tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84417642011-04-21T15:42:21.442-04:00<b>A Florida-centric view of the Atlantic hurricane season</b>Lorettanoreply@blogger.comBlogger1491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-23512908040958907062008-09-10T09:34:00.003-04:002008-09-10T09:37:35.988-04:00

Or rather, good morning Ike's outer arms:It is POURING down rain this morning. When you live in the sub-tropics, you learn to sleep through a lot of weather. But the downpour actually woke me up today!I'm sure glad my roof is fixed and all projectiles have been removed from my driveway, yard and rooftop.Hang on, Texas. Ike is a wet one!

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-42613511035658929292008-09-01T21:05:00.003-04:002008-09-01T21:11:14.164-04:00

With Gustav ashore in Louisiana, all eyes turn back to the tropics and what do we see?This:http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo_atl.shtmlI hope the roofers come this week and A) fix my roof or B) take the rolls of felt and boxes of nails (otherwise known as projectiles) off the roof before Hanna or Ike come this way.

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-4588548449981916982008-08-27T13:10:00.003-04:002008-08-27T13:53:31.555-04:00

Sigh. Hurricane season is wearing on me again this year. My roof is still leaking and here comes Gustav:You can see that the Tampa Bay area is on the outer eastern edge of the cone of uncertainty. Certainly, we'll see some wind and rain. And here I sit with roofing materials on my roof, but no work started yet.Gustav has already killed 11 people in Haiti and is expected to be develop into a

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-77030757914994606532008-08-21T16:24:00.004-04:002008-08-21T17:09:26.169-04:00

Fay just made its third landfall in Florida. After battering Key West and Collier County, it came ashore near Flagler beach on the other side of the state. The storm has just been hugging the coast and dropping boatloads of water on Florida. Melbourne has already gotten 25 inches of rain.Oddly enough, the Tampa Bay area will see more rain out of the east coast landfall than we did out of the west

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-913574273198246682008-08-19T17:46:00.003-04:002008-08-19T17:57:54.716-04:00

Looking far too tan and rested for someone who claims part of my paycheck for his own, Governor Crist is calling this a "boomerang storm." Looks more like a question mark to me. Check it out:We have been spared so far. Not a drop of rain. Just a bit of wind. Given that my roof would be leaking right now, I'm fairly happy that Fay wanted to visit parts south and north. Of course, it's not over

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-2555067340642141582008-08-18T14:23:00.007-04:002008-08-18T15:48:24.483-04:00

That's the name the talking heads have given the day today. Ingenious, don't you think? Here's Fay's projected track as of 2 PM ET.I have too much to do today to write much, but here's what the NHC advisory says:A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF FLORIDA FROM FLAMINGO TO ANNA MARIA ISLAND*. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-52282609873078500882008-08-16T20:44:00.002-04:002008-08-16T21:37:29.000-04:00

Okay, I have enough problems at this moment:broken pipe under the bathroom sink broken garbage disposalmicrowave that doesn't seal anymoreinternet access downnearly everything wrong with a shipment from Musician's Friendleaky roof overgrown grassmultiple competing deadlinesAnd now:FayFay is on track for Tampa by Tuesday. So now I've got to dig out the shutters and get to work. Lovely. Just what I

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-12576717235022574022008-07-20T19:36:00.001-04:002008-07-20T19:46:48.663-04:00

Not liking the looks of this. Three tropical "disturbances" is a bit more than I can handle at one time. The newest is Dolly. I won't do the Hello Dolly bit as I've already been chastised for the trite -- and apparently reserved -- use of Big Bertha. Being a relative Newbie in HurricaneLand, I hope you will forgive.Wayne, my friend in Isla Mujeres, Mexico reports this about Dolly. Note the

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-26546344196474676752008-07-19T14:59:00.003-04:002008-07-19T15:05:41.968-04:00

Tropical Storm Cristobal has formed off the South Carolina coast. The NHC says it's likely to strengthen, but I think it's safe to say it won't affect Florida. It looks like it won't have much affect on land, at all.I'll be watching...

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-50836045594940869612008-07-03T12:50:00.006-04:002008-07-03T13:00:47.733-04:00

I know, it's a trite title for the blog entry, but Bertha's shaping up pretty quick. Here's what the NHC has to say:RECENT MICROWAVE AND VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY SUGGEST THAT THE CENTER IS A LITTLE FARTHER NORTH AND WEST OF THE PREVIOUS ESTIMATES. BECAUSE OF THE RELOCATION OF THE CENTER...THE INITIAL MOTION IS A SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN 285/12...A LITTLE FASTER THAN BEFORE. BERTHA IS LOCATED TO THE

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-38984864868808107102008-06-02T11:08:00.002-04:002008-06-02T11:15:41.168-04:00

The NHC says there's little threat of Arthur reforming. It's pouring in Belize, Guatemala and Southeastern Mexico and flash floods are still a threat, but Arthur seems to have done his thing for the most part. It's a rainmaker for our friends to the south and a wake-up call for us.Meanwhile, it's a beautiful day in South Florida and the drought continues...

