Return of El Nino Yields near Normal 2006 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Friday, December 1st, 2006 Catastrophe Property

As the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close today, NOAA scientists announced that seasonal activity was lower than expected due to the rapid development of El Niño—a periodic warming of the ocean waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, which influences pressure and wind patterns across the tropical Atlantic. The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season produced near-normal activity with a total of nine named storms, including five hurricanes, two of which became major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.

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http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2748.htm

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