Dear Tom,
Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma produced some of the lowest barometer readings ever in the Atlantic. Are hurricanes getting stronger or has storm monitoring improved?
Barry Bebart, Chicago
Dear Barry,
There is no question that the 2005 hurricane season is one of the most incredible on record– the only year to have produced three Category 5 storms. However, the thought that three of the six lowest pressure readings of all-time occurred in just a two-month span seems mind-boggling to meteorologists. With more frequent and sophisticated monitoring techniques, storms are now measured on a nearly continuous basis as opposed to the past when readings were taken once or twice a day. It is quite likely that many previous low pressure values went unrecorded. In fact, in the days before airplanes and satellites, there were undoubtedly many hurricanes that were never detected.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
