Hurricanes Karl, Igor and Julia (from left to right on Sept. 16) were part of the onslaught of Atlantic storms last hurricane season (2010). (Photo credit: NOAA)

The Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service.

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year:

• 12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which:
• 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including:
• 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher)

Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

“The United States was fortunate last year. Winds steered most of the season’s tropical storms and all hurricanes away from our coastlines,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “However we can’t count on luck to get us through this season. We need to be prepared, especially with this above-normal outlook.”

Climate factors considered for this outlook are:

• The continuing high activity era. Since 1995, the tropical multi-decadal signal has brought ocean and atmospheric conditions conducive for development in sync, leading to more active Atlantic hurricane seasons.
• Warm Atlantic Ocean water. Sea surface temperatures where storms often develop and move across the Atlantic are up to two degrees Fahrenheit warmer-than-average.
• La Niña, which continues to weaken in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is expected to dissipate later this month or in June, but its impacts such as reduced wind shear are expected to continue into the hurricane season.

“In addition to multiple climate factors, seasonal climate models also indicate an above-normal season is likely, and even suggest we could see activity comparable to some of the active seasons since 1995,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

NOAA’s seasonal hurricane outlook does not predict where and when any of these storms may hit. Landfall is dictated by weather patterns in place at the time the storm approaches. For each storm, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center forecasts how these weather patterns affect the storm track, intensity and landfall potential.

“The tornadoes that devastated the South and the large amount of flooding we’ve seen this spring should serve as a reminder that disasters can happen anytime and anywhere. As we move into this hurricane season it’s important to remember that FEMA is just part of an emergency management team that includes the entire federal family, state, local and tribal governments, the private sector and most importantly the public,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

“Now is the time, if you haven’t already, to get your plan together for what you and your family would do if disaster strikes. Visit ready.gov to learn more. And if you’re a small business owner, visit www.ready.gov/business to ensure that your business is prepared for a disaster,” added Fugate.

Hurricane impacts are not limited to the coastline; strong winds and flooding rainfall often pose a threat across inland areas along with the risk for tornadoes.

May 22-28 was national Hurricane Preparedness Week. To help prepare residents of hurricane-prone areas, NOAA is unveiling a new set of video and audio public service announcements featuring NOAA hurricane experts and the FEMA administrator that are available in both English and Spanish. These are available at http://www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.

The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. It operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. Visit us online at weather.gov and on Facebook.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us on Facebook.

Jim Karels, Director of the Florida Division of Forestry at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, issued a warning today about the wildfire danger leading in to Memorial Day weekend.  The danger of wildfire is very high throughout Florida due to lack of rain, low humidity and windy conditions.

The entire state of Florida is suffering from drought conditions and everyone should use extreme caution with any type of fire this weekend,” said Karels. “Under these current conditions, and without the proper resources, fires can get out of control quickly and may cause damage to property, homes and even lives.”

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) which measures the amount of moisture in the top three feet of soil reveals an average statewide reading of 569 on a scale of 0 to 800, with 0 equivalent to flood-like conditions and 800 to desert-like conditions.

Burn bans are in place in several counties including Baker, Citrus, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Marion (voluntary), Martin, Nassau, Osceola, Palm Beach (East), Putnam, Seminole, St. Lucie, and Volusia. The Division of Forestry encourages residents to contact local government officials for up to date information on burn bans.

Individuals and families planning to visit forests or parks over the holiday weekend are advised to call ahead to learn whether or not campfires and charcoal grills are permitted. These activities may be restricted in certain areas until the fire danger decreases.

The Division of Forestry also released fire safety tips for Floridians to keep in mind this Memorial Day:

• Never leave a fire unattended
• Dispose of charcoal briquettes properly
• Use dedicated campfire rings where possible
• Clear vegetation to bare soil within 10 feet of your campfire
• Make sure a fire is dead out before leaving unattended
• Be very careful when operating equipment such as lawn mowers, tractors, chainsaws, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) as any spark can start a wildfire under the current conditions
• Avoid parking cars among tall grass that can easily be ignited from a hot catalytic converter

Since January 1st, of this year, 2,664 wildfires have burned 128,675 acres throughout Florida. This figure represents nearly twice as many fires as the Division of Forestry responded to during the same period last year.

