Posted on 06/10/2005 3:22:23 AM PDT by bd476
An unidentified resident in the town of
Batabano reinforces the roof of his house...
MIAMI - A tropical storm watch was issued Friday for central Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, where residents are still recovering from last year's hurricanes. Arlene, the Atlantic hurricane season's first named tropical storm, was centered about 10 miles south-southeast of the western tip of Cuba at 5 a.m. EDT. It was moving north about 8 mph, and could cross near or over western Cuba as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico early Friday, forecasters said.
Wind and rain extended 140 miles to the north and east from the storm's center.
Arlene had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm could drop as much as 5 to 10 inches of rain, and possibly cause flooding in western Cuba and tornados in southwest Florida and the Florida Keys, meteorologists said.
"This is going to be a major rainfall event before and ahead of the storm," said Trisha Wallace, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The Cuban government issued a tropical storm warning for the western province of Pinar Del Rio to the capital of Havana. A tropical storm warning was also in effect for the Dry Tortugas, a cluster of islands about 70 miles west of Key West that comprise a U.S. national park. Other than park personnel, there are no permanent residents.
The storm was not expected to develop into a hurricane before making landfall, Wallace said.
Hurricane season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Last season, Florida was struck by hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne; between them, the four storms damaged one out of every five homes in the state. The storms caused about 130 deaths in the United States and are blamed for $22 billion in insured damage.
Maybe the next one will come straight up your tailpipe.
You're right about the tide surge. I am surprised to learn so many homes are still under tarp? Shortage o construction workers or slow paying insurance comapnies?
My daughter lives on Grand Cayman. Her new roof leaks! Shoddy worksmanship. She had to rebuild or walk away with only 65% of her lost amount.
I hope the boys at Gitmo make sure all Qurans are locked up safely so that they don't get ruined.
No rain right now. Very sunny outside!
I know y'all will think I'm nuts, but the best time I ever had in Florida was when the hurricanes hit. I wish more people would build more hurricane resistant houses, but the attitudes and repsonses of southerners when the poop hits their fans is so much more positive and pro-active. Maybe I'm just prejudiced. Give me a hurricane over mudslides, earthquakes or wildfires any day.
Hey, hon! We're neighbors!!!!
Just at the store in Milton, FL for supplies. Lots of people, but everyone going about the business of stocking up, all pleasant,friendly and concerned about each other. Everyone is calm and efficient. Everyone is up-beat and happy to have some warning.
I used to live off Nine Mile. You couldn't know how much I miss living in P'cola, no matter what the weather.
I've got family down there. Batten down, and be careful. Prayers and good luck to all of you.
I loved P'cola. Neighbors and strangers helping each other, people there just couldn't wait to help a Yankee (I am not a Yankee, dammit) through her first 'cane, LOL. It hurts to think of more damage after last year.
Mom's in Venice, says she hopes it'll clear out the red tide. Hubby's dad is in Panama City--he yawns through these things.
Time to break out the rum and generators, LOL.
I've lived thru countless earthquakes, but never had damage. I'm afraid of hurricanes.
A slight NNW jog and slowing appears to have begun...
Tropical Storm Arlene Advisory Number 10
Statement as of 5:00 PM EDT on June 10, 2005
...Large Arlene drenching portions of Florida on its way to the
northern Gulf Coast...
At 5 PM...2100 UTC...the Tropical Storm Warning has been extended
eastward along the northern Gulf Coast from St Marks Florida to
Steinhatchee river Florida...and the Hurricane Watch has been
extended eastward to Indian Pass Florida.
A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for the northern coast of
the Gulf of Mexico from Grand Isle Louisiana to Steinhatchee river
Florida...including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. A
Hurricane Watch is now in effect from the mouth of the Pearl River
to Indian Pass Florida. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane
conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 36
hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the Dry Tortugas.
At 5 PM...the tropical storm watch from west of Grand Isle
Louisiana to Morgan City Louisiana has been discontinued.
Interests elsewhere in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and adjacent land
areas should closely monitor the progress of this system.
For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.
At 5 PM EDT...2100z...the poorly-defined center of Tropical Storm
Arlene was located near latitude 25.7 north... longitude 85.2 west
or about 335 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River
and about 345 miles south-southeast of Pensacola Florida.
The forward speed has increased...and Arlene is now moving just west
of due north near 17 mph. A gradual turn toward the north-northwest
is expected during the next 24 hours. On this track...the center of
Arlene will be approaching the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico
on Saturday. Arlene is a large tropical storm...and most of the
associated rain and winds will arrive much earlier than the center.
Data from an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft indicate that maximum
sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph...with higher
gusts...and these winds are occurring mainly to the north and east
of the center. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24
hours...and it is possible that Arlene could reach hurricane
strength before landfall.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles... mainly
to the north and east of the center.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 997 mb...29.44 inches.
Heavy rainfall associated with Arlene is expected to continue across
central and western Cuba and most of Florida. Additional rainfall
amounts of 3 to 5 inches is possible across these regions...with
isolated maximum amounts of up to 7 inches. Heavy rain associated
with Arlene will continue to spread northward through the
southeast...southern Appalachians...Tennessee Valley and Ohio
Valley this evening into this weekend. Storm total precipitation of
4 to 8 inches is expected along and to the east of the track of
Arlene...with isolated amounts up to 12 inches along the central to
eastern Gulf Coast states.
Coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide
levels...along with large and dangerous battering waves...can be
expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall.
Water levels are currently about one-half foot above normal tide
levels along the northern Gulf Coast.
Isolated tornadoes could occur over portions of southern and
west-central Florida and the Florida Keys tonight.
Repeating the 5 PM EDT position...25.7 N... 85.2 W. Movement
toward...north near 17 mph. Maximum sustained winds... 65 mph.
Minimum central pressure... 997 mb.
An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane
Center at 8 PM EDT followed by the next complete advisory at 11 PM
EDT.
Forecaster Knabb/Avila
No kidding??? I've been through a bunch of hurricanes. Just the idea of an earthquake terrifies me!!
Not kidding. Earthquakes have never frightened me. I have never been in a biggin. Just countless others.
It will be a hurricane (only technically) by tommorow morning.
Way cool!!!!
Where in VA are you and where from the People's' Republic of MD did you transplant yourself? We transplanted ourselves here from the People's Republic of Delaware...............we actually asked for political asylum :)
Check your Freepmail!
Why haven't we figured out yet how to build a storm proof beach house?
Sorry to hear about your damage, and sure hope you don't get it too bad this time. Don't you think though, that down there, we're a lot more calm and prepared than they make it look on media?
When we came to VA, we got hit with two big hurricanes immediately after we left FL. I felt badly for folks up here--they weren't ready for it at all. My first one in Florida, I stayed outside watching as long as I possibly could. Hate the damage--love the storm.
Gotta know--Joe Patti's is still there, isn't it? Please tell me it is. And did they decide whether to put together the Floribama again?
Check your FReepmail!!!!!!!!!! LOL!
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