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| Morning NewsNational Hurricane Center Dir.: People Need to Stay PreparedAired August 10, 2000 - 11:49 a.m. ETTHIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: More now, talk about the weather forecast. We have been watching the Caribbean where the first hurricane of the season has been stirring things up just a bit. Alberto back to hurricane strength. Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami with us now. Max, good morning to you. MAX MAYFIELD, DIR., NATL. HURRICANE CTR.: Good morning, Bill. HEMMER: I understand that you just got out of a meeting just about 50 meetings ago. What was the result of that meeting, sir? MAYFIELD: Well, the main purpose of the conference this morning was to just talk about the seasonal outlook. And we really don't want people focusing on the fact that we really did not have any storms or hurricanes in June and July. We are just now getting near the beginning of the peek of the hurricane season. The peak of the season is really the middle of August or the end of October. So we don't want people to let down their guard. We want them to be prepared. Then actually, we have several systems out there now that pose the potential for development. HEMMER: Why do you think it has been this way, thus far. Any reason given scientifically? MAYFIELD: This is not unusual at all. In fact, we have something in June or July really about every other year on average. So this is not unusual at all. We do have a hurricane out there, now, Hurricane Alberto. That is going pass well east of Bermuda and then turn out on the northeast. We also have the weak tropical depression off of the Florida coast. But it is already headed away from land. And we also have a tropical wave out here. If this does develop, it will actually go to the northeast, away from the United States. We also have a very significant system here in the northwest Caribbean that certainly poses some potential, and we'll be watching this as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico. HEMMER: Max, I know also that technology and gadgets certainly help you folks who do your job much better and much easier. What is new this year in terms technology for helping you measure and gauge things out there? MAYFIELD: Well, the good news is that we have continued to make some improvements in the track forecasting, and the reason for that is because of the numerical models, computer models that we have now are continuing to improve every year. There have been some improvements this year. HEMMER: Is that satellite work. I am sorry, Max, is that satellite work? is that radar work? what is that? MAYFIELD: It is a combination of a lot of things. The observing tools are much better, the satellite, the radars, the aircraft, those tools are really outstanding. But those are all observing tools. We have to get that data from the observing tools into the computer models. There are a lot of people working on the data simulation to improve the forecast and the computer models. HEMMER: All right, listen, Max Mayfield, live in Miami, thanks for talking with us, and come one back, OK? MAYFIELD: You are welcome, Bill, HEMMER; Enjoy your new gadgets. I apologize for interrupting you. Thank you, Max. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com |
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