To report a wildfire, please call 9-1-1 or the local Division of Forestry office.

For more information on burn bans, current wildfires or fire prevention measures, please visit http://www.fl-dof.com/wildfire/information.html or contact the local Division of Forestry office.

For more information about the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit www.FreshFromFlorida.com or follow Commissioner Putnam on Facebook, www.facebook.com/adamputnam, or Twitter, @adamputnam.

More than 800 Broward County Public Schools administrators will receive notices of furlough days for the 2011/2012 school year as part of an effort to help close the budget deficit of $141 million. Superintendent James F. Notter, today, provided notice to the leadership of the District and school administrators’ groups about the number of furlough days.

“These actions are being taken to help mitigate the anticipated budget shortfall that the District is facing,” said Superintendent Notter.

Central and area office administrators and principals will have 15 furlough days and assistant principals will have 10 furlough days for the 2011/2012 school year.  This would be the equivalent of a four to six per cent decrease in salaries for a total of $4,553,085.

The furloughs will impact 212 District administrators, 229 principals and 430 assistant principals.  Also, to maximize the savings in energy, the dates for furlough days will be standardized to the closing of schools and District sites.

District officials will initiate discussions with unions to finalize the number of furlough days for their respective groups. District and school administrators, however, will experience the greatest impact of the furloughs to help shoulder the burden of the State budget reductions.

WHAT: Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach will host a Splash Luau, for all ages, on Friday, June 10, from 6 to 10 p.m. This family-oriented event will include a movie, luau games, and other activities, along with splash time in the park’s Splash Adventure water park.

The $5.50-per-person admission fee does not include refreshments. Space is limited. Advance ticket sales are required and available by phone through the park office and at Splash Adventure during normal operating hours.

WHERE: Splash Adventure

Quiet Waters Park

401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach 33442

954-357-5100

WHEN: Friday, June 10

6-10 p.m.

WHO: For all ages.

HOW: $5.50/per person. Advance ticket sales required. Fee does not include refreshments, which are available for purchase.

For further information, call the park at 954-357-5100, or visit www.broward.org/parks. The park is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #14 and #48.

Founded in February 1956 and accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, Broward County Parks and Recreation manages nearly 6,500 acres, encompassing 18 regional parks and nature centers, six neighborhood parks, and 21 natural areas at various stages of development. Facilities include water parks, campgrounds, a target range, a stadium, skate parks, an observatory, mountain bike trails, an educational farm with stables, and a velodrome and other sports facilities. Hours and fees vary by location. For more information, visit www.broward.org/parks.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in County programs, services, and activities must contact the Special Populations Section at 954-357-8170 or TTY 954-537-2844 at least 10 business days prior to the scheduled meeting or event to request an accommodation.

BSO deputies and detectives worked through the night piecing together information which ultimately led to the arrest of three suspects for multiple burglaries throughout the City of Deerfield Beach.  The suspects were charged with several vehicle burglaries that occurred in Deer Creek (Hollows Circle, Palladian Circle, and Corona Way) and residential burglaries near Eastridge Circle and Crystal Lake Drive.  If you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood call 911 immediately.

Former Deerfield Beach commissioner Steve Gonot has been convicted by a jury on three felony charges related to his 2008 political campaign. Gonot, who turned himself in and resigned from the commission in December 2008, finally saw his case go to trial last week before Judge Barbara McCarthy.

After days of testimony, including his ex-wife and other witnesses who revealed in a surprise testimony that Gonot went to Las Vegas to play in a poker tournament the day after he wrote a check for $5,100 from his campaign account to a personal family friend, allegedly for computer equipment.

In 2008, Gonot was charged with grand theft in the 3^rd degree, official misconduct and falsifying public records. On Tuesday, May 10, Gonot was convicted, and could face up to five years in prison. McCarthy told Gonot he could remain on bond but required he leave his passport behind pending sentencing.