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-6112392803512856282008-06-01T11:17:00.004-04:002008-06-01T11:32:24.251-04:00

Today is the first day of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. And heeeeeeeeeere's Arthur:Actually, Arthur arrived a little early. It was a tropical storm yesterday, but it's weakened to a tropical depression today. From the NHC :...ARTHUR WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION...THREAT OF HEAVY RAINS CONTINUES...AT 10 AM CDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENTS OF BELIZE AND MEXICO HAVE DISCONTINUED ALL WARNINGS.AT

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-31490281011259347572008-05-27T16:09:00.002-04:002008-05-27T16:11:10.126-04:00

Ah, it's that wonderful time of year when the humidity rises and chases the snowbirds back to their northern "first" homes, the Gulf of Mexico becomes swimable and hurricanes begin to slam into Atlantic and Caribbean land masses. It's all a part of living in paradise. Witness:The stretch of Anna Maria Island where I walk almost daily.Sunset over a part of Sarasota Bay known as The Cortez Kitchen

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-47319207622882771752007-06-02T09:29:00.000-04:002007-06-02T09:37:34.429-04:00

It's pouring down rain. Pouring. But Barry, as storms go, will be fairly mild. Lot of rain and wind, but the water's not very hot and the storm will make landfall before it is able to develop much. It's coming ashore - on top of us - as I write this.Here's what the NHC has to say:NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 530 AM EDT SAT JUN 2 2007 FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-7423408197289894522007-05-09T16:56:00.000-04:002007-05-09T17:53:11.502-04:00

Subtropical storm Andrea (the name of a good friend of mine, by the way) is off the southeast coast. She's weak and will make landfall too soon to gain much momentum, but there she is folks!

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1156947549433806022006-08-30T09:58:00.000-04:002006-08-30T10:19:09.480-04:00

Ernesto has arrived in South Florida, but since it didn't have time to strengthen to hurricane force after leaving Cuba, it's simply a "rain event" like Alberto was. No reports of deaths have emerged from Cuba, though the province of Guantánamo received over eight inches of rain during Ernesto's visit. Perhaps the most notable feature of this hurricane strike in Cuba was Castro's absence from the

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1156856171230640822006-08-29T08:36:00.000-04:002006-08-29T08:56:46.686-04:00

Ah, summer. A time for fishing, swimming, boating, beaching and watching enormous radar blobs approach the state of Florida. If you've been following the storm, you'll see the track has changed since Sunday (I couldn't write yesterday due to a small household accident that confined me to the couch) and that its prolonged journey over Cuba weakened it from a hurricane to a tropical storm. Now

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1156685601984339892006-08-27T09:12:00.000-04:002006-08-27T09:33:21.996-04:00

We woke up to a new track this morning, which is not surprising this far out from landfall. Ernesto is now a hurricane and predicted to come right into our front yard. The computer models from Weather Underground show the possiblities, including a panhandle or more northerly landfall. The NHC discussion seems to indicate confidence in a west coast strike. However, it's still early and, as we

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1156601785713710622006-08-26T10:02:00.000-04:002006-08-26T10:16:25.726-04:00

Tropical Storm Ernesto looks as if it will make a visit to the Gulf of Mexico. The models seem to predict a North Central Gulf Coast hit. It's still too early to tell, but here's the lastest discussion from the National Hurricane Center:AN AIR FORCE PLANE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING ERNESTO AND FOUND THAT THE CENTRAL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 999 MB WITH A WELL-ESTABLISHED CYCLONIC CIRCULATION. HOWEVER

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1156356843987691652006-08-23T14:08:00.000-04:002006-08-23T14:14:04.000-04:00

Tropical Storm Debby appears to shaping up as a good fish storm and nothing more. The National Hurricane Center discussion indicates that Debby might yet strengthen into a hurricane, but the models predict that she will avoid land and make a hard right out to sea. More as the activity off the Cape heats up. It's that time of year...

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1154702195695511382006-08-04T10:29:00.000-04:002006-08-04T10:36:54.913-04:00

Chris seems to be falling apart. The 8:00 advisory from the NHC downgraded Chris from a Tropical Storm to a Tropical Depression. As it continues on its way west, it continues to sink south, away from Florida.This makes for a slow day (thankfully) in Hurricane Land and means my trip to Dallas isn't likely to be interrupted by Chris. Summer thunderstorms are always a wildcard, but hopefully I'll

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1154544237833184112006-08-02T14:03:00.000-04:002006-08-02T14:43:57.893-04:00

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/satellite.shtmlTropical Storm Chris is getting its act together. While I don't think this will affect the west gulf coast, any storm in the area bears watching. Besides, it's a good reminder to check your supplies. We replaced the batteries in our weather radio today. ..something we should have done weeks ago when Alberto breezed through. The computer models have yet to

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1150215787084172052006-06-13T12:07:00.000-04:002006-08-02T14:54:38.683-04:00

Alberto is still passing through Florida, dropping a ton of rain and causing some storm surge flooding. As Alberto nears landfall, it has yet failed to reach hurricane strength.It's just about onshore near Cedar Key now and is predicted to pass through North Carolina as it falls apart. I'm in Texas, but reports from home say Alberto caused some minor flooding, a lot of rain and a few miserable

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1150039531482610912006-06-11T11:21:00.000-04:002006-06-11T11:25:31.493-04:00

Tropical Storm Alberto is the first named storm of the season. I'm off to Dallas tomorrow, provided planes are taking off from Tampa, but I'll try to monitor the storm from there. It should be quite the rainmaker, but yes, we're prepapring for the worst.Read the latest advisory from NOAA.See the 3-day forecast trackWelcome to Hurricane Season 2006!

