This is National Hurricane Preparedness Week, and while killer tornadoes have dominated the headlines, it also pays to be prepared for the massive storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean from June to October -- especially if you're planning a Caribbean vacation.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center is predicting six major hurricanes during the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, out of an expected 12-18 named storms. Six to 10 of these could become hurricanes, the rest tropical storms, according to forecasters. "In addition to multiple climate factors, seasonal climate models also indicate an above-normal season is likely, and even suggest we could see activity comparable to some of the active seasons since 1995," said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
Don't let the fear of hurricanes deter you from planning a Caribbean vacation this summer or fall. Most storms miss the islands of the Caribbean, and even when they do touch land there is usually ample advance warning that a storm is on the way. For more information, see my detailed Caribbean Weather Planner and my Caribbean Hurricane Guide.
By Robert Curley, About.com Guide
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