Hurricane And Tropical Storms In The Gulf: How Activity Stacks Up On The Calendar

What are the odds that a hurricane will be active in the Gulf of Mexico during any given period, but particularly during harvest season?

This chart gives at least some indication. It was posted on the U.S. Energy Information Administration web site with an article about potential disruptions to Gulf of Mexico oil production this year.

It shows the frequency of Gulf hurricanes and tropical storms from and the number of days on a given date that these storms were active. It covers the years 1910 to 2009.

What the chart can't show is how many storms affected land or where they hit. But it does illustrate the inherent risk for anyone harvesting fiber or grain in the South.