Hurricane Frances
So, I'm in the path of Hurricane Frances. Currently, my area is under a Hurricane Warning.
Here's the warning as of 11 pm
000
WTNT31 KNHC 030552
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
HURRICANE FRANCES INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 37A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2 AM EDT FRI SEP 03 2004
...FRANCES WEAKENS SLIGHTLY MORE ...STILL A DANGEROUS CATEGORY THREE
HURRICANE MOVING THROUGH THE BAHAMAS...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA
FROM FLORIDA CITY NORTHWARD TO FLAGLER BEACH...INCLUDING LAKE
OKEECHOBEE. A HURRICANE WARNING ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE
CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE
MIDDLE AND UPPER FLORIDA KEYS FROM SOUTH OF FLORIDA CITY SOUTHWARD
TO THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY.
A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.
AT 2 AM EDT...0600Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE FRANCES WAS LOCATED BY
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT AND RADAR NEAR LATITUDE 24.7 NORTH...
LONGITUDE 75.7 WEST OR NEAR THE NORTHERN END OF CAT ISLAND. THIS
IS ALSO ABOUT 310 MILES...495 KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE FLORIDA
LOWER EAST COAST.
FRANCES IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...14 KM/HR
...AND A WEST-NORTHWEST TO NORTHWESTWARD MOTION WITH SOME DECREASE
IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS
TRACK...THE CORE OF HURRICANE FRANCES WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NEAR OR
OVER THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS THIS MORNING...AND OVER THE NORTHWESTERN
BAHAMAS LATER TODAY.
REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NOW NEAR 120 MPH...195 KM/HR...WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. FRANCES IS STILL A STRONG CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE
ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN
INTENSITY ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 80 MILES...130 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 185 MILES...295 KM.
THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY THE HURRICANE HUNTER
IS 954 MB...28.17 INCHES.
STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 6 TO 14 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...
ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED
NEAR THE EYE OF FRANCES ON THE WEST SIDE OF ELEUTHERA ISLAND...AND
ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF
4 TO 6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS CAN BE EXPECTED ON THE WEST
SIDE OF THE OTHER ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS. COASTAL STORM SURGE
FLOODING OF 6 TO 11 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH
LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO
THE NORTH OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL IN FLORIDA.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 7 TO 12 INCHES...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 20 INCHES...
ARE POSSIBLE IN ASSOCIATION WITH FRANCES.
SWELLS GENERATED BY FRANCES WILL BE AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE
SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. THESE SWELLS COULD CAUSE
DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENTS.
REPEATING THE 2 AM EDT POSITION...24.7 N... 75.7 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...120 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 954 MB.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
HURRICANE CENTER AT 5 AM EDT.
FORECASTER BEVEN
$$
I live in West Palm Beach, so let's now take a look at where I am and where the hurricane is.
3 Day Forecast Track
I live due south/southeast of Lake Okeechobee, which is the big lake in the middle of the state.
Basically, within the next 24 hours, I will be experiencing tropical storm force winds. Within 48 hours, I will be experiencing Category 4-5 Hurricane Force winds. (145-155+)
My family and I have boarded up the windows and sliding glass doors, brought in everything from outside and we have all the supplies and food we need for 4-5 days. The one thing I waited too long to get was gas. There is absolutely NO gas in the S. Fl. area. NONE.
Today, I bought a disposable digital camera, so I can bring the viewers of my blog (all three of you people) some amazing pictures. (The camera was $12.99 so you fuckers better look at the pictures.)
Work has been crazy the last few days. On Wednesday, I was awoken to the creaking of my bedroom door and my brother saying "Kevin, you're going to be pissed" while holding my cell phone. It was my boss saying "YOU NEED TO BE HERE NOW" I got ready in a record ten minutes, not bothering to shower and shave. I walked into a frenzy of people buying water, batteries, and canned goods. I believe our beer case ran out just as fast as the water.
Something even crazier happened a few hours later while I was on my lunch break.
At 2 o'clock I was outside enjoying a cigarette on the bench. A co-worker of mine, Dave, came outside as well to enjoy his cigar. He sat next to a stereo which was on the bench next to me. I thought this was cool because I had somebody to talk to on my lunch break. Hah! (You'll see)
A few minutes later, the aforementioned stereo's owner sauntered out of the store with his shirt open and his beer belly hanging out. He muttered some racial slur to Dave (Dave is black and VERY large) Dave doesn't like this kind of talk. As the stereo owner started walking away, Dave followed him while simultaneously calling his people to come down the store and show this guy what's up. I stayed where I was because I was really enjoying my cigarette and Diet Pepsi. When they got to the corner I saw Dave sprint towards the guy. At this juncture, I started running towards them at a considerable speed (with my half enjoyed cigarette in hand) When I arrived at the corner, I saw Dave put his dukes up. He was ready to rumble and I was ready to get in on the action (After I finished my cig) The stereo owner proceeded to pull out a knife and pointed at me and Dave. It was about six inches from my face so I backed up and said the obligatory "Whoaaaaaaa" Dave then said "Put that knife away before you get hurt" The guy was clearly intimidated so he hopped on his friends bike and dipped leaving the guy to run away from Dave. Scary, but awesome
When I got off of work that night, I was walking out the door and saw an unruly redneck weilding a two by four at a hispanic family. This didn't shock me because of my experience with the aforementioned event. The guy eventually ran off to secure his mobile home while drinking the cheapest beer possible.
Today, I worked 3pm-1:30am. I have to be back at work at 6 am tomorrow morning, which is actually in about 3 and a half hours.
