to become a hurricane as it nears the southwestern Florida coast
on Tuesday.
On/Off Hurricane List Mash Here-->
Posted on 08/15/2008 1:25:37 PM PDT by NautiNurse
The tropical system currently over Hispanola has been teasing weather watchers for days, as hurricane hunters were unable to locate a surface center of circulation. Meanwhile, the system has looked remarkably like a tropical depression for greater than 24 hours. Local Florida weather forecasters are urging Floridians to keep a close eye on this system.
Updates:
Satellite:
Visible Image Loop
Infrared Image Loop
Water Vapor Image Loop
RGB (Vis/IR combo) Image Loop
Funktop Image Loop
Caribbean Buoys
Western Atlantic Buoys
Florida Buoys
Radar
Puerto Rico
Guantanimo Bay Cuba
Key West
Bahamas
Miami
Florida Loop
| Category | Wind Speed | Barometric Pressure | Storm Surge | Damage Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression |
< 39 mph < 34 kts |
Minimal | ||
| Tropical Storm |
39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts |
Minimal | ||
| Hurricane 1 (Weak) |
74 - 95 mph 64 - 82 kts |
28.94" or more 980.02 mb or more |
4.0' - 5.0' 1.2 m - 1.5 m |
Minimal damage to vegetation |
| Hurricane 2 (Moderate) |
96 - 110 mph 83 - 95 kts |
28.50" - 28.93" 965.12 mb - 979.68 mb |
6.0' - 8.0' 1.8 m - 2.4 m |
Moderate damage to houses |
| Hurricane 3 (Strong) |
111 - 130 mph 96 - 112 kts |
27.91" - 28.49" 945.14 mb - 964.78 mb |
9.0' - 12.0' 2.7 m - 3.7 m |
Extensive damage to small buildings |
| Hurricane 4 (Very strong) |
131 - 155 mph 113 - 135 kts |
27.17" - 27.90" 920.08 mb - 944.80 mb |
13.0' - 18.0' 3.9 m - 5.5 m |
Extreme structural damage |
| Hurricane 5 (Devastating) |
Greater than 155 mph Greater than 135 kts |
Less than 27.17" Less than 920.08 mb |
Greater than 18.0' Greater than 5.5m |
Catastrophic building failures possible |
Tropical Storm Public Advisory
Statement as of 2:00 PM EDT on August 18, 2008
...Center of Fay approaching Key West...tropical storm conditions
spreading into the lower and middle Florida Keys...
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the southwestern coast of
Florida from Flamingo to Anna Maria Island. 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.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect along the Florida East Coast
from Cocoa Beach southward...and along the Florida West Coast east
of Flamingo...including Lake Okeechobee.
A Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch are in effect for the
Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to Key West...including the Dry
Tortugas and Florida Bay. A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for
the Florida Mainland east of Flamingo to Card Sound bridge...and
along the Florida West Coast north of Anna Maria Island to Tarpon
Springs.
A tropical storm watch is in effect along the Florida East Coast
north of Cocoa Beach to Fernandina Beach.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the northwestern Bahamas.
Interests elsewhere in the Florida Peninsula and the eastern Gulf of
Mexico should monitor the progress of Fay.
For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.
At 200 PM EDT...1800 UTC...the center of Tropical Storm Fay was
located near latitude 24.3 north...longitude 81.6 west or about
20 miles...30 km...southeast of Key West Florida.
Fay is moving toward the north-northwest near 14 mph...23 km/hr. A
turn toward the north with a slower forward speed is expected later
today and tonight...with a generally northward motion expected on
Tuesday. On the forecast track...the center of Fay should pass over
the lower Florida Keys during the next few hours...and be near the
southwest coast of the Florida Peninsula on Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph...95 km/hr...with higher
gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours...
and Fay is forecast to become a hurricane as it nears the
southwestern Florida coast on Tuesday.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles...185 km
from the center. The NOAA automated station at Sombrero Key Florida
recently reported 10-minute average winds of 52 mph...83 km/hr...
and a wind gust of 62 mph...100 km/hr...at an elevation of 159
feet. Key West recently reported a wind gust of 47 mph...76 km/hr.
The latest minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve
hurricane hunter aircraft is 1002 mb...29.62 inches.
Storm tides of 3 to 5 feet above normal are possible along the
southwestern coast of Florida near the center of Fay. Tides of 2
to 4 ft above normal are possible in the Florida Keys.
Fay is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8
inches over much of Cuba...with isolated maximum amounts of 12
inches. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and
mud slides. Heavy rains are expected to spread across South Florida
today. Storm total amounts of 4 to 8 inches...with maximum amounts
of 10 inches are possible for the Florida Keys and South Florida.
Rainfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are possible in the
northwestern Bahamas.
Isolated tornadoes are possible today over the Florida Keys and
the southern Florida Peninsula.
Repeating the 200 PM EDT position...24.3 N...81.6 W. Movement
toward...north-northwest near 14 mph. Maximum sustained winds...60
mph. Minimum central pressure...1002 mb.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at
500 PM EDT.
$$
Forecaster Beven/Brown
One of the radar loops is now showing an eye within the big eye...the bad side of that little eye is just south of Key West. Fortunately it appears to be filling with ‘dryer air’, but keep an eye on it. Oh, and that means the ‘center’ is now headed to the west of Key West! so another left turn prediction (my 2 cents).
On/Off Hurricane List Mash Here-->
Yeah but enough rum will cure that feeling.
That puts the Keys landfall on Boca Chica Key about 3:15-3:30.
Mmmmm, rum (and Coke).
Looks like the worst of the storms are already north of the Keys...huge blob of nasty red northeast of Key West.
}:-)4
Ah a graphic from one of my favorite movies!!!
Must pull that out and watch again!
might suggest the beach spot shown at the very bottom my FRprofile page...
IMHO even prettier than Anne’s beach.
What flavor wine?
I’d say that’s taking a direct hit.
I agree—those buoy graphs are very impressive. I Really miss them when the big storms take the buoys out.
East end of Bahia Honda at high tide with ~10mph wind.
That photo from my amateur camera ability.
Swam beside two (~5’ wide) sting rays that day.
Despite the murky water from the wind, the rays were still quite visible against the sandy bottom.
It is my absolutle MUST STOP beach every time I ride down there (~once/month)
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