Hurricane season ending on a slightly chilly note

Lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s are expected this week as hurricane season comes to a close.

By WILLIAM R. LEVESQUE

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 27, 2000

Travelers returning to the Tampa Bay area after stuffing themselves full of turkey with family up North will soon be greeted by a reminder of their trip.

Mainly, cooler temperatures.

But this is Tampa Bay, not Green Bay. And for area residents, that will mean daytime temperatures in the low 70s through the end of the week with nighttime lows, beginning tonight, in the upper 40s.

That's a little cooler than normal for the area, but downright balmy by Wisconsin standards.

"It will actually be pretty pleasant weather," said Ron Morales, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin. "It's not going to be near as cold as it was with the last front that came through."

The last front took some area temperatures down into the upper 30s. No significant rain is expected through at least Thursday.

In the meantime, weather forecasters noted with relief that it appears the official hurricane season will end Thursday without any additional tropical weather.

There have been 14 named storms in 2000, eight of those hurricanes. Three of the eight -- Alberto, Isaac and Keith -- were major hurricanes.

The National Hurricane Center says that in an average year there are nine or 10 named storms. Six of those are hurricanes, and two of the six are major hurricanes. In the Tampa Bay area, Gordon was the most notable storm of the season, coming ashore Sept. 17 as a tropical storm near Cedar Key. It caused little damage.

"It looks like we're finishing out the hurricane season really quietly," Morales said. "And that's good."

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