Caribbean: quiet hurricane season

The six-month hurricane season that ended Nov. 30 saw only nine named storms formed in the Atlantic and for the first time in three years, no hurricane struck the U.S. mainland or a Caribbean island.

Source: Travel Weekly; find article here>>.

USA: State Department Alert Signals Hurricane Season

The U.S. State Department has issued its annual alert on the coming of the Hurricane Season in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The official Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June through November. The alert expires on Dec. 4, 2009. It cites officials at the National Weather Service and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) who predict a 50 percent chance that activity during the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season will be near-normal this year, forecasting nine to 14 named storms, with four to seven becoming hurricanes and one to three becoming major hurricanes.

For further information see www.travel.state.gov

World Travel &Tourism Council: report on Climate Change

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), a forum for business leaders in the Travel & Tourism industry issued an official statement setting out the vision and commitment of Travel & Tourism industry leaders to tackle Climate Change as one of the single biggest threats to the world.
The report entitled "Leading the Challenge on Climate Change" was launched at Clarence House under the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales.
The report lists ten key action items for the industry. One of the key commitments to action is a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035 over 2005 levels. The report also defines an interim aspirational target of a carbon emission reduction of 30% by 2020 in the presence of an international agreement, or a 25% reduction by the same year in the absence of such an agreement.

Source: WTTC press release; find full text here>>.

Caribbean: Hurricane Season Summary

The 2008 season produced 16 named storms, ranking it as one of the more active seasons in the 64 years since comprehensive storm records began. The 2008 season ranks second in destructiveness, causing up to $54 billion in damage, and is the only season to feature a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) every month from July through November.

Source: Travel Weekly; find article here>>. (free registration required)

Details on this year's as well as previous hurricane seasons are available here>>.