And now, I'm going to watch Loaded Weapon and laugh my ass off.
Here's the warning as of 11 pm
000
WTNT31 KNHC 030552
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
HURRICANE FRANCES INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 37A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2 AM EDT FRI SEP 03 2004
...FRANCES WEAKENS SLIGHTLY MORE ...STILL A DANGEROUS CATEGORY THREE
HURRICANE MOVING THROUGH THE BAHAMAS...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA
FROM FLORIDA CITY NORTHWARD TO FLAGLER BEACH...INCLUDING LAKE
OKEECHOBEE. A HURRICANE WARNING ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE
CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE
MIDDLE AND UPPER FLORIDA KEYS FROM SOUTH OF FLORIDA CITY SOUTHWARD
TO THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY.
A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.
AT 2 AM EDT...0600Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE FRANCES WAS LOCATED BY
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT AND RADAR NEAR LATITUDE 24.7 NORTH...
LONGITUDE 75.7 WEST OR NEAR THE NORTHERN END OF CAT ISLAND. THIS
IS ALSO ABOUT 310 MILES...495 KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE FLORIDA
LOWER EAST COAST.
FRANCES IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...14 KM/HR
...AND A WEST-NORTHWEST TO NORTHWESTWARD MOTION WITH SOME DECREASE
IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS
TRACK...THE CORE OF HURRICANE FRANCES WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NEAR OR
OVER THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS THIS MORNING...AND OVER THE NORTHWESTERN
BAHAMAS LATER TODAY.
REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NOW NEAR 120 MPH...195 KM/HR...WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. FRANCES IS STILL A STRONG CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE
ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN
INTENSITY ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 80 MILES...130 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 185 MILES...295 KM.
THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY THE HURRICANE HUNTER
IS 954 MB...28.17 INCHES.
STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 6 TO 14 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...
ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED
NEAR THE EYE OF FRANCES ON THE WEST SIDE OF ELEUTHERA ISLAND...AND
ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF
4 TO 6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS CAN BE EXPECTED ON THE WEST
SIDE OF THE OTHER ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS. COASTAL STORM SURGE
FLOODING OF 6 TO 11 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH
LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO
THE NORTH OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL IN FLORIDA.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 7 TO 12 INCHES...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 20 INCHES...
ARE POSSIBLE IN ASSOCIATION WITH FRANCES.
SWELLS GENERATED BY FRANCES WILL BE AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE
SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. THESE SWELLS COULD CAUSE
DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENTS.
REPEATING THE 2 AM EDT POSITION...24.7 N... 75.7 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...120 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 954 MB.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
HURRICANE CENTER AT 5 AM EDT.
FORECASTER BEVEN
$$
I live in West Palm Beach, so let's now take a look at where I am and where the hurricane is.
3 Day Forecast Track
I live due south/southeast of Lake Okeechobee, which is the big lake in the middle of the state.
Basically, within the next 24 hours, I will be experiencing tropical storm force winds. Within 48 hours, I will be experiencing Category 4-5 Hurricane Force winds. (145-155+)
My family and I have boarded up the windows and sliding glass doors, brought in everything from outside and we have all the supplies and food we need for 4-5 days. The one thing I waited too long to get was gas. There is absolutely NO gas in the S. Fl. area. NONE.
Today, I bought a disposable digital camera, so I can bring the viewers of my blog (all three of you people) some amazing pictures. (The camera was $12.99 so you fuckers better look at the pictures.)
Work has been crazy the last few days. On Wednesday, I was awoken to the creaking of my bedroom door and my brother saying "Kevin, you're going to be pissed" while holding my cell phone. It was my boss saying "YOU NEED TO BE HERE NOW" I got ready in a record ten minutes, not bothering to shower and shave. I walked into a frenzy of people buying water, batteries, and canned goods. I believe our beer case ran out just as fast as the water.
Something even crazier happened a few hours later while I was on my lunch break.
At 2 o'clock I was outside enjoying a cigarette on the bench. A co-worker of mine, Dave, came outside as well to enjoy his cigar. He sat next to a stereo which was on the bench next to me. I thought this was cool because I had somebody to talk to on my lunch break. Hah! (You'll see)
A few minutes later, the aforementioned stereo's owner sauntered out of the store with his shirt open and his beer belly hanging out. He muttered some racial slur to Dave (Dave is black and VERY large) Dave doesn't like this kind of talk. As the stereo owner started walking away, Dave followed him while simultaneously calling his people to come down the store and show this guy what's up. I stayed where I was because I was really enjoying my cigarette and Diet Pepsi. When they got to the corner I saw Dave sprint towards the guy. At this juncture, I started running towards them at a considerable speed (with my half enjoyed cigarette in hand) When I arrived at the corner, I saw Dave put his dukes up. He was ready to rumble and I was ready to get in on the action (After I finished my cig) The stereo owner proceeded to pull out a knife and pointed at me and Dave. It was about six inches from my face so I backed up and said the obligatory "Whoaaaaaaa" Dave then said "Put that knife away before you get hurt" The guy was clearly intimidated so he hopped on his friends bike and dipped leaving the guy to run away from Dave. Scary, but awesome
When I got off of work that night, I was walking out the door and saw an unruly redneck weilding a two by four at a hispanic family. This didn't shock me because of my experience with the aforementioned event. The guy eventually ran off to secure his mobile home while drinking the cheapest beer possible.
Today, I worked 3pm-1:30am. I have to be back at work at 6 am tomorrow morning, which is actually in about 3 and a half hours.
And now, I'm going to watch Loaded Weapon and laugh my ass off.