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1135961563079510022005-12-30T11:49:00.000-05:002005-12-30T11:52:43.093-05:00

But NOAA says it is so.000WONT41 KNHC 301605DSAAT SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENTNWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL1100 AM EST FRI DEC 30 2005SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES THAT AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE EASTERN ATLANTIC HAS DEVELOPED INTO A TROPICAL STORM ABOUT 1000 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF THE AZORES. A SPECIAL ADVISORY ON TROPICAL STORM ZETA IS IN PREPARATION AND WILL BE

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1130152228459329222005-10-24T07:02:00.000-04:002005-10-24T07:10:28.466-04:00

It's windy. Wilma came ashore as a category three hurricane about an hour ago at Marco Island, just south of Naples. (Wendy: I'm glad you evacuated!) We're seeing tropical storm force winds with gusts brushing hurricane force in certain areas. We've been under tornado watch since last night. It's blowing pretty good out there, but we're spared the worst of it. Of course, schools are closed and no

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1129987937122939612005-10-22T09:14:00.000-04:002005-10-22T09:32:17.526-04:00

Wilma, finished with Cozumel, slammed into the Yucatán peninsula. Because the storm is lingering, it could drop as much as 20 inches of rain on Cancún. Story...The guidance models appear to be coming into agreement, making the NHC more certain of its forecast. However, the local news stations aren't in agreement as to whether Tampa is in the cone or not. Bay News 9 shows the cone just covering

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1129912691979595352005-10-21T12:13:00.000-04:002005-10-21T12:53:20.986-04:00

Wilma crashed into the shores of Cozumel this morning and is now headed for the Yucatán peninsula and Cancún. Story...I don't know where our friends are at this point. Our attempts to reach them have failed. When we saw images of the shelters set up in Cancún, all we saw were tourists - no brown faces in the crowd. I hope their government is taking better care of them than ours did the poor

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1129836131851103762005-10-20T15:13:00.000-04:002005-10-20T15:22:11.856-04:00

Wilma is shaping up to be one of the nastiest storms on record. It will probably restrengthen to a category 5 before slamming into the Yucatán peninsula sometime tonight or tomorrow morning. I'm very worried about our friends in that area, but so far my attempts to contact them have failed. Hopefully, that means they are on their way away from the sea. We are still taking a wait-and-see attitude

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1129737726116774602005-10-19T11:57:00.000-04:002005-10-19T12:02:06.116-04:00

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1129735100665567902005-10-19T11:13:00.000-04:002005-10-19T11:18:36.466-04:00

Wilma became a category five overnight, but it is not expected to sustain its strength. It is expected to hit Florida, the 64-dollar question being: Where?The "spaghetti models" are in pretty good agreement for a southerly landfall, but those of us who remember Charley remain skeptical, to say the least. You can see that only one of the models takes Wilma through Tampa bay, but that's enough to

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1129660553916314242005-10-18T14:17:00.000-04:002005-10-18T14:35:53.963-04:00

GFDL, GFS and UKMET models have been updated. You can see that the GFDL, which had tracked Wilma up to Tampa Bay, has shifted south. The NOGAPS remains on a northerly track, but it hasn't run since 10pm yesterday. The NHC insists the models are in good agreement, so we'll have to wait to see what happens as the evening progresses and NOGAPS runs again. I strongly encourage everyone to keep in

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1129656235712719982005-10-18T13:13:00.000-04:002005-10-18T13:24:58.383-04:00

Phil, friend of the list from the Florida Panhandle has this to contribute:Hello....ltns.Wilma also ties the record for the 21st significant Storm ... (back when we had 21 tropical storms or greater, was in the 1920's, when we werent yet naming them)..... but it ties that record, and that was the most active hurricane season on record...We are now all *OUT* of hurricane names, and the store

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1129652700118650842005-10-18T12:10:00.000-04:002005-10-18T12:25:00.163-04:00

Wilma makes 12 hurricanes for 2005, tying the record set in 1969 for most hurricanes in a year. It's shaping up to be a nasty storm and I'm not liking the computer models much. Win lose or draw, Wilma will hit the Gulf Coast of Florida, giving the insurance companies more reason to stick it to us again, even if our neighborhood doesn't take a direct hit. You can see from the models above that

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1129463456742248412005-10-16T07:44:00.000-04:002005-10-16T08:02:58.510-04:00

Here comes Wilma. Unbelievable. The NHC discussion this morning predicts strengthening to 88kt within 96 hours, which means we now have another major hurricane headed for the Gulf of Mexico. Simply unbelievable. When TD #24 is named, and I fully believe it will be, it will be called "Wilma." That's the last name on the list for 2005 boys and girls. After that, we have to go to letters in the

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1127165769649375152005-09-19T15:55:00.000-04:002005-09-19T17:45:14.103-04:00

Maybe Hurricane Season Isn't The Best Time to Quit Smoking?1I've been away - again - because eleven days ago, my husband and I...drum roll... stopped smoking! I couldn't watch the tropics or any kind of news, really. I couldn't do much of anything besides concentrate on not-not-not lighting one of those filthy, nasty, stinking tubes of pure death. I won't go into the whole sordid thing here, but

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1126124962484071462005-09-07T16:25:00.000-04:002005-09-07T17:38:33.710-04:00

Apparently, FEMA is only interested in giving relief to Micro$oft and PC users.FEMA's website can only be accessed by people using a PC which has Internet Explorer 6. Some of it is viewable using Firefox but anyone trying to apply for Disaster Assistance needs to use IE 6.0 or higher.Read More...Sorry, Mac and/or Firefox users...no soup for YOU!!!Your tax dollars at work, kiddies.

