| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 09/20/2005 6:22:17 AM PDT by Admin Moderator, reason:
Locked - New Thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1487888/posts |
Posted on 09/18/2005 1:56:41 PM PDT by NautiNurse
Tropical Storm Rita has developed from TD 18 in the Atlantic Ocean. TS Rita is currently located north of Hispaniola, the eastern tip of Cuba, and ESE of Nassau, Bahamas. Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for portions of Florida. Check for local weather statements.
The following links are self-updating:
Public Advisory Currently published every 3 hours 5A, 8A, 11A, 2P, etc. ET
NHC Discussion Published every six hours 6A, 11A, 6P, 11P
Three Day Forecast Track
Five Day Forecast Track
Forecast Models
Buoy Data SE Florida
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Florida
Images:
Storm Floater IR Loop
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Florida Radar/Sat Loop Caution: Broadband users only!
Miami Long Range Radar Loop
Key West Long Range Radar Loop
Miami Experimental Radar Still Image
Key West Experimental Radar Still Image
Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)
WFOR-TV/DT Miami (WMP) - http://dayport.wm.llnwd.net/dayport_0025_live"
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (WMP) - mms://216.242.118.141/broadband
Other Resources:
Florida East Coast Surf Reports Lots of great info here, including surf cams
Central Florida Hurricane Center
Hurricane City
| Category | Wind Speed | Barometric Pressure | Storm Surge | Damage Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression |
< 39 mph < 34 kts |
Minimal | ||
| Tropical Storm |
39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts |
Minimal | ||
| Hurricane 1 (Weak) |
74 - 95 mph 64 - 82 kts |
28.94" or more 980.02 mb or more |
4.0' - 5.0' 1.2 m - 1.5 m |
Minimal damage to vegetation |
| Hurricane 2 (Moderate) |
96 - 110 mph 83 - 95 kts |
28.50" - 28.93" 965.12 mb - 979.68 mb |
6.0' - 8.0' 1.8 m - 2.4 m |
Moderate damage to houses |
| Hurricane 3 (Strong) |
111 - 130 mph 96 - 112 kts |
27.91" - 28.49" 945.14 mb - 964.78 mb |
9.0' - 12.0' 2.7 m - 3.7 m |
Extensive damage to small buildings |
| Hurricane 4 (Very strong) |
131 - 155 mph 113 - 135 kts |
27.17" - 27.90" 920.08 mb - 944.80 mb |
13.0' - 18.0' 3.9 m - 5.5 m |
Extreme structural damage |
| Hurricane 5 (Devastating) |
Greater than 155 mph Greater than 135 kts |
Less than 27.17" Less than 920.08 mb |
Greater than 18.0' Greater than 5.5m |
Catastrophic building failures possible |
I lived there about 27 years ago and I don't remember any storms hitting CC since then.
The "cone of uncertainty" (CONEHEAD NAGIN). hehehehe. He wants all evacuees brought back to New Orleans ASAP ahead of this threatening storm. (DUH..get the busses NOW!!)
The mayor really needs a smack down from the Admiral today at their meeting. No way should they put 180,000 people back in New Orleans this week, under these conditions.
We might also have a mess in LA, if the storm drifts further west, and people from Texas start evacuating east.
No1 NO no no no.
Hey if my toddler can say no 100000000 times in order to get out of experiencing something he dislikes, why won't it work for me?
sorry for all caps again... can you please also have an automatic link at the start of the thread to the local NWS offices?
TROPICAL STORM RITA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
818 AM EDT MON SEP 19 2005
...MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF THE LOWER FLORIDA
KEYS FROM THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO KEY WEST...
...MANDATORY EVACUATION IN EFFECT FOR VISITORS AND MOBILE HOME
RESIDENTS FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS...
...HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS...
...NEW INFORMATION SINCE LAST ISSUANCE...
STORM INFORMATION UPDATED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS UPDATED.
MARINE IMPACTS UPDATED.
...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT IS SPECIFIC TO THE FLORIDA KEYS OF MONROE COUNTY
INCLUDING THE DRY TORTUGAS.
...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS AND
ADJOINING WATERS...FROM OCEAN REEF TO THE DRY TORTUGAS...INCLUDING
FLORIDA BAY. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS...
