Tomas's Timing

Actual Tomas satellite image - squeezing between Haiti and Cuba


Since the 2008 presidential election, hurricanes have not caused great damage in the Western Hemisphere. In advance of the 2010 mid terms, here's Tomas, ripping through St. Lucia with huge destructive power. Could the explosion of emotions between left and right have been vented through Tomas at the raw moment of decision? Once the Republicans won the house, the anxiety on the right was alleviated. On Nov. 5th Tomas actually threaded the needle between Haiti and Cuba, sparing the fragile nations. And what about the name, Tomas? It's ironic that recently Clarence Thomas was dragged back into the limelight as an ex-girlfriend incriminated him as aggressive, perverted and a liar...


Wunderground's Dr. Jeff Masters on Tomas' hesitation, written Nov 3rd, the day before the midterms:
"Tomas' struggles to intensify over the past day are difficult to explain scientifically, as all the data we have suggests the storm should have strengthened. Our ability to forecast intensification is limited by the poor availability of data over the oceans, though, and there must be a layer of wind shear or dry air our sensors cannot pick out that is interfering with development. In the absence of any concrete evidence on what is causing Tomas' current troubles, I must continue to forecast intensification over the coming two days."

National Geographic News, Nov 30, 2010:
"This was a strange, strange season," said Keith Blackwell, a meteorologist at the University of South Alabama's Coastal Weather Research Center in Mobile.
"It was almost like we had a hurricane repellent over the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast. The storms were out there, but they just didn't approach the U.S."