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1126090089978416292005-09-07T06:30:00.000-04:002005-09-07T06:48:09.986-04:00

Tropical Storm Ophelia is spinning off the east coast of Florida. This one looks like it might curve out and miss the Sunshine State, according to the latest from the NHC. I was looking forward to the rain, but after last year, it's tough to wish for a storm to hit. And this from from Phil in repsonse to last night's post:Most of New Orleans is black... The color of their skin had nothing to do

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1126041531858330982005-09-06T17:09:00.000-04:002005-09-06T17:18:51.863-04:00

TD #16 should make landfall on Florida's east coast before it becomes a named storm. Hurricane Maria and Tropical Storm Nate have also arrived in the Atlantic; both are projected to become "fish storms." If you're wondering why I haven't posted much lately, it's because I've been watching the horror that is Katrina's aftermath unfold. Since this is a Florida-centric blog, and since I've pretty

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1125677375661772702005-09-02T11:58:00.000-04:002005-09-02T16:45:47.116-04:00

I have been quiet for the last few days in deference to the unfolding disaster along the Gulf coast. I have also been hopping mad at the government, its agencies and the pundits and talking heads on television who intellectualize and rationalize to cover their asses. All of them fiddling while New Orleans burns and Biloxi and Gulfport wonder if anyone even knows they're alive. But you can help.

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1125339275742179142005-08-29T13:43:00.000-04:002005-08-29T15:37:47.896-04:00

Katrina Hits the Big Easy Courtesy NOAAKatrina Makes Its Way Inland Courtesy NOAA'Nuff Said AP PhotoPerspective: This is 100 miles from the eye of the storm AP PhotoNew Orleans Takes a Hit AP PhotoBlown Out Windows in Downtown New Orleans Reuters NewswirePolice Cruiser Stranded on Canal StreetNote the Plywood Floating Under the Back EndAP PhotoA Bit Tough To Find the InterstateReuters

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1125330208333270182005-08-29T11:01:00.000-04:002005-08-29T11:43:28.393-04:00

As the National Weather Service reports parts of metropolitan New Orleans have suffered total structural failure, a section of levee has given way, flooding the Ninth Ward neighborhood, the roof of the Super Dome appears to be peeling away, at least one hundred people are trapped on their roofs by rising flood waters , the storm blew out windows in high rise hotels (including the Hyatt where I

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1125271348026247242005-08-28T19:03:00.000-04:002005-08-28T19:22:30.080-04:00

Katrina's windfield is now 100 miles wide. If Katrina maintains its strength, which the NHC lastest discussion says is likely as there is no upper level shear or other factors to mitigate the power it is currently drawing out of warm Gulf waters, it will come ashore as a category four or five hurricane.When you wake up in the morning, New Orleans might be gone. I'm not kidding. To understand the

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1125236796426576372005-08-28T09:06:00.000-04:002005-08-28T09:46:38.930-04:00

Hurricane Katrina is now a category five storm. It's impressive to say the least. The eyewall is sharply defined and nearly symmetrical. Winds are currently at 160 mph as Katrina takes aim at one of my favorite cities in the United States: New Orleans. If Katrina's eye makes a direct hit or passes just west of the city, words like "catastrophic" and "devastating" will not begin to describe the

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1125090996036026162005-08-26T17:13:00.000-04:002005-08-26T17:16:36.043-04:00

This just in from the NHC: KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO BE MOVING OVER THE GULF LOOP CURRENT AFTER 36 HOURS...WHICH WHEN COMBINED WITH DECREASING VERTICAL SHEAR...SHOULD ALLOW THE HURRICANE TO REACH CATEGORY FOUR STATUS BEFORE LANDFALL OCCURS. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SHIPS AND GFDL MODELS...WHICH BRING KATRINA UP TO 118 KT. THE FSU SUPERENSEMBLE MODEL IS MOREROBUST AND BRINGS KATRINA UP TO 129 KT

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1125090114285356522005-08-26T16:44:00.000-04:002005-08-26T17:01:54.293-04:00

Katrina is giving the weather computers fits. The NHC discussion this morning indicated that none of the models have been able to track Katrina accurately. The current track is a blend of models, but since none have been able to forecast its motion accurately...all bets are off as far as I'm concerned. Not that I think it will hook east like Charley did last year, but who knows? The trouble with

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1125002359077280752005-08-25T16:31:00.000-04:002005-08-25T16:39:19.083-04:00

Katrina is now a hurricane and set to make landfall near Ft. Lauderdale. HURRICANE KATRINA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATENWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL335 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2005...RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT REPORTS AND DOPPLER RADAR DATA INDICATES THAT TROPICAL STORM KATRINA HAS STRENGTHENED INTO A HURRICANE... SHORTLY BEFORE 330 PM EDT...REPORTS FROM A NOAA RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT AND NOAA

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1124960997632652402005-08-25T05:09:00.000-04:002005-08-25T05:40:54.346-04:00

From the National Hurricane Center: A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST FROM VERO BEACH SOUTHWARD TO FLORIDA CITY...INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. Katrina is now about 90 miles

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1124880309489171632005-08-24T06:27:00.000-04:002005-08-24T06:45:09.496-04:00

Tropical Depression 12 is set to hit Florida this weekend (but of course) as a tropical storm. Its name will be Katrina. The NHC forecast says the storm will hit the east coast and then travel across the state. It probably won't be much more than a nasty summer storm by the time it hits our side of the state, but it will be enough to thoroughly piss on our weekend. We're not planning to board up;

