Tropical Storm Charley About to Become Hurricane

National Hurricane Center ^ | 8/11/2004 | Forecaster Pasch

[Pyro7480]

BULLETIN
HURRICANE CHARLEY INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 9A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2 PM EDT WED AUG 11 2004

...CHARLEY BECOMES A HURRICANE...RAIN BANDS SPREADING OVER JAMAICA...

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM DRY TORTUGAS TO CRAIG KEY. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. ADDITIONAL WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA LATER TODAY.

REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE INDICATE THAT CHARLEY HAS STRENGTHENED...AND IS NOW A HURRICANE.

AT 2 PM EDT...1800Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE CHARLEY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.8 WEST OR ABOUT 90 MILES... 150 KM...SOUTH OF KINGSTON JAMAICA.

CHARLEY IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH...30 KM/HR...AND A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO. ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER WILL BE PASSING TO THE SOUTH OF THE SOUTH COAST OF JAMAICA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. HOWEVER...BANDS OF SQUALLS WITH TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE LIKELY TO AFFECT MUCH OF JAMAICA TODAY AND TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 75 MPH...120 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES...185 KM FROM THE CENTER.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY THE HURRICANE HUNTERS IS 993 MB...29.31 INCHES.

ABOVE NORMAL TIDES...ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...ARE LIKELY ALONG THE COASTS OF JAMAICA TODAY...AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS TONIGHT.

RAINFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE LIKELY IN ASSOCIATION WITH CHARLEY.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

[NautiNurse]

My neighbor just told me the mandatory evacuation here is so serious, they are turning off electric and water at 6:00am to further encourage everyone to leave.

[ErnBatavia]

I guess it was the Northridge quake that got me in the habit of keeping at least 3 of our 4 propane tanks full. We're all electric where we live now, so that'd be a necessity, and I'd hate to be low or out.

One other thing I learned the hard way, although it's probably not applicable except for quakes: Store your water AWAY from anything that might get damaged if the bottles burst!

[nmh]

When I spoke to my sister-in-laws husband, Don, we did have to laugh ... last time my husband was visiting them (a few weeks ago) they had to evacuate for a fire. There was a brush fire or something that was within 100 yards of their house. They live in a retirement settlement called Fiddlesticks. Luckily they were able to spend the night with a friend elsewhere.

Now on this trip it's as though he's bringing a hurricane! I was glad he was by himself with the fire evacuation since he keeps people calm. His sister is on and off oxygen and during the fire thing was very upset with having trouble breathing and not having all her medication.

Seriously though I pray that all are safe. As annoying as these things are life is precious. You can replace things but not people.

[aberaussie]

In 1995, Hurricane Erin shut down the Magic Kingdom. It was the ONLY time it ever happened.

Actually, when Floyd was approaching several years ago everything in the Orlando area closed, including the Disney parks. Then Floyd turned and there we all were, home from work with our houses all boarded up.

[Gabz]

I just got home and caught the Fox weather on all of this - yikes.

The list of evacs is getting longer and longer. I've got family and friends in both Sarasota and Manatee counties.

God be with you all in Florida.

[oyez]

Key West is about to get flushed.

I could say it needs it but I digress. Huricanes arn't to be joked about.

[Gabz]

Huricanes aren't to be joked about.

I disagree........

Other than rain over the weekend these 2 aren't going to impact me - but I can attest to how much the humor of FReepers helped me out last year with the approaching of Isabel. It wasn't until after all potential of danger passed that I realized just how afraid I had been - but I also realized that the humor and banter of my FRiends here kept the fright away.

[wku man]

Amen...I just moved from Pinellas County a month ago, and my mother is still there. I just talked with her, she's ready to ride it out. Fortunately, she lives in Dunedin, which isn't in an evac or flood zone. I'd sure appreciate it if my fellow FReepers remembered my mother and the rest of the folks in Pinellas in their prayers tonight and tomorrow. Thanks, FRiends.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Gabz]

Of course I will keep your mom in my prayers and everyone else anywhere near the paths of either of these storms.

My Aunt and Grandmother live in Sarasota and very dear friends live in/near Bradenton. My family is far enough inland to probably not be included in any evac - but the development was always prone to flooding from rain. My friends are another story.....they live very near the water.

[wku man]

My prayers will go out for your friends and family, in addition to mine. I was just watching the Weather Channel, and they showed a shot of the Howard Frankenstein bridge, clogged bumper to bumper. My heart almost dropped!

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[wardaddy]

I have not been there since 90 or so.

[yield 2 the right]

I live in NE Fla(Jacksonville) that twister(http://www.news4jax.com/weather/3648478/detail.html) from what was left of Tropical Storm "Bonnie" not Hurricane "Charley" got me at least thinking of what Hurricane "Charley" has in mind for Florida. GOD BLESS FLORIDA!

[Gabz]

Yikes.........

FNC is saying it's supposed to hit somewhere between Fort Miles/Sanibel/Captiva, Sarasota, and Tampa between 6 & 8pm tomorrow

[I still care]

A,B,C in Pinellas - mandatory evacuation
A,B,C in Hillsborough (Tampa)
A,B in Pasco
A,B, in Manatee
A,B in Hernando
West of 19 om Citrus
A,B,C in Sarasota.

I am the only one of my friends left - they are all in evac areas. I am trying to find some plywood for my front window- it's the one area I'm concerned about. It's an old house with a HUGE aluminum window.

Power going off in Pinellas, also water. The mayor explained it was to save equipment.

[Gabz]

Power going off in Pinellas, also water. The mayor explained it was to save equipment.

Not only equipment, but lives.

Personally I think it is a good move. Granted I'm not there and so not effected, but would be perfectly understanding if it were done where I live under the same conditions.

[NautiNurse]

All the windows are boarded. All the neighbors are evacuating. I am the only one in the neighborhood who boarded the windows! My boat is tied to the neighbor's dock, and vice versa. If one loses a boat or dock, we both do.

I am exhausted, and I still don't know whether I will pay heed to the mandatory evac.

Still have some plants to bring in. Just need to take a break...

[nunya bidness]

I am so screwed. Remember when we went through Isabel last year? My boat got banged up so I took it to my place in Ft. Myers for safekeeping.

That boat is a fricken' hurricane magnet. And I'm stuck in MD.

[Gabz]

OMG - I don't know what to say to you....other than that sux.

Well, another idea of a comment could be - get another boat??? (running as I am ducking)

[Guenevere]

east central Florida bump

[nunya bidness]

Pray for a strong southern or easterly wind, but not a combination of the two.