WSI Energycast Seasonal Tropical Update Maintains Forecast Numbers on Continued Expectations of Active Season
WSI issues an update of special interest to energy traders
Andover, MA, August 22, 2007 - WSI Corporation issued an update to their 2007 seasonal tropical outlook on August 14. No changes were made to the July forecast, and WSI continues to predict that the tropical season will have 14 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 intense hurricanes (category 3 or greater). These numbers are still larger than the long-term averages of 9.6 named storms, 5.9 hurricanes, and 2.3 intense hurricanes, and also larger than the numbers from 2006. The main drivers of the expected active season continue to be (1) the persistence of the warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures in the western tropical Atlantic Basin and (2) a relatively benign vertical wind shear environment due to a lack of an El Nino event.
According to WSI seasonal forecaster Dr. Todd Crawford, “While the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean temperature anomalies have remained relatively cool this summer, the western tropical Atlantic Basin is quite warm, as evidenced by the strength attained by Hurricane Dean before landfall. Further, the trend towards La Nina conditions has been accompanied by a reduction in the vertical wind shear in the tropics, another enabling factor for tropical development. While this season will not approach the historic levels observed in 2005, we do continue to expect an active season relative to long-term averages, and certainly more active than the 2006 season. The 5 named storms, 1 hurricane, and 1 major hurricane observed so far in 2007 are outpacing the long-term averages of 3 named storms and 1 hurricane by this point in the season. The warm western Atlantic ocean temperatures and benign shear environment should continue to support this above-normal pace through the remainder of the tropical season.”
WSI has been providing industry-leading seasonal forecasts for energy traders since 2000. The next full seasonal forecast package, which will include both an update on the current tropical season as well as expectations for late-summer and fall temperatures, will be issued to clients on September 18 and to the press on September 26.
About WSI Corporation
WSI Corporation is the world's leading provider of weather-driven business solutions
for professionals in the energy, aviation, and media markets, and multiple federal
and state government agencies. WSI is headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts
with offices in Birmingham, England, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Landmark
Communications. More information about WSI can be found at www.wsi.com.
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