Dennis came ________ at almost exactly the same place as
Hurricane Ivan did last year, when Florida was hit by four hurricanes in a
period of six weeks. The storms in Florida and the Caribbean caused over 42
billion dollars in damage and killed more than one hundred people.
Dennis was the strongest ________ on record to develop this
early in the Atlantic hurricane season which runs from June through
November.
Scientists say air and water temperature and circulation
patterns in the Atlantic Ocean began to shift about 10 years ago, becoming
more favorable to hurricane formation.
They say this trend which happens on a recurring basis can
last for 40 years or more, and with many more people living in coastal areas
than there were during the last period of enhanced hurricane activity, the
cost of hurricanes is expected to rise.
