Hurricane Season Begins Early with Andrea

With Andrea at the top of the hurricane name list for 2007, it looks like the hurricane season could start early. Tropical Depression Andrea is the first offically named storm of the season. The storm will not enter the Gulf of Mexico and so may head out to sea by Saturday.

Hurricane season in the Atlantic is officially from June 1st to November 30th when Atlantic waters are warm enough to sustain a hurricane. However, this date is not set in stone. Although 97% of all hurricanes are between these dates, other storms are often reported. The date and pathway for all major storms from 1995 to 2006 are listed in the following hurricane image maps. Fortunately, the waters in the Atlantic are not yet warm enough to produce a hefty storm. August and September may prove different since these are the peak hurricane months. To learn more about hurricanes visit the Hurricane Videos page.

Although Andrea is not currently considered a major threat, people in the Southern coastal regions need to be prepared. While Andrea is lacking the organization of a typical tropical cyclone, it may produce some high winds and storms in the area. Located just one hundred miles southeast of Savannah, Georgia, this storm is definitely a slow mover with sustained winds of only about 45 mph. (Learn more about Hurricane intensity and damages here!)

While it may seem atypical for a storm in May, you must also remember that 2006 was predicted to be a very active hurricane year. However, it turned out to be a very mild year with no hurricanes making landfall in the US. This year, we will wait and see if Andrea is just a warning for the days to come...