2008 Hurricane Contest

[Maphisto's Sidekick]

Since no one else has issued the challenge, and the Atlantic storm season is about to start....

Entries are due in by 11:59pm EDT, 7 July. Entries edited after that time are disqualified. Note that the scoring is different than last year.

1. Pick the name of the last named Atlantic storm. (128 points if exact; 64 points if off by 1; 16 points if off by 2; 4 points if off by 3; 2 points if off by 4; 1 point if off by 5)

The 2008 storm names are: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna, Ike, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paloma, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, Wilfred...followed by the ever popular Α, Β, Γ, Δ, Ε, Ζ, Η, Θ, Ι, Κ, Λ, Μ, Ν, Ξ, Ο, Π, Ρ, Σ, Τ, Υ, Φ, Χ, Ψ, and Ω

2. Pick the Saffir-Simpson strength at time of strongest landfall of the strongest tropical depression or named storm to make landfall in the continental United States. (64 points if exact; 16 points if off by 1 category; 4 points if off by 2)

For purposes of this contest, the categories will be: None, Depression, Storm, Cat 1, Cat 2, Cat 3, Cat 4, and Cat 5. "Strongest storm" refers to continental U.S. landfall strength.

3. Pick the date of strongest continental U.S. landfall. (128 points if exact; 64 points if within ±3 days; 16 points if within ±7 days; 4 points if within ±15 days; 1 point if within ±30 days; 192 points if you correctly guess "none")

"Strongest" will be measured by estimated wind speed at landfall. Ties broken by lower estimated barometric pressure in final pre-landfall NHC update. If still tied, use estimated damages to insurance industry as a second tiebreaker.

4. Pick the coast segment of the strongest continental U.S. landfall. (256 points will be divided among those who select the "winning" segment. An additional 128 points will be divided among those who selected an adjoining segment.)

For purposes of the contest coast segments are: [None or Pacific Coast], [Texas south of Port O'Connor], [Texas east of Port O'Connor], [Louisiana west of Point au Fer], [Louisiana east of Point au Fer], [Mississippi, Alabama, or Florida Gulf west of Navarre], [Florida Gulf between Navarre & Cedar Key], [Florida Gulf between Cedar Key & Marco Island], [Florida between Marco Island & Key Largo], [Florida Atlantic between Key Largo & Fort Pierce], [Florida Atlantic north of Fort Pierce], [Georgia or South Carolina], [North Carolina], [Virginia, Maryland, or Delaware], [New Jersey, New York, or Connecticut], [Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Maine].

If a storm makes landfall within 5 miles of a segment break, scoring will instead be 384 points divided among those who chose the two segments in question.

BONUS: Pick the number of games won by the University of Miami Hurricanes football team during the 2008 regular season. (8 points if correct, 4 points if off by 1, 2 points if off by 2, 1 point if off by 3)

[Maphisto's Sidekick]

My guesses:

1. Omar
2. Cat 3
3. 12 September
4. Mississippi, Alabama, Florida Gulf w. of Navarre
BONUS. 4

[General Apathy]

1) Teddy
2) 4
3) 9/25
4) GA or SC
Bonus = 6

[Maphisto's Sidekick]

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news...5/27/90349.htm

[Gandalf]

1. Rene
2. Cat 4
3. Sept 10
4. Florida Atlantic between Key Largo & Fort Pierce
5. Bonus: 5

[UNCORRELATED LAY]

1) Poloma
2) Cat 3
3) 8/28
4) Texas East
Bonus = 7

[Abused Student]

1. Nana
2. Cat 3
3. 9/15
4. Florida Gulf between Cedar Key & Marco Island
Bonus: 4

[Heathen]

1. Omar
2. Cat 4
3. August 28
4. Mississippi, Alabama, or Florida Gulf west of Navarre
Bonus: 5

[Maine-iac]

1. Paloma
2. Cat 3
3. September 9
4. Florida Atlantic, Key West to Fort Pierce
Bonus: 6

[dinosaur]

1. Josephine
2. Cat Tres
3. September 20th
4. Florida Gulf between Cedar Key & Marco Island
BONUS: 8