The Hurricane Season has Arrived!

The 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially starts today and it is possible that the tropics will turn active immediately in the Caribbean. While at this time there are no tropical systems, the western Caribbean Sea is being closely monitored for possible development over the next few days.

THE ATLANTIC TODAY

The Weather Channel (AccuWeather) reports  the following:

“There is a broad but weak area of low pressure is found just to the north of Panama. The potential for a tropical depression or an even stronger system to take shape will also increase during the upcoming days as wind shear weakens. Wind shear is currently too powerful and disruptive for the formation of any tropical system. However, once this shear weakens, this in combination with warmer-than-normal surface waters across the western Caribbean and lower-than-normal surface pressures could be indicators that the disorganized convection on satellite right now may try to become better organized later this week.”

AccuWeather also reports:

“It is premature to say exactly where the tropical system will head, if indeed development occurs. The system may get steered northeastward in the direction of Jamaica, Hispaniola or eastern Cuba. Another scenario is that the system could drift into the northwestern Caribbean. Enhanced moisture leading to more shower and thunderstorm development is also possible later this week across South Florida.”

The Eastern Caribbean is not expected to feel the impact of this weather system. However, we must continue to be on guard throughout the season. At the moment, there are two tropical waves in the Middle and Eastern Atlantic and because of the “above normal heat” in the Tropics, we can expect much activity this hurricane season.

The named storms for this season are:

Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince and Whitney.

Are we going to hit by Katia this year?