This article or section contains information about an ongoing meteorological event or phenomenon. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The season officially started on June 1 and will run through November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin, though the season began slightly early when Tropical Storm Arthur formed off the coast of Belize on May 31. Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004 Hurricane and Typhoon redirect here. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Atlantic Basin includes the main body of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, but ommits other bodies of water considered to be a part of the Atlantic Ocean in the broad sense, such as the Mediteranean Sea. ... For other uses, see Coast (disambiguation). ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Seasonal forecasts

Forecasts of hurricane activity are issued before each hurricane season by noted hurricane experts Dr. Philip J. Klotzbach, Dr. William M. Gray, and their associates at Colorado State University; and separately by NOAA forecasters. Colorado State University is a public institution of higher learning located in Fort Collins, Colorado in the United States. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, repeatedly shattering previous records. ... The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, repeatedly shattering previous records. ... The 1950 Atlantic hurricane season was an on going event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... The 1983 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... First storm formed: June 2, 1982 Last storm dissipated: Oct. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... -1... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Tropical cyclone seasonal forecasting is the process of predicting the number of tropical cyclones in one of the worlds seven tropical cyclone basins during a particular tropical cyclone season. ... Philip J. Klotzbach is a research associate currently working at Colorado State University. ... William M. Bill Gray, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University (CSU), and head of the Tropical Meteorology Project at CSUs Department of Atmospheric Sciences. ... Colorado State University is a public institution of higher learning located in Fort Collins, Colorado in the United States. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ...

Dr. Klotzbach's team (formerly led by Dr. Gray) defined the average number of storms per season (1950 to 2000) as 9.6 tropical storms, 5.9 hurricanes, and 2.3 major hurricanes (storms exceeding Category 3 strength in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale). A normal season, as defined by NOAA, has 9 to 12 named storms, with 5 to 7 of those reaching hurricane strength, and 1 to 3 major hurricanes.^[1][2] The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms, and thereby become hurricanes. ...

Pre-season forecasts

On December 7, 2007, Klotzbach's team issued its first extended-range forecast for the 2008 season, predicting above-average activity (13 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 of Category 3 or higher).^[1] On April 9, 2008, the CSU issued a new forecast, anticipating a well above average hurricane season of 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 intense hurricanes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an above average season with 12 to 16 storms, 6 to 9 hurricanes, and 2 to 5 major hurricanes on May 22.^[3][4] is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Colorado State University is a public institution of higher learning located in Fort Collins, Colorado in the United States. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Midseason outlooks

The CSU kept their April 9 forecast on June 3 with 15 storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... -1...

Storms

Tropical Storm Arthur

Main article: Tropical Storm Arthur (2008)

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	May 31—June 2
Intensity	40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min), 1005 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Arthur formed near the Belize coast on May 31, developing out of the interaction between a tropical wave and the remnants of Tropical Storm Alma, and made landfall on Belize a short while later.^[5] The system traversed the Yucatán Peninsula slowly and dissipated inland on June 2.^[6] Arthur is the first reported tropical storm to form in May since Tropical Storm Arlene in 1981. Other systems have formed (such as Subtropical Storm Andrea in 2007), but were subtropical. Some forecasters question whether Arthur's very short lifespan would have been reported and named in the years prior to today's technology^[7]. The formation of Arthur also marks the first time that a named storm formed in May for two consecutive years. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms, and thereby become hurricanes. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ... Kilometres per hour (American spelling: kilometers per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ... The bar (symbol bar), decibar (symbol dbar) and the millibar (symbol mbar, also mb) are units of pressure. ... For other uses, see Pascal. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Tropical waves, also known as easterly waves, are elongated areas of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, causing areas of cloudiness and thunderstorms. ... The Yucatán peninsula as seen from space Relief map of the Yucatan peninsula showing major Mayan archeological sites. ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... First storm formed: May 6, 1981 Last storm dissipated: November 17, 1981 Strongest storm: Harvey - 946 mbar (27. ... Current storm status Subtropical storm (1-min mean) As of: 2 a. ...

Hurricane Bertha

Main article: Hurricane Bertha (2008)

Hurricane Bertha 3
Current storm status Category 3 hurricane (1-min mean)
As of:	5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC) July 7
Location:	20.1°N 52.1°W ± 30 nm About 730 mi (1175 km) ENE of the N Leewards About 1150 mi (1855 km) SE of Bermuda
Winds:	100 knots | 115 mph | 185 km/h sustained (1-min mean) gusting to 120 knots | 140 mph | 225 km/h
Pressure:	948 mbar (hPa) | 27.99 inHg
Movement:	WNW at 10 kt | 12 mph | 19 km/h
See more detailed information.

