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HURRICANE SEASON
MARATHON WEEKLY / JUNE 28, 2018
THANK YOU!
I would like to thank everyone who donated in my name to the Relay for Life team, Castaways Against Cancer. We successfully completed our 19th kayak journey from Miami to Key West, a total of 160 miles (and a 19-year total of 3,000 miles). We broke the million dollar mark in fundraising for our 19 years. We had some scary times with storms and more then a few blisters on our hands, but nothing that beats the satisfaction of our main mission, to end cancer. -Suzy Curry
Thank you to my donors! Tom Diezel Gayle Cubberley Cathy and Herb Budd FKEC Carl and Nancy Miller Lillie Klein John and Sandy Grouten Patty Ivey Heather Utset Art Stephens Denise and Chris Pankow Karen Morton Kathy and Bill Sympson Keys Fitness Center Meagan Sayer Law Offices of Thomas D. Wright Linda Mizelle Stella Hold Robert Hullum
Daniel Samess Tom Branch Sarah Cizmas Iberia Bank Mary Slawson Kim Caton Rev. Debra Maconaughey Phyllis Kuykendall Specialty Hardware Island Pilates and Massage Artic Temp Mary Ellen Operchal Bill and Debbie Hegland Zonta Club of Marathon Jill Bell Jane and Tim Jewell Charlotte Quinn Riett Steinmetz Cailynn Thompson Dolores McCleary
Thank you to our in kind sponsors Leigh Ann’s Catering Royal Furniture Brutus Seafood Stuffed Pig Stouts Restaurant Gulfview Motel
Lighthouse Grill Hungry Tarpon Whale Harbor Sugarloaf Lodge Bahia Honda State Park
GOOD NEWS: LOWER WATER TEMPERATURES A hurricane approaches the east coast of Florida in this NASA satellite image.
CHARLES FULCO
I
www.keysweekly.com
t’s officially hurricane season in the Keys again, but Irma-weary residents will be glad to know the current forecast calls for much-reduced activity in the areas where tropical depressions form. National Weather Service (NWS) Senior Forecaster Bill South in Key West says the three essential factors normally needed to produce and sustain hurricanes are not currently present: namely, water surface temperature at 80 degrees or higher, an extensive layer of low-pressure air, and reduced wind shear. The water temperature in the Atlantic Ocean off the Antilles (a typical area of tropical storm formation) has been running about 3 to 4 degrees lower than this same time last year. This may not sound like much to the non-meteorologist, but these are the lowest-recorded temps since the early 1980s and are significant enough to lessen the probability of storms this season. Interestingly, the water temperature differential earlier this spring was just about the same as last year’s temps, giving rise to initial dire predictions for 2018. These lower water temps combined with stronger trade winds and higher barometric pressure make South cautiously optimistic for a less active hurricane season for the Keys this year. “Another factor we can all root for has been the appearance of el Niño,” South said, “It tends to increase wind shear, which can literally tear apart conditions that
potentially spawn hurricanes.” While all this seems positive, South warns Keys residents to remain on guard for the entire season. “Hurricane Andrew was one of only five hurricanes to develop 1992,” he said, “And we’re still talking about it 25-plus years later. Keys residents should not change the way they normally prepare.” In addition to the plywood, hardware, non-perishable foods, fresh batteries and other staples we’re all familiar with, South suggests investing in an inexpensive weather-band radio, which picks up NWS signal (broadcasting at 165.55 Mhz) for five-day advanced tropical storm alerts. “The farther in advance you get the information of an impending storm, the more time it gives you to make the necessary plans to shore up your property and potentially beat the crowd if you need to evacuate,” he said. For those whose memories of last year’s evacuation are still fresh, this is a well-heeded bit of cautionary advice indeed. Colorado State University hurricane experts project a near-average hurricane season for 2018, with 13 named storms forming during this period. With Alberto already in the books, the final season total is expected to be 14. Six of these are forecast to attain hurricane strength, and two are expected to be major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher intensity). Those numbers are down from the original CSU forecast issued in April, which predicted seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.