Ernesto

[Fuzzness 2]

still not worried for me. but this is yet another reason why i wouldnt live in florida.

you and nani prepared yet?

[LaL 418]

once it crosses land it is just a rain event. LOTS of it, and just a little wind.

As far as this thing crossing Cuba, if it does it will certainly weaken it, it would have to swing out to the gulf prety wide in order to really get steam up again.

its hard to imagine especially with the large cloud cover, but FL is a BIG state and just because it hits one location does not mean all get effects. For example, Charlie hit 2 hours south of here, hardly any affects here at all. we have 5pm showers worse than some of the residual rain bands we wind up seeing.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

For hurricane watchers, here is one of the best sites for tropical storm information - it is a conglomeration of information from various different official sites and is really good at keeping very up to date, including advisories issued in various locations along a storm's path. We get the remnants of some hurricanes here in Georgia as they pass overtop on their way to dissolution, although they are tropical storms by the time they reach us. Still, they pack a bunch of wind , a lot of rain - and unfortunately, often a lot of tornadoes. The cloud patterns of hurricane/tropical storm systems are very unique and fascinating to watch. Every time one passes overhead you can see the distinct banding and the speed of the rotations and forward motion. For all of those in Ernesto's path, may you remain safe and dry.

http://www.crownweather.com/tropical.html

[tnh9479 1]

Damm ET.....I can just imagine how you be feeling especially with baby due. I was only thinking about you & Nani when I checked out a hurricane site and seen this earlier today. Hopefully the projected path and strength changes somewhat for the better.

Does anyone know, if it keeps this path, how it would affect Melbourne (east coast). Do they die down over land when they come in on the west coast FL? This will be my first one too if it is going to affect Melbourne

if one crosses from east to west (or west to east), it can decrease in wind speed as it passes over florida and then gain it again once it is out in the gulf (or atlantic). current track puts it coming inland just north of tampa. as for it affecting the east coast, you betcha. it's not a local event, you'll have lots of rain but the winds won't be so bad as they will be near the spot it came ashore.

Well...I wouldn't go as far as what Charles said. We had Wilma here in Palm Beach County last year. It caused more damage in Palm Beach and Broward counties AFTER it had crossed the state from the Gulf side (yes...it came over the Everglades...kind of like being on water...or at least we have discovered that now). We have had direct hits from Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma in the past two years. Unfortunately, I am becoming a seasoned veteran. All I can say is watch the forecasts. If you are worried, evacuate to somewhere where you know you will be relatively safe. My parents live in Ft. Myers. During Charlie, they were going to come to my house on the East side of the state and looked at the forecast and stayed. Well...it turned and came in towards their area. They have said if they ever even THINK they want to evacuate again they will do it. They said it was the scariest experience of their life with their roof flexing, laying in their laundry room under a mattress.

I evacuated for Frances. I am glad I did. It stayed over the top of this area slowly spinning for two days. At least at my parents house I was comfortable and only had the trauma to deal with of coming home. And the days after a hurricane are trauma. All three times we were without power and phones from 3 days to a week. With Frances and Jeanne I was out of school (I am a HS teacher) for a week and with Wilma it was two weeks! Just make sure you have some battery powered device at home to hear the news, some water (whether bottled or just put in a canister by yourself) in case the water system gets polluted, a hand can opener, and lots of cold foods you can eat without heating. Having a small grill is the best (I bought one this year) so you can have hot food and cook the things that are thawing from your freezer while the power is out. In addition, make sure you have something to light your home with (flash lights, candles, etc). Also, having a car charger for your cell phone is the best as it may be your only source of communication with the outside world for DAYS.

Twila

[LaL 418]

grab the chef boyardee!!!! its the ONLY time i would ever consider buying such junk... but mmmm yummy

agree with Twila - Frances SUCKED! that thing flooded everything around here up to doorsteps of raised homes... those rain events can be just as bad (in different ways than wind events).

INSURE YOUR PROPERTY.

