Click here for pictures from the 2009 Weather Conference
If you've noticed my absence in Tampa this week, it's because I am in the Bahamas. Now, I know that sounds like a vacation, but I am actually at work at the 2009 Bahamas Weather Conference in Nassau.
I have spent the past three days listening to and conversing with some of the leading hurricane experts in the United States and the Caribbean.
Some of the speakers include Max Mayfield, former Director of the National Hurricane Center, Bill Read current Director of the Hurricane Center, Dr. Bill Gray and Dr. Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University, Dr. Jim Kossin of the National Climatic Data Center and an assortment of emergency managers from the Gulf Coast, along with Insurance Researchers and Home Safety experts.
I'm very excited by the advances in hurricane forecasting.
Through technology, the hurricane tracks have become very accurate. Intensity still needs some work, but knowing where landfall will be is key for emergency lanners and you at home.
There is also a revamping of the Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale. This was always used for wind speeds and damage correlation. It also had a component on storm surge heights, but now experts say they will separate out that component. The reason? Category size, wind speed and intensity don't always accurately depict the surge from every hurricane.
Case in point is category 2 Ike, which created a 15-20' surge over Texas, and category 3 Katrina, which produced a devastating 28' surge in Mississippi. Category 4 Charley only produced 7' surge n southwest Florida. There are other factors, such as width, eye size, time over water, forward speed, etc. that contribute to the surge.
In fact, the theme of the conference kept returning to category size. People shouldn't get caught up in whether a tropical system is a category 1, 2 or 5. They should pay attention to the entire system and what threat it presents. Watches, Warnings and statements will reflect the particular danger an individual storm presents. A wide category 2 like Ike was far more destructive that powerful. Treat every storm seriously.
We also discussed climate change and its effect on hurricanes. As you can imagine, the debate was spirited and the research is ongoing. There will be more on this in the months ahead.
There was also time for me to visit with colleagues from across the nation and even one other colleague from Tampa, Denis Phillips from Channel 28. it was nice to experience science, share ideas and plenty of laughs off air.
If you run into him, ask about how I crashed his interview!
The entertainment and fine dining is wonderful here, but I am so pooped at the end of the day that I simply fall asleep.
Joining me is Angela Clooney, a fantastic photojournalist at 10 Connects, and she is shooting all of the speakers and interviews and a few fun moments in Hi Definition.
You'll be able to see much of what she shot in our upcoming 10 Connects Hurricane Special.
Now, I'm off to our farewell dinner. I am excited to get home to all of you in the Bay area.
Tammie Souza, 10 Connects Chief Meteorologist