WINDS OF 74 MPH OR GREATER AND STORM SURGE FLOODING...ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A FLOOD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF
THE FLORIDA KEYS FOR LATE TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. A FLOOD WATCH MEANS
THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR HEAVY RAINS AND POSSIBLE FLOODING.
FOR THOSE TRAVELING NORTH TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA MAINLAND...A TROPICAL
STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT FROM DEERFIELD
BEACH SOUTHWARD TO FLORIDA CITY AND CONTINUING WESTWARD TO EAST CAPE
SABLE.
...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 800 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 22.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 74.6 WEST...OR ABOUT 430 MILES
EAST-SOUTHEAST OF MARATHON...AND ABOUT 470 MILES EAST OF KEY WEST.
TROPICAL STORM RITA WAS MOVING WEST NEAR 9 MPH. A MOTION JUST A
LITTLE NORTH OF DUE WEST IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL
STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND TROPICAL
STORM RITA COULD BECOME A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE LATER TODAY. THE
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS 997 MB...OR 29.44 INCHES OF MERCURY.
...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A MANDATORY EVACUATION IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE LOWER FLORIDA
KEYS...FROM THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO KEY WEST. RESIDENTS OF THE
LOWER KEYS ARE EXPECTED TO EVACUATE TODAY.
A MANDATORY EVACUATION IS IN EFFECT FOR VISITORS...NON-RESIDENTS...
AND MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS.
THE FOLLOWING HURRICANE SHELTERS ARE SCHEDULED TO OPEN AT NOON TODAY
IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER FLORIDA KEYS AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY:
STANLEY SWITLIK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL...MILE MARKER 48.5 GULFSIDE IN
MARATHON.
CORAL SHORES HIGH SCHOOL...MILE MARKER 89 IN ISLAMORADA.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.
NO SHELTERS WILL BE OPEN IN THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS...SINCE THERE IS
NOW A MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ISLAND CHAIN MUST LEAVE.
THE MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER HAS BEEN FULLY
ACTIVATED...AS OF 700 AM.
FLORIDA KEYS RESIDENTS SHOULD INSTALL HURRICANE SHUTTERS NOW...AND
SECURE LOOSE OBJECTS WHICH MAY BECOME DANGEROUS PROJECTILES. EFFORTS
TO SECURE PROPERTY SHOULD BE COMPLETED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
CITY OFFICES...COUNTY PARKS...AND STATE PARKS ARE CLOSED. COUNTY
OFFICES WILL CLOSE AT NOON TODAY. MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE
CLOSED TODAY AND TUESDAY. AS OF THIS TIME...HOSPITALS WILL REMAIN
OPEN. TOLLS ON CARD SOUND ROAD ARE SUSPENDED. KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL
AND FLORIDA KEYS MARATHON AIRPORTS SHOULD BE OPERATIONAL THROUGH
THIS EVENING.
THE MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INFORMATION HOTLINE IS
AVAILABLE AT 1-800-955-5504.
...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
A STORM SURGE OF 6 TO 8 FEET IS POSSIBLE TUESDAY IN THE LOWER
KEYS...AND A STORM SURGE OF 3 TO 6 FEET IS POSSIBLE TUESDAY IN THE
MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS. WATER LEVELS WILL LIKELY BEGIN RISING TONIGHT
OR EARLY TUESDAY. THESE STORM SURGE ESTIMATES ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH
OBSERVATIONS FROM PREVIOUS STORMS OF SIMILAR STRENGTH ON A SIMILAR
TRACK. ASTRONOMICAL TIDES HAVE BEEN ABOUT 1 FOOT ABOVE NORMAL IN
RECENT DAYS DUE TO THE FULL MOON. THEREFORE...A STORM TIDE OF 7 TO 9
FEET IS POSSIBLE SHOULD STORM PASSAGE COINCIDE WITH THE TIME OF HIGH
TIDE. HIGH TIDES AT WHALE HARBOR CHANNEL ARE AT 1031 AM AND 1045 PM
TODAY...AND TUESDAY AT 1118 AM AND 1129 PM. HIGH TIDES AT KEY WEST
HARBOR ARE AT 1141 AM AND 1134 PM TODAY...AND AT 230 PM ON
TUESDAY...AND FINALLY 1208 AM EARLY WEDNESDAY.
