We've started to beef up the site. (Still officially dormant).
For 2006 we've expanded our Satellite Imaging to include other areas besides hurricane alley (thanks to NOAA). Now it includes 8 other areas including nearer to Africa where storms are born) plus 5 "floater" areas that will be fixed on future storms and other disasters waiting to happen. So if there's another Katrina, you'll be able to watch it live from the sky via satellite. In addition instead of visible light spectrum satellite (light in daytime but dark at night) we have infrared (false colors viewable 24 hrs) as well as water vapor/microwave. All will have additional wind, sea and hurricane overlays. And all are grainy and not your usual cable type fare. But real. "Your eye in the sky 24x7". Anytime you want to peek.
When you are bored also check out our brand new online database for past storm tracks. You can make your own queries in addition to using our own canned ones. Your queries can be based by city, state or country of your choice, etc. For example show me all the category 1-3 hurricanes for Hackensack, NJ or Cape Coral Fl or any other geographical area. If you have a request and you don't want to figure out the commands yourself, we will can the query for you.
And we also have a hurricane preparedness section launched for preparedness week. With links on how to survive and prep for extreme weather. (like if Floridians needed any more preparation)... But your northeastern friends or family may need it. (continue reading to find out why).
All with real-time links to NOAA, FEMA, Navy Labs, Red Cross and other scientific and humanitarian data resources. You can get that data elsewhere, included there, but not as neatly packaged as in our site. One stop shopping. Also stuff on earthquakes, tsunamis, tidal waves, forest fires and flooding (we have online flooding gages for the whole country). Some of the stuff is being re calibrated and improved for 2006.
I'm prepping up the site for a tough hurricane season that officially starts on June 1st and ends Nov 30.
One which may severely threaten the Northeast. The forecast is for two dozen plus named storms, with about a dozen hurricanes of which about 6 should be over Category 3 or higher. The worst is supposed to happen later in the season (like Sept), because the ocean is cooler than usual right now. And as I said, the northeast as high up north as NY or Boston is game. As we've said before we are into our 8th year into a worst than normal season (like the stretch in the 1950's). The current worse-than-normal situation is expected to last for another 6-8 yrs or so. And then back to ignorant bliss for another 50 years. Maybe we should start drinking now. And for a change, good or bad, this year or for the next 7 the prospect is likely to affect our northern latitudes. So don't sell your Florida place yet and move up north yet. It won't do you any good. (smile). Paradise is still paradise. Hell is still hell. (smirk).
Don't forget our humor section. We need new material. Most is 2 years old now. Send your contributions to info@hurricane.nario.com or me.
Thx,
Jorge
www.hurricane.nario.com