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1124372669157216822005-08-18T09:26:00.000-04:002005-08-23T05:38:47.090-04:00

Note: This post should have published on the 17th, but didn't...apologies.Phil, a reader and avid weather watcher like myself, says this of the tasty morsel from the earlier post:I found that cake on Webshots... and my immediate guess is that ERAU is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University... They indicated that it was indeed a hurricane party.PhilThanks for clearing that up, Phil. And here I

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1124314766607563592005-08-17T16:49:00.000-04:002005-08-18T06:08:25.133-04:00

Dr. Gray and team revised their forecast earlier in the month. I've been away from the blog for a while due to...well...stuff. Here's the revised hurricane season forecast. Regular readers will recall the First Day of Hurricane Season post where this table was first posted. I've updated the table for this post. Note the regional strike probabilities have been revised upward as well. 2005

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1123101007109457492005-08-03T16:27:00.000-04:002005-08-03T16:30:07.116-04:00

Courtesy NOAANOAA has revised their forecast upward. Again. Read the press release. Compare and contrast NOAA's predictions with the Tropical Meteorology Project's predictions released in May:2005 ForecastForecast Activity as of: 12/03/0404/01/05Named Storms (NS) (9.6) 11 13 Named Storm Days (NSD) (49.1) 55 65 Hurricanes (H)(5.9) 6 7 Hurricane Days (HD)(24.5) 25 35 Intense Hurricanes (IH) (2.3)

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1123016100616036892005-08-02T16:51:00.000-04:002005-08-02T17:12:28.836-04:00

And so begins the season when storms begin to boil off of Cape Verde, Africa (bottom right of image). This train of thunderstorms is too young to predict, but this is what we start to see in Mid-August. This type of activity is what brought us a hurricane roughly every two weeks last year beginning with Charley on August 13 (Friday!). Here at home, the Gulf waters are a warm, hurricane-fueling 90

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1122726395947122412005-07-30T09:45:00.000-04:002005-07-30T09:21:11.756-04:00

I published Chapter One: Two Rules of the Florida Hurricane Survival Guide for Newbies on a new blog. This way, you don't have to receive the whole post in your inbox if you're not inclined to read it. If you missed the Introduction: How We Got Here From There, you can read it here...When I publish the next chapter, I will post a link on News From Hurricane Land instead of posting the entire text

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1122370761249777052005-07-26T04:26:00.000-04:002005-07-26T05:39:21.296-04:00

From NASA, this image shows a dust storm blowing off the coast of Africa that is supposed to reach Florida today. According to local meteorologists, the affects will be minimal. We're supposed to have more vibrant sunrises and sunsets, but forecasters don't expect the storm to affect air quality. However, individuals with asthma and other respiratory problems might experience some difficulty as

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1122212717878050802005-07-24T09:32:00.000-04:002005-07-24T09:49:15.333-04:00

We're working our way through the alphabet pretty quick this year. June isn't even over and we're up to G - for Gert, which looks as if it will hit México...right on the heels of the pounding they took from Emily.From the National Hurricane CenterAT 7 AM CDT...1200Z...THE BROAD AND POORLY-DEFINED CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM GERT WAS ESTIMATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 95.8 WEST OR ABOUT

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1122027280068618162005-07-22T06:13:00.000-04:002005-07-22T11:12:16.806-04:00

Tropical Storm Franklin (projected track at left) blew up almost over night it seems. It's not supposed to affect Florida, but recall Hurricane Jeanne? (Verified track at right.) That nasty storm spun out in the Atlantic for days before deciding it too wanted a crack at poor weather-beaten Florida. For those who don't remember or didn't experience Florida's shattered collective psyche, here's a

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121852540033105602005-07-20T05:33:00.000-04:002005-07-20T05:42:20.040-04:00

My defection from Intense Host is complete and the mailing list trouble should be worked out, though your old passwords probably won't work with the new list. To change or receive your password by email, go to the subscribe page. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Hopefully this will do it for tech issues this season. Ha!Recent posts you might have missed: México's Riviera Maya Takes Pounding from

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121793503376895072005-07-19T05:00:00.000-04:002005-07-20T05:24:28.870-04:00

It appears that Cancún was spared a direct hit from the storm while further south less "touristy" resorts took quite a beating. Mexican officials said there was little damage to the ruins at Tulum but the backpacker hotels lost their roofs as did, apparently, some of the larger luxury hotels.StoryThis story is the first mention of any of the locals in the Riviera Maya region that I have seen in

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121683021881423492005-07-18T06:26:00.000-04:002005-07-20T05:12:09.330-04:00

Still no word from our friends...HURRICANE EMILY TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATENWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL300 AM EDT MON JUL 18 2005SATELLITE AND RADAR IMAGES INDICATE THAT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE EMILY MADE LANDFALL JUST NORTH OF TULUM MEXICO NEAR 0630Z...230 AM EDT THIS MORNING. THE ESTIMATED INTENSITY AT LANDFALL WAS 135 MPH...CATEGORY FOUR ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. THE NORTHERN

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121604328881688672005-07-17T08:00:00.000-04:002005-07-17T08:45:28.926-04:00

Courtesy NOAA It appears Emily is going to take a bite out of our beloved Cancún. We're watching and thinking of our friends there. As you can imagine, housing in El Centro is not as sound as the hotels and villas built for tourist use both on Cancún Island - also known as the Hotel Zone - and along the coast from Cancún to Playa del Carmen. It sounds like evacuation efforts are focused on and

