Listener Question: Are Hurricanes Growing in Intensity?
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Today on the Weather Notebook, a question from:

"Rob Colonso in North Adams, MA, listening to WNAB. My weather question is are there more hurricanes now in recent years or are they worse then they have been in past years. The news media seems to report on them constantly now and I wondered if there's some reason for that. Thanks."

The answer breaks down into three factors. First, are you talking globally? If you are, then things are staying about the same over the past 50 years since global weather records became accurate. But, let's assume that because the US media tends to focus on the US in terms of weather that you mean Atlantic coast hurricanes. There are hardly any on the Pacific coast.

Second, factor - over what period of time? Well, since the beginning of the century there seems to be a very rough 30-year or so cycle of hurricane activity. The thirties were pretty busy, as were the early sixties. The seventies, eighties and early 90's were relatively quiet but; then, during the late 90's things picked up. There were twice as many hurricanes from 95 to 99 than there were from 90 to 94. So things have picked up compared to 5 years ago but over the long haul, there's no big change.

The third factor is that it may have seemed that hurricanes flashed across the headlines more and more as the 90s progressed. Well I wouldn't be surprised, with an increase in storms, an explosion of population, and a voracious media, from June to November for the east coast any way, hurricanes are the talk of the town.

Questions are always welcome here at The Weather Notebook. Just call our office at the Mount Washington Observatory at 1-888-RAIN-001.