REMEMBER...THE TOTAL STORM TIDE EQUALS THE STORM SURGE PLUS THE
ASTRONOMICAL TIDE.
...WIND IMPACTS...
NORTHEAST WINDS ACROSS THE FLORIDA KEYS CURRENTLY RANGE FROM 10 TO
20 MPH. OVER WATER...NORTHEAST WINDS RANGE FROM 15 TO 20 KNOTS.
NORTHEAST BREEZES ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY FRESHEN THROUGHOUT THE
DAY...WITH SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OF 39 TO 73 MPH
BEGINNING BY TUESDAY EARLY MORNING OVER WATERS ADJACENT TO THE UPPER
KEYS...AND BY TUESDAY MID MORNING OVER THE MIDDLE AND LOWER KEYS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS OF 74 MPH OR GREATER WILL BE POSSIBLE IN
PORTIONS OF THE FLORIDA KEYS BY TUESDAY LATE MORNING.
...MARINE IMPACTS...
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT. NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO
NEAR 20 KNOTS BY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SEAS BUILDING UP TO 7 FEET
BEYOND THE REEF...AND HIGHER IN THE GULF STREAM. BY TUESDAY...SEAS
WILL BUILD TO 15 TO 20 FEET BEYOND THE REEF...WITH SEAS OF 25 TO 30
FEET NEAR THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM RITA. IF YOU PLAN TO EVACUATE
YOUR BOAT AND REQUIRE THE BRIDGE TO OPEN ON JEWFISH CREEK OR SNAKE
CREEK...YOU SHOULD BEGIN YOUR TRIP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE BRIDGES
MAY BE LOCKED DOWN TO MARINE TRAFFIC LATER TODAY. IF YOU PLAN FOR
YOUR VESSEL TO REMAIN IN THE KEYS...YOU MAY WISH TO USE THIS TIME TO
ADD EXTRA LINES AND DEPLOY EXTRA GROUND TACKLE.
...RAINFALL IMPACTS...
A FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS FOR LATE
TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS FROM 5 TO 10 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.
...PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS...
THE MAXIMUM PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN THE FLORIDA
KEYS IS 79 PERCENT AT MARATHON AND 78 PERCENT AT KEY WEST. THE
PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS IS 24 PERCENT AT MARATHON AND
26 PERCENT AT KEY WEST.
...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT CONCERNING THE IMPACTS OF TROPICAL STORM
RITA ON THE FLORIDA KEYS WILL BE ISSUED AT 1130 AM EDT...OR SOONER
IF NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU
MAY VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST WEB SITE AT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEYWEST.
$$
Right...me either. I've only been here about 4 years and I guess the closest was Hurricane Claudette that came in around Port Lavaca in July '03.
I LIKE it that they've seemed to stay away. I want 'em to keep staying away. I LIKE it when it's un-hurricane-y here...:)>
Charlie
The news media was wrong (as usual) when they referred to the location of the 17th St. Canal break in NO as a "levee". That is clearly a flood wall.
. . . only reason I know this is I was involved years ago in some litigation over a flood wall in Monroe LA and had dealings with the Tensas Basin District Levee Board and Ouachita Parish - of course that's way upstate, but things still got pretty wet . . .
John Hope must have been a Verdi fan.
Look out South Florida...
HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
815 AM EDT MON SEP 19 2005
...RITA BECOMING BETTER ORGANIZED AND REMAINS A THREAT FOR MAINLAND SOUTH
FLORIDA...
...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR PERSONS IN MIAMI-DADE...
MAINLAND MONROE...BROWARD...COLLIER...PALM BEACH...HENDRY...AND
GLADES COUNTIES IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
...NEW INFORMATION...
UPDATED PREPAREDNESS RECOMMENDATIONS AND COUNTY INFORMATION
UPDATED STATUS OF EVERGLADES AND BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARKS
...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST FROM DEERFIELD BEACH SOUTH AND WEST TO CAPE SABLE ON THE
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA GULF COAST. AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT
FOR INLAND METROPOLITAN BROWARD...ALL OF MIAMI-DADE AND ALL OF MAINLAND MONROE
COUNTIES. A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS
INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY.A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE GULF
COAST FROM EAST CAPE SABLE NORTH TO CHOKOLOSKEE.