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121515193769560352005-07-16T07:50:00.000-04:002005-07-16T07:59:54.433-04:00

We're under the Bermuda High, which is keeping hurricanes away from us for the moment. Jim and I might even go on the Cortez Yacht Club's poker run today...the red tide is the only thing giving us pause for thought. Plus, we have a lot of work to do on the house still. We want to get our shutters in shape without doing it in a panic. The problem is, when it's finally nice like this, you want to

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121336923663131042005-07-14T06:27:00.000-04:002005-07-14T14:05:41.620-04:00

There's a high pressure system in place over Florida, which is ensuring that Emily stays to our south.Three cheers for high pressure! (Who knew that moving to Florida would make me into such a weather geek?) Looks like a nice weekend for us, if we can stand the red tide, which incidentally was not cleared out by Dennis. In fact, it's worse than ever. "One of the greatest losses resulting from the

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121250185677335792005-07-13T06:20:00.000-04:002005-07-13T15:18:40.736-04:00

Florida is outside the cone for a change. Outside the cone is a lovely place to be. It gives us additional time to prepare for the next storm. We are getting an estimate on a hurricane door for our garage. I didn't much like the way the old door behaved when Dennis' winds came crashing up from the south, so we're looking at getting a "wind kit" or just upgrading the whole door.The garage door,

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121165625653190452005-07-12T06:51:00.000-04:002005-07-12T11:27:58.896-04:00

BULLETINTROPICAL STORM EMILY ADVISORY NUMBER 7NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL11 AM AST TUE JUL 12 2005 ...EMILY STRENGTHENING...HURRICANE WATCHES ISSUED IN THE WINDWARD ISLANDS...AT 11 AM AST...1500Z...HURRICANE WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR BARBADOS...GRENADA...THE GRENADINES...ST. VINCENT...AND ST. LUCIA...BY THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENTS. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121090857612646522005-07-11T10:07:00.000-04:002005-07-11T11:36:30.436-04:00

Tropical depression #5 has formed out of a tropical wave off of Cape Verde. It is forecast to become a tropical storm within the next 24 hours (by early morning on July 12). Its name will be Emily. It's too early to tell where it's headed.Meanwhile, Gulf Coast residents are recovering from a direct hit from Dennis. Though it was still a hurricane when it made landfall, it had weakened to a

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121024554625790712005-07-10T15:41:00.000-04:002005-07-10T16:23:39.376-04:00

Hurricane Dennis has made landfall on Santa Rosa Island between Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach, Florida. The local news reported sustained winds of 120 mph, which means Dennis was a category three 'cane as it came ashore. Our thoughts and hopes are with the people in Dennis' path right now. More info...On the peninsula, the worst is over. It's hot again. The sun peeks out every now and then.

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1121002617841934102005-07-10T08:53:00.000-04:002005-07-10T09:58:38.756-04:00

Dennis is now a category four hurricane. Our hearts and minds are with our fellow hurricane-weary souls on the northern Gulf Coast, where the impact of Dennis will be catastrophic -- at best. The forecast track takes it right to the folks who suffered through Ivan last year. I can't imagine the horror of watching Dennis approach now. All I can say is that the peninsula feels for you; we're

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1120917048616171312005-07-09T08:42:00.000-04:002005-07-09T10:10:01.976-04:00

Courtesy NOAA Dennis is brushing past the Florida Keys and pounding Key West with sustained tropical storm force winds and gusts nearing 70 mph. Power is out all over Key West and damage reports are coming in already. Many people there are still rebuilding from last year as are the people who are now preparing for a direct hit on the northern Gulf coast. Landfall is projected between the western

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1120855670744481772005-07-08T16:26:00.000-04:002005-07-08T16:48:01.900-04:00

HURRICANE DENNIS TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATENWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL310 PM EDT FRI JUL 08 2005 Reports from the Cuban Meteorlogical Service and Civil Defense through HAM radio operators indicate a wind gust to 149 MPH occurred at Cienfuegos, Cuba around 1:30 PM EDT. More than 85 percent of the powerlines were down and extensive damage has occurred to the communications infastructure

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1120851437611182792005-07-08T15:33:00.000-04:002005-07-08T15:37:17.616-04:00

From the NOAA Satellilte and Information Service: Operational Significant Event Imagery

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1120842242813865492005-07-08T11:36:00.000-04:002005-07-08T13:07:23.540-04:00

Courtesy NOAASorry I missed posting yesterday (it's a long story and more about me than you want to know) as Dennis jogged west and then east again. All in all, an exciting day for the ol' Menace.High pressure is holding over the Florida peninsula, so it appears at this time that Dennis is will skirt the west coast of the peninsula and make landfall on the north gulf coast somewhere between

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1120676762209532702005-07-06T14:55:00.000-04:002005-07-07T08:14:12.053-04:00

Correction to this post and thank those of you who pointed it out...I don't know what I was thinking...I know the Saffir-Simpson Scale by heart. Cindy came ashore at 70mph, 4mph short of hurricane strength...Tropical Storm Cindy was near hurricane strength at 112 70 mph before making landfall near New Orleans. Hurricane strength is defined as sustained winds of 119 74 mph. I bet those Louisiana

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1120595660573644112005-07-05T16:27:00.000-04:002005-07-05T16:40:45.246-04:00

Courtesy NOAA As predicted, TD #4 became Tropical Storm Dennis this morning. The five-day path shows Tampa Bay in the "cone of uncertainty," meaning it could strike here or not.By all accounts, Dennis should be our first hurricane of the season.Something tells me we'll be spending some quality time with plywood and tapcons this weekend. And so it begins...

