The Atlantic hurricane season begins in 2 days and the only good news we have for you tonight is that you still have time to prepare. Belize's Chief Met Officer Carlos Fuller says all the conditions are right for another hellish season disastrous season in the tropics. Last year there was a record list of named storms and Fuller says this year could break more records.
Carlos Fuller, Cheif Met Officer
"The sea surface temperatures are warm already and they will get warmer. The conditions of the pressure in the area is also low, favorable for hurricane formation, and the winds are also favorable, there is not a lot of sheer to tear the thunderstorms apart. Hence everything is in place to have another active year."
Keith Swift,
And a warm sea means more storms early in the season.
Carlos Fuller,
"That is correct. It means that the ingredients are there already. The only thing we last need is for these tropical waves to start to leave Africa and come across or to have some system in place that produces thunderstorms and then get the system going. The ingredients are there already."
Keith Swift,
So what's your advice to Belizeans?
Carlos Fuller,
"The most important thing is for people to get a hurricane plan. Decide from today where you want to spend a hurricane if one is threatening. Don't wait until the warning is issued to decide what you are going to do. You should decide today that if you along the coast or on the cayes that you need to evacuate inland and you need to know where to go, if you families or friends that you can stay with. You should leave hurricane shelters as only a last resort to leave it to those people who really don't have anywhere to go. So these are the things you need to take into account from today."