...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 8 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 22.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 74.6 WEST OR ABOUT 410 MILES EAST
SOUTHEAST OF MIAMI. RITA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AROUND 9 MILES AN HOUR.
A MOTION JUST A LITTLE NORTH OF DUE WEST IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL
STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED AND RITA COULD BECOME A HURRICANE DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS.
...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
RITA IS BECOMING STRONGER AND MOVING STEADILY ON A COURSE TOWARD THE
FLORIDA STRAITS AND THE SOUTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO. RESIDENTS OF MIAMI-DADE...
BROWARD...AND MAINLAND MONROE COUNTIES SHOULD BEGIN MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS...39 TO 73 MPH...IMMEDIATELY. EVEN IF THE CENTER OF
RITA PASSES SOUTH OF THE FLORIDA KEYS...TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED
TO AFFECT METRO MIAMI-DADE AND METRO BROWARD COUNTIES AS EARLY AS TUESDAY
MORNING AND LAST ALL DAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL CAUSE TREE DAMAGE
AND POWER OUTAGES SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS EXPECTED WITH KATRINA IN LATE AUGUST.
IN ADDITION...RITA IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN AS IT MOVES WESTWARD. IT COULD
BECOME NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT EMERGENCY HURRICANE PREPARATIONS SHOULD THE
FORECAST CHANGE AND A HURRICANE WARNING BE ISSUED FOR PART OF MAINLAND SOUTH
FLORIDA LATER TODAY. ALL RESIDENTS OF MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA SHOULD REMAIN
WEATHER ALERT AND KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION ON RITA. DO NOT FOCUS
SOLELY ON THE PATH OF THE CENTER BUT RATHER THE CONE OF POTENTIAL ERROR WHEN
MAKING PREPAREDNESS DECISIONS.
MIAMI-DADE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL ANNOUNCE EVACUATION RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND
11 AM TODAY. THE LIKELY RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE FOR MOBILE HOMES AND A
VOLUNTARY EVACUATION FOR EVACUATION ZONE A WHICH INCLUDES THE BARRIER ISLANDS
AND LOW LYING COASTAL NEIGHBORHOODS. SHELTERS WILL BE OPENED AND THESE WILL
ALSO BE ANNOUNCED LATER TODAY...HOWEVER PERSONS WHO EVACUATE ARE URGED TO STAY
WITH RELATIVES OR FRIENDS. MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN TODAY BUT A DECISION
FOR TUESDAY WILL BE MADE LATER TODAY.
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK MAIN ENTRANCE AND FLAMINGO FACILITY WILL CLOSE AT NOON
TODAY. SHARK VALLEY AND THE EVERGLADES CITY FACILITIES WILL CLOSE AT SUNSET.
BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK IS CLOSING THIS MORNING INCLUDING ELLIOTT KEY.
...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
HIGH TIDES ARE ALREADY ABOUT A HALF FOOT TO A FOOT ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE
SOUTHEAST ATLANTIC COAST DUE TO THE ONSHORE NORTHEAST WIND FLOW BUT ALSO DUE
TO SPRING TIDES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FULL MOON. THE STORM TIDE ASSOCIATED
WITH RITA DEPENDS HEAVILY ON THE EXACT TRACK OF THE CENTER OF THE STORM. WITH
THE PRESENT FORECAST TRACK AND INTENSITY...THE MAXIMUM STORM TIDE...WHICH
INCLUDES THE STORM SURGE AND THE HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDE...FOR THE SOUTHEAST
FLORIDA MAINLAND COAST WOULD BE 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. THIS CAN BE
EXPECTED TO OCCUR NORTH OF WHERE THE CENTER PASSES AROUND THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE
WHICH WOULD BE 10 TO 11 AM TUESDAY. ON THE CURRENT FORECAST TRACK THE HIGHEST
STORM TIDE OF 3 TO 5 FEET WILL LIKELY AFFECT SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF BISCAYNE BAY
AND ELLIOTT KEY. MAXIMUM STORM TIDES OF 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE REMAINDER OF BISCAYNE BAY INCLUDING COCONUT GROVE AND
POSSIBLY FROM KEY BISCAYNE TO MIAMI BEACH. STORM TIDE HEIGHTS UP TO 1 TO 3 FEET
ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL MIGHT OCCUR OVER THE REST OF COASTAL MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD
COUNTIES. ON TOP OF THIS STORM TIDE...LARGE WAVES CAUSING EXTENSIVE BEACH
EROSION ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. BARRIER ISLANDS LIKE ELLIOTT KEY AND OTHER ISLANDS
OF BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK CAN EXPECT LARGE AREAS TO BE INUNDATED LATE TUESDAY
MORNING. SOME COASTAL ACCESS ROADS CAN ALSO EXPECT FLOODING.
