The 2006 Hurricane season saw 10 named storms, five of which becoming hurricanes, with two of those five became major hurricanes (defined as Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale) (Figure 1). The average hurricane season sees 11 named storms, six hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes. 2006 saw only a 37 day period of hurricane activity, from 27 August to 2 October; 2 October was also the last day of any tropical activity in the basin, making 2006 the third earliest-ending hurricane season since 1966. The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index (a measure of the season’s overall activity), was 90% of the 1950-2000 median value.

The 2007 Hurricane season saw 15 named storms, six of which became hurricanes, with two of those five becomimg major hurricanes (Figure 2). 2007 saw a longer period of hurricane activity-81 days, from 13 August to 2 November _ but an ACE index of just 84% of the 1950-2000 median value. This indicates that despite more named storms, those storms were generally shorter-lived than those from 2006.

In comparing the two season's impact on shipping interests in the North Atlantic, one could say that the 2006 season was more widely felt across the basin, with all five hurricanes transiting the central portions of the basin and recurving to become extratropical; the 2007 season saw shorter-lived tropical systems, but those systems more significantly affected regions where there are fewer routing options and more navigational restrictions (the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico). However, because systems were shorter-lived, their overall impact on shipping interests was probably diminished from what it could have been.

Looking ahead to the 2008 Hurricane season, analysis indicates that the current phase of the tropical multi-decadal signal will be maintained, and the current “active hurricane era” will continue. The La Nina event is slowly giving way to ENSO-neutral conditions, both of which suggest a near to above average 2008 season. Anomalous upper-air circulations had a large effect on the 2006 and 2007 season, so it remains to be seen whether a similar anomalous circulation may effect the 2008 season.