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PRESS RELEASE        

  HURRICANE SEASON 2010

Today Tuesday 1^st June marks the beginning of the 2010 Hurricane Season.  Seasonal forecasts and outlooks all indicate above average activity this hurricane season. The el Niño phenomenon, the abnormal warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean, was responsible for the downturn in tropical cyclone activity during the 2009 season. However, indications are that this phenomenon is all but dissipated with a tendency towards neutral or even la Niña conditions as the season progresses. Another indicator of an active season this year is the abnormally high sea surface temperatures. Warm sea surface temperatures are the main source of energy for the formation, development and perpetuation of tropical cyclones. Typically sea surface temperatures need to be 27ºC (81ºF) for tropical cyclone formation. Present temperatures between the west African coast and the coast of Central America- including Belize are estimated to be near or 1 to 2ºC above normal at this time.

 Typically tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin which includes the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico would be between 9 to 10 names systems, 6 of which would become hurricanes and 2 of those hurricanes would be intense (Category 3, 4 or 5). Seasonal outlooks for 2010 range from a low of 14 named systems to a high of 23. The upper extreme of this outlook suggesting as many as twenty-three named storms, if verified,  would place this year as one of the most active seasons on record. Other predictions state between 8 to 14 hurricanes and of those 4 to become intense hurricanes. Therefore the gamut of seasonal predictions is indicating a well above average 2010 hurricane season

 It is worthwhile to note that regardless of the activity predicted in the seasonal outlooks it takes only one system to create a disaster. Such disasters can happen whether the season is very active or relatively quiet. Events in late May and October 2008 serve to reinforce that reality. Therefore we must be prepared for any eventuality. Rest assured that the National Meteorological Service will be performing at its utmost best to keep the citizens informed with timely and accurate information throughout this 2010 Hurricane season.

 List of names for 2010 hurricane season:

Alex
Bonnie
Colin
Danielle
Earl
Fiona
Gaston
Hermine
Igor
Julia
Karl
Lisa
Matthew
Nicole
Otto
Paula
Richard
Shary
Tomas
Virginie
Walter

Be prepared. Be safe this hurricane season.