Did you see the live FOX coverage from Kingston at 4:30 EST ( same as Kingston time ) ?
They had a banner up: “DEAN SLAMS JAMAICA WITH 145MPH WINDS” and the news babe on the hotel balcony remarked that people were still driving around, “but they shouldn’t be”. Then a bunch of guys in yellow rain slickers hacked a limb off a small decorative tree in the plaza below the balcony, and sauntered off in a group. News babe sez: “They shouldn’t be out there. They really need to seek shelter.”
By the NOAA satellite, I think Dean was making close approach to Kingston right around then. I can’t believe that the Weather Channel didn’t have anyone there. They’ve got a guy at Montego Bay on the north side. Probably got in late and couldn’t get down there due to restrictions.
The eye’s still about half an hour south of Kingston at the moment, and about fifty miles offshore.
I did see that coverage and I wondered why she was not down near ground level. I was in disbelief watching folks walking around, although the winds didn’t appear to be that strong in the footage.
When it comes to science or geography Fox is a looser. I like it when they report things like ‘Hurricane with 145MPH winds hits Jamaca.” Kind of like NOLA. Sure the winds may be 145 MPH at the center but fall of quickly when you gain a little distance yourself from the eye wall. Charely came right through here but only a few miles away from the eyewall there was virutally no damage. I think Katrina MAX winds in NOLA were 80 MPH or so.