Welcome to the 2008 Hurricane Season!

[cycloneye]

Countdown to 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season





Important Dates Prior to June 1


1-December 7 : First Colorado State University 2008 forecast. **

2-December 22 : First Official day of Winter. **

3-December 30 : Tropical Storm Zeta,2005-2006. Zeta **

4-January 1 : Supertyphoon Kent,1995. Kent **

5- Febuary 3 : Earliest Tropical Storm ever recorded hits Florida,1952. **

6-March 1 : Official Storm2k Forecast Numbers Poll Starts. **

7-March 6 : Earliest Hurricane on record in 1908. **

8-March 9 : Daylight Savings Time Starts. **

9-March 13 : Big Blizzard Storm of the Century,1993. Blizzard **

10-March 20 : First Official Day of Spring. **

11-March 26 : Hurricane Caterina,2004,Brazil. Caterina **

12-March 31-April 4 : National Hurricane Conference in Orlando. **

13- April 1 : First Sattelite Image,1960 (Tiros). Tiros Image **

14-April 7 : Second 2008 Forecast from Tropical Storm Risk. **

15-April 9 : Second 2008 Forecast from Philip J. Klotzbach. **

16-April 20 : Tropical Storm Ana,2003. Ana

17-April 22 : Earth Day. **

18-April 26-28 : WMO Regional Association IV Hurricane Committee 30th session (ORL,FL) **

19-May 12-16 :Floridas Governors Hurricane Conference at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. **

20-May 15 : EPAC season starts. **

21- May 21 : Earliest major hurricane in Atlantic history, Hurricane Able, 1951. **

22- May 22 : NOAA 2008 Hurricane Season Outlook. **

23-May 25-31 : NOAA Hurricane Preparedeness Week. **

24-May 31 : Official Storm2k Forecast Numbers Poll Ends at 12:00 PM Midnight EDT. **

**Date has passed.

Lets start to count towards June 1 2008.Time goes fast and the 2008 season will be here without notice so lets start the countdown. The questions arise about how will the 2008 season be in terms of activity and how many landfalls occur in the U.S. or if any.Down the road during the next few months,we should have a good idea of how the season will be by looking at the usual several factors.

Sidebar note=The Official Storm2k 2008 Forecast Poll will be up starting on March 1.

[Squarethecircle]

I predict that there will be five storms, all named Hurricane Bob!

Golly, only six more months to wait and see if I'm right!

[MiamiensisWx]

"The questions arise about how will the 2008 season be in terms of activity and how many landfalls occur in the U.S. or if any.Down the road during the next few months,we should have a good idea of how the season will be by looking at the usual several factors."

Huh? This line is a contrast to your previous posts.

Why does this thread exist, Luis? You admitted that the seasonal forecasts from Colorado State University and Accuweather have been rather poor in 2005, 2006, and 2007 (the latter certain private weather company utilized hype). I'm just curious as to why you think we can predict landfalls with any degree of certainity. We can estimate total activity (i.e. a certain percentage above or below statistical averages) and numbers (either exact or a range), but it is impossible to guess the number of landfalling tropical cyclones until they actually strike.

I'm not bashing you. It just seems like this post contradicts your previous sentiments (i.e. poor outlooks foster complacency). I'm slightly confused.

Personally, it makes more (common) sense if this thread is started in April or June. Additionally, I think the 2008 numbers thread (predictions) should not be posted until April. Regardless, I think everyone will be prepared.

[cycloneye]

"The questions arise about how will the 2008 season be in terms of activity and how many landfalls occur in the U.S. or if any.Down the road during the next few months,we should have a good idea of how the season will be by looking at the usual several factors."

Huh? This line is a contrast to your previous posts.

Why does this thread exist, Luis? You admitted that the seasonal forecasts from Colorado State University and Accuweather have been rather poor in 2005, 2006, and 2007 (the latter certain private weather company utilized hype). I'm just curious as to why you think we can predict landfalls with any degree of certainity. We can estimate total activity (i.e. a certain percentage above or below statistical averages) and numbers (either exact or a range), but it is impossible to guess the number of landfalling tropical cyclones until they actually strike.

I'm not bashing you. It just seems like this post contradicts your previous sentiments (i.e. poor outlooks foster complacency). I'm slightly confused.

Personally, it makes more (common) sense if this thread is started in April or June. Additionally, I think the 2008 numbers thread (predictions) should not be posted until April. Regardless, I think everyone will be prepared.

There is no reference to any forecaster(s) in my first post,only a general comment about us to look at the factors.As I posted in the post,the Storm2k poll will start on April 15.This thread is for mainly some fun to see those numbers go down in the countdown,that is the main purpose.

[brunota2003]

Plus, this thread is also a great resource, as there are typically a bunch of important dates listed in it.

[cycloneye]

Plus, this thread is also a great resource, as there are typically a bunch of important dates listed in it.

