Arctic melt season lengthening, sea quickly warming

The size of the melt season for Arctic ocean ice keeps growing by a number of days each decade, as well as an earlier begin to the melt months are permitting the Arctic Sea to soak up enough additional photo voltaic radiation occasionally to melt around four ft from the Arctic ice cap's thickness, according to a different study by National Ice and snow Data Center (NSIDC) and NASA scientists.

Arctic ocean ice has been around sharp decline throughout the final 40 years. The ocean ice cover is diminishing and loss, making researchers think an ice-free Arctic Sea throughout the summer time may be arrived at this century. The seven cheapest September ocean ice extents within the satellite record have happened previously seven years.

"The Arctic is warming which is leading to the melt season to keep going longer,Inch stated Julienne Stroeve, a senior researcher at NSIDC, Boulder and lead author from the new study, that has been recognized for publication in Geophysical Research Letters. "The lengthening from the melt months are permitting for a lot of sun's energy to obtain saved within the sea while increasing ice melt throughout the summer time, overall weakening the ocean ice cover."

To review the evolution of ocean ice melt onset and freeze-up dates from 1979 to the current day, Stroeve's team used passive microwave data from NASA's Nimbus-7 Checking Multichannel Microwave Radiometer, and also the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager and also the Special Sensor Microwave Imager and Sounder transported onboard Defense Meteorological Satellite Program spacecraft.

When snow and ice start to melt, the existence of water causes spikes within the microwave radiation the snow grains emit, which these sensors can identify. When the melt months are entirely pressure, the microwave emissivity from the snow and ice balances, also it does not change again before the start of the freezing season causes another group of spikes. Researchers can appraise the alterations in the ice's microwave emissivity utilizing a formula produced by Thorsten Markus, co-author from the paper and chief from the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Results reveal that even though the melt months are lengthening at both finishes, by having an earlier melt onset early in the year along with a later freeze-in the autumn, the predominant phenomenon stretching the melting may be the later start of freeze season. Some areas, like the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, are freezing between six and 11 days later per decade. But while melt onset versions are more compact, the timing of the start of the melt season includes a bigger effect on the quantity of photo voltaic radiation absorbed through the sea, because its timing coincides with once the sun is greater and better within the Arctic sky.

Despite large regional versions at first and finish from the melt season, the Arctic melt season has extended normally by 5 days per decade from 1979 to 2013.

Still, weather helps make the timing from the fall freeze-up vary so much from year upon year.

"There's a trend later on freeze-up, but we can not tell whether a specific year will have an early on or later freeze-up," Stroeve stated. "There remains lots of variability from year upon year regarding the exact timing of once the ice will reform, which makes it hard for industry to organize when you should stop procedures within the Arctic."

To determine alterations in the quantity of solar power absorbed through the ice and sea, the scientists checked out the evolution of ocean surface temps and analyzed monthly surface albedo data (the quantity of solar power reflected through the ice and also the sea) along with the incoming photo voltaic radiation for that several weeks of May through October. The albedo and ocean surface temperature data the scientists used originates from the nation's Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's polar-revolving about satellites.

They discovered that the ice pack and sea waters are absorbing increasingly more sunlight due both for an earlier opening from the waters along with a darkening from the ocean ice. The ocean ice cover has become less reflective since it now mostly includes thinner, more youthful ice, that is less reflective compared to older ice that formerly centered the ice pack. Also, the youthful ice is flatter, permitting the dark melt ponds that form in the initial phases from the melt season can spread more broadly, further lowering its albedo.

The scientists calculated the rise in photo voltaic radiation absorbed through the ice and sea for that period varying from 2007 to 2011, which in certain regions of the Arctic Sea exceed 300 to 400 megajoules per square meter, or the quantity of energy required to thin the ice by yet another 3.1 to 4.2 ft (97 to 130 centimeters).

The increases in surface sea temps, coupled with a warming Arctic atmosphere because of global warming, explain the postponed freeze in the autumn.

"If air and sea temps offer a similar experience, the sea won't lose warmth towards the atmosphere as quickly as it might once the variations are greater," stated Linette Boisvert, co-author from the paper along with a cryospheric researcher at Goddard. "Within the last years, top of the sea warmth submissions are much greater than it was once, so it takes a longer period to awesome off as well as for freeze as much as begin."

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Atlantic hurricane season on track to be above-normal

August 8, 2013

Image of Tropical Storm Dorian on July 24, 2013, from NOAA's GOES East satellite.

High resolution (Credit: NOAA)

NOAA issued its updated Atlantic hurricane season outlook today saying the season is shaping up to be above normal with the possibility that it could be very active. The season has already produced four named storms, with the peak of the season – mid-August through October – yet to come.
“Our confidence for an above-normal season is still high because the predicted atmospheric and oceanic conditions that are favorable for storm development have materialized,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. “Also, two of the four named storms to-date formed in the deep tropical Atlantic, which historically is an indicator of an active season.”
The conditions in place now are similar to those that have produced many active Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1995, and include above-average Atlantic sea surface temperatures and a stronger rainy season in West Africa, which produces wind patterns that help turn storm systems there into tropical storms and hurricanes.
The updated outlook calls for a 70 percent chance of an above-normal season. Across the Atlantic Basin for the entire season – June 1 to November 30 – NOAA’s updated seasonal outlook (which includes the activity to date of tropical storms Andrea, Barry, Chantal, and Dorian) projects a 70 percent chance for each of the following ranges:

13 to 19 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including 6 to 9 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which3 to 5 could be major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

These ranges are above the 30-year seasonal averages of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

The updated outlook is similar to the pre-season outlook issued in May, but with a reduced expectation for extreme levels of activity. Motivating this change is a decreased likelihood that La Niña will develop and bring its reduced wind shear that further strengthens the hurricane season. Other factors are the lack of hurricanes through July, more variability in the wind patterns across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and slightly lower hurricane season model predictions. In May, the outlook called for 13-20 named storms, 7-11 hurricanes and 3-6 major hurricanes.

“The peak of the hurricane season is almost upon us and it’s important to remain prepared for hurricanes through November," said Joe Nimmich, FEMA Associate Administrator for Response and Recovery. "Make sure to review your family emergency plan, check that your emergency kit is stocked and consider insurance options. Learn more about how you can prepare for hurricanes at www.ready.gov/hurricanes.”

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.