Early on July 1, a strong and large tropical wave emerged off the coast of Africa.^[8] By early the next day, a surface low developed and the wave became better organized.^[9] The National Hurricane Center upgraded the system to Tropical Depression Two in the morning hours of July 3 after the system was able to maintain convection over its center for at least 12 hours.^[10] The depression organized further and developed two distinct bands of convection. Six hours after becoming a depression, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Bertha, the second named storm of the season.^[11] The National Hurricane Center noted that this tropical cyclone was remarkably forecasted up to a week in advance by many global computer models.^[10] The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms, and thereby become hurricanes. ... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms, and thereby become hurricanes. ... Eastern Daylight Time or EDT is equal to: In North America, Eastern Standard Time + 1, or UTC − 4 hours. ... UTC redirects here. ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the geographical term. ... Longitude is the east-west geographic coordinate measurement most commonly utilized in cartography and global navigation. ... ESE also stands for Extensible Storage Engine. ... The Leeward Islands are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles. ... Southeast is the ordinal direction halfway between south and east. ... A knot is a unit of speed abbreviated kt or kn. ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ... Kilometre per hour (American spelling: kilometer per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ... A millibar (mbar, also mb) is 1/1000th of a bar, a unit for measurement of pressure. ... HPA means Physiology Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis: The hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands work together to regulate hormone levels and maintain homeostasis. ... Inches of mercury or inHg is a non SI unit for pressure. ... Boxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two principal points of the compass in clockwise order. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Tropical waves, also known as easterly waves, are elongated areas of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, causing areas of cloudiness and thunderstorms. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... National Weather Service Logo The U.S. National Hurricane Center is the division of National Weather Services Tropical Prediction Center responsible for tracking and predicting the likely behavior of tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Convection in the most general terms refers to the movement of currents within fluids (i. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004 Hurricane and Typhoon redirect here. ... An example of 500 mb geopotential height prediction from a numerical weather prediction model Numerical weather prediction is the science of predicting the weather using mathematical models of the atmosphere. ...

After a bout of strengthening on July 6, Bertha was upgraded to a hurricane early on July 7 as satellite and microwave imagery indicated an eye feature had formed. It continued to strengthen that morning. Rapid intensification continued that afternoon and Bertha strengthened into a major hurricane with 115 mph (185 km/h) winds and a well-defined eye. is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Current storm information

As of 5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC) July 7, Hurricane Bertha is located within 30 nautical miles of 20.1°N 52.1°W, about 730 mi (1175 km) east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands or about 1150 mi (1855 km) southeast of Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds are 100 knots (115 mph, 185 km/h), with stronger gusts. Minimum central pressure is 948 mbar (hPa; 27.99 InHg), and the system is moving west-northwest at 10 kt (12 mph, 19 km/h). Eastern Daylight Time or EDT is equal to: In North America, Eastern Standard Time + 1, or UTC − 4 hours. ... UTC redirects here. ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of length. ... This article is about the geographical term. ... Longitude is the east-west geographic coordinate measurement most commonly utilized in cartography and global navigation. ... ESE also stands for Extensible Storage Engine. ... The Leeward Islands are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles. ... Southeast is the ordinal direction halfway between south and east. ... A millibar (mbar, also mb) is 1/1000th of a bar, a unit for measurement of pressure. ... For other uses, see Pascal. ... Inches of mercury or inHg is a non SI unit for pressure. ... Boxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two principal points of the compass in clockwise order. ...

For latest official information see:

• The NHC's latest public advisory on Hurricane Bertha.
• The NHC's latest forecast/advisory on Hurricane Bertha.

Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) rating

The table on the right shows the ACE for each storm in the season. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only officially released for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Subtropical storms are not included in season totals. Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) is a measure used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to express the activity of Atlantic hurricane seasons. ...

Timeline of recent events

Main article: Timeline of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season

July

July 3

• 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC): Tropical Depression Two forms south of the Cape Verde islands.
• 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC): Tropical Depression Two strengthens into Tropical Storm Bertha.

July 7

• 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC): Tropical Storm Bertha strengthens into Hurricane Bertha.
• 5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC): Hurricane Bertha reaches Category 3 intensity.

July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... ... ...

2008 storm names

The following names will be used for named storms that form in the North Atlantic in 2008. Retired names, if any, will be announced by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 2009. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2014 season. The list is the same as the 2002 list except for Ike and Laura which will replace Isidore and Lili, respectively. WMO flag The World Meteorological Organization (WMO, French: , OMM) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 188 Member States and Territories. ... The 2002 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2002, and lasted until November 30, 2002. ... Hurricane Isidore was the ninth named storm out of twelve to hit during the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season. ... Lowest pressure 940 mbar (hPa) Damages $860+ million (2002 USD) $900+ million (2005 USD) Fatalities 14 direct, 2 indirect [1] Areas affected Windward Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Louisiana Part of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Lili was a powerful hurricane during the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season that caused damage...

See also

Tropical cyclones portal

• List of Atlantic hurricanes
• List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
• 2008 Pacific hurricane season
• 2008 Pacific typhoon season
• 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
• South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2007-08, 2008-09
• Australian region cyclone seasons: 2007-08, 2008-09
• South Pacific cyclone seasons: 2007-08, 2008-09

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x662, 320 KB) http://eol. ... ... The 2008 Pacific hurricane season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... Wikinews has related news: Hurricane season, 2008 The 2008 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it runs year-round in 2008, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. ... North Indian cyclone seasons 2000-2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 The 2008 North Indian cyclone season will be an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... The 2007-08 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season will be an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... // look now its hurrican season> The 2007-08 Australian region cyclone season was an event in the ongoing cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... The 2007-08 South Pacific cyclone season will be an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Colorado State University is a public institution of higher learning located in Fort Collins, Colorado in the United States. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• National Hurricane Center Website
• National Hurricane Center's Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook