2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Preparation Information

The Atlantic Hurricane Season starts on June 1 of each year and runs through November 30. This season is the "prime time" for tropical storm development and growth, especially in the warm tropical climates between the western coast of Africa and the Caribbean. This time of year, just about everyone on the coast of the Atlantic in the Southeastern United States watches the weather forecasts very closely.

Please visit our Hurricane Advisory Page to view the latest Tropical Advisories and Bulletins.

Tropical Cyclone Stages

 1. At the beginning, a storm starts out as a Tropical Disturbance. A "Tropical Disturbance" is defined a discrete tropical weather system of apparently organized convection - generally 100 to 300 nautical miles in diameter - originating in the tropics or subtropics, having a non-frontal migratory character, and maintaining its identity for 24 hours or more.

2. The next stage is a Tropical Storm. A "Tropical Storm" is defined as a tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed (using the U.S. 1 minute average standard) ranges from 39 mph (34 kts) to 73 mph (73 kts). The convection in tropical storms is usually more concentrated near the center with outer rainfall organizing into distinct bands.

3. Third is a Hurricane. When winds in a tropical cyclone equal or exceed 74 mph (64 kts) it is called a hurricane (in the Atlantic and eastern and central Pacific Oceans). Hurricanes are further designated by categories on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 

The "Saffir-Simpson Scale:

Hurricanes are designated by a "Category". This Category is determined by the maximum sustained wind speeds. Hurricanes designated as Categories 3, 4 and 5 are considered major hurricanes. The table for the Saffir-Simpson Scale follows: 

Category One Hurricane:

Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. In 2002 Hurricane Lili made landfall on the Louisiana coast as a Category One hurricane. In 2004 Hurricane Gaston was a Category One hurricane that made landfall along the central South Carolina coast.

Category Two Hurricane:

Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. Hurricane Frances of 2004 made landfall over the southern end of Hutchinson Island, Florida as a Category Two hurricane. Hurricane Isabel of 2003 made landfall near Drum Inlet on the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane.

Category Three Hurricane:

Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required. Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne of 2004 were Category Three hurricanes when they made landfall in Alabama and in Florida, respectively.

Category Four Hurricane:

Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtain wall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Charley in 2004 was a Category Four hurricane made landfall in Charlotte County, Florida with winds of 150 mph. In 2005 Hurricane Dennis struck the island of Cuba as a Category Four hurricane.

Category Five Hurricane:

Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in the United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian. Hurricane Andrew of 1992 made landfall over southern Miami-Dade County, Florida causing 26.5 billion dollars in losses--the costliest hurricane on record. In addition, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of 888 mb

Tropical Cyclone Names

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes are named according to a list that rotates every six years. The list that is being used this year (2006) was once used in 2000 and will be used again in 2012. Once a tropical cyclone is becomes a Tropical Storm it is named according to the order on the approved lists. Also, if a particular Hurricane causes catastrophic loss of lives or damages, the name is retired and never used again. 

When there are more tropical cyclones in any particular season than there are names on the list, each subsequent storm is named using letters of the Greek Alphabet (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and so on). If a tropical cyclone forms in the off season, it is given the next name in the list according to the calendar date. For example, a cyclone that formed on December 20 of any given year would gets its name from the names list of that year. A storm that forms on February 16 would get its name from that year's list of names.

Also, the list of names is repeated every 6 years. As an example, the 2007 storm season names list will be used again in 2013. Names are retired from the list only if the storm is so deadly or costly in the terms of amounts of damage that future use of the name would be considered inappropriate.

The list of names for the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season are as follows:

(This list was last used in 2001)

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

Storm Surge

Storm surge is part of life on the coast during Hurricane Season. Storm Surge is the onshore rush of sea water caused by the high winds associated with a tropical cyclone that is making land fall and secondarily by the low pressure of the storm. In some cases storm surge can be the most deadly/dangerous part of an approaching storm. Storm surge can cause flooding of low-lying areas or other areas prone to flash flooding.

For more information in Tropical Cyclones, please visit the National Hurricane Center's Website, which is part of the National Weather Service. They have a wealth of information regarding Tropical Cyclones, and other very important safety and preparedness information.

The above information was provided courtesy of and is Copyright by the National Hurricane Center. Please visit their site for much more in depth information on Tropical Cyclones.

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This section will be updated with any new information for the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season as soon as it becomes available. Please check back often.

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