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Lovebugs at their worst this season

Nina Greipel, AP

A pair of Lovebugs are seen as they mate on a sweet potato vine leaf in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Nina Greipel, AP

A pair of Lovebugs are seen as they mate on a sweet potato vine leaf in Port Charlotte, Fla.

A trip to see Louisiana State University's football team go up against an opponent in Tiger Stadium means at least two car washes for Adam Young.

That's one after he arrives in Baton Rouge and another when he returns to Shreveport-Bossier City, La.

Young isn't a neat freak. Rather, he's just playing good defense against one of the South's most prolific pests: the lovebug.

Twice a year -- March and September -- the winged insect emerges from a dormant stage, taking to the air en masse. In the process, thousands of lovebugs end up on windshields, headlights and radiator grilles.

"I went through a whole gallon of windshield wiper solution," Young said
of a recent trip down south. "When you are going 80 mph on Interstate 49, it sounds like you are driving through rain."

Gulf Coast states -- Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida -- are seeing more lovebugs this fall than in previous seasons. Reasons for the influx vary, entomologists say, but generally wet, hot and humid conditions are ideal for breeding.

In Texas, more rain following drought conditions in years past may explain why there seems to be more lovebugs. The numbers appear to be so great that Mike Merchant of Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension Service in Dallas says he recently received a phone call from a friend living in the Houston area who had lovebugs covering an exterior wall of his home.

"It's the worst he's ever seen them down there," Merchant said.

Lovebugs -- so nicknamed because they are often found mating in flight -- are black flies with a reddish-orange thorax. A little less than half an inch long, the flies live for about a week but are abundant for a month or so as new adults emerge, according to AgriLIFE.

The flies, which eat decayed plant matter, essentially are harmless, Louisiana State University AgCenter extension agent Bennett Joffrion said.

It can be a different matter when the bugs are clogging up a radiator or splattered on car paint.

"You don't want to leave it on your vehicle for any length of time; they tend to have an acidic nature," Joffrion said.

Bath also reports for The (Shreveport, La.) Times

For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

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Lovebugs at their worst this season

Nina Greipel, AP

A pair of Lovebugs are seen as they mate on a sweet potato vine leaf in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Nina Greipel, AP

A pair of Lovebugs are seen as they mate on a sweet potato vine leaf in Port Charlotte, Fla.

A trip to see Louisiana State University's football team go up against an opponent in Tiger Stadium means at least two car washes for Adam Young.

That's one after he arrives in Baton Rouge and another when he returns to Shreveport-Bossier City, La.

Young isn't a neat freak. Rather, he's just playing good defense against one of the South's most prolific pests: the lovebug.

Twice a year -- March and September -- the winged insect emerges from a dormant stage, taking to the air en masse. In the process, thousands of lovebugs end up on windshields, headlights and radiator grilles.

"I went through a whole gallon of windshield wiper solution," Young said
of a recent trip down south. "When you are going 80 mph on Interstate 49, it sounds like you are driving through rain."

Gulf Coast states -- Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida -- are seeing more lovebugs this fall than in previous seasons. Reasons for the influx vary, entomologists say, but generally wet, hot and humid conditions are ideal for breeding.

In Texas, more rain following drought conditions in years past may explain why there seems to be more lovebugs. The numbers appear to be so great that Mike Merchant of Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension Service in Dallas says he recently received a phone call from a friend living in the Houston area who had lovebugs covering an exterior wall of his home.

"It's the worst he's ever seen them down there," Merchant said.

Lovebugs -- so nicknamed because they are often found mating in flight -- are black flies with a reddish-orange thorax. A little less than half an inch long, the flies live for about a week but are abundant for a month or so as new adults emerge, according to AgriLIFE.

The flies, which eat decayed plant matter, essentially are harmless, Louisiana State University AgCenter extension agent Bennett Joffrion said.

It can be a different matter when the bugs are clogging up a radiator or splattered on car paint.

"You don't want to leave it on your vehicle for any length of time; they tend to have an acidic nature," Joffrion said.

Bath also reports for The (Shreveport, La.) Times

For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

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Federal forecasters predict a near-normal hurricane season

The federal government is predicting a near-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic this year: anywhere from four to eight hurricanes.

NOAA

Hurricane Irene, the most devastating storm of 2011, spins off the Mid-Atlantic coast in August.

NOAA

Hurricane Irene, the most devastating storm of 2011, spins off the Mid-Atlantic coast in August.

A typical season, based on the years 1981-2010, sees six hurricanes.

The Atlantic season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. This forecast, out Thursday from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), covers any storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

Overall, NOAA predicts that nine to 15 named tropical storms are likely. Tropical storms have top wind speeds of 39 mph or higher. Once a storm's winds reach 74 mph, it becomes a hurricane.

According to NOAA, two current climate factors will limit hurricane development, if they persist:

The first is stronger-than-average wind shear over the Atlantic, which, if it persists, can tear apart burgeoning hurricanes before they start, says forecaster Todd Kimberlain of the National Hurricane Center.

Wind shear is when winds are roaring from different directions in different layers of the atmosphere. Winds recently have come from the east at low levels, Kimberlain says, while they've been from the west at upper levels, about 40,000 feet above the surface.

The second factor is cooler-than-average sea-surface temperatures in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Warm water, usually of 80 degrees or above, helps fuel hurricanes.

"Another potentially competing climate factor would be El Niño, if it develops by late summer to early fall," says Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

El Niño is a warming of tropical Pacific ocean water. The opposite pattern, La Niña, has been diminishing in recent months.

"In that case, conditions could be less conducive for hurricane formation and intensification during the peak months (August-October) of the season, possibly shifting the activity toward the lower end of the predicted range," he says.

This month, two of the biggest private weather forecasting companies, AccuWeather and The Weather Channel, predicted an average or slightly below-average hurricane season. AccuWeather said 12 named tropical storms will form, five of them hurricanes; The Weather Channel forecasts 11 tropical storms — of which six will be hurricanes.

Last month, the meteorologists at Colorado State University estimated 10 tropical storms, of which four would be hurricanes. Colorado State University meteorologist William Gray was the first scientist to make seasonal hurricane forecasts in the 1980s.

Since 2000, NOAA's tropical storm and hurricane forecasts have been more right than wrong, but not by much: NOAA's prediction has been accurate in seven out of the past 12 years, according to a USA TODAY analysis.

NOAA's prediction was too low in four years and too high in just one year: 2006. Ten of the 12 years have seen above-average activity for tropical storms and hurricanes.

