Twin storms pack dangerous winds
Updated: 2007-09-05 09:35
Tuesday was historic for two reasons: It was the first time on record that two Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes made landfall in the same year, with Felix coming two weeks after Hurricane Dean slammed into southern Mexico.
And Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes had never made landfall on the same date, according to records that began in 1949. However, at 5 am on August 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated southern Florida 23 hours after Lester hit Mexico's Baja California, the Hurricane Center said.
"Today hurricanes are becoming increasingly violent. For example, water from the Carribean, the ocean, is two degrees hotter than before," Mexican President Felipe Calderon said Tuesday, siding with those who blame climate-change. "This makes steam rise off the ocean more quickly: Hurricanes form faster and are more violent."
Dr Chris Landsea, science operations officer at the National Hurricane Center, agreed that global warming is a factor - but a very small one.
"All of the studies suggest that by the end of this century, hurricanes may become stronger by five percent because of global warming. So a 100-miles-per-hour hurricane would be 105 miles per hour," he said. "Most of what we're seeing is natural fluctuations."
Henriette's leading edge brought driving rain and 15-foot waves that sent plumes of whitewater 30 feet high at the main Cabo San Lucas marina. Waves also washed away sand and licked at the walls of beachfront hotels. Catamarans crashed against their moorings and palm trees bent in the wind.
Cynthia White, a 64-year-old retiree from Fort Myers, Fla., watched waves nearly cover the resort's famous rock arch after her deep-sea fishing trip was canceled.
"We're Florida tourists, so we know what it's about," White said. "It didn't ruin the vacation, but it ain't helping the case."
Henriette claimed seven lives even before it strengthened into a hurricane.
Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruises changed itineraries for six cruises to avoid ports in the area.
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