by Playfuls Staff |
18th June 2006
People who live in warm-water coastal areas may have to put up with hurricanes, but they may soon get more precise hurricane warnings.
The warnings will allow them to prepare for storms or to evacuate before they hit, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. [more]
Even that could take time. The National Hurricane Center says that within two decades forecasters may be able to predict a hurricane's path two days ahead within 95 miles.
Of course, with a hurricane, 95 miles can be the difference between a comparatively harmless storm and the full wrath of an Andrew or Katrina.
One Florida company claims to have developed a product that could be dropped into hurricanes, removing moisture and slowing them. The problem is that the drop would need a lot of airplanes to be effective, more airplanes than would be available.
"Most schemes to weaken hurricanes grossly underestimate how strong a hurricane is," said Chris Landsea, science and operations officer at the hurricane center. "The only way to deal with them is to better prepare for them."
© 2006 UPI
