NOAA Predicts A Near-Normal Hurricane Season [poll]

Hopefully, for flood victims, 2012 won’t be a repeat of 2011.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued its outlook for the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

For the six-month long season, which begins June 1, NOAA predicts there is a 70 percent chance that nine to 15 named storms will occur this year. Four to eight of those storms could strengthen into hurricanes, with winds of 74 miles per hour, and one to three of those could become major hurricanes. Major hurricanes have winds in excess of 111 miles per hour.

“NOAA’s outlook predicts a less active season compared to recent years,” said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco. “But regardless of the outlook, it’s vital for anyone living or vacationing in hurricane-prone locations to be prepared.”
Hurricane Irene and tropical storm Lee last summer for days, resulting in the worse flooding to hit the area in a century.

The storm caused many local residents and officials to take note of the increasing severity and frequency of storms in the Passaic River Basin and the role the in downstream flooding.

The state Department of Environmental Protection, with the cooperation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, .  The study concluded that the gates to not contribute to downstream flooding.