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1120577832230191692005-07-05T06:14:00.000-04:002005-07-05T11:37:12.236-04:00

Cindy is about right in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, projected to make landfall somewhere along the coast of Louisiana late tonight or tomorrow morning. At 7am CDT, the center was located near latitude 26.4 north...longitude 90.4 west and sustained winds were about 45mph.The Florida peninsula is under high pressure, which keeps Cindy away from us, pushing her toward the North Central Gulf

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1120074916908772802005-06-29T18:23:00.000-04:002005-06-29T15:55:16.936-04:00

Tropical storm Bret arrived yesterday in the Bay of Campeche, which is pronounced "CAHm - pӘch-EH," not "Campeechy" as it is so mangled by our local newcasters.*Bret began as a cluster of organized thunderstorms organized as Tropical Depression Two or TD #2 as those of us so enviably in the know would call it. At some point between 8 and 11 last night, it strengthened enough to become a tropical

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1118688978479653382005-06-13T05:44:00.000-04:002005-06-13T15:10:33.336-04:00

Now we've been hit by our first tropical storm of the season. Doesn't it feel better to get that out of the way? Arlene came ashore near the Florida panhandle on Saturday, drenching the peninsula in rain on her way through.Check out the image archives on the NHC site to see her final path. She's now a non-event. Just an inland rainmaker.All we saw here was a strong south wind, which was actually

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1118415602328269152005-06-10T06:28:00.000-04:002005-06-10T11:04:13.883-04:00

Seems last year's hurricane season created a baby boom in Florida, which is now manifesting itself in maternity wards across the state. Some hospitals report an increase in deliveries of more than 20% for June.As if it's not hot and sweaty enough without air conditioning, people inexplicably felt the need to get hotter and sweatier...apparently with each other. And without birth control. One

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1118413398705086952005-06-10T05:58:00.000-04:002005-06-10T11:03:20.046-04:00

Arlene's projected path has shifted a little eastward. Is it just me or does it seem a bit unfair and a bit of a bad omen that the first storm of the season is A) so early B) probably going to smack into Florida. I mean, really, didn't Florida get enough last year?Courtesy NOAA/NHCHere's a very pretty picture of Arlene. Pretty, that is, if you aren't still traumatized from last year's radar blob

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1118323850140770582005-06-09T06:58:00.000-04:002005-06-10T09:55:03.896-04:00

And so it begins. We have our first named storm. It started as TD #1 yesterday. I was just getting ready to blog on it when our power went out due to an everyday summer storm. Rather than sit and sweat inside a dark, quiet house, I went to the Cortez Kitchen with a friend and had a sandwich, leaving my husband and our friend the Captain behind to guard the house (the garage door was up and there

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1117833878162547182005-06-03T05:12:00.000-04:002005-06-30T16:05:48.220-04:00

Florida Hurricane Survival Guide For NewbiesBy Loretta Cochran IntroductionHow We Got Here from ThereIt seems everyone in Florida is from somewhere else, so I thought I'd begin by telling you how and why we moved 3200 miles to sit right smack dab in the center of Hurricane Land.My husband and I moved to lovely Bradenton, Florida from Vancouver, Washington in May of 2002. Also known as “the other

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1117652105195620502005-06-01T05:03:00.000-04:002005-06-01T14:59:05.243-04:00

Today is the first day of hurricane season and for the occasion, the venerable Dr. William M. Gray et al. at the Tropical Meteorology Project have revised the forecast upward. If you listen closely you can hear the sound of an entire state letting out a heavy sigh of resignation...tinged with worry...tinged with terror.If you are warmed by numbers, you will be happy to learn that statistically

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1112711049586529972005-04-05T05:34:00.000-04:002005-04-05T10:50:45.406-04:00

Only 76 Days Until Hurricane Season Begins - Do you know where your flashlight batteries are?As the 2005 hurricane season approaches, The Tropical Meteorology Project team predicts another wild season for the Atlantic: "We foresee a slightly above-average hurricane season for the Atlantic basin in 2005. Also, an above-average probability of U.S. major hurricane landfall is anticipated. We do not,

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1099415197838935122004-11-02T13:04:00.000-05:002004-11-02T12:06:37.836-05:00

Floridians hoping for no repeat of 2000's wrangling Punta Gorda, Fla. -- With talk of lawsuits filling the air, the race for Florida's 27 electoral votes is already being compared to the rancorous recount of 2000. In Punta Gorda, they are comparing it to Hurricane Charley... Read the story and then GO VOTE!!!