Broward County Commissioners will hold the first of two public hearings tomorrow, May 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the Broward Governmental Center, 115 So. Andrews Avenue, Room 422 in Fort Lauderdale, regarding an ordinance to regulate Pain Management Clinics in Broward County. (*see attachment)

The proposed ordinance provides a specific legal definition for Pain Management Clinic, creates zoning regulations in unincorporated Broward County and mandates a “Certificate of Use” which requires the following:

• name of the owner/operator
• proof of registration with the Florida Department of Health
• an affidavit stating that no one convicted of a drug-related felony within a five year period will work, volunteer, or be allowed on the premises
• limited hours of operation between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday
• posted Certificate of Use in a conspicuous and easy to read location
• that no Pain Management Clinic will be located within 1200 linear feet of another Pain Management Clinic with land survey confirmation
• one parking space per ten gross square feet of customer waiting area and one parking space per two hundred gross square feet of the remainder of the building
• all activities be conducted within a completely enclosed building

The proposed ordinance states that Pain Management Clinics already legally in existence must comply with the requirements within 60 days of the effective date and provides one year for pre-existing clinics to comply with parking and location requirements.

The proposed ordinance is sponsored by Broward County Commissioners Ilene Lieberman, Kristin Jacobs, Stacy Ritter and Chip LaMarca and includes additional amendments requested by Commissioner Jacobs approved by the Commission in April.

Currently there are no Pain Management Clinics in unincorporated Broward County. Any Pain Management Clinic wishing to operate in the unincorporated Broward County area would have to apply for a Certificate of Use and associated business fees would be collected under the proposed ordinance.

In March, the Broward County Pain Management Clinic Task Force issued its final report with recommendations for the licensing and location of pain management clinics otherwise referred to as “pills mills”.   The Commission instructed the County Attorney to draft a model ordinance based on those recommendations.

Broward County has been referred to as the “pill mill” capital of America. In 2009 a Broward County Grand Jury issued a report noting the proliferation of pain clinics throughout the County. The number of pain management clinics in Broward more than doubled from August 2008 to November 2009.

Any member of the public may participate in the discussion held at public hearings. Discussion is limited to the subject being discussed, as listed on the Agenda. If you require communication aids, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 954-357-7350 or Hearing Impaired/TTY 954-831-3940.

The second public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.

In the 2011 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Writing Assessment results released today by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Broward County Public Schools fourth, eighth and 10th grade students demonstrated significant increased performance.  According to results of the assessment, Broward students out performed the statewide averages in each of the three tested grades, with fourth and 10th grade students scoring in the top 11% of districts in the state (60 counties with lower average scores) and eighth grade topping 20% of school districts in the state.

The average score for Writing among Broward students was 4.2 for Grade 4, 4.3 for Grade 8, and 4.1 for Grade 10.  These scores exceeded the state averages.  A majority of students in the fourth (97%), eighth (97%) and tenth grades (95%) scored at or above the AYP proficient level of 3 or higher.  Beginning this year, proficiency for school grades will be a score of 4 or higher. In Broward, 86% of grades four and eight and 80% of grade 10 scored a level 4 or higher.

Additionally, Broward’s eighth grade students performed as well or better than students from the state’s four other largest school districts (Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Orange and Palm Beach). Fourth grade students produced greater results than students in all counties except Hillsborough, while 10th grade students out performed all counties with the exception of Palm Beach.

Over a five-year period, the percentage of students writing at level 4 or higher has increased by five or more percentage points in each grade.

•       Fourth grade students show an 11 percentage points increase (from 75% in 2007 to 86% in 2011).

•       Eighth grade students show a 5 percentage points increase (from 81% to 2007 to 86% in 2011).

•       Tenth grade students show an 11 percentage points increase (from 69% in 2007 to 80% in 2011).

“In acknowledging and recognizing our outstanding teachers and educators, particularly during this Teacher Appreciation Week, we are especially proud of our teachers and support personnel,” said Broward Schools Superintendent James F. Notter. “Through some extreme and challenging circumstances, they have shown that their commitment to our core business of teaching and learning results in increases in academic achievement for all students.”

The program will be presided over by Commissioner Joe Miller, along with local spiritual leaders. The ceremony will take place at the northwest corner of the Deerfield Beach City Hall campus on May 5 from noon to 1 p.m. at 150 NE 2nd Avenue, Deerfield Beach.

The National Day of Prayer was established by the United States Congress in 1952, with the intention that it would be a day when members of all faiths could pray together in their own way. The public is invited to attend the observance. Refreshments will be served.