The Atlantic hurricane season started last Thursday it runs until the 30th November (fact). Last year's wasn't particularly remarkable, but 2005, with 28 named storms and 15 hurricanes, was gale-force, i.e massive.

The general trend indicates a period of increased hurricane activity and the NOAA predicts an above normal 2007 season with 13 to 17 Named Storms (fact/prediciton). This is due to higher than normal surface sea temperatures in the Atlantic and an expected El Ninia event occurring in the Pacific.

Here are the names planned for this years hurricanes/tropical storms:

Andrea
Barry
Chantal
Dean
Erin
Felix
Gabrielle
Humberto
Ingrid
Jerry
Karen
Lorenzo
Melissa
Noel
Olga
Pablo
Rebekah
Sebastien
Tanya
Van
Wendy

Andrea has come and gone and Barry is on the go already and predictably seems to be amounting to very little. If I had to pick a name for this years most damaging storm I'd say a good bet would be Olga, she sounds stern and not afraid to knock afew heads together. Felix will probably be a playfull little squall that sucks up a cat food factory. Tanya and Chantel must be the slags of the bunch; they'll probably turn up with a couple of baby deppresions and finish with widespread looting of lip gloss and tracksuits. Noel may be the suprise package, I worry people won't take a storm named Noel seriously, next thing you know he's slapping your house about with a wet palm tree and leaving fish in your pot plants, that'll learn y'.

Your choice to play my selected soundtrack, but bear in mind it took me ages to figure out how to embed it! Hat-tip to Enamel slide.