So far this year, one tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic: Alberto, which spun off the Southeast coast earlier this week.

Does the early start portend an active season? No, says the hurricane center's Kimberlain. "There is little, if any, relationship between the early occurrence of a storm at higher latitudes and the type of activity we will ultimately observe later in the season."

Forecasters also released their prediction for the Eastern Pacific basin, where 12 to 18 named storms are expected. An average Eastern Pacific hurricane season produces 15 named storms. Eastern Pacific storms and hurricanes primarily stay out to sea and seldom affect the USA, although some storms do hit the west coast of Mexico.

Two Eastern Pacific storms have formed this year: Tropical Storm Aletta, which spun harmlessly out to sea, and Hurricane Bud, which could affect the west coast of Mexico by this weekend.

For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

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Active 2011 Hurricane Season Comes to an End (LiveScience.com)

The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season was forecast to be a doozy and it delivered.

The season officially ends tomorrow (Nov. 30) and its legacy includes 19 tropical storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes — including the devastating Hurricane Irene, the only hurricane to strike the United States this year. Irene was the first U.S.-land-falling hurricane in three years. Its billion-dollar damage brought the United States back to the reality of hurricanes after years of quiet.

"Irene reminded us that the Northeast can and does get hit byhurricanes," said Jeff Weber, an atmospheric scientist at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo.

Active trend

The 2011 season continued a trend of active hurricane seasons that began in 1995, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Tropical storms came in with the third-highest total, at 19 (tied with 1887, 1995 and 2010), since records began, in 1851. An average season has 11 tropical storms. [See a video of the season's storms.]

The seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale) that developed this year number only slightly above the averages of six and two, respectively.

The 2011 season affected the Mid-Atlantic more than the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Irene, the first hurricane to hit the United States since Ike hit Texas in 2008, socked the East Coast. The storm caused $7 billion in damage and became the worst tropical cyclone  to strike the Northeast since Hurricane Bob in 1991. Tropical cyclone is the generic term for tropical storms and hurricanes.

Irene inundated New York and Connecticut with water — up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) in some places. Irene was blamed for 46 deaths across 13 states.

As bad as the damage was, things could have been worse. Modern storm-tracking technology allowed NOAA forecasters to accurately map Irene's path for four days before its landfall Aug. 27, near Cape Lookout, N.C., allowing the population of the Outer Banks to evacuate. Irene was a major storm for a brief period, but it weakened to a Category 1 storm and so was not a major hurricane at landfall.

"We have now gone six years — since Wilma in 2005 — without a major hurricane making U.S. landfall," said Phil Klotzbach, an atmospheric scientist and hurricane forecaster at Colorado State University.

Few Gulf storms

Since 1878, when land-falling hurricane records begin, the 2006-2011 span is the longest stretch without a major hurricane hitting the United States, Klotzbach told OurAmazingPlanet.

While the East Coast was soaked by storms, the dearth of Gulf storms added tothe Texas drought.

One storm that did hit the Gulf was Tropical Storm Lee, which made landfall in central Louisiana. Lee spawned 38 tornadoes, the second most on record for a tropical storm.

Most storms were turned away from the United States by an anomalous trough of low pressure along the East Coast, "which helped steer storms moving towards the U.S. coast back out to sea before they could make U.S. landfall," Klotzbach said.

You can follow OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel on Twitter: @btisrael. Follow OurAmazingPlanet for the latest in Earth science and exploration news on Twitter @OAPlanet and on Facebook.

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Atlantic hurricane season closes with 19 named storms (The Christian Science Monitor)

The curtain has fallen on the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season – one that enters the record books in a four-way tie for the third-largest number of named storms on record.

The others: the 1887, 1995, and 2010 seasons.

Tropical Storm Arlene started things off in late June. By the time Nov. 30 arrived, the roster ended with 19 named storms, ending with Tropical Storm Sean in early November.

Indeed, the season might have topped 19 named storms, but forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami didn't catch a blink-and-you'll-miss-it storm in early September that quickly reached tropical-storm status, only to weaken hours later. It spent its brief life well off the US East Coast.

Forecasters noticed the storm as they performed their usual season's-end review of data on Atlantic-basin activity. The review also led to Tropical Storm Nate's promotion to Hurricane Nate.

Although the number of named storms was well above the long-term average of 11, the number of hurricanes and major hurricanes were only slightly above average, according to the center's post-season analysis.

RECOMMENDED: Five things you can do to keep safe in a hurricane

Still, for much of the US East Coast, it was a season to remember.

In late August, Hurricane Irene moved out of the eastern Caribbean and up along the US East Coast. It made landfall three times as it slid up along the East Coast: at Cape Lookout, N.C., at Little Egg Inlet, N.J., as a hurricane, and finally near Coney Island as a tropical storm.

The storm's winds and heavy rains assaulted a landscape along much of the coast and deep into New England whose trees were laden with leaves and whose roots were clinging to soils already saturated from previous rain storms. Storm-felled trees and limbs left 4 million customers without electricity.

From Maryland and Delaware through Maine, 10 states saw record flooding along rivers and streams from Irene's downpours, according to the US Geological Survey, which monitors stream flows.

"Irene broke the 'hurricane amnesia' that can develop when so much time lapses between land-falling storms," said National Weather Service director Jack Hayes in a statement.

All along its path from the Caribbean northward, Irene inflicted an estimated $10.1 billion in damage; the storm reportedly killed 56 people.

Tropical storm Arlene and tropical storm Lee added a combined 46 fatalities to a season that would reach $11.6 billion in damages throughout the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, and 120 casualties.

The season also showcased the advances forecasters have made in providing local emergency managers with timely warnings. Still, efforts are underway to extend storm-track forecasts another two days beyond the current 5-day outlook while reducing the uncertainties in the forecast.

In addition, researchers have placed a heavy emphasis on understanding the drivers behind rapid changes in storm intensity. Last-minute shifts in strength, up or down, ahead of landfall can have a profound effect on the extent of coastline that needs evacuation.

The efforts are being driven in no small part by analyses showing that between 1900 and 2005, damage from landfalling tropical cyclones in the US doubles every 10 years. Costs are rising as more people move to vulnerable coastal areas, triggering the construction of homes, factories, office buildings, and other assets needed to sustain them.

