ago (or was it 6,000 years?)

quote:

---

Originally posted by Frosty 4:

What are your thoughts??
Frosty 4

---

The 24/7 news cycle needs to fill their time and nothing gets viewers like a good disaster. The recent deadliest tornado was the worst since 1950. What was going on in 1950 compared to today? Also the highly advanced radar systems today pick up countless tornados that in the past would have gone un-noticed.

The nasty floods on the Mississippi are common-occuring every 30-40 years and far more people live on the flood plain (and coastal areas) today than in the past which results in more property damage-same goes for New Orleans as seen w/Hurricane Katrina. Most of the damage was in low level areas that were'nt built on 50-100 years ago. The higher French Quarter and Garden District received minimal damage.

Remember Hurricane Camille back in '69?? Hurricanes (some really nasty) are part of living on the gulf and earthquakes have been occuring since the creation of Earth. There difference is the 24-hour news channels weren't around to report on it.

[ 06-03-2011: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
Remember Hurricane Camille back in '69?? Hurricanes (some really nasty) are part of living on the gulf.

---

So....back to my original point about changing the tenor of the thread....I wonder if there is any substantive weather data which shows a correlation in tornadic activity in north America to that of an increase in tropical cyclones? I know that water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are higher than normal which typically equates to quick developing storms when the conditions are correct.

quote:

---

Originally posted by JohnHJ:

All science aside....it is my personal believe that we will see a fairly significant Atlantic Hurricane season and unfortunately many posts about changes in itineraries from the cruise lines over the next few months. Any other thoughts related to the Atlantic hurricane season?

---

We are indeed in a cycle of higher Atlantic/Gulf hurricane activity. These cycles seem to run about 20 years or so (according to the past 120 years of recorded weather history for the area.) The current high-occurrance cycle began around 1995.

Some years are "El Niño" years and others are "La Niña" years, creating various jet streams which can shear the tops off hurricane formation. So that can negate the intensity of these storms, which are indeed stronger because of warmer waters. But we are no doubt seeing more Cat 4 and 5 hurricanes because of the warmth.

And as we are constantly reminded here in South Florida, right in the heart of Hurricane Alley: it only takes one storm to make it a bad year. I remember being in Miami in 1992: only 3 storms that year, which didn't even begin until late August. The name of that storm: Andrew.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Frosty 4:
Hurricane season is now upon us. 9 major storms are forecast. I think a total of 16/17 ?

---

Until you look at the facts, and what those numbers actually mean: quieter than 2010, and close to the long-term average over the last 30 years.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Frosty 4:
It just seems we have had so many bad things happening.
F4[/QB]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:

The 24/7 news channels will do doubt report even the smallest occurance. Lately I've turned off the 24-hour news channels as the non-stop negative reporting can make one depressed!

---

And the news networks can "turn off" the events as quickly as they build them up, depending on the next thing in their news cycles.

When is the last time you heard anything about Japan, or the people in Tuscaloosa, or in North Carolina, etc? I know the media cannot dwell forever on one place, and they must move on, but even relatively big disasters can be pushed aside, depending upon the latest sex scandal, etc.