NEMO says increased storms for 2013

Dennis Gonguez

Chief Met Officer Dennis Gonguez broke down the numbers of storms expected, as well as their respective strengths per category.

Dennis Gonguez, Chief Meteorological Officer

“This Saturday marks the start of the 2013 hurricane season and the forecast, as predicted by the more reputable forecast centers, predict an above average season.  If you look at the graphic there, for the average period 1980 to 2010, we see that the average number of named storms is twelve, the average number of hurricanes is nine and the average number of intense hurricanes, categories three, four or five typically in any period 1980 – 2010 would be three systems.  Our forecast sources this year predict an above average season with as much as twenty systems as predicted by the United States Weather Service and as low as fourteen by the met office in the United Kingdom.  Those forecasts are well above the normal average of 1980 – 2010 period.  In terms of hurricanes with winds seventy-four miles per hour or higher, most of the forecasts indicate that approximately nine systems will develop, which is just about average for the same 1980 -2010 period.”

In Old Capital, the City Emergency Management Organization, a department of the Belize City Council, has designated an official evacuation route for residents leaving and re-entering their respective communities during a hurricane.  NEMO, on the other hand, says it is confident that there are existing shelters which can withstand a category three disaster.