Beyond Katrina

Hurricane Warning!

Please take the time to read this important document and respond to the NSB!

National Science Board invites public comment on an important draft report --Hurricane Warning: The Critical Need for a National Hurricane Research Initiative. The public is invited to provide e-mail comments to this draft at mailto:NSBHSE@nsf.gov until Sunday, October 29, 2006.

Background material for the report may be accessed here.

For an excellent overview of why this initiative is so urgently needed - and how it impacts all citizens of the US (not just those in the hurricane zones), please see Dr. Jeff Master's comments at his blog at Weather Underground here.

Late Season GOM Hurricane? not likely, but....

A tropical wave (93L) moving through the Lesser Antilles Islands has become better organized today and is favorable to slow development as it is moving over low wind shear in the eastern Carribean.  The track takes the system near the Dominican Republic and Hispaniola around Sunday. When the forecasts start mentioning Hispaniola, admittedly I get a little nervous as it hints of a possible Gulf of Mexico storm.  There is no reason to think this disturbance will intensify into a tropical depression but it certain bears watching.  Check out the preliminary model tracks for what is now Tropical Invest 93L, below:

Severe Weather in Louisiana

On the heels of Governor Blanco's weather related emergency proclamation, here is an article from  wafb.com:

Severe Thunderstorms Roar Into Town

Fish Storm Outlook

I am finding myself very uninterested in this year's Atlantic hurricane season - It's hard to muster it up to talk about fish storms, unless there is something unique about them...like they explode suddenly into cat 5's, or they set some record for lowest pressure. 

I guess I'm like a firefighter, first responder, police officer, beat journalist or anyone else whose vocation is centered around intensity - it's like none of us wish for fires, earthquakes, accidents, or dangerous hurricanes that will impact property and/or lives - yet at the same time  we are hardwired to be attracted to 'em in some way. Having said this, here is the latest and somewhat mundane Atlantic fish storm update...

Hurricane Gordon is heading toward its demise due to strong windshear and dry air. Looks like ole Gordie will remain a fish storm until it departs this earth -  no threat to land.

Helene is now a hurricane that could impact Bermuda or the Canadian Provinces. Its potential to impact the U.S. is very slim.

a strong tropical wave (ho hum) is just off the Cape Verde African coast and is heading northwest to sea. 

The most interesting thing happening in weatherville is Hurricane Lane, a strong and dangerous  category 3  hurricane (Pacific) which is responsible for one death and is heading toward Mexico.

Tropical Outlook for September 12, 2006

Florence is now a strong extratropical storm heading for Newfoundland - 68 -83 mph winds.

Gordon became a hurricane last night, but is expected to remain at sea. 

Tropical Depression # 8 is expected to develop into a major hurricane (Helene) that could threaten Bermuda or the east coast. 

Seems like all the action this year is in the Atlantic - that's fine with this Gulf Coaster, although I wouldn't wish for a hurricane to strike any landmass, anywhere. 

Florence Leaves Bermuda - Gordon On The Way!

Florence inflicted minimal damage to Bermuda this morning and is now headed toward Newfoundland. Right behind her, following the same track,  is TD #7 - which is expected to be upgraded to become Tropical Storm Gordon very soon. If that's not enough for Bermuda to worry about, there is also a new tropical wave developing off the coast of Africa. Computer models are currently forecasting this wave to  recurve out to sea, but perhaps not before it strikes Bermuda!

Bermuda at Nightfall

For a look at weather conditions in Bermuda at dusk this evening, see this link. Be sure and check out information and photographs at Storm Caribe, here.

Florence - Conditions in Bermuda

For a peek at current conditions in Bermuda as Flo' makes her way towards the island, check out this link and this one. Photos also, here and here. I found these at Stormcaribe.com - a great site for live reports from the hurricane strike zones.

Gulf of Mexico Earthquake - Latest Headlines

The Ledger, Florida: Earthquake Hits Gulf of Mexico, Rocks Florida - Rumbles also felt in Alabama, Georgia...A earthquake that registered 6.0 on the Ricter scale rumbled through the Gulf of Mexico, with its epicenter 250 miles west of Bradenton, at 10:56 a.m. Sunday, according to meteorologists at Bay News 9.

FloridaToday.Com: Some in Brevard Feel Gulf Quake - Some of the impact was felt inland, from Orlando to parts of north Melbourne where reports were given of pictures being knocked off the walls, said Tim Sedlock of the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Melbourne police report receiving calls from concerned residents.

Daily News, Galveston:  Strong earthquake rocks Eastern Gulf - "Gulf was a very strange place for such an event"

Bermuda Prepares for Hurricane Florence

Courtesy of the Bermuda Weather Service (BWS)

Florence was upgraded to a hurricane at 2:00 am EDT and is heading toward Bermuda.  The island is preparing for a potential Category 2. Florence looks impressive this morning on satellite imagery - See Bermuda radar here and here. Because Florence has been blowing tropical storm winds for many days over the open Atlantic, she is pushing huge swells that have the potential to impact the entire Atlantic coast from the Lesser Antilles to Canada. Elsewhere in the tropics another tropical wave is located several hundred miles southeast of Florence and there is a new African wave developing.