The Monitor's Weekly News Quiz for Nov. 27-Dec. 2, 2011

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Busy Storm Season Kept Hurricane Hunters in the Air (LiveScience.com)

The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ends today (Nov. 30), has kept storm-chasing aircraft busy this year. The planes spend hours at a time flying through tropical storms and hurricanes to capture crucial data for forecasters on the ground.

Seven hurricanes and 12 tropical storms swirled across the Atlantic region this year, making 2011 one of the most active seasons on record. For the majority of those 19 storms, aircraft took to the skies to investigate.

The main arm of the United States' weather-scouting fleet is the Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss. — better known as the Hurricane Hunters.

"We had a lot of business this year, but it was a good year because not much of that [severe weather] impacted Americans in a negative way," said Lt. Col. Sean Pierce, pilot and director of operations for the 53rd.

Busy year

The Hurricane Hunters' workhorse is the massive WC-130J aircraft, a prop plane equipped with a bevy of weather-sensing instruments. There are only 10 of these aircraft on Earth, all owned by the 53rd. This year, one of the planes, all of which are close to 10 years old, was out for maintenance, so the squad was down to nine aircraft in what proved to be an active hurricane season. [Images: Hurricane Hunters in Action]

On a typical flight, which lasts more than 10 hours, the WC-130Js fly with a crew of five — two pilots, a navigator, a weather tech who deploys various instruments, and a meteorologist, who acts as flight director.

At least twice this year, aircraft were needed in up to three storms at once, "which is the most challenging environment for us operationally," Pierce told OurAmazingPlanet.

Hurricane Irene required some of the most flight time this season, and sent hurricane hunters farther north than usual.

During the final flight into the giant storm, a crew sent a dropsonde — a small, largely biodegradable weather sensor that travels aboard a tiny parachute — into the Hudson Bay, right near the Statue of Liberty, just as Hurricane Irene made landfall, Pierce said. Irene was the first hurricane to hit the United States in three years and caused more than $1 billion in damage.

Invaluable data

53rd Squadron hurricane hunters flew 868 hours on 88 missions this year, said John Pavone, chief of air reconnaissance coordination, all hurricanes, at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami.

"That's a little more than in an average year because this was a little more than an average year," Pavone said, adding that 2011 is tied with three other years — 1887, 1995 and 2010 — for third most active Atlantic hurricane season since record-keeping began in 1851.

The weather-sensing planes, at the behest of the NHC, take to the skies whenever tropical weather systems appear to threaten people or property. Hurricane-hunting crews fulfilled 127 of the 129 requests the NHC sent out this year for the Atlantic region, Pavone said, "which is a pretty high success rate, which is what we've come to expect from them over the years."

"Their data are critical to us," said Dennis Feltgen, meteorologist and spokesman for the NHC.

Feltgen said that over the ocean, where tropical weather systems originate, there's no infrastructure in place to monitor and record data for forecasters trying to predict what a storm will do.

"They are basically performing an MRI of the storm, and they give us an exact location; they're able to determine the structure of the storm and the strength of the storm," Feltgen told OurAmazingPlanet. "All that data is critical for going into the computer forecast models."

Dodging storms

Despite a busy year for pilots and crew, 2011 proved to be a fairly lucky year for the United States — aside from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irene.

"This year we had a lot of storms, but the majority of them ended up turning out to sea," said Lt. Col. Jon Talbot, chief meteorologist for the hurricane hunters. "The big picture is it was very fortunate we had one major impact to the U.S.," Talbot said.

Although the official Atlantic hurricane season draws to a close on Nov. 30 every year, storms don't always stick to human schedules. It's extremely rare, but hurricanes can form in December.

In fact, the NHC is currently tracking a suspicious area of rough weather that developed on Tuesday (Nov. 29) that has a slight chance of developing into a tropical cyclone.

Talbot said the Hurricane Hunters, like storms themselves, are undeterred by the date on the calendar.

"If it forms, we're out there taking care of it," Talbot said. "It doesn't matter what month it's in — we're ready to go."

Reach OAP staff writer Andrea Mustain at Facebook.

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Hurricane Season Is Past Its Peak (But Stay on Guard) (LiveScience.com)

This year's active hurricane season, already impressive in its activity, still has two months remaining. As Ophelia withers, the season seems to have hit another lull.

Are we past the peak of the season?

"From a climatological standpoint, about 75-80 percent of all hurricane activity has occurred," said Phil Klotzback, a hurricane forecaster at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. "So, yes, we are past the peak of the season."

Ophelia was the 15th named storm of the 2011 season, followed by number 16, Tropical Storm Phillipe, which is still swirling over the open Atlantic basin.

The 2011 season was predicted to be a doozy, with 14 to 19 named storms (which include tropical storms and hurricanes), seven to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). So far, there have been 16 named storms, four hurricanes (Irene, Katia, Maria and Ophelia) and three major hurricanes (Irene, Katia and Ophelia).

But just because the season is past its peak is no reason to let down your guard. Hurricane season isn't officially over until Nov. 30, and deadly hurricanes can strike at any time through then, and even after. The tropics could heat up in these final months as storms shift their birthplace to the west in the Atlantic basin.

At the beginning of the season, tropical cyclones tend to form near Cape Verde, off the coast of western Africa. Cape Verde-typehurricanes are Atlantic basin tropical cyclones that strengthen into tropical storms within about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) of the Cape Verde Islands and then become hurricanes before reaching the Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center. Cape Verde-type hurricanes are most common in August and September.  In rare years, such as 1995, a Cape Verde-type hurricane will form in late July or early October.

Toward the end of the season, storms begin closer to the United States.

"Typically, late-season [tropical cyclone] activity occurs in the Caribbean or the subtropical Atlantic," Klotzbach told OurAmazingPlanet.

This puts the southeastern United States in the crosshairs. October is typically an active month for that region.

And with the warm Atlantic waters and La Niña's return — which has been linked to active hurricane seasons — more big storms could be on the way.

You can follow OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel on Twitter: @btisrael. Follow OurAmazingPlanet for the latest in Earth science and exploration news on Twitter @OAPlanet and on Facebook.

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Cruising During Hurricane Season -- to Insure or Not? (ContributorNetwork)

With Hurricane Hilary churning off the coast of Baja California and tropical storm Philippe causing chaos in the Caribbean, I caught up with Travelzoo Senior Editor Gabe Saglie to ask him about cruising during hurricane season.

Q: To your knowledge, what percentage of cruisers purchase trip insurance of some sort?

