Free Republic

MIAMI - Hurricane forecasters now say conditions are right for a low-pressure area off Mexico in the Gulf of Mexico to intensify, become better organized and possibly form into a tropical depression. That word from the National Hurricane Center in Miami at 11:30 a.m. Earlier today, the hurricane center just made a passing mention of the shower activity in the western gulf. As of late morning, the Miami forecasters say monitoring equipment on buoys in the gulf have picked up wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. "A tropical depression could develop during the next day or so if...

Statement as of 11:00 am EDT on July 18, 2006 ...Second tropical depression of the season forms off the North Carolina coast... ...Tropical storm watch issued for eastern North Carolina... at 11 am EDT...1500 UTC...a tropical storm watch has been issued for the eastern coast of North Carolina from north of Cape Lookout northward to south of Currituck Beach Light.

000 WONT41 KNHC 271133 DSAAT SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 730 AM EDT TUE JUN 27 2006 Satellite and radar information indicate that a small low pressure system could be forming about 140 miles south of cape fear North Carolina. This system has the potential to develop into a tropical depression at any time as it moves north to north-northeastward at 15 to 20 mph. an air force reserve reconnaissance aircraft will investigate the system later this morning to determine if a closed circulation exists at the surface. Residents along the North Carolina coast should...

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico... Satellite imagery and surface observations indicate that the broad area of low pressure centered about 200 miles east of the northwestern Bahamas has become better organized this morning. Upper-level winds have become somewhat more favorable for development...and a tropical or subtropical depression could form during the next day or so as the system moves slowly west-northwestward. An Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system on Saturday...if necessary. Elsewhere...tropical storm formation is not expected through Saturday.

000 WTNT31 KNHC 101246 TCPAT1 BULLETIN TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE SPECIAL ADVISORY NUMBER 1 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012006 800 AM CDT SAT JUN 10 2006 ...FIRST TROPICAL DEPRESSION OF THE 2006 SEASON FORMS IN THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA... TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR THE CUBAN PROVINCES OF PINAR DEL RIO AND ISLE OF YOUTH. INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 800 AM CDT...1300Z...THE BROAD CENTER OF TROPICAL...

SUMMARY NOAA’s 2006 Atlantic hurricane season outlook indicates an 80% chance of an above-normal hurricane season, a 15% chance of a near-normal season, and only a 5% chance of a below-normal season. This outlook is produced by scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC), National Hurricane Center (NHC), and Hurricane Research Division (HRD). See NOAA’s definitions of above-, near-, and below-normal seasons. The outlook calls for a very active 2006 season, with 13-16 named storms, 8-10 hurricanes, and 4-6 major hurricanes. The likely range of the ACE index is 135%-205% of the median. This...

Though this picture isn't from the Web site below, the first picture I found of this waterfall is from the Web site below. The second link is Amazing Planet's picture of Chamarel Falls. Amazing Planet has a lot of great nature photography, and I may borrow a couple more from there in the future. Amazing Planet Chamarel Falls, Mauritius In other news, the link below is to the USGS site for Augustine volcano (Alaska). They have a Webcam located on Augustine Island itself. Every now and then (it refreshes every 30 minutes), you can get a glimpse of the...

Tropical Storm Zeta weakened and began to break apart on Friday, bringing a final and overdue end to the costliest and busiest Atlantic hurricane season on record, U.S. forecasters said. By 4 p.m. EST, Zeta was a tropical depression around 900 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean, with maximum sustained winds near 30 mph (45 kph). But the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Zeta was rapidly losing its tropical characteristics. "I suppose it is only fitting that the record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season ends with a record-breaking storm," wrote hurricane center forecaster Stacy Stewart in the Miami-based...

ABSTRACT Information obtained through November 2005 indicates that the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season will be much more active than the average 1950-2000 season. We estimate that 2006 will have about 9 hurricanes (average is 5.9), 17 named storms (average is 9.6), 85 named storm days (average is 49.1), 45 hurricane days (average is 24.5), 5 intense (Category 3-4-5) hurricanes (average is 2.3) and 13 intense hurricane days (average is 5.0). The probability of U.S. major hurricane landfall is estimated to be about 55 percent above the long-period average. We expect Atlantic basin Net Tropical Cyclone (NTC) activity in 2006 to...

Atlantic SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL -- 800 PM EST SUN NOV 13 2005 SATELLITE IMAGERY... RADAR DATA... AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THE LARGE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA ABOUT 85 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF ST. LUCIA HAS BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED THIS EVENING. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY HAS INCREASED NEAR AND JUST TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER... AND ST. LUCIA REPORTED A SUSTAINED WIND OF 33 MPH DURING THE PAST HOUR. UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE ALSO GRADUALLY BECOMING A LITTLE MORE FAVORABLE. IF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP CLOSER TO THE...

TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWENTY-SIX (AL262005) ON 20051027 0000 UTC ...00 HRS... ...12 HRS... ...24 HRS... ...36 HRS... 051027 0000 051027 1200 051028 0000 051028 1200 LAT LON LAT LON LAT LON LAT LON BAMD 11.0N 81.6W 11.9N 82.7W 12.6N 83.7W 13.3N 85.0W BAMM 11.0N 81.6W 11.8N 82.6W 12.4N 83.6W 12.9N 84.6W A98E 11.0N 81.6W 11.4N 82.7W 11.8N 84.0W 12.4N 85.4W LBAR 11.0N 81.6W 12.1N 82.5W 13.5N 83.3W 15.5N 84.3W SHIP 30KTS 39KTS 48KTS 54KTS DSHP 30KTS 39KTS 48KTS 33KTS

Woods: "John, I really, really don't think you can drive the island green." Daly: "Just hand me my driver and take a step back, Tiger." (After perusing picture, please read the first comment.)

Category Three Major Hurricane Wilma is barreling toward the Southwest Florida coastline. The storm is packing wind speeds of 125mph, moving NW at 20mph, with an enormous eye 65 miles in diameter. Landfall is anticipated shortly in Collier County between 6:00 and 7:00AM ET. Storm surge flooding of 9 feet to 17 feet is possible along the coast near and to the south of where Wilma makes landfall. Storm surge of 5 to 8 feet is predicted for the Keys. The storm has spawned tornados throughout the Florida peninsula since yesterday evening. The following links are self-updating: Public Advisory Currently...

Hurricane Wilma slowly drifts toward the Southeast Gulf of Mexico after relentlessly pounding Cozumel and Cancun for more than 24 hours. Early reports indicate extensive wind and flood damage to Mexico's resort-studded Mayan Riviera. Mexican officials said about 20,000 tourists were at shelters and hotels on the mainland south of Cancun and an estimated 10,000-12,000 were in Cancun itself. About 50 hotels were evacuated. In preparation for Hurricane Wilma's anticipated Florida landfall, a Hurricane Watch and mandatory evacuation have been issued for the Florida Keys and Florida Bay. Mandatory evacuations for Marco Island and much of Naples are in effect,...

BULLETIN TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWENTY-FIVE ADVISORY NUMBER 1 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 11 AM EDT SAT OCT 22 2005 ...25TH DEPRESSION FORMS SOUTHEAST OF HISPANIOLA... AT 11 AM AST...1500Z...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF HISPANIOLA BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HAITI. AT 11 AM AST...THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHAMAS HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS...AND FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 11 AM EDT...1500Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION...

Extremely dangerous Hurricane Wilma continues to alter the record books for the 2005 hurricane season. At 882mb, the storm became the strongest ever in the Atlantic basin. Previously, the lowest pressure recorded in the western hemisphere was from Hurricane Gilbert at 888mb in 1988. Wilma's rapid intensification is the fastest on record, with a 95mb pressure drop resulting in increased strength from Tropical Storm to Category Five hurricane within 24 hours. The current forecast predicts a brush with the Yucatan Peninsula, at or near Category 5 status, followed by a turn toward the Southwest Florida Coast. Tourists in the Florida...

Hurricane Wilma has formed in the NW Caribbean Sea. The NHC forecast indicates she will emerge into the Gulf of Mexico as a major Category Three storm. Current forecase models indicate a Florida peninsula landfall. The following links are self-updating: Public Advisory Currently published every 3 hours 0500, 0800, 1100 etc. ET NHC Discussion Published every six hours 0500, 1100, 1700, 2300 ET Three Day Forecast TrackFive Day Forecast TrackWilma Forecast Track ArchiveForecast ModelsBuoy Data SE FloridaCurrent Weather Warnings and Watches for FloridaImages:Storm Floater IR Loop Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)Color Enhanced Atlantic LoopFlorida Radar/Sat Loop...

The 2005 hurricane season continues to alter the record books. Tropical Storm Wilma has formed in the Caribbean Sea. NHC Public AdvisoriesNHC DiscussionsStorm Floater IR Loop

Cayman Islands Braces for Tropical Storm October 16, 2005 12:51 PM EDT GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands - A tropical storm warning was in effect Sunday for the Cayman Islands and residents began preparing for the worst. The U.S. Gulf Coast could be affected later in the week, forecasters said. The system could become Tropical Storm Wilma, which would make it the 21st named storm of the season, tying the record for the most storms in an Atlantic season, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The only other time so many storms have formed since record-keeping began 154 years ago...

981 WHXX01 KWBC 091252 CHGHUR DISCLAIMER...NUMERICAL MODELS ARE SUBJECT TO LARGE ERRORS. PLEASE REFER TO TPC/NHC OFFICIAL FORECASTS FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER NORTH ATLANTIC OBJECTIVE AIDS FOR TROPICAL STORM VINCE (AL232005) ON 20051009 1200 UTC ...00 HRS... ...12 HRS... ...24 HRS... ...36 HRS... 051009 1200 051010 0000 051010 1200 051011 0000 LAT LON LAT LON LAT LON LAT LON BAMD 33.8N 19.3W 34.7N 17.6W 36.0N 14.5W 37.9N 10.2W BAMM 33.8N 19.3W 34.8N 17.7W 36.2N 14.8W 38.4N 11.1W A98E 33.8N 19.3W 34.0N 18.4W 34.4N 16.2W 35.8N 12.8W LBAR 33.8N 19.3W 34.9N 17.5W 36.5N 14.9W 38.0N 11.5W SHIP 45KTS 45KTS...