Look Into The Eye of The Storm: 32 Hours Til Isabel Arrives

NHC | 9-17-03 | my favorite headache

[Orion78]

Yeah, that must be tough. I don't have any children so I don't wouldn't know how to begin to explain a hurricane to a 5 year old. When the power goes out here, I just pick up one of about 10 books I am in the middle of reading. I hope everything goes well for you and everyone in Isabels path. Stay Safe.

[Dec31,1999]

Our state of emergency was declared on Monday and school closed for the week at noon today.

Wow! I hope you all are OK! I know you are in the path somewhat, so we will be checking for you after the lights go back on. Do you have any back up power for a laptop?

BTW, are those portable car-battery chargers able to supply a laptop with energy enough to get on line?

I have 2 of the back-up batteries, but no laptop. :)

[ApesForEvolution]

The information you bring does not a pity-party facilitate! And it doesn't sell as much copy! Shame on you!!

[rwfromkansas]

Thanks! I can't remember if I told you this, but Rita Cosby called me a couple weeks ago (I gave her my e-mail and she told me to call her....she was gone so I gave them my number and she called me in the evening one time). She said my e-mail was one of the first that she has ever replied to because she thought it was very well-written. Wow. Anyway, she told me to apply for a FNC internship when I get to be a senior and to make sure to contact her before I do that (I assume to get pointers or make sure my app gets processed in a timely fashion or something). Awesome stuff.

[MEG33]

This is terrific.I'm proud of you!Now I'm intrigued.What was your Email!

[CobaltBlue]

Not only have the Fairfax county schools closed for tomorrow, but the federal government is closed tomorrow, too!

Big woohoos and high fives in Chez Blue.

[rwfromkansas]

I basically sent her an e-mail asking for her experience in the business, why she prefers tv over newspaper, hours, what it takes to claw one's way up to the top markets, and some good pointers on how to decide whether journalism is an intended path. And of course I complimented her. Ego-stroking is a good way to get a contact. lol

I was just floored that she actually told me to call her before applying for an internship. She really seemed to like me quite a bit (possibly she would want to tell the intern folks to take a hard look at me and to place me under her leadership if I am selected, as Rita has some interns). It felt good to have such a prominant journalist compliment me on my writing as well!

[MEG33]

I am proud of you for TRYING!If you hadn't dared you wouldn't have had this happen.

[CobaltBlue]

If my rental house is destroyed/unliveable, do I still have to pay the monthly mortgage.

Yes. Of course. It belongs to you, so the risk of loss is on you. This is why people have insurance.

[FrustratedCitizen]

Water Vapor Loop that covers the whole storm can be found at this site.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/satellite.shtml

Go to Storm Floater #1, and find the Water Vapor loop link in the list of choices (you can look at visible and infra-red imagery as well...visible best viewed only during the day obviously)...they also do Dvorak intensity scheme maps as wel...good for looking at the structure of the hurricane.

[FrustratedCitizen]

"Why does it go faster as it comes northward?"

The speed of movement of all weather systems is governed by the speed of windflow at high altitudes. The faster the air is moving 50,000 feet off the ground...the faster the storm will travel...In the tropics, stearing flow is generally weak...hurricanes cannot develop if there is a lot of strong winds directly over their heads...the thunderstorm tops get blown off and the circulation is thus unravelled.

Isabel is making its own stearing flow so the strong currents that are causing its increase in forward speed aren't killing it...but as they run into the outer perimeter of Isabel...those strong westerly winds are beginning to catch it and drag it along at a faster pace. All storms recurve eventually...the purpose of hurricanes is to take heat from the tropics and displace it north into the westerlies...it's a balancing mechanism. As this one turns north...it will increase in speed and get ripped apart by the westerlies.

I hope that helps explain it...

[honeygrl]

Thanks! That is exactly what I was looking for!

[bd476]

Hope you're getting some shuteye Hammerhead. I'm sorry you're going through some very difficult times yet I have a feeling that things will improve for you soon, ya know, "it's always darkest before the dawn", "yin and yang," etc.

Sending up good thoughts, prayers and wishes for you.

[xsmommy]

my kids are also excited at the prospect of sleeping in the basement tonight. we just had it finished this summer, so this is going to be something new and different, we haven't had much chance to spend time down there yet. Maryland must be the ones doing the toilet paper, bc i haven't ever seen people buying that in VA! i know you guys lost power a few weeks back, we didn't lose power and the kids didn't miss any school for that, over in Fairfax.

i just took the dog out and there are a few drops coming down. i just keep looking up at the tall tall trees around me and think, you guys better stay UPRIGHT!

[xsmommy]

thanks, we have a finished basement, with an interior bedroom down there, and that is where the kids and i will go at the first sign of serious action.

[xsmommy]

I have fully resigned myself to the fact that Friday morning at least one will be in my living room.

i am feeling very fatalistic myself right now about the trees. my hub just left for the airport.

[pgkdan]

bump for later question

[xsmommy]

is that better or worse for those of us in the DC area?

[pgkdan]

What's your best guess as to the track of this thing? I live in VA Beach and the local guyas are all still talking about a Morehead City landfall and then a NW track out over central VA and into WV and then North. From what I see she's coming in closer to Hatteras and may come right over Tidewater to the Chesapeake. What is your thinking?

[NittanyLion]

Sure thing. Incidentally, it appears you've been right all along. Isabel never could get her act together and strengthen - it looks as though she'll hit the coast with winds of 105MPH and pressure of approx 957mb at most.