July 25, 2005

Annually on the fourth Monday in July, people in the US Virgin Islands celebrate Hurricane Supplication Day (a local legal holiday) by going to church and praying for protection from hurricanes. The official Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico hurricane season starts on June 1, ends on November 30, and averages seven named storms. Once a tropical storm exceeds wind speeds of thirty-nine miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) gives it a name. Names are given out in alphabetic order from rotating lists of male and female names. Between 1950 and 1978, hurricanes were given girl names. But before that, hurricanes were numbered, not named.

Hurricane Hunters
Have I got a ride for you! The Hurricane Hunters of the Air Force Reserve are a one-of-a-kind Department of Defense organization that flies into tropical storms and hurricanes. Through the magic of cyber-flight, you are invited to join their flight into the eye of Hurricane Opal. “Attention to storm briefing, crew. Things are about to get busy, so please minimize chatter. The navigator will be directing the aircraft until we get close to the eye, then Weather will take us in from there, with the Nav backing him up. Copilot, guard the autopilot, and kick it off if we get into severe turbulence.”

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