Posts from — August 2012

Position: 29.1N 89.9W [11PM CDT 0400 UTC].
Movement: Northwest [310°] near 8 mph [13 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 80 mph [130 kph].
Wind Gusts: 95 mph [150 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 185 Miles [295 km].
Hurricane Wind Radius: 60 miles [ 95 km].
Minimum central pressure: 968 mb.

Currently about 65 miles [100 km] South of New Orleans.
Currently about 60 miles [ 95 km] Southeast of Houma, Louisiana.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Northern Gulf Coast from east of Morgan City, Louisiana to the Alabama-Mississippi border including New Orleans, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Pontchartrain.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from the Alabama-Mississippi border to Destin, Florida and from Morgan City, Louisiana to Sabine Pass.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Intracoastal City to Morgan City, Louisiana.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for High Island, Texas to Sabine Pass.

Update: in a special advisory issued at 11:20AM CDT Isaac has been upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. NHC says: “…RECONNAISSANCE DATA INDICATE ISAAC FINALLY ACHIEVES HURRICANE STATUS…”

High tide in New Orleans was at 6:38PM CDT with the arrival of the storm near the coastline, which amplifies the surge.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

According to Badtux the Whacko Nut Delusion and America’s most famous junkie have pronounced soon-to-be Hurricane Isaac a creation of Zero and his minions at the National Weather Service to disrupt the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

Like most ‘intelligence’ reporting by those of the elephantine persuasion, this is shallow and misses the real purpose of this Chicago-style political masterstroke.

[I will pause so you have time to acquire the metallic headgear that you prefer…]

Robert Reich, without realizing that this was planned by the Offal Committee in Chicago, realizes the real impact of the operation – to bring He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named [the Shrubbery] back into public awareness during the mega-photo op of the Tampa clown convention [with apologies to clowns, well, those clowns who don’t terrorize children].

Now this took some real planning to get the Republicans to hold their convention on the Gulf Coast over the anniversary of Katrina, and then have a storm that spooks the Repubs into some last minute changes, but not to cancel [Tampa is a Democratic town after all], and then send a hurricane into New Orleans on the anniversary of the Shrubbery’s biggest screw-up.

With all of the archival footage they have of Katrina, the media couldn’t possibly ignore anything as bright and shiny as this hurricane in the middle of the roll-out of Romneybot 3.0.

Now the Repubs will know why there has been a drought – because Zero has been collecting all of the rain to create this storm.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program …

[Sigh, I guess I should mention that this is not a serious post before I see it being featured on Faux News, etc.]

Position: 27.1N 87.0W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: Northwest [310°] near 10 mph [17 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph [110 kph].
Wind Gusts: 80 mph [130 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 205 Miles [335 km].
Minimum central pressure: 979 mb ↓.

Currently about 190 miles [ 305 km] Southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Northern Gulf Coast from east of Morgan City, Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border including New Orleans, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Pontchartrain.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to the Aucilla River on the Florida Panhandle and from Intracoastal City to Morgan City, Louisiana.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Intracoastal City to Morgan City, Louisiana.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Sabine Pass to Intracoastal City, Louisiana.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Same gas station price of a gallon of 87 octane: last Tuesday $3.489, last Friday $3.539, today $3.599. Last delivery of fuel to the station, last Tuesday. Your ‘free market’ in action.

Longitude along the northern Gulf Coast: Panama City – 85.7, me – 86.6, Pensacola – 87.2, Mobile – 88.0, Gulfport – 89.1, New Orleans – 90.0. Distance of one degree of longitude at Latitude 30.5 – 59 miles [96 kilometers]. This means that Mobile is about 118 miles from New Orleans because they are separated by 2 degrees of longitude.

I got my Mother’s generator fired up after getting gas, pumping up the tires, checking the oil. I have located all of the necessary 12-gauge extension cords that I use for the two 20 amp circuits, so if the power goes out, she has a small working air conditioner, her refrigerator won’t defrost, and she will have a reading light, etc.

All of the rechargeable stuff is charged, and there is an inverter for the car to take the load off the generator, if those devices that don’t have built in solar panels need recharging.

Water has been stockpiled, as has extra kibble for all cats feral and domestic. Food supplies have been verified.

Chainsaws have new chains, and there is an adequate supply of oil.

The Cherry Garcia has been purchased. I am ready.

Position: 24.2N 82.9W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [285°] near 14 mph [22 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 65 mph [100 kph].
Wind Gusts: 75 mph [120 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 205 Miles [335 km].
Minimum central pressure: 993 mb ↑.

Currently about 510 miles [ 820 km] Southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Northern Gulf Coast from east of Morgan City, Louisiana to Destin, Florida including New Orleans, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Pontchartrain.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Florida East Coast south of Jupiter Inlet, Lake Okeechobee, the Florida West Coast south of Tarpon Springs, the Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay, and from east of Destin, Florida to the Suwannee River on the Panhandle.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Northern Gulf Coast from east of Destin, Florida to Indian Pass, Florida.

From the 10AM NHC Discussion: “IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE IS
GREATER THAN USUAL UNCERTAINTY IN THE TRACK FORECAST.” [The NHC is still formatting for a Teletype system, and doesn’t use lower case.]

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

This one will be studied because it has so many quirks that it may help forecasters in the future make better judgements.

