National Storm Management Inc (NSMG)

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El Niño to arrive by peak of hurricane season?

Will El Niño arrive by the peak of the hurricane season, August through October?

In his blog at The Weather Underground today, meteorologist Jeff Masters says there is mounting evidence that could be the case.

"This is important, since the number and intensity of Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes is usually reduced during an El Niño year, thanks to the increased wind shear such events bring to the tropical Atlantic," Masters writes.

Government and private forecasters also cite the possibility that El Nino might emerge by late summer. As a result, both NOAA and the Colorado State University team of William Gray and Phil Klotzbach call for an average season.

All of which is certainly good news just before the official June 1 start of the hurricane season.

But, as always, don't let your guard down. Hurricanes can strike even during El Niño years

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_stormcenter/2009/05/el-nino-to-arrive-by-peak-of-hurricane-season.html