I started to add important dates prior to June 1 and will be at the top of every page.As times goes by,more important dates will be added as the dates of the events are known such as Hurricane Conferences,dates of forecast release from NOAA,TSR,CSU and more.

[Ed Mahmoud]

That is too long to wait.

I recommend enjoying Winter in Texas, and spotting the first official freeze at DWH, IAH, CXO and HOU.

Then the Daytona 500.

The New York City blizzard season continues, theoretically, to early April.


Then Texas tornado season.


Really, when an average June/July combined have one storm, no need to get worked up for what really doesn't start for over eight months.

[cycloneye]

That is too long to wait.

I recommend enjoying Winter in Texas, and spotting the first official freeze at DWH, IAH, CXO and HOU.

Then the Daytona 500.

The New York City blizzard season continues, theoretically, to early April.


Then Texas tornado season.


Really, when an average June/July combined have one storm, no need to get worked up for what really doesn't start for over eight months.

Time goes very fast my friend and without notice,you will see the season here. The countdown is for the official start of the season as every year I do,even if what you said is correct about the real season starting in August.

[Squarethecircle]

Woohoo! It's one minute closer than it was a minute ago!

[Ed Mahmoud]

There is that two weeks between the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500. Because I can't get into the NBA until the conference semis. When only eight teams don't make the playoffs, why have a regular season.


Februarry can be an exciting time. I think it was February 1994 that AUS had a 99ºF day, and freezing rain a week later. Helps fill that gap between football and NASCAR.

[Evil Jeremy]

don't mean to be rude, but if major Christian holidays are on the list, can you please add major Jewish holidays?

[Squarethecircle]

Or, in the very least, Hanukkah, since it's very widely know regardless.

[Ed Mahmoud]

Most years Passover comes just before Good Friday. IIRC, while the Western (Roman Catholic) church has gone to the the Sunday after the first new moon or full moon or however they do it, after the Equinox, while the Eastern (Orthodox) churches have kept the original system, so they should line up even better with Passover.

While most languages use a word for Easter based on the word 'paschal', East and West, somehow us English speaking folk got stuck with a pagan word for it.

Of course, the bunny rabbits and eggs suggest pre-Christian European paganism based on fertility rites have gotten involved, but I think as long as young Christian children understand the real meaning, young children having fun with pagan trappings is harmless.


BTW, Carnival season is only a month long this year. Lent starts early. February 6th.


Speaking of festivals and calendars, note how the Hebrew lunar month of Nissin is always in the Spring, but the Islamic holy month of Ramadan moves throughout the solar calendar.

[Ed Mahmoud]

Speaking of hurricane season, and teleconnections, I have found a teleconnection that doesn't work.

In 2005, there was a pre-season 'A' storm. Texas went undefeated, and won the National Championship in football.


In 2007, there was a pre-season 'A' storm. Texas lost 3 times, twice to less talented teams, and faces what is probably a better Arizona State team in a pre-New Years Day middle tier bowl. Maybe it just needs a larger data set. Texas doesn't win many national championships, not at the frequency of out of season TCs, anyway.


So the pre-season storm/national title thing doesn't work. On the other hand, top 5 rainy summers in Houston correlating to a landfalling hurricane in SE Texas correlation did work.

[cycloneye]

I took out from the list,those dates of religion to not have any debates about them here.The list of dates will be for Hurricane Conferences,Forecasts release dates,Holidays that are non religious,and special dates like Daylight Savings Time,Earth Day,big sport events, and more.

Anyone who knows when the hurricane conferences will be held,you can post the dates and I will add them to the important dates prior to June 1.

[CajunMama]

Countdown to 2008 Hurricane Season



Important Dates Prior to June 1

3-January 1 : New Years Day.

4-January 21 : Martin Luther King JR Holiday.

5-Febuary 18 : Presidents Day Holiday.

9-April 22 : Earth Day.

10-May 30 : Memorial Day.

Just curious as to what these days have to do with a countdown to a hurricane season that is 6 months away.

[cycloneye]

Those are important dates prior to June 1 not related to hurricanes that I always put every year in these countdowns,but my priority is to put there dates for hurricane conferences and forecasts release dates.

[southerngale]

A countdown thread already?

It's only December 3rd. This season just ended 3 days ago. And I thought the one at the end of January last year was insanely too early. lol

[cycloneye]

A countdown thread already?

It's only December 3rd. This season just ended 3 days ago. And I thought the one at the end of January last year was insanely too early. lol

I do this to mantain the forum active and not have it dead during the off-season months.

[tolakram]

I like this thread.

Appropriate answer as to why holidays are missing is:

because I made it!

In this day and age it appears no one can be happy. I would scrap all the holidays and just put hurricane nut activities in there. Date of earliest tropical storm, any out of season storms of note, beginning of winter, spring, fun weather stuff like that.

But it's not my calendar, is it.