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1099249334583642012004-10-31T13:55:00.000-05:002004-10-31T14:02:14.583-05:00

I went fishing yesterday. Caught a buzz, but that's about it. The water was green and glassy and surprisingly free of traffic considering the snow birds are beginning to arrive. It was sheer bliss. Today, the boys took down the wall they framed in behind the garage door when Ivan was threatening. The shutters are stored. My car is in its home. A nod to the hurricane gods: we know we still have

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1099055307249957392004-10-29T09:07:00.000-04:002004-10-31T09:15:48.330-05:00

I received this via email. I have no idea who to credit for it... Twas the night before Frances When all through the state Not a gas pump was pumping Not a store open late All the plywood was hung On the windows with care Knowing that a hurricane Soon would be there The children were ready With flashlights in hand While bands from the hurricane Covered over the land And mamma with

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1098917178457788682004-10-27T18:42:00.000-04:002004-10-27T18:46:18.456-04:00

Undisclosed sum must be monarch-speak for paltry amount The Queen lent her support today to the people of the Caribbean whose lives have been devastated by hurricanes in recent months. She has donated an undisclosed sum of money to a British Red Cross Caribbean Hurricane Appeal which will go towards helping them rebuild their communities. Maybe she thinks her generosity will bring them back to

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1098802192203582622004-10-26T10:45:00.000-04:002004-10-26T10:51:36.756-04:00

If you can prove that you need assistance and have exhausted all other avenues, such as FEMA assistance, you might be eligible from some of the money generous Americans from all over the country donated to hurricane-embattled Florida during August and September. But don't spend that check just yet, it's up to the Salvation Army and the United Way to decide the criteria for victim assistance,

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1098801699619939412004-10-26T06:37:00.000-04:002004-10-26T10:41:39.620-04:00

Florida makes the news, dubiously, as usual. ATLANTA, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne created chaos in Florida and impacted much of the United States over the past few months. On October 31, at 8:30 p.m. ET, meteorologist and The Weather Channel stormtracker Jim Cantore will present a special half-hour primetime program titled "2004 Hurricane Onslaught," which documents

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1098738067806057392004-10-25T16:54:00.000-04:002004-10-25T17:01:07.806-04:00

Holy cow! And all we did was try to protect our home! I feel like a slacker now. (KRT) INDIALANTIC, Fla. — It is the stuff of pirate legends, but do not waste your breath asking Joel Ruth on what stretch of Florida's Treasure Coast he found his hoard of Spanish pieces of eight - waiting to be scratched out of the sand with bare fingers and toes. Treasure hunters guard their secrets.

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1098737587660330842004-10-25T16:41:00.000-04:002004-10-25T16:53:07.660-04:00

So maybe I shouldn't be surprised that a company whose frontline employees barely make enough to live indoors in the state of Florida (owing, in part, to our meager minimum wage) would make such a weak gesture to its employees. But I'm always surprised at idiocy and shameful behavior. Perhaps $25k will be enough, since most of their employees probably live in their cars anyway. Starbucks Coffee

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1098470189652163742004-10-22T07:20:00.000-04:002004-10-22T14:36:29.653-04:00

Okay, not what we need or want to hear. But we're not the only ones. Ask Haiti. Ask North Carolina. WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- With four hurricanes and tropical storms hitting the United States in a recent five-week period, 2004 already is being called "The Year of the Hurricane." But this year's unusually intense period of destructive weather activity could be a harbinger of what is

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1098468272257266342004-10-22T06:46:00.000-04:002004-10-22T14:11:26.590-04:00

Officials are considering removing the center line imposed on the hurricane forecast tracks we see on television and in newspapers. Emergency planners think it's a good idea because people tend to focus on the line instead of the wider cone of probability and, if they don't live near the center line, they might fail to make preparations. (Duh. Paint a bullseye on a map and where do you think

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1097759802022748672004-10-14T06:10:00.000-04:002004-10-14T09:16:42.023-04:00

Allstate, who already refuses to write flood insurance in the state of Florida, might also pull out of hazard insurance, it seems. Since they're our carrier, we're anticipating sharp rate increases and possibly loss of coverage. I hope we can afford to stay in our home when it's all said and done. The sad thing? We didn't even sustain any damage yet we might be forced to sell because insurers

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1097701824688042702004-10-13T17:01:00.000-04:002004-10-13T17:10:24.686-04:00

Sharks are smarter than the average bear... SARASOTA, Fla. -- While Floridians were heading away from areas threatened by hurricanes, biologists say sharks in the area were acting the same way. At a two-day conference at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, biologists presented reports on the behavior of tagged sharks that they tracked as Hurricane Charley came ashore. They compared the results

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1097605856409067852004-10-12T06:25:00.000-04:002004-10-12T14:30:56.410-04:00

I know, you could've knocked me over with a feather, but it seems that insurance companies are more than happy to collect premiums, but aren't quite as excited about paying claims. Who'd have thunk it, huh? Read the story...

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1097499973316192182004-10-11T07:13:00.000-04:002004-10-11T11:24:32.660-04:00

TAMPA - A decade ago something happened in the complex relationship of Atlantic Ocean currents, air pressure, salinity, temperature and other conditions not completely understood that ushered a new era of hurricanes. Full Story

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1097499943418944042004-10-11T07:05:00.000-04:002004-10-11T11:23:51.756-04:00

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- State officials have decided to make a stand against citrus canker in Palm Beach County. Experts are worried the hurricane winds could have spread citrus canker northward into the state's citrus belt, which has already been raked by the storms themselves. Full Story...

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1097499565272334982004-10-11T06:59:00.000-04:002004-10-11T11:22:55.190-04:00

In news from Charlotte County, civil projects will have to wait for hurricane recovery... Full Story...

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441764.post-1097416688324432602004-10-10T09:56:00.000-04:002004-10-10T09:58:08.330-04:00

Not a threat to Florida, but could bring a lot of rain to the Northeast. Since they've been getting the tail end of the Florida hurricanes all season, they don't need more rain, either. Read more...

Lorettanoreply@blogger.com0