A: I don't have a good data on how many cruisers buy travel insurance. Some purchase directly from the cruise line, others through third parties. I'd safely say not all cruisers who purchase travel insurance make the investment on every cruise. I think it's a safe bet that most cruisers would rather take the gamble that nothing will go wrong with their trip

Q: What are the most likely scenarios for cruising during hurricane season? Will travel insurance cover an extra night in a hotel if my cruise is delayed, or if I miss my flight home because my ship stays at sea to avoid a hurricane? What about missed ports?

A: For the most part, travelers taking to sea even during hurricane season will see no problems. Let's face it, most days that fall on "hurricane season" -- June through September -- are void of storms. But, especially later in that season, bad storms become more likely. Cruise ships can be safe havens during tropical storms and hurricanes since these vessels can easily sail around them. This means the traveler needs to be flexible and open to skipping ports or visiting alternate ones, as well as open to the possibility some of their travel days will be rainy. Travel insurance generally will not cover wet days or changed itineraries.

The key to any insurance policy is to read the fine print, and if you're confused or unclear as to what exactly is covered, call your insurer before you travel so you don't have any lingering doubts about what is covered. That said, yes, most policies will cover expenses (not always 100 percent of your costs, though, so read the fine print) incurred by things like delayed or lengthened cruises, like hotel stays. While cruise lines will generally help passengers in cases where these altered plans are their fault, it's not always clear how much of your trip cost will be covered. Keep in mind cruise lines could be handling thousands of passengers at once, so a call to your travel insurer could resolve issues like rebooked flights or missed hotel stays much more quickly. Depending on your policy, insurance can also pay for the cost of getting you, or your mishandled luggage, to the next port, should you (or your bags) miss setting sail on day one.

Q: Sometimes people tell me, "We self-insure." Do you have anything to say to those people?

A: Self-insurance can be a safe bet for most travel scenarios; again, odds are that the vast majority of the travel we do over our lifetime will happen unaffected by the unforeseen. The potential downfall is that not enough money is set aside for unexpected mishaps. The cost of a missed hotel night or even flying yourself to the next port of call if you miss your cruise's departure time may be manageable. But on very expensive trips, or trips to exotic ports of call, the biggest concern is that not enough self-insurance was planned to offset some of those very high costs. It all comes down to your own, personal capacity and financial wherewithal for risk. For many people, investing an extra 8 to 10 percent on third-party insurance for that bucket list trip may be worth considering.

Q: What are some things that travel insurance doesn't cover? For example, if I miss an extra day of work due to a hurricane delay, will it cover lost wages?

A: Weather is often the biggest sticking point when it comes to insurance. Certainly, trip delay, trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance will come to your aid should a hurricane derail your cruise -- but keep in mind this counts only if you've bought insurance before the storm develops. But bad weather during your cruise will not be covered. Also, since cruise lines reserve the right to skip ports of call or visit alternate ones due to storms, itinerary tweaks are also generally not covered.

You can find a policy to insurance against a wide range of scenarios. I know, for example, that some policies will cover the cost of your vacation if you need to cancel last minute because you lost your job and can no longer afford to go. Lost wages may be covered by some insurers, but it must be clearly stated in your policy before you go.

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Monsoon Season Arrives with a Bang in Las Vegas (ContributorNetwork)

FIRST PERSON | Summer in Las Vegas is not only warmer, it is usually wetter as well. July marks the beginning of monsoon season, and mother nature did not wait to put on a show once July arrived in the Las Vegas Valley. Rain arrived as soon as the calendar turned to the first day of flash flood season; now the city is hearing emergency warnings on the radio more often than Katy Perry.

Many visitors to Las Vegas are not ready for the extreme weather conditions this time of year, but there are guidelines to follow, especially as July 7-10 features rain in the National Weather Service forecast for Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is not as bad as it once was when it comes to flash flooding, but there are still bad areas to avoid. Some of the worst areas are the new swaths of homes that were not fully developed before the real estate crash in 2008. Areas in Southern Highlands and North Las Vegas now see flash flooding any time there is substantial rainfall.

The flash flood potential rating posted on the National Weather Service site shows two areas at serious risk. Areas to the south and to the north are the two appear in red for the next couple of days. Red represents the highest potential for flash flooding.

These areas are still lacking flood channels and are the most likely candidates to experience flash flooding. The summer monsoon season can catch drivers off guard easily. A typical monsoon can drop up to 2 inches in less than 15 minutes, turning a low-lying area into a raging river in a matter of minutes.

Another aspect of the summer monsoon season is the phenomenon known as the Haboob. A Haboob, Arabic for a strong wind or wind phenomenon, takes place when a monsoon breaks out on the desert floor and pelts the loose silt of the desert, raising a massive dust storm up to 3,000 feet high. Phoenix and other Arizona cities suffered their first Haboob of the season Wednesday. The dust cloud darkened the skies in seconds, enveloping the cities in dust and silt.

Our Amazing Planet gives Phoenix the honor as the Haboob capital of the world. Although Phoenix has several Haboobs a year, the storm is also common in the Sahara Desert in Africa and in Iraq, among other dry, desolate places around the world.

Las Vegas has small experience with Haboobs but the area is known more for flash floods. There are still some areas on the Las Vegas Strip prone to flooding. The garage behind the Imperial Palace is notorious for flooding when Las Vegas Boulevard experiences a lot of rainfall in a short time.

The key to driving in Las Vegas this time of year is awareness of the surroundings. Do not cross any areas where water is running across the road. A car can get sucked up and swept away in running water that is just a few inches deep.

Todd Jacobs is a Las Vegas resident with knowledge of the city and surrounding desert areas of Nevada and beyond.

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Nigeria: At least 29 dead in rainy season floods (AP)

LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigerian emergency authorities say at least 29 people have died in weekend floods in two cities of Africa's most populous nation.

A spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday that at least 20 people died in the commercial capital of Lagos during unusually heavy rains Sunday.

Yushau Shuaib said nine more people died in the city of Katsina, which saw heavy rains Friday evening.

He said the floods displaced more than 100 people in Katsina. Lagos shut down its public schools Monday.

The agency has warned that rains will be heavier this year than last year. Last year's rains displaced about 500,000 people nationwide.

The rainy season lasts from June to September. Poor drainage systems aggravate its impact.

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Hurricane Season in Louisiana Has Started, so Be Prepared (ContributorNetwork)

After settling into our new home on Fort Polk in Louisiana last year, we slowly started to make friends with our neighbors who informed us on what to expect since we were new to the area. From the best places to eat out at to the closest shopping malls, they were a plethora of information for us new Southerners, but what they failed to mention to us until we got our first hurricane warning for the base, was about the yearly hurricane season that came along with living in the state.

And, yes, we had heard about Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita that had devastated much of the state, but we figured that since we were nowhere near the Gulf Coast that this was something that we just wouldn't have to worry about, but according to our new friends, we were extremely wrong.

Our neighbors proceeded to tell us about one of the many hurricanes that knocked out the power on the base and forced them all to gather all of their food and have neighborhood wide barbecues every night so their perishable foods wouldn't be wasted. They also informed us of all of the things that we would need to do to prepare for the season which starts on June 1 and goes through November 30. Here are some tips that are good to know and ones that we are glad that we were informed of before ever finding ourselves in a hurricane unprepared.

Things to have to prepare for a hurricane

* Canned food

* Can opener

* 1 gallon of water per person per day should have enough for at least a seven day supply.

* An extra supply of any prescription medication.

* If you have a baby, make sure that you have enough diapers, wipes, and formula if they are formula fed.

* An emergency kit which should have a portable radio, flashlight, batteries, and a first aid kit.

* And most importantly a waterproof container with insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, social security card, and of course cash.

What to do if a hurricane is coming to your area

* Listen to the news for information.

* Secure your home but closing windows and the storm shutters.

* Turn off propane tanks, and utilities.

* Stay indoors away from windows and doors.

* Go to a small room, closet or hallway and lie on the floor underneath a table or other heavy piece of furniture.

This is just basic information on what to have and what to do in a hurricane. So to better prepare your family, go to http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/index.shtm for more information.

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2011 is deadliest US tornado season in 75 years (AFP)

CHICAGO (AFP) – The deadliest US tornado season in 75 years has ripped babies from their mother's arms and transformed entire towns into apocalyptic scenes of destruction as the toll hit 523.

And it isn't over yet.

While warmer summer weather should hopefully reduce their intensity, the peak tornado season runs through July and twisters can strike at any time.

The damage is as unimaginable as it is unpredictable.

Funnel clouds drop out of a darkened sky, tossing cars and mobile homes up into the air, pulling huge trees out of the ground and tearing buildings apart.

The smaller ones touch down so briefly that one side of a street is flattened while the other is largely unscathed.

The bigger ones stay on the ground for miles, destroying everything for blocks on either side of their random path.

Two bad days accounted for nearly all the deaths: an outbreak of dozens of tornados that killed 314 people in five states on April 27 and a massive twister that killed 138 in Joplin, Missouri on May 22.

It was the deadliest day and the deadliest single tornado strike since modern record keeping began in 1950. 2011 now ranks as the fifth deadliest year in US tornado history.

"We're still trying to wrap our heads around this one," said Greg Carbin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's storm center.

It's not clear whether climate change is playing a role, Carbin said.

Tornadoes are formed when two weather fronts of different temperatures create wind sheer.

The warmer temperatures caused by global warming should reduce wind sheer, but they have also led to more precipitation and could be breeding the thunderstorms that spawn twisters.

It is clear, however, that steady growth in the number of people living in "tornado alley" - the huge area between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains - has led to higher tolls, particularly since so many are living in mobile homes and houses lacking storm cellars.

"We've spread out on the landscape," Carbin told AFP. "It's easier for a tornado to hit something in this day and age."

While warning systems have improved dramatically in recent years, sirens can be little help against a twister powerful enough to knock a nine story hospital off its foundation and reduce brick buildings to rubble.

That's what happened in Joplin, where a nearly mile-wide twister packing winds of more than 200 miles per hour cut a six-mile (nearly 10 kilometer) swath of destruction through the town of 50,000 people.

"I don't know if man could build something strong enough to handle what came through," Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said after surveying the damage.

President Barack Obama called it a "national tragedy" and recalled stories of heroism at a memorial service Sunday.

One such hero was pizza shop manager Christopher Lucas, a father of two, who ushered more than a dozen people into a walk-in freezer as the tornado approached.

The freezer door wouldn't close from the inside, so Lucas found rope and closed it from the outside.

"Christopher held it as long as he could. Until he was pulled away by the incredible force of the storm," Obama said.

"He died saving more than a dozen people in that freezer."

The damage was so extensive that it took officials 10 days to identify all the bodies and reunite hundreds of people separated from their loved ones.

For many, days of frantic searching ended in despair.

Like the family of 16-month Skyular Logsdon, who was pulled from his mother's arms after she was knocked unconscious when the twister ripped apart their home.

Another series of deadly twisters struck just two days after the Joplin tornado, killing 16 people in Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

A pregnant Catherine Hamil cowered in a bathtub with her three young children in Piedmont, Oklahoma that night.

When the storm passed, her 15-month-old son was dead, Hamil and her five-year-old daughter were in serious condition and her three-year-old son was gone.

It took two days to find his body.

Officials predict it will cost billions to repair the physical damage caused by the deadly twisters and months for life to return to normal.

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Massachusetts Latest Victim of Terrible Tornado Season (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | Massachusetts is known for its blizzards, Democrats and being the cradle of the Revolution. But it most certainly is not known for its deadly tornadoes. But then, 2011 has not been an average year for twisters either.

In one of the deadliest years for tornadoes on record in the United States, Yahoo! News reports an outbreak of storms caused at least three deaths in Massachusetts and injured 200 people. Even though residents had fair warning of the twisters, there were still some caught in the damage path as people may not have been used to tornadoes in the area.

Springfield, Mass., the hardest hit by the storms, doesn't even have a storm siren system. On the city's website, tornadoes aren't even mentioned in the A-Z to index. That's how much the northeast pays attention to tornado weather.

Massachusetts doesn't get many tornadoes per year. The current average is around two annually. From 1953-2004, the average was closer to three twisters a year. This storm spawned at least two confirmed tornadoes.

With the death toll of the Massachusetts twisters, 2011 is now the deadliest year for tornadoes on record since the National Weather Service began keeping track of tornado deaths. As many as 522 people have been killed, reports the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, eclipsing the number in 1953 when 519 died.

June of 1953 was also the last time a huge tornado ripped through Massachusetts. Almost 100 people died as the storm was part of an outbreak that had devastated Flint, Mich., a day earlier. The similarities between 1953 and 2011 are becoming eerily familiar.

