As of Tuesday morning, Tropical Storm Ernesto seemed just on the brink of becoming a hurricane, predicted to make landfall in Mexico Tuesday night as a Category 1 hurricane. And overall, meteorologists are predicting a rough late hurricane season, with several more tropical storms and hurricanes developing in the Atlantic before mid-September. Although not all make landfall, they can increase rainfall and flooding as they pass by.
Predictions have gotten eerily specific, including the number of anticipated storms and hurricanes remaining in the season, their likely locations, and their strengths. For example, forecasters are calling for eight more tropical storms in the Atlantic—for a total of 12 in the season—and four hurricanes, two of them potentially Category 3 or higher. And although it helps to know what might be around the corner, it doesn’t lessen the amount of preparation needed or the potential damage the storms can cause.
How well prepared is your region for seasonal storms? What is the greatest concern—flooding, coastal erosion, damage to the infrastructure?