Weather Group Looks To Improve Hurricane Forecasts

Pictured: Hurricanes Karl, Igor, and Julia in 2010 courtesy NOAA

Oil rigs and refiners along the Gulf Coast could soon receive two additional days to batten down the hatches before a hurricane blows into town, says Bob Gall of the American Meteorological Society. It is working to improve hurricane tracking models enough to increase “skillful” forecasts from five to seven days. That would give rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and refiners on the coast more time to prepare against the damaging wind and rains that storms like Rita, Ike and Katrina bring with them, Gall says.

(c) 2011 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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