Tornado season isn't even finished yet, even as hurricane season begins. If another 30 people die in tornadoes this year, it will be the second deadliest year in America on record save for 1925. Any tornado deaths from before 1950 are unofficial, as they are just estimates of the number of people who perished.

The reason tornadoes have moved farther north in June is where the jet stream resides. Colder air retreats farther to the north, closer to the Arctic, which gives fewer chances for southerly warm and moist air to collide with cooler air up north.

During April and May, the jet stream dips farther south, causing tornadoes in southern parts of the United States. June and even July should be considered tornado season for the upper Midwest and Northeast. Tornadoes tore down hundreds of trees in the Bronx during a freakish EF1 tornado in July of 2010.

The Los Angeles Times headline said it best, proclaiming, "In tornado-struck Massachusetts, it feels like Missouri." With few notable exceptions, such as a lack of tornado sirens, Massachusetts could very well be Missouri all over again. Many citizens were trapped in their cars. Fortunately, the tornado wasn't strong enough to flip over cars as the one in Joplin, Mo., did.

The fear was still the same. Watching a tornado coming at you as you're helpless to do anything would terrify anyone. This year can't be over with fast enough.

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Terminology Used During the Hurricane Season (ContributorNetwork)

As the hurricane season makes its grand opening in June, all eyes turn to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean to see just what the is in store for coastal residents this year. The National Hurricane Center released its annual outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season, and information is the most important tool anyone can use to survive through a disaster. This terminology guide for the Hurricane Season can help make sense of the watches, warnings and advisories. The full National Hurricane Center glossary can be found here.

Advisories

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issues advisories that include all information pertaining to tropical cyclone watches and warnings, as well as the storm's location, intensity and other pertinent information. This is different than other storm advisories which, according to NOAA's glossary, usually identify weather phenomenon that are less severe forms of weather, like flood advisories, but can still cause damage or loss of life if not treated with caution.

Tropical Storm Watch

This is a weather notice that identifies that tropical storm force winds (sustained winds 39 to 73 mph) are possible in a given area within the next 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Warning

This is a weather notice that identifies that tropical storm force winds are expected in a given area over the next 36 hours. It is important to note that the likelihood of the storm occurring in an area with a tropical storm warning is significantly higher than an area with just a tropical storm watch.

Hurricane Watch

This is a weather announcement that identifies that hurricane conditions (sustained winds above 74 mph) are possible at a given location. This notice is issued when it is expected that the tropical storm force winds will reach an area within 48 hours. In theory, a hurricane watch could be issued for an area before a hurricane has officially developed. This would happen if a storm was a tropical storm force, but conditions are right for it to gain strength and make landfall at an area within the 48 hour window.

Hurricane Warning

This is a weather announcement that hurricane conditions are expected in a given area. Again, these notices are going to be issued in advance of the tropical storm force winds reaching the area, usually when those winds are expected within the next 36 hours.

Knots

This is a speed representation of nautical miles per hour. One nautical mile, according to an international agreement detailed by the agency formerly known as the National Bureau of Standards, is equal to approximately 6,076 feet, as opposed to a statute mile which is 5,280 feet. Wind speeds in hurricanes and speed of storm movement are typically reported in knots (kt) and also converted to statute miles per hour (mph).

Tropical Disturbance

This is the beginning of a hurricane. These storms begin showing development and may, or may not, have sustained winds. Their size is usually 100 to 300 nautical miles wide, but are not organized enough to be classed as a tropical depression.

Tropical Depression

A tropical cyclone that has sustained winds of 33kt or less (38 mph or less). Depressions normally represent the first phase of a storm that shows strong development, including a central core that the storm rotates around.

Tropical Storm

A tropical cyclone that has sustained winds between 34kt and 63kt (39 mph and 73 mph). Tropical storms normally are given a name, which stays with the storm until it loses enough energy to return to tropical depression status.

Hurricane

A tropical cyclone that has sustained winds greater than 64kts (74 mph). The term hurricane is used for storms north of the equator and east of the International Date Line and west the Prime Meridian. Pacific tropical cyclones west of the International Date Line are known as typhoons.

Donald is an instructor in military command and control as well as emergency management. He has supported disaster response in a wide range of situations, including hurricanes, forest fires, volcano eruptions and aircraft accidents.

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Atlantic Hurricane Season: Words and Phrases to Know (ContributorNetwork)

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on Wednesday and continues through Nov. 30. During this six-month period, conditions in the atmosphere and higher water temperatures in the Atlantic basin are more likely to produce storms ranging from tropical depressions to hurricanes.

What is a tropical disturbance?

A tropical disturbance is an area of moving thunderstorms that continues for at least 24 hours. A tropical disturbance can potentially gain strength over time to become a hurricane.

How does a tropical storm differ from a tropical depression?

The National Hurricane Center in Miami defines a tropical storm as an intense thunderstorm where the maximum sustained wind speed over a one-minute period is 39 mph to 73 mph. A tropical depression is a thunderstorm where the winds reach a maximum sustained speed of 38 mph or less. Both classes of storms form over tropical or subtropical waters from which they draw heat and moisture.

How often does less severe storm gain strength?

In July 2010, a tropical disturbance gained strength and, after being upgraded by the NHC, was renamed Tropical Storm Bonnie. After it crossed South Florida and headed toward the Gulf of Mexico, the NHC clocked Bonnie at 35 mph, downgrading the storm to a tropical depression.

What is a hurricane?

A hurricane is an intense weather system of thunderstorms with a maximum sustained wind speed of 74 mph or higher. In the Northern Hemisphere, the thunderstorms are accompanied by winds that circulate in a counterclockwise motion.

How are hurricanes classified?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale to predict the potential destructive power of a hurricane. Created in 1969 by Herbert Saffir and Bob Simpson, the scale goes from Category 1 (winds of 74 mph to 95 mph) to Category 5 (winds exceeding 155 mph). A Category 5 hurricane has the potential to damage roofs, cause complete building failures and prompt an evacuation of people living within 10 miles of the shoreline.

How often do Category 5 hurricanes occur?

According to NOAA, Hurricane Katrina, one of the strongest hurricanes to impact the United States, was classified Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. In the Florida Keys, the Labor Day Hurricane in 1935 was classified as Category 5, with winds reaching a maximum of 200 mph. Hurricane Andrew, another Category 5 hurricane, was clocked at 165 mph when it reached South Florida on Aug. 24, 1992.

What is the long-term forecast for the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season?