[snz1802 0]

I dont get too worried until it gets out into the gulf, that is when you have to start getting worried, because the water temps out there are pretty warm

[nayalamb 1]

I've been through quite a few storms... for us its just part of living in the islands. It sucks but when you live in the region you become resigned to the fact that you will see at least one fairly bad storm every few years.

Your best defense is to be well-prepared (first aid kit, water, canned food, matches, candles, can opener, radio, flashlights, batteries, wood or shutters for windows, trees trimmed back) and have a solid plan in the event you need to evacuate.

Reinhard, since your wife is only a few weeks from her due date, maybe she will feel more comfortable evacuating to a hotel in the event the storm heads towards Tampa? Hotels have backup generators and tons of supplies, and she may feel less anxious that way.

And please make sure that your home insurance covers hurricane AND flood. they are NOT the same things and many people find that out the hard way when adjustors come and decide not to pay out.

Frances did suck... she planted her fat a$$ over my town for a couple days and then Jeanne came and screwed up whatever frances missed.

Just be safe guys... hopefully Ernesto will get weakened over Cuba and fizzle out before he can cause any real damage anywhere.

[Fandango 1,440]

...and go figure, it was forecast to thunderstorm where I am all day & it was hot and sunny.

...calm before the storm maybe? sh!t I hope not!

Already my work is affected because ins cos will have stopped writing new policies...so no closings this week unless they already have it

[CanGal 1]

Well I hope it's path changes and that everyone stays safe!!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/~tk/glob_warm_hurr.html

The strongest hurricanes in the present climate may be upstaged by even more intense hurricanes over the next century as the earth's climate is warmed by increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Although we cannot say at present whether more or fewer hurricanes will occur in the future with global warming, the hurricanes that do occur near the end of the 21st century are expected to be stronger and have significantly more intense rainfall than under present day climate conditions. This expectation is based on an anticipated enhancement of energy available to the storms due to higher tropical sea surface temperatures.

Well, Ernesto is the first Hurricane of the year and it just got demoted back to tropical storm. Put that in your climate change pipe and smoke it.

[Fandango 1,440]

http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/~tk/glob_warm_hurr.html

The strongest hurricanes in the present climate may be upstaged by even more intense hurricanes over the next century as the earth's climate is warmed by increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Although we cannot say at present whether more or fewer hurricanes will occur in the future with global warming, the hurricanes that do occur near the end of the 21st century are expected to be stronger and have significantly more intense rainfall than under present day climate conditions. This expectation is based on an anticipated enhancement of energy available to the storms due to higher tropical sea surface temperatures.

Well, Ernesto is the first Hurricane of the year and it just got demoted back to tropical storm. Put that in your climate change pipe and smoke it.

bwahahahah

[MandR 0]

Damn........ here we go again.... I went out boating all day, got back, fliped on to the news and BAM,

South Florida is now in that Cone Of Death.

Hang on Floridians, it's gonna be a bumpy ride for us all this week.

[BelwinMills 0]

well it was forcasted last night to hit Jamaica and it did not so I will pray it makes changes and doesn't hit the US or Flordia.. or downgrades hurricane season in full effect.

[snz1802 0]

Damn........ here we go again.... I went out boating all day, got back, fliped on to the news and BAM,

South Florida is now in that Cone Of Death.

Hang on Floridians, it's gonna be a bumpy ride for us all this week.

Dont you just hate hurricane season , we are always in a constant state of stress, and watching the news....and getting supplies. This season I have to say has not been near as bad as last THANK GOD

[chri'stina 190]

...current track puts it coming inland just north of tampa...

yay, I live north of Tampa, near the coast.

Anyway, there's still a few days before it will hit anywhere in the US (if it hits the US). There's really no telling what will happen yet.

Charlie was supposed to hit directly on Tampa Bay, and suddenly shifted to the right, 2 hours or so south of Tampa, as Laura wrote about. You can never really tell where it'll hit, but you can always be prepared.

I'd still rather live in Florida than in any state where tornadoes are the norm. Those freak me out more than anything, you get practically no warning. When a hurricane comes, you get days of warning ahead of time.

I still think 2004 was the most stressful Florida hurricane season in awhile. I know Katrina was bad last year but I still think 2004 was worse.