Houston area was lucky during hurricane season that ends today

The hurricane season for the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico ends with 11 named storms and one tropical depression, one storm shy of the average year, said Jill F. Hasling, president of the Weather Research Center in Houston. However, authorities warned Sandra could still generate heavy rain and waves of 2-2.5 meters (up to eight feet) in Baja California Sur state.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends today and with nothing expected to develop in the tropics in the next five days, it’s safe to recap the season before the day is over. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Baja California peninsula from Todos Santos to Los Barriles. It’s been ten seasons since a major hurricane has made landfall in the United States.

This year turned out to be a relatively quiet season thanks to a growing El Niño.

That El Nino contributed to stronger than normal wind shear across the Gulf and Western Atlantic.

Fred, Grace, Henri, and Ida were all “fish storms” then came Hurricane Joaquin, technically a “fish storm” as well; however, a non-tropical low over the Southeast tapped into the hurricane’s abundant moisture. Preceding Olaf were 14 other named storms during a record-breaking season in the Central Pacific basin.

This development is unique because it marks the first nine-year period since the 1850’s that a Category 3 storm has not struck USA shores, according to a NASA study released this year. The last hurricane to make landfall was Isaac in 2012.

Mr. Masters said the conditions are likely to stretch into 2016.