FOR THE GULF COAST OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...THE MAXIMUM STORM TIDE WOULD NOT
OCCUR UNTIL THE WIND BECOMES MORE ONSHORE BEGINNING LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND
LASTING INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. MAXIMUM STORM TIDE WOULD BE FROM 2 TO 3 FEET
ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL AROUND 2 TO 3 AM WEDNESDAY.
...WIND IMPACTS...
NORTHEAST WINDS WILL SLOWLY BE INCREASING ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST METRO ATLANTIC
COAST OF FLORIDA TODAY...REACHING 20 TO 25 MPH THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL
BECOME MORE EASTERLY AND FREQUENTLY GUST TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE...39 TO 73
MPH...PARTICULARLY OVER MIAMI-DADE...MAINLAND MONROE AND SOUTHERN BROWARD
COUNTY...AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR TUESDAY MORNING
THEN BEGIN TO DECREASE LATER TUESDAY. WINDS OF THIS VELOCITY ARE STRONG ENOUGH
TO BLOW DOWN TREES AND TREE LIMBS WHICH WILL LIKELY AFFECT POWER LINES CAUSING
POWER OUTAGES. PEOPLE SHOULD BEGIN TO PUT UP STORM SHUTTERS ONCE AGAIN
ESPECIALLY IN MIAMI-DADE AND MAINLAND MONROE COUNTIES.
...PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS...
THE MAXIMUM PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ALONG THE SOUTHEAST
FLORIDA COAST RANGES FROM AROUND 70 PERCENT IN HOMESTEAD...62 PERCENT IN MIAMI
...52 PERCENT IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND 42 PERCENT IN WEST PALM BEACH. THE
PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS IS AROUND 8 PERCENT ALL ALONG THE
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST.
ON THE GULF COAST OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...THE MAXIMUM PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WINDS IS AROUND 70 PERCENT IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK AND 63
PERCENT IN MARCO ISLAND AND NAPLES. THE PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS IS
AROUND 20 TO 25 PERCENT ALL ALONG THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST.
...LOCAL MARINE IMPACTS...
NORTHEAST WINDS ARE ALREADY 15 TO 20 KNOTS WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 25
KNOTS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS OF SOUTHEAST FLORIDA. WINDS WILL BE
SLOWLY INCREASING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS TODAY...FREQUENTLY
GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS BY THIS EVENING. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OF 34 TO 64
KNOTS WILL BEGIN AROUND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH MUCH OF
TUESDAY FINALLY DIMINISHING TUESDAY EVENING. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.
MARINERS SHOULD SECURE THEIR BOATS TODAY REMEMBERING TO ALLOW PLENTY OF EXTRA
LINE FOR THE EXPECTED HIGHER TIDES ESPECIALLY IN BISCAYNE BAY.
NORTHEAST WINDS OF 10 TO 15 KNOTS WILL BEGIN ACROSS THE GULF COASTAL WATERS
OF MAINLAND MONROE COUNTY THIS MORNING AND SLOWLY INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS
OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO WITHIN 20 NAUTICAL MILES OF THE SOUTHWEST GULF COAST
FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE WILL INCREASE TO TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH
TUESDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD NOT
VENTURE FAR FROM PORT THIS MORNING AND SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT BEGINNING THIS
AFTERNOON.
