Well, today is the first day of the season.<\/p>\n
Which season, you ask?\u00a0 On the first day of June, anyone asking that question is definitely not<\/em> from Florida.\u00a0 On the first day of June, every true Floridian knows exactly what season to which anyone is referring when talking about \u201cthe season.\u201d<\/p>\n Today is the first official day of the 2011 Hurricane Season.<\/p>\n This is big news.\u00a0 This year, those who prognosticate such things as cyclonic storms in the tropical and semi-tropical climes say there is going to be more than the normal number of storms.\u00a0 Additionally, they will be stronger than past years.<\/p>\n \u00a0The team at Colorado State University predicts there will be 16 named tropical storms this season.\u00a0 Of these, nine will become hurricanes and five will fall into the \u201cmajor\u201d category.\u00a0 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts 12 to 18 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and with three to six of those hurricanes falling into the major category.<\/p>\n \u00a0For those who live and work in Florida, hurricanes are serious business.\u00a0 Already, there are storms popping up in the tropics that have the eye of many weather observers.\u00a0 Indeed, by tomorrow, the first tropical system may come ashore and, with the dry conditions that now exist in Florida, many are hoping and praying the storm does come across land with significant rains.\u00a0 Many would like to see it hit shore as a tropical depression, or storm; not as a hurricane.\u00a0 Sometimes, the Florida landscape needs water and there is nothing better for the land than a tropical storm that sits for two or three days dumping water on parched land.<\/p>\n It is odd that Florida is dry while Louisiana and the plains have faced serious flooding problems over the last month.\u00a0 With extreme storms and tornadoes ripping through the Midwest and Atlantic states, this is a hint that the Florida hurricane season is going to be tough.<\/p>\n In recent times, Florida has suffered quite a lot in terms of strong hurricanes.\u00a0 In fact, there are still \u201cblue roofs\u201d around the peninsula from the hurricanes of two and three years ago.<\/p>\n The important thing to remember concerning hurricanes is this: listen to the authorities and do what they tell you to do.\u00a0 If local law enforcement agencies say pack up and leave, do it.\u00a0 Don\u2019t delay. \u00a0If a hurricane is approaching, get out of the way.<\/p>\n Many who are unfamiliar with the destruction a hurricane is capable of may be tempted to invite friends over and have a \u201churricane party.\u201d\u00a0 This is the wrong thing to do.\u00a0 A strong hurricane can put anyone in extreme danger and alcohol impairment may just hasten the end of one\u2019s life.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n As we move into the summer months, it is time to keep an eye on the tropical weather and radar.\u00a0 Those of us with experience already started paying attention.<\/p>\n -30-<\/p>\n \u00a9 2011 J. Clark<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Well, today is the first day of the season. Which season, you ask?\u00a0 On the first day of June, anyone asking that question is definitely not from Florida.\u00a0 On the first day of June, every true Floridian knows exactly what … Continue reading