Articles by Brian K. Sullivan

Colorado State Ups Atlantic Hurricane Forecast to 15 Storms

Colorado State University edged up its seasonal Atlantic hurricane forecast to 15, three more than in an average year. The new prediction is that six of those storms will become hurricanes and two will grow into major systems with winds …

Why June Storms Are No Harbinger of What’s to Come

A week into June and two tropical storms have drenched the U.S. South. Perhaps it would be a good time to stock up on duct tape, plywood and sandbags. Unfortunately, using the first few weeks to predict the rest of …

Will 2016 See More Atlantic Hurricanes? Scientists Disagree

This summer and fall, the Atlantic Ocean might become a testing ground for competing scientific theories. After decades of warmth, there’s evidence that the ocean is cooling, a change that could mean fewer of the hurricanes that wreak havoc on …

Update: Tropical Storm Colin Moving Out to Sea; Heavy Rain, Atlantic Storm Surge Threats Remain

Tropical Storm Colin moved out to sea early Tuesday after knocking out power to thousands, prompting Florida Governor Rick Scott to declare a state of emergency. The threat of a storm surge flooding shifted to the Atlantic Coast from the …

Atlantic Coast Should Expect Normal Hurricane Season, Says Colorado State

The Atlantic should produce a near-normal 12 storms during the six-month hurricane season that officially begins Wednesday, while the U.S. coastline has a below-average chance of being struck by a major system, according to Colorado State University’s forecast. Of the …

GOES-R Satellite Promises Less Art, More Science in Storm Forecasting

For forecasters trying to better pinpoint the havoc of storms, the future begins next year. That’s when the test phase for the new GOES-R satellite should be complete, providing the National Weather Service with an improved tool to track lightning, …

Early Season Storm Could Roil Southeast Coast’s Memorial Day Weekend

A storm that would be named Bonnie threatens holiday cookouts and celebrations along the U.S. coast from North Carolina to Georgia over the Memorial Day weekend. If the low-pressure system now northeast of the Bahamas develops, it will become the …

With Hurricane Season About to Open, Forecasters Already Eyeing East Coast

When the Atlantic hurricane season starts next week, the most active area might just be off the U.S. East Coast. At this time of year, passing cold fronts that linger over waters warmed by the late spring sun can trigger …

2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Should See Normal Activity of 12 Names Storms: CSU

The coming Atlantic hurricane season should produce a near-average 12 named storms before it ends in November, according to Phil Klotzbach, lead author of the pioneering Colorado State University forecast. At least five of those storms will reach hurricane status, …

Colorado State Hurricane Forecaster Gray Passes Away

He changed the way the world looks at hurricanes, and in later years he challenged the science behind climate change, but most people will probably remember Bill Gray as the creator of the modern seasonal forecast for Atlantic storms. Gray …