SURF ALONG THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA OCEAN BEACHES WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY ROUGH
TODAY BECOMING VERY ROUGH TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ARE
POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY AND PERSONS ARE URGED TO SWIM AT
GUARDED BEACHES OR REMAIN OUT OF THE WATER.
...LOCAL FLOOD IMPACTS...
A FLOOD OUTLOOK HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA DETAILING
THE POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY RAIN. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES WITH
LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE...MAINLY IN MIAMI-DADE AND
MAINLAND MONROE COUNTIES. THE HEAVY RAIN WILL BEGIN LATE TONIGHT AND
CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. RAINFALL IN AREAS FROM BROWARD TO
PALM BEACH COUNTIES AND ALSO IN COLLIER...HENDRY AND GLADES COUNTIES
SHOULD AVERAGE 1 TO 3 INCHES. A FLOOD WATCH WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED LATER TODAY
FOR PART OF MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA.
...LOCAL TORNADO IMPACTS...
THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SMALL QUICK STRIKING TORNADOES IN THE OUTER
RAINBANDS OF RITA. THE CHANCE OF TORNADOES WILL BEGIN LATE TONIGHT AND
LAST THROUGH TUESDAY WITH THE GREATEST CHANCE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 11 AM TODAY. FOR A GRAPHICAL
DEPICTION OF THIS STATEMENT PLEASE VISIT THE MIAMI WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE WEB
SITE AT WWW.MIAMIWEATHER.INFO OR EN ESPANOL AT WWW.ELTIEMPOENMIAMI.INFO.
Her-icane Rita (Cosby) coming - lumbering, large, and full of hot air - Bookmark.
Went to grocery store this a.m. in Islamorada (88 miles north and east of Key West). Saw Orlanda Salinas from Fox News. I told him if Jim Cantore was with him then we were all outta there, which he thought was very funny. He said Gulfport was a nightmare and asked me if Katrina changed my thinking about these storms. I told him that it was a real wake-up call.
We are preparing to go just in case, but not leaving yet. A cat 1 will be a huge nuisance but not catastrophic here. Loss of power for a day or two probably. Katrina did a good job clearing the dead brush a few weeks ago. If the 11 a.m advisory stays on the same track or worse, my 16 month old and I are probably going to visit relatives on the mainland. I trust my house to hold up, but sitting in the dark with no a/c is not at all appealing.
Y'all pray for us, please!
LBelle
We look like we are ready in Brownsville. Windows are boarded up. The funny thing is though, that they were put up in July for a close call and many haven't removed them. We took the boards off the front but not the back. It's not only to not have to do it again this season but has really cut down on our electric bill:')
Prayers for all sent.
"I live on the water on North Padre Island in Corpus. I've really got a bunch of stuff I need to get done this weekend, so if it's possible I'd like to re-schedule this.
Who do I talk to about that?"
If you find out let me know, we have a vacation planned at Corpus in 10 days.
Complete idiot doing the weather on Fox News. Apparently he doesn't understand what the 'cone of error' actually is, just telling everyone that although the center is right now projected to hit Corpus Christi, TX, "Hurricane force winds will extend all the way from New Orleans to deep into Mexico."
We could sure use the rainfall here in central Texas. Going to Port A. in three weeks or so. Starting to have selfish thoughts.
Was in Key Largo for a few hours yesterday, securing a boat. An NBC reporter(ette) came into an Ace Hardware where I was getting a fastener, wanting to know if last minute folks were buying out the store. The store was actually nearly empty, but the staff mocked her unmercifully. I understand the attitude, but felt a little sorry for the young lady.
the store was nearly empty of customers, that is.
One thing I might do if I were you is call your oncologist to get information about how they plan on handling things if y'all took a direct hit. It would be one less thing you'd have to think about doing just in case. Plus you'd have that info for any future hurricanes.
Winn Dixie in Tavernier Towne had lots of water and canned goods, but I must say, the bread aisle was pretty much wiped out. That might just be a normal occurance if they get deliveries on Mondays, or maybe everyone is resigned to several days of PB&J's. Salinas was calm, but said he was getting tired of chasing the hurricanes this year. I would think that it would get a bit old, and after what he saw in the Gulf Coast, very depressing.
LBelle
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
