Hurricane Tracking Blog

Hurricane forecast experts are reportedly expecting a very active 2010 season in the Atlantic basin. According to experts at Colorado State University, there will be 18 named storms for the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The season, which began on June 1and will end on November 30, affects the Caribbean and the eastern and Gulf coasts of the United States of America, and has already seen one hurricane - Hurricane Alex.

The forecasters have based their prediction on the much warmer-than-normal tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures and cooling tropical Pacific conditions that will likely transition into a weak La Niña by mid-season. Of the 18 expected storms, the team of experts anticipates that 10 of those will become hurricanes, and that five of these will develop into major hurricanes - with sustained winds of 111mph or greater.

In April, the scientists’ initial prediction was for 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

Late in the evening on Tuesday, June 29, Tropical storm Alex became the first hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricane Alex is the first Atlantic hurricane in the month of June since 1995. Overnight, Hurricane Alex grew to a powerful Category 2 storm as it neared Mexico’s Gulf coast and south Texas today. While the storm was far from the Gulf oil spill, cleanup vessels were sidelined by its ripple effects, as it whipped up high waves that frustrated oil-spill cleanup efforts and delivering tar balls and globs of crude onto already soiled beaches.

The latest Hurricane Alex update from the National Hurricane Center indicates:

ALEX IS A LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES…110 KM…FROM THE CENTER…AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 205 MILES…335 KM PRIMARILY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER. ALEX IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 10 MPH…17 KM/HR. THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE UNTIL LANDFALL IN NORTHEASTERN MEXICO later this evening.

LOCATION…24.3N 97.5W
i.e. ABOUT 40 MI…65 KM NNE OF LA PESCA MEXICO
or ABOUT 110 MI…180 KM S OF BROWNSVILLE TEXAS

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…100 MPH…155 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT…W OR 270 DEGREES AT 10 MPH…17 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…948 MB…27.99 INCHES

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR… * THE COAST OF TEXAS SOUTH OF BAFFIN BAY TO THE MOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE and also for THE COAST OF MEXICO FROM THE MOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE TO LA CRUZ

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN IN EFFECT FOR… * THE COAST OF TEXAS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT OCONNOR and also for THE COAST OF MEXICO SOUTH OF LA CRUZ TO CABO ROJO

Tropical Storm Alex has formed in the Caribbean off the coast of Central America, thus making it the first named storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. Forming from a tropical wave, it slowly developed in the Caribbean Sea, moving from a tropical depression to a tropical storm on June 25, 2010.

As at 1 p.m. CDT on June 26, 2010, the National Hurricane Center described Tropical Storm Alex as follows:

LARGE TROPICAL STORM ALEX HEADING A LITTLE FASTER TOWARD BELIZE AND THE YUCATAN PENINSULA…

LOCATION…17.5N 87.2W
ABOUT 75 MI…120 KM E OF BELIZE CITY
ABOUT 100 MI…160 KM SE OF CHETUMAL MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…45 MPH…75 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 9 MPH…15 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1003 MB…29.62 INCHES

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR… THE COAST OF BELIZE AND THE EAST COAST OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM CHETUMAL TO CANCUN * THE ISLANDS OF ROATAN…GUANAJA…AND UTILA IN HONDURAS

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR… * THE COAST OF HONDURAS FROM LIMON WESTWARD TO THE BORDER OF HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA

Click here for Alex trackers

Below are a few tips and suggested safe practices for the handling of petroleum products before, during and after a hurricane.

1. Get your petroleum products strictly from established (legal) filling stations, where stringent fire safety standards are met.
2. Never store more than one gallon of kerosene, gasoline or diesel oil in your home.
3. If you must store petroleum products, ensure that it is kept in a tightly closed metal container, and stored in a cool dry place outside your home.
4. Check your cooking gas cylinder for leaks (liquid petroleum gas smells faintly like rotting eggs), and take steps to correct any leaks immediately.

Stay safe, and take extra care when handling petroleum products during hurricanes and other emergency situations.

The 2010 Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Ocean will begin on June 1, 2010, and end on November 30, 2010. If you live in an area that sees hurricane or tropical storm activity from time to time during the regular hurricane season, you should start to prepare now, in order to mitigate the effects of storms that may be coming your way.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the 2010 hurricane season:

1. Preparations must be made to discuss things at all levels - in homes, offices, churches, social clubs, private sector organizations and elsewhere
2. Secure important documents - drivers licenses, IDs, marriage and birth certificates and other important documents should be stored in a waterproof container or plastic bag. They should also be placed in a location where you can quickly “grab and run”.
3. Check your insurance coverage - make sure that you are insurance payments are current and that whatever insurance coverage you have is adequate.
4. Prepare a survival kit with the following items - drinking water and food (enough to last for 3 to 7 days), non-perishable packaged or canned food/juices, special foods for infants or the elderly, snacks, non-electric can opener, cooking tools, paper plates and plastic utensils, Sheets and pillows, clothing, toiletries, flashlight, candles, batteries, battery-operated radio, prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines (where required) and a First-Aid Kit

Taking a few steps to prepare today could help you in the unfortunate event of a hurricane or tropical storm. Don’t get caught unprepared.