There is a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara Effect that occurs when two tropical cyclones move close to each other. They essentially begin to move in a counterclockwise motion around a central point between them. Something like that is happening with Isaac and a low pressure center around the Cayman Islands. It isn’t the full effect because the Cayman Island low doesn’t have the strength, but it is impacting on Isaac’s motion.

The other major problem are the steering factors for the storm. Currently it is being directed by a ridge, but that ridge ends in the Gulf. Some of the models think that the storm will be attracted by trough that is coming down and curve to the East, while others a second ridge building in and taking the storm to the West. Both are reasonable solutions to steering. The NHC is splitting the difference between the solutions. They can’t be sure which scenario is actually going to be in control, so we have to wait.

The current spread is from Apalachicola [the tip of the ‘elbow’ on the Panhandle] to New Orleans for landfall. If I had a vote it would be Apalachicola, because this is a big storm and New Orleans isn’t far enough away. The worse of the storm is the Northeast Quadrant, so I would just as soon not see it head West. The other problem with heading West is that the storm would have more time to intensify.

OTOH, the West track would dump water in the Mississippi Valley which needs all the help it can get with rain. It might reduce the effects of the current drought.

The BBC reports that the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, has died of complications following heart surgery earlier this month. They also provide a decent obituary.

For those of us who lived through the turmoil of 1968-1969, the Apollo 11 landing was the first bright spot following a long period of darkness, violence, and hate.

Neil Armstrong was not interested in the glory, only in the science and technology that made it possible. He was a good man, and will be missed.

Position: 22.1N 77.2W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: Northwest [305°] near 17 mph [28 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 60 mph [ 95 kph].
Wind Gusts: 75 mph [120 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 205 Miles [335 km].
Minimum central pressure: 997 mb.

Currently about 65 miles [ 105 km] Northeast of Camaguey, Cuba.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas, the Florida West Coast south of Bonita Beach to Ocean Reef, Florida Bay.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Haiti; the Cuban provinces of Ciego de Avila, Santi Spiritus, Villa Clara, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Granma, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo; the Bahamas; the Turks and Caicos Islands; the Florida East Coast south of Sebastion Inlet to Ocean Reef, Lake Okeechobee, and the Florida West Coast from north of Bonita Beach to Tarpon Springs including Tampa Bay.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Florida East Coast south of Golden Beach to Ocean Reef; Andros Island in the Bahamas.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Matanzas and Cienfuegos; the Florida East Coast north of Sebastian Inlet to Flager Beach; the Florida West Coast north of Tarpon Springs to Indian Pass on the Panhandle.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Since Isaac can’t make up it’s mind where to go, I’m running around and ensuring that I have all of the standard procedures for these storms covered.

Just remember that your last purchase should be at least a gallon of your favorite outrageously expensive ice cream. Since it is too expensive to waste, and the power could go out at any time, you obviously have to eat all of it as quickly as possible.

It has been a few years since we have had one in the area, so people have let things go, which has resulted in a lot of crowds out and about.

They haven’t raised the price of gas yet, but they will. Now that they have ethanol in it you can’t store it for extended periods or it will absorb water, especially with all the rain we’ve had. You can just add a preservative to regular gas and it is good for the entire season, but you have to use the new stuff within a month.

I’ll be by for the updates, but little else for the next few days.

Position: 17.7N 72.5W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: Northwest [310°] near 14 mph [22 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph [110 kph].
Wind Gusts: 85 mph [135 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 230 Miles [370 km].
Minimum central pressure: 990 mb ↓.

Currently about 65 miles [ 100 km] South-Southwest of Port au Prince, Haiti.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Dominican Republic; Haiti; the Cuban provinces of Ciego de Avila, Santi Spiritus, Villa Clara, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Granma, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo; the Bahamas; the Turks and Caicos Islands; and the Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas; the Florida East Coast south of Jupiter Inlet, the Florida West Coast south of Bonita Beach, Florida Bay, and Lake Okeechobee.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Haiti; the Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas; the Florida East Coast south of Ocean Reef, the Florida West Coast south of Bonita Beach, and Florida Bay.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Matanzas and Cienfuegos; Jamaica; the Florida East Coast north of Jupiter Inlet to Sebastian Inlet.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 17.8N 46.2W [10AM CDT 1500 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [300°] near 16 mph [26 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph [ 55 kph].
Wind Gusts: 45 mph [ 70 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 1009 mb ↑.

Currently about 1030 miles [1655 km] East of the Leeward Islands.

This is the final advisory on the storm from the NHC. Dry air and moderate wind shear have reduced it to a remnant low.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Ms Obnoxious

A victim …

[Editor: Lutu is earning her association with Lucrezia by preparing to attack Tip, the nicest cat outside.]

Friday Ark

Position: 16.7N 68.7W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [290°] near 18 mph [30 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph [ 75 kph].
Wind Gusts: 55 mph [ 90 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 185 Miles [295 km].
Minimum central pressure: 1001 mb ↓.

Currently about 145 miles [ 235 km] South-Southeast of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the southeastern Bahamas including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, the Ragged Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Las Tunas, Granma, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Haiti.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Ciego de Avila, Santi Spiritus, and Villa Clara; Andros Island and the central Bahamas including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 16.3N 43.7W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [300°] near 14 mph [22 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph [ 55 kph].
Wind Gusts: 45 mph [ 70 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 1008 mb ↑.

Currently about 1200 miles [1930 km] East of the Leeward Islands.

Tropical Depression Ten becomes a named Tropical Storm.

Joyce tracked too far North and is being disrupted by dry air.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]