WSI Predicts Three Major Hurricanes For 2009

WSI Corporation is forecasting three Category 3 or higher hurricanes, and seven hurricanes in total for the 2009 Atlantic tropical season.

Andover, Mass.-based WSI—a provider of weather-driven business solutions for media markets, federal and state government agencies, and the energy and aviation industries—said it expects 13 named storms for the 2009 hurricane season, higher than the 1950-2008 average of 9.8 named storms.

WSI said warmer sea surface temperatures and favorable or neutral wind shear, due to the lack of an El Nino event, will be the primary reasons for the increased activity.

Todd Crawford, WSI seasonal forecaster, said in a statement: “Since 1995, most tropical seasons have been more active than the long-term averages, due to warmer Atlantic Ocean temperatures. We do not see any reason why this active regime will not continue in 2009. It should be noted that the Atlantic temperatures are cooler than last year, however, and we currently do not expect 2009 to be quite as active as 2008.”

WSI also noted it will update its forecast in April 2009.