Hurricane-free again

We lucked out again.  For the eighth year in a row, Florida, including the Treasure Coast, was hurricane-free.  In fact, only one tropical storm – and that was Andrea -- hit the state during the 2013 hurricane season, which began June 1^st and ended November 30^th.  The North Atlantic and Caribbean regions did record 13 named storms –as predicted by forecasters before the season began.  But only two – Humberto and Ingrid – grew into hurricanes.  Both were in September, and both were category 1.  Neither hit the U.S. although Ingrid did a lot of damage in Mexico.  Our sea turtles seemed to know something.  This year, they dug their nests close to the surf line.  Good thing for the hatchlings that their moms called it right.  Florida has avoided hurricanes since the 2004 and 2005 seasons when seven pounded the state.  That’s good news, of course.  But let’s not get complacent.  In the Atlantic, hurricane activity tends to run in cycles of 25 to 40 years.  The current cycle began in 1995.  Maybe the hurricane cycle has run its course earlier than usual, and we are now in a no-hurricane cycle.  But don’t bet on it.  Maybe next year hurricanes will return with a vengeance.  For 88.9 FM, this is Paul Janensch.