CHARLEY BECOMES A (CATEGORY 4 Now!!) HURRICANE (18 ft. storm surge)

NHC ^ | 08-13-2004 | Forecaster Lawrence

[nwctwx]

That is one nasty eyewall...

[jpsb]

I have lived on the coast most of my life, seen lots of little huricanes (never been in a big one). Everything changed after Andrew, now every storm is hyped to the max and it's real strenght is not reported. This one might in fact be a cat 4, but I have seen nothing to indecate this storm is even a huricane. Highest winds reporter, from strong side of storm 20 miles from eye center was 72 mph. I hope this storm is weaker then reported cause a real cat 4 is a killer.

[oceanview]

right.

it looks like Orlando will actually get hit harder then Tampa, at least with regards to wind.

[Howlin]

No, I have Weather Underground open

Do you have a link to that?

[cwiz24]

I wonder if they will let people rebuild after this.....

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No offense to anyone who lives down there, but of course they will. And guess who'll be paying for it? Ever read John Stossel's book?

[grannie9]

I saw one small storm surge come up the canal.. and it was amazing.. It does come fast even way up in the canals.

[I still care]

Shep sounds like he knows the area well - talking about the sea turtles and shelling.

[Unknown Freeper]

Pyro, could you give a link? Thanks much.

[Miss Marple]

I have been following this thread off and on, since I have no TV today. I hope the damage is not as severe as it looks like it will be...this is my favorite area of Florida.

And I really hope everyone stays safe!

[eyespysomething]

but I have seen nothing to indecate this storm is even a huricane

That's silly. Um, did they falsify the radar to make an eyewall appear?

[gopwinsin04]

Isn't 90mph on the coast considered a Cat 1 at least so far?

[Howlin]

Fox says strikes Sanibel near Port Charlotte.

[samantha]

Water temp was report on CBS affiliate in Tampa as 90 degrees. That is hot,very hot.

[Pyro7480]

http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/goeseastconus.html

Adjust the setting at the top, and click on the area you want to zoom in on.

[Pyro7480]

See 915.

[rwfromkansas]

oh dear...

heading right toward Punta Gorda.....now turning northeast toward them.

[MineralMan]

You must be living in a box somewhere. I'm watching the local news coverage in Fort Myers. It's clearly a hurricane. Maybe this isn't the thread for you.

[dirtboy]

Eye just passed south of Boca Grande, and is entering Charlotte Harbor. Surge is just heading straight into Charlotte Harbor now, all the Canal Villages are going to get swamped.

Yeah, it looks like the eye hit Caya Costa but the northern eyewall hit Boca Grande. There is a peninsula on jutting into the south side of Charlotte Harbor, the eye should clip that next.

Ft. Meyers isn't out of the woods yet - they will be getting some storm surge wrapping around the storm now.

[I still care]

This is Tampa. Hot is our middle name. The heat index was 105 yesterday, and it's not a dry heat.