Hurricane Dennis Update

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 Florida panhandle and the short stretch of Alabama coastline, both of which got slammed last year by Ivan.

As Dennis passed over Cuba, it weakened from a category four to a category one hurricane. Now that it has emerged into the Gulf of Mexico, it is beginning to restrengthen and is now a category two. It's expected to continue gaining strength over the warm Gulf, which is a hurricane-feeding 90 degrees right now.

We had some intense squalls last night as the outer band of Dennis passed over us and a repeat performance this morning when another band passed through. We're on the dangerous side of the storm, so depending on how far east Dennis tracks, we could see some tornadic activity and perhaps even some microbursts. We're hoping Dennis continues its westerly motion as it makes its way north, which will keep it a few hundred miles offshore. We'll still see high water and Anna Maria Island will likely see some flooding. Inland areas still suffering from heavy rainfall and rivers above flood stage will be the hardest hit.

We're in for more squalls and bad weather overall, to be sure. The lightning has been very intense, but the winds haven't been too bad yet. The radar picture at right (courtesy baynews9.com) shows the intense activity as the bands pass over the Florida peninsula.

The only bonus here is that the storm might help clear out the red tide that has been plaguing us since February. Or, according to the Bradenton Herald, the storm could provide it with just enough fresh water to create additional nutrients. Read more from the Herald...

Red tide is a toxic algae bloom that the press and state officials downplay because they don't want to scare off the tourists. As if a beach reeking of dead fish wouldn't drive people away. Besides killing fish and marine mammals, red tide causes respiratory problems in land mammals, like humans. Neither the short nor the long term effects of exposure to red tide are understood, but the mainstream media will tell you that red tide is not dangerous. Of course you can still go swimming and fishing. Just don't swallow the water or eat any shellfish. And if you start to cough and sneeze and feel like you're choking to death, you should probably leave the beach. Um...duh.

Our own Mote Marine is trying to understand how red tide affects humans, but the data is incomplete and so far inconclusive. Okay, this isn't News from Red Tide Land, so I'll stop there.

More later as Dennis continues churning up the Gulf coast.