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CNN Sunday Morning

Hurricanes Could Be Coming Our Way

Aired July 22, 2001 - 07:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In this country, we could be facing similar disaster. Hurricane researchers say there's little doubt about it. A climate shift could cause a long period of more hurricanes and more powerful storms.

CNN's John Zarrella has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In August 1995, the Atlantic Ocean looked like a hurricane freeway. Storms were lined up from Florida to Africa. Scientists now say it marked the beginning of a period of more hurricanes and many more strong hurricanes, the kind that do most of the damage.

CHRIS LANDSEA, NOAA HURRICANE METEOROLOGIST: Most seasons, we are going to get a hurricane to hit the U.S. and probably more than half the time, we'll have a major hurricane hitting the U.S. as well.

ZARRELLA: Chris Landsea and a group of scientists at the federal government's hurricane research division, say they believe this period of increased activity will last for the next 10 to 40 years, the United State's scientists say has simply been lucky.

STANLEY GOLDENBERG, NOAA HURRICANE METEOROLOGIST: This increased number, if it starts pounding the U.S. as we feel like it's going to happen, there is bound to be a major city impacted and we could be talking about a real disaster of epic proportions on our hands.

ZARRELLA: The scientists say a hurricane causing $50 billion in damage and hundreds of thousands of deaths is quite possible in the next 10 years.

The scientists say the earth's climate goes through cycles but they don't know why. Right now, Atlantic water temperatures are a bit warmer, just half a degree Fahrenheit. And in general, there's less wind shear.

From Florida to the northeast, there is now, according to the scientists, a much greater chance you'll get hit.

John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.

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