For 2011, NOAA is predicting a 65 percent chance of an above-average hurricane season. NOAA cites a two-degree temperature increase in Atlantic Ocean waters as one reason for a more active hurricane season. NOAA also is predicting 12 to 18 named storms and, of that number, 3 to 6 could become major hurricanes (Category 3 or greater).

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How to Prepare for Hurricane Season (ContributorNetwork)

It is a common misconception that a hurricane preparedness checklist only covers the winds and rains associated with the storms. In addition, there is a bit of confusion with respect to the actual beginning and end of hurricane season. What should residents along the Gulf and East coasts know about preparing for hurricane season?

When is hurricane season?

The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) pinpoints hurricane season to fall between June 1 and Nov. 30. Within this time frame, approximately 97 percent of tropical storms occur. Hurricane preparedness should nevertheless be on the minds of residents throughout the year, since some storms have indeed occurred outside of this time frame.

What types of events should residents cover on a hurricane preparedness checklist?

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns to prepare for wind, flooding and storm surges. Before, during and after a hurricane, tornadoes, inland flooding and also extremely high winds may occur. With tornadoes, there comes the danger of lightning and hail. Preparing for hurricane season must take all eventualities into consideration.

Is a safe room effective?

Hurricane preparedness demands that each component of the storm carries its own safety procedures. For example, as outlined by Yahoo! News, the northeastern corner of a basement is safest when a tornado strikes. For flooding, this would be the most dangerous spot to be. Residents must assign a safe area in the home -- or within the neighborhood -- for each of the storm components.

What should be on a hurricane preparedness shopping list?

The FDA urges those residing along the Gulf and East coasts to purchase bottled water and canned goods. Unscented liquid household bleach -- eight drops to one gallon of water -- can make questionable water drinkable. Frozen gel packs and coolers can act as makeshift refrigerators, if the power is out for a prolonged period of time. Placing thermometers in the fridge and freezer alerts the consumer to unsafe temperatures. The FDA considers the safety zone -- perishables at above 40 degrees -- to be two hours.

Are there special instructions for medications?

It is a good idea to have a week's worth of medicines labeled and stocked in a waterproof container. In a pinch, a watertight sandwich bag will do.

Who has information about emergency kits?

The Red Cross offers a collection of must-have items for an emergency trunk. They include blankets, baby and pet supplies. A portable mini-version of this trunk makes for an evacuation kit. Personal papers, emergency cash, medications -- for humans and pets -- and food rations for each member of the family go into this bag.

Going by the book with respect to hurricane preparedness is a must. If not everyone in the family is on the same page, preparing for hurricane season is difficult. Practicing emergency procedures is crucial; especially younger family members should be drilled every so often to ensure that they remember the steps to take -- in the event of an evacuation or the need to visit a safe room.

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By the Numbers: 2011 tornado season (AP)

Figures about the tornado that ripped through Joplin, Mo., on Sunday and the 2011 tornado season. All "record" statistics represent the official record of the National Weather Service, which covers 1950 to present day.

JOPLIN TORNADO

• People killed: 126.

• Survivors rescued: 9.

• Injured: More than 900.

• Unaccounted for: 232. Authorities believe most are safe and are urging those named to check in with authorities.

• Buildings destroyed: An estimated 8,000.

• About the tornado: Deadliest single tornado since records began in 1950. Storm Prediction Center says unofficial records show last single tornado with greater death toll occurred in 1947. National Weather Service rated the storm an EF5, the highest rating based on inflicted damage. Winds exceeded 200 mph.

TORNADO COUNT

• Tornadoes to strike Joplin: 1.

• Preliminary tornado reports made so far in the U.S. in May: 221, through May 25.

• Average number of tornadoes in May during the past decade: 298.

• Record for tornadoes in May: 542, in 2003.

• Preliminary tornado reports made so far in 2011: 1,308, through May 25.

• Average number of confirmed tornadoes in a single year during the past decade: 1,274.

• Highest recorded number of confirmed tornadoes in a single year: 1,817, in 2004.

WATCHES AND WARNINGS:

• Total severe weather watches issued since Sunday by the NWS's Storm Prediction Center: 57.

• Total tornado watches issued since Sunday by the NWS's Storm Prediction Center: 30.

• Total severe weather warnings issued since Saturday by local NWS offices: 2,146.

• Tornado warnings issued since Saturday by local NWS offices: 542.

DEATH TOLL

• People killed in Joplin tornado: 126.

• People killed in Oklahoma from storms this week: 10.

• People killed in Kansas from storms this week: 2.

• People killed in Arkansas from storms this week: 4.

• People killed in 2011 prior to Joplin tornado: 365.

• People killed in 2011, as of May 26: 506.

• Highest recorded death toll in a single year: 519, in 1953.

Source: Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr; Missouri Department of Public Safety; National Weather Service and it's Storm Prediction Center's preliminary tornado data; FEMA.

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By the Numbers: 2011 tornado season (AP)

Figures about the tornado that ripped through Joplin, Mo., on Sunday and the 2011 tornado season. All statistics represent the official record of the National Weather Service, which covers 1950 to present day.

JOPLIN TORNADO

• People killed: 125.

• Survivors rescued: 9.

• Injured: More than 900.

• Buildings destroyed: An estimated 8,000.

• About the tornado: Deadliest single tornado since records began in 1950. Storm Prediction Center says unofficial records show last single tornado with greater death toll occurred in 1947. National Weather Service rated the storm an EF5, the highest rating based on inflicted damage. Winds exceeded 200 mph.

TORNADO COUNT

• Tornadoes to strike Joplin: 1.

• Tornado reports made so far in the U.S. in May: 187, through May 24.

• Average number of tornadoes in May during the past decade: 298.

• Record for tornadoes in May: 542, in 2003.

• Tornado reports made so far in 2011: 1,228, through May 24.

• Average number of tornadoes in a single year during the past decade: 1,274.

• Highest recorded number of tornadoes in a single year: 1,817, in 2004.

DEATH TOLL

• People killed in Joplin tornado: 125.

• People killed in 2011 prior to Joplin tornado: 365.

• People killed in 2011: 505, through morning of May 25.

• Highest recorded death toll in a single year: 519, in 1953.

• People killed in Oklahoma from storms this week: 9

• People killed in Kansas: 2

• People killed in Arkansas: 4

Source: Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr; National Weather Service; Storm Prediction Center preliminary tornado data; FEMA.

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