by Ramona Taylor

Created on: June 22, 2010   Last Updated: July 10, 2010

Predictions have moved from the realm of the fortune tellers to modern meteorologists.  Instead of crystal balls and rheumatoid conditions, modern forecasters use barometers, satellites and Doppler radar to predict everything from heat waves to major storms.  However, with all the science and gadgets, today's weather men and women still have a trickier time predicting hurricanes.

What is a Hurricane?

The term hurricane, also synonymous with typhoon, refers to a tropical cyclone which has sustainable winds of 74 miles per hour.  These intense tropical storms are generally characterized by circulating winds and their origins in tropical and sub-tropic areas.

Hurricanes undergo three basic stages of development starting with a collection of thunderstorms over tropical waters.  Humidity, low pressure systems, and even wind shears are also crucial factors in the formation and sustainability of hurricanes.

Throughout history, hurricanes have resulted in loss of life and billions in property damage.   Hurricane preparedness and awareness are keys to successfully surviving these tropical storms. With summer climates already here, many hope that the seas will be calm and weather just warm.

Hurricane Predictions

Meteorologists make two types of hurricane predictions. These are seasonal probability predictions and current hurricane tracking predictions.  Each type of prediction has its own approach.

Seasonable Probability

Each year, several weather organizations, which include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), begin to speculate about the upcoming storm season.  Meteorologists are among those that also begin to consider the potential for storms.

Meteorologists will look at a number of factors that increase risk for tropical storms, depressions and hurricanes.  These factors include oceanic water temperature and El Nino, regional air pressure system. 

Based on past seasons and the known weather conditions, meteorologists predict the possible number of hurricanes for the season.  They include predictions for the intensity of the sustainable winds, wind speeds,  and possibility of how many will make landfall. 

For 2010, forecasters think that there will be from 14 to 23 storms in the region consisting of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Of this number, he prediction is that there will be at least 8 hurricanes.

Hurricane Tracking

During the hot summer months, it’s

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