2008 Bahamas Weather Conference

William Gray and Phil Klotzbach of the Colorado State University Hurricane Forecast Team issue their updated forecast for the 2008 hurricane season as part of the opening of the Bahamas Weather Conference hosted by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

Dr. Bill Gray of Colorado State University, Bill Read, Director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and Max Mayfield, former Director, comment on the NHC's recent decision to deemphasize controversial full season hurricane forecasts.

Former Director of the National Hurricane Center Max Mayfield discusses the history and future of hurricane forecasting with Dr. Bill Gray and Dr. Phillip Klotzbach of Colorado State University.

Welcome to our 2008 Bahamas Weather Conference VODCasting Center.

Hon. Neko Grant, Minister of Tourism & Aviation, kicks off the 12th annual Bahamas Weather Conference on Grand Bahama Island.

Most Americans believe that last year was another season without hurricanes. With nearly 400 killed during the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Bill Read, Director of the National Hurricane Center, stresses the importance of always being prepared.

Feast or famine; El Niño or La Niña? Dr. Phil Klotzbach shares the 2008 Atlantic hurricane outlook and the science behind the forecast.

Most residents of the Northeast think about Nor'easters when someone says storm - not hurricanes. Remember Gloria? Hurricanes do happen in the Northeast, but do they behave differently from those along the Gulf Coast? A talk with David Vallee of the National Weather Service's Taunton, MA Weather Forecast Office.

Tall buildings, old buildings, glass buildings and all sitting atop the catacombs that house electrical lines, steam pipes and subway trains; could a hurricane in New York have a Katrina-like impact on the city? A report by Dr. Nicholas Coch, Professor of Geology at Queens College, City University of New York.

Should New Yorkers be more concerned about the wind or the water? If a hurricane takes aim at the city, where will all that water go? Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Boston and all the densely populated cities in between could be seriously impacted by storm surge. Dr. Wilson Shaffer, National Weather Service's Meteorological Development Laboratory provides insight.

We've seen highways transformed into parking lots and urban structures turned into islands. In a city with 8 million people, less than 2 million cars and train stations underground, do residents stay or go? Hear Mike Wyllie, former Meteorologist-in-Charge of the National Weather Service's New York City, NY Weather Forecast Office, on the hurricane preparedness plan for New York City.

When disaster strikes no single agency can keep up; not local fire and police; not state emergency management; not FEMA. Wendy Spencer, Chief Executive Officer for Volunteer Florida, shares how the media can effectively attract and organize volunteers in times of crisis.

It's always dramatic, and sometimes darkly funny. But is it ever really safe to report live from the scene of a destructive storm? Panel discussion with CNN's John Zarrella and Steve Lyons of The Weather Channel, with insight from Max Mayfield, former Director of the National Hurricane Center, on striking a balance between killer ratings and killer assignments.

A "cone of uncertainty" is less likely to create complacency than "the skinny black line" and more likely to compel the public to prepare. Dr. Rick Knabb, from the National Hurricane Center, explains why hurricane forecasts often seem vague and susceptible to errors.

A disaster plan is no use if you cannot communicate it to the public effectively. Bryan Norcross, Chief Meteorologist with Miami's WFOR-TV, reports on the launch of new technology that provides instant communication between emergency management offices, government agencies and institutions.

When entire towns are nearly wiped from the map by a category 3 hurricane, there is clearly room for improvement in building codes. Nanette Lockwood, PE of Solutia, Inc. tells us whether or not the public and policy makers are embracing better building codes.

What can consumers do to mitigate the impact of hurricanes? Leslie Chapman-Henderson of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) tells us about the building incentives and resources available to homeowners.

Do premiums in Montana compensate for losses in Florida? Dr. William E. "Bill" Bailey, Managing Director for The Insurance Information Center, clarifies misconceptions about the insurance industry.

Do humans contribute to hurricane frequency, intensity, and duration? Dr. Tom Karl, Director of NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, reports.

If you live in Kansas, you might be more inclined to question global warming. If sea level rises a foot or rainfall floods out coastal communities, you lose nothing. What happens if you live in a country that is only barely above sea level to start with? Dr. Arthur Rolle, Director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology, gives a little perspective on global warming from a country where moving inland is not a problem-solving strategy.

A talk with Tom Knutson from NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory on whether or not humans are intensifying hurricane activity.

Heat waves in October, the governor of Georgia praying for rain, regular floods in the Northeast - the public is beginning to believe in global warming. But, is it fair? Stu Ostro, with The Weather Channel, discusses whether or not there's a connection between global warming and weather.

Dr. Steve Lyons of the Weather Channel moderates a heated exchange between Dr. Tom Knutson and Dr. Bill Gray on a hot topic.