Hurricane season - 2007

The Atlantic hurricane season is still about 7 weeks away, but I am endeavouring to keep nudging awareness. Here is the list of names for this year:

Andrea
Barry
Chantal
Dean
Erin
Felix
Gabrielle
Humberto
Ingrid
Jerry
Karen
Lorenzo
Melissa
Noel
Olga
Pablo
Rebekah
Sebastien
Tanya
Van
Wendy

As is the convention, any name, associated with a particularly deadly and / or destructive hurricane will be retired, never to be used again. The most prominent example of recent years is Katrina. In 2006, no names were retired. I hope that the same will happen in 2007, but I think I'm hoping in vain.

The East Pacific season is closer by - only 5 weeks away. Although hurricanes here tend to affect the Mexican and Central America coastlines only, the backwash (if you like) sometimes reaches into California, New Mexico and Texas. Names here will be:

Alvin
Barbara
Cosme
Dalila
Erick
Flossie
Gil
Henriette
Ivo
Juliette
Kiko
Lorena
Manuel
Narda
Octave
Priscilla
Raymond
Sonia
Tico
Velma
Wallis
Xina
York
Zelda

As you are aware, I tend to raise the red flag on this blog when a tropical hurricane, typhoon or cyclone threatens land. It is human nature to become complacent and assume an attitude of "it's not gonna strike here". Well, it may well come just there.

I have linked the images at the top of this post from the NHC website, and I strongly recommend anyone who lives in Hurricane Alley to read the Hurricane Awareness page.

Please make a note in your diary: Hurricane Awareness Week is May 20 - 26, 2007.

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