All quiet on the Western (Coast of Florida) Front

More moisture is building in the Gulf and we've finally had some substantial rain over past 10 days. Lawn is happy.

Meanwhile the state's insurance of last resort that many of us a counting on is increasing it's war chest: Florida's Citizens Secures $1.75 Billion for its High Risk Account

Katrina: We now know what we don't know

Interesting Wired Magazine article. Watch for release of the report this week.

Gift for me?

Now that Hurricane Season has officially begun, if you're thinking about purchasing a random gift for me, consider my Hurricane Registry (I'd even find a re-gifting of these items acceptable):


Cooking

Sterno
Portable camp stove or grill
Stove fuel or charcoal, lighter fluid
Aluminum foil
Oven mitts

Non-Perishable Foods*

Canned meats, fruits, vegetables
Bread in moisture-proof packaging
Cookies, candy, dried fruit
Canned soups & milk
Powdered or single serve drinks
Cereal bars
Condiments
Peanut butter & jelly
Instant coffee & tea

Equipment & Other Items

Manual can opener*
Disposable plates, cups & eating utensils
Napkins & paper towels
Flashlight* (one per person)
Portable battery powered lanterns
Glass enclosed candles (only for use after the storm)
Battery powered radio or TV
Battery operated alarm clock
Extra batteries, including hearing aids
Ice chest & ice
First aid kit, including aspirin, antibiotic cream & antacids
Mosquito repellent
Sun screen (SPF 45 recommended)
Waterproof matches/butane lighter
Money*
Bleach or water purification tablets
Maps of the area with landmarks

Babies

Disposable diapers & moist towelettes*
Formula, food & medication*

Documents

Photo copies of prescriptions*
Photo identification*
Proof of residence (utility bills)*
Medical history*
Waterproof container for document storage
Back up discs of your home computer files
Camera & film

Other Necessities

Tools: hammer, wrenches, screw drivers, nails, saw
Trash bags (lots of them)
Cleaning supplies
Plastic drop cloth
Mosquito netting
ABC rated fire extinguisher
Duct tape or strong masking tape for emergency repairs (not to tape windows)
Outdoor extension cords
Spray paint
Rope

Personal Supplies

Prescriptions* (1 month supply)
Toilet paper
Soap, shampoo & detergent
Toiletries & feminine hygiene products*
Changes of clothing*
Extra glasses or contacts
Bedding: pillows, sleeping bag*
Rain ponchos & work gloves
Entertainment: books, magazines, card games, etc.*

Pets

Dry & canned food
Water (half gallon per day)
Litter box supplies

Water
One gallon of water per person per day (half for drinking, half for bathing) Store water in clean, plastic containers such as soft drink bottles or milk jugs.

Have TWO WEEKS supply of each item for each person in your home.

Do the 1000+ Tornadoes this spring forecast an active Hurricane Season?

With Hurricane season starting up this Saturday, its time to blow the dust off this blog and wind up the keystrokes for another season of "As the Wind Blows"

I sit here tonight watching the local weather on our Fox affiliate , they were saying there have been more than 1100 tornadoes so far this year ("unofficially") and that there may be a tie between an active Tornado season and an active Hurricane season.

Just what you want to hear before bed.

Apparently that old girl, La Nina, creates an active jet stream that can create both types of storms.

The prediction for this season is more active than normal but comparable to last year's with 6 to 9 named storms. Check back from time to time for updates from Florida.

Rest in Peace, Dick Fletcher

Posts from the blogosphere

Last Night's Storm - Worst of the Year

Hurricane Season officially ended over 2 weeks ago, however last night's tail end of the winter storm that crossed through the midwest and is now heading up the east coast, apparently spawned a tornado is a small portion of one of our northern suburbs in Pasco County. The tornado and the associated non-tornado winds created the most damage we've seen all year and has left up to 20,000 homes without power.

Unlike the ice storms, the power crews are working under sunny skies this morning and should have power restored today and of course, its more of TV, computer and refrigerator inconvenience than a life-threatening warmth related concern.

The rest of the Tampa Bay area was just happy to get some well needed rain (October 22nd was our last significant rain)and the cool weather that will come in today following last night's front related storm.

I didn't blog about last week's sub-tropical storm Olga that caused some damage & deaths in the Carribean, but her remnants put some moisture in the air over Tampa which brought some rain Friday night and may have helped us get some extra rain in last night's storm.

"Tricky" Noel will pass roughly 50-100 miles east of Miami tomorrow morning

Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for South Florida. Those of you who know me know why I'm now keeping in an eye on Miami.

From Accuweather, the storm could intensify and push north northeast or could get sheared into much less of a threat. Halloween will be a windy affair for the ghosts & goblins down there.

What happens next?

From the Miami Herald: "''It's very complex, very tricky,'' said Robert Molleda, the National Weather Service's warning coordinator for South Florida."

The First Noel....

....is a tropical storm that formed Sunday morning and is predicted to strengthen into Hurricane Noel as it soaks Cuba this week. Although it's supposed to make a right turn into the Atlantic later this week, with the current northwest path, we need to begin to pay attention here in Florida.

Noel, typically a given name for a French man or a reference to Christmas, reminds me that it still 'tis the season....

Not over yet...

Season officially ends in about a month, however, the AccuWeather.com hurricane center continue to closely monitor a large cluster of thunderstorms and associated surface low over the eastern Caribbean that will bring heavy rain to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Cuba and Jamaica tonight, tomorrow, and into the coming week. If the system does develop it looks like it will track northwestward. Interests in South Florida and the Keys should closely monitor the progress of this system.

Karen is born

Karen is out there in the Atlantic. Accuweather doesn't think she'll end up posing a threat to the US between the weather patterns & wind sheer. Meanwhile we're getting to the time of year that the Gulf of Mexico gets active and there's a bunch of noise going on in there (more towards Mexico) worthy of a watchful eye. We received several inches of rain Sunday from all the moisture activity in the area, but nothing of any tropical nature. Just a good lawn enhancing/outdoor activity ruining soaking.