NOAA cuts forecast for hurricanes (finally).
MIAMI (
Reuters) - The U.S. government climate agency cut its 2009 Atlantic hurricane season forecast on Thursday, predicting between seven and 11 tropical storms, with three to six becoming hurricanes.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted one to two of those would be "major" hurricanes of Category 3 or higher, with sustained winds of more than 110 miles per hour (177 km per hour).
The agency had predicted in May that there would be nine to 14 tropical storms, with four to seven becoming hurricanes, and one to three strengthening into major hurricanes.
Ever since Katrina the NOAA has routinely predicted (and been wrong) that each new season will be "above average" both in the number of storms and which ones reach hurricane strength.
The only thing they've demonstrated is that (even with a multi-million dollar computer upgrade) they are no better at reading the tea leaves of distance forecasts than the Farmer's Almanac.