Arlene says "Just Kidding"

As residents all over the Gulf Coast prepared for the worst one week ago, observers and forecasters alike kept a close eye on what could have been the first named Hurricane of 2005. Tropical Storm Arlene instead decided to dissipate rather swiftly after making landfall. Dropping less than six inches of rain, Arlene flooded some roads and caused power outages over much of Florida affecting around 11,000 customers. One person died in Miami Beach because of high surf. (Don't tell me they weren't warned.... very tragic).
Nevertheless, people eveidently overreacted but this shouldn't be too suprising after what happened last year. Arlene began producing 70 mph winds as it approached the Florida panhandle. Had it kept increasing, things could have been a bit worse. A hurricane is defined as having 74 mph winds or greater; and as a friend once reminded me, "who made it 74?"