Fast Facts: 2005 Storm Predictions
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THE ATLANTIC FORECAST from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
— NOAA staffers say the U-S should be ready for 2 or 3 Atlantic hurricanes to make landfall.
— They predict 12 or 15 tropical storms will form in the ocean.
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— They predict 7 to 9 hurricanes.
— They predict 3 to 5 major hurricanes. A major hurricane has winds of at least 111 mph.
— Those predictions indicate a worse than average hurricane season.
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TROPICAL STORMS THIS YEAR
— Tropical Depression One named "Arlene" on June 9. Downgraded on June 11.
— Arlene started off the Central American coast and came ashore near the Florida-Alabama line.
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— Tropical Depression Two became "Bret" on June 28. Downgraded on June 29.
— Bret started off the east coast of Mexico and hit land in the same area.
— Tropical Depression Three named "Cindy" on July 5.
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— Cindy began as a depression off the Central American coast and came ashore in southern Louisiana on July 6.
— Tropical Depression Four named "Dennis" on July 5.
— Dennis hits Florida's Gulf Coast on July 10, dropping to Category Three just before landfall.
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— Tropical Depression Five named "Emily" on July 11.
— Forecasters predict Emily to continue moving west, northwest in the general direction of Jamaica.
RECORD-MAKING SEASON
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— July 5 is the earliest date on record for four named storms.
— The already active season is helping keep oil prices high — climbing briefly past $60 a barrel Tuesday.
— The record for the most named storms in a single season is 1933. There were 21 tropical storms and hurricanes.
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HURRICANE SEASON
— Goes June 1 - November 30.