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A Letter To Readers From Steve Jerve

By STEVE JERVE

News Channel 8

Published: May 23, 2008

Dear Readers,

It's the time of year when we start looking toward the tropics and wondering what this hurricane season has in store for us. From meteorologists to emergency response personnel, to individuals and families we all want to know what the future holds.

All of us who live in Central Florida have been extremely lucky the past couple of years. Fortunately, tropical weather has for the most part steered clear of us since the bad weather blitz in 2004.

Although forecasters have made some great strides in recent years in their short-term forecasting skills, it is long range forecasting – the prediction of exactly how many storms will develop and how intense or damaging they may be, that is still a daunting task.

Again this year hurricane forecasters are calling for an active storm season.

But no matter what is predicted, it takes only one storm. That impact could change your life forever if you and your family are not prepared. It's vital to have a survival kit and, most importantly, stay informed.

That's where we come in.

Storm Team 8 is dedicated to bringing you weather and tropical activity updates well before, during and after a storm.

This often life-saving information will be available in our 11-county service area on the regularly sceduled newscasts and in special reports on News Channel 8. Up-to-the-minute tropical storm and hurricane information is always available on TBO.com. And if English is not your first language, Centrotampa.com and Centro Mi Diario are the place to go.

Thank you for reading the guide, and remember: Get ready and stay ready, whether the big storms threaten us this season or not.

Steve Jerve

Chief meteorologist.