NOAA RAISES THE 2005 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON OUTLOOK
Bulk of This Season's Storms Still to Come

Aug. 2, 2005 — A very active Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and with more storms projected, NOAA today increased the number of storms in its 2005 hurricane season outlook. NOAA expects an additional 11 to 14 tropical storms from August through November, with seven to nine becoming hurricanes, including three to five major hurricanes. In total, this season is likely to yield 18 to 21 tropical storms, with nine to 11 becoming hurricanes, including five to seven major hurricanes.

NOAA Photos and Audio from Washington, D.C., news conference on Aug. 2, 2005, on the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season update. The audio files are in the mp3 format.

(Left to right) NOAA meteorologist Gerry Bell, Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, USAF (Ret.), director of the NOAA National Weather Service, and Max Mayfield, director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center via satellite in Miami, Fla., speak at a news conference in Washington, D.C., on the updated 2005 Atlantic hurricane season outlook. (Click image for larger view. Click here for high resolution version. Please credit "NOAA.")

Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, USAF (Ret.), director of the NOAA National Weather Service, says it’s going to be an active hurricane season. (:34)

Johnson discusses the number of tropical storms and hurricanes projected by NOAA. (:14)

Johnson says NOAA is highly confident of its updated 2005 Atlantic hurricane season outlook. (:17)

Johnson says this has been a record-setting season so far. (:30)

Johnson cautions that those in the potential path of a hurricane should be prepared (:21)

Gerry Bell, lead meteorologist on NOAA's Atlantic Hurricane Seasonal Outlook, speaks at a Washington, D.C, news conference. (Click image for larger view. Click here for high resolution version. Please credit "NOAA.")

Gerry Bell, lead meteorologist on NOAA's Atlantic Hurricane Seasonal Outlook, tells reporters conditions are right for an active Atlantic hurricane season. (:15)

Bell said the sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic are at the right levels for producing tropical storms and hurricanes. (:18)

Bell said the United States should keep a watchful eye for landfalling hurricanes. (:24)

Max Mayfield, director fo the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., speaks to a Washington, D.C., news conference via satellite. (Click image for high resolution version. Please credit "NOAA.")

Max Mayfield, director fo the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., told reporters in Washington, D.C., via satellite that there’s more to come during the next several months of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. (:14)

Mayfield said prior to the start of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season a report card was issued by the National Hurricane Survival Initiative, a public-private partnership, which commissioned a poll by Mason-Dixon Research. Mayfield said the poll results were not encouraging and that 20 percent of the respondents would not evacuate if ordered to do so. (:36)

Mayfield said that many residents won’t even get out of harm’s way when ordered to evacuate. (:17)

Mayfield cautioned people to have a set plan in place before NOAA issues a tropical storm or hurricane warning. (:34)

Mayfield said being prepared during hurricane season makes sense and saves lives. (:13)

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook

NOAA Atlantic Hurricane Outlook and Summary Archive

NOAA National Hurricane Center

NOAA Climate Prediction Center

2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season

NOAA Hurricanes Page

NOAA 2005 Satellite Images (NOAA Environmental Visualization Lab)

NOAA 2005 Satellite Images (Operational of Significant Event Imagery, or OSEI)

Media Contact:
Carmeyia Gillis, NOAA Climate Prediction Center, (301) 763-8000 ext. 7163 or Chris Vaccaro, NOAA National Weather Service, (301) 713-0622 ext. 134