Unfortunately, the world's preeminent hurricane forecaster said 1999 probably will be worse. In mid-September, Hurricane Georges cut an enormous path of destruction through the Caribbean, across the Florida Keys and into the U.S. Gulf Coast. William Gray, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Colorado State University and the man to whom many look for hurricane prognostications, last week admitted that he underestimated this year's hurricane count and suggested the coming years could be even worse. For the citizens of Honduras, Nicaragua, and other regions of Central America, it's difficult to imagine how much worse it could get. But he added that 1999 and beyond probably will be worse.
People have to face up to it.
The insurance industry has a major problem. In August, Tropical Storm Charley hammered southern Texas and Mexico, killing at least 19 people and devastating a number of communities. Gray said a number of factors, including the fading of the recent record-setting El Nino and warmer sea temperatures, will lead to stronger hurricane seasons in coming years. Despite being hammered by three hurricanes and four tropical storms, Gray said the United States actually was fortunate this year. The season was the Atlantic's most destructive in 200 years and caused billions in damages.