Southbound & Down

Ernesto stays south of the US headed to Mexico.  Florence is weakening and should dissipate in the next couple of days according to The Weather Channel.

Third storm of season forms

Tropical Storm Chris.  Off the coast of Newfoundland. No threat to land.

Here's a link to the story:

It's Hot Everywhere...including the Tropics

Image from Accuweather

Warnings Canceled in Tampa Bay

TS Fay makes landfall south of Naples headed N/NE. Warnings canceled in the Tampa Bay area and as predicted last night, today should be just a typical Summertime day with some rain, thundershowers, and a few gusts of wind. Schools and Government offices closed, nearly 100 arriving and departing flights out of Tampa International Airport canceled, but precautionary measures are necessary when a storm like this is approaching and can take one of many paths.

Meanwhile, there is another tropical wave out in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa near latitude 35 west that could get organized and we'll start watching.

Fay No Hurricane - West of Tampa, No Problem!

Our ABC television affiliate predicts perhaps NO rain or wind west of Tampa (that's where we are) meaning St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Pinellas County won't get the energy from Fay which will move east across the state and perhaps back into the Atlantic Ocean up near Jacksonville Could go regroup and then move west across the state or die out.

Pinellas County will wait until tomorrow morning's 5am advisory before lifting some of mandatory evacuations scheduled to go into effect at 6am. Hillsborough County (Tampa) to do something similar.

South of Tampa Bay will get the brunt of the storm down near Naples, so I'm going to bed and hope things don't change over night.

Today will tell a lot

We have most of our hurricane supplies set. Need some ice, fill up the car, get some cash and later today make final preparations including securing all outside items that could become airborne in a storm.

The track is pushing farther east but the storm looks like it may be pretty wide. The stronger side of the storm is on the east so that's a better track than brushing the west coast and having all that energy right on us. The center of the "cone" predicts landfall north of Fort Meyers and south of Port Charlotte, not too far from where 2004 storms hit, and then tracking north east of Tampa Bay.

Today is the first day of school for many. Tuesday will probably be a "hurricane day" - our version of a "snow day" for you Northerners....

Stay tuned.

Fay Tampa Bound?

Looks like we'll have something to deal with on Tuesday:

Tropical Storm Edouard forms in Gulf of Mexico

I don't think the name "Edouard" is in new baby circulation anymore. But if you must see who the famous Edouards are, look here .