2012 Advice for Residents of Hurricane-prone Areas

The National Hurricane Center officials are joining with a consumer advocate group to encourage residents to skip taping their windows when a hurricane is heading their way. 

Residents should use proven methods such as hurricane shutters or impact-resistant windows, said Bill Read, Director of the National Hurricane Center. "It does not protect your windows. At best, it's an inconvenience. At worst, some people have the illusion that they're safe ... and people can get severely hurt." 

Taping windows can create larger and deadlier shards of glass when winds blow through a home, said Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO of Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. "You're wasting your time, your money and you're potentially increasing the danger to your home." 

As reported by TBO.com in reference to an AP article dated March 27, 2012.

Future postings will include important postings and safety recommendations.

August 25th: Hurricane Irene's Latest Actions

As of  8:00 ET today, as Hurricane Irene marches toward the U.S. coast, Florida's eastern coast and some central parts most likely will experience only strong winds and heavy rains. The western coast likely won't feel any weather changes from it. 

According to all weather sources, Irene will not make landfall in Florida.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a tropical storm watch for much of South Carolina's coast.

The NHC has issued its first hurricane watch for the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  North Carolina's hurricane watch extends from north of Surf City to the Virginia border. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours.

Its currently location is about 670 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Its maximum sustained winds measured at 115 mph, its movement is northwest at 13 mph.

Irene was located about 65 miles east northeast of Nausau, Bahamas. The government of the Bahamas has lifted the hurricane warning for Southeastern Bahamas.  A warning remains in effect for Central and Northwestern Bahamas.

Update on Hurricane Irene

At 8am ET Wednesday, large Hurricane Irene was located in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean about 335 miles south-southwest of Nassau, which is also approximately 513 miles east-southeast of Miami, Florida.

Irene strengthened overnight and maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph, making Irene a major Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Atmospheric and oceanic conditions remain favorable for intensification.

Irene is still moving west-northwest near 9 mph, but a turn to the northwest is expected to occur today as the storm is steered between high pressure in the Atlantic and high pressure over the southern U.S. Computer models remain in agreement and continue to shift east.

Based on the official forecast from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Irene should move across the entire Bahamas Island chain today and Thursday. The center of Irene is then forecast to move north, passing east of the Florida Peninsula on Friday before moving very close to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic seaboard this weekend.  Even if the center of Irene stays well offshore, rain bands associated with the storm may affect coastal areas of eastern Florida Thursday night into Friday morning.

Tropical storm force winds extend as far as 205 miles from the center of Irene. The chances for tropical storm force winds along the eastern Florida Peninsula are decreasing and are now between 20% and 30% between Daytona Beach and Ocean Reef, with the remainder of the Florida Peninsula at 20% or less chance of receiving tropical storm force winds. Hurricane force wind probabilities are now 1% or less for all of Florida.

A Tropical Storm Watch is now in effect for marine interests in Florida coastal waters from Flagler Beach to Ocean Reef for the possibility of tropical storm force winds over the waters, mainly beyond 15 nautical miles offshore, on Thursday and early Friday as Irene passes roughly 200-250 miles east of Florida. Tropical storm force wind gusts are possible within 10 nautical miles. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the offshore waters (20-60nm) from Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet.

There are no watches in effect for land areas across Central or South Florida and no part of Florida is within the 3 day error cone.

In addition, ocean swells from Irene may begin to affect the Florida East Coast beginning tomorrow and continuing through Friday. These swells may produce high waves between 7 and 12 feet near shore and 20-25 feet over the offshore waters. Large battering waves could pose a threat to vulnerable piers and cause beach erosion along portions of the Florida coastline.

Further east, two tropical waves remain in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. The southern wave near the Cape Verde Islands is increasing in organization. The National Hurricane Center has a 50% chance of development through the next 48 hours. The northern wave is diminishing and has a 0% chance of development.

More information on Hurricane Irene can be found on the National Hurricane Center's website at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

Hurricane Irene updates and preparedness

The Weather Channel reports Hurricane Irene, the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, now has its sights set on the Bahamas and the U.S. East Coast.  Storm Team 8 Tampa Bay reports Hurricane Irene appears less of a threat to the Tampa Bay area as time passes. It could approach South Florida as a major storm Friday morning, then parallel the state's east coast through Saturday afternoon.  Each new forecast track puts the storm even farther to the east – from the Tampa Bay area.  Stay tuned to weather reports.

For our Tampa Bay area residents,  it's never to late to prepare for severe storms, as the forecast has been known to change in the past.

USA.gov has plenty of resources to assist you in both pre- and post- hurricane situations -- for you, your family, your business, and your pets. 

If you live near the path of a storm, Ready.gov recommends that you:

• Build an emergency supply kit,
• Make a family emergency plan, and
• Stay informed. Follow hurricane warnings and updates at Hurricanes.gov.

Find more information about how to prepare for a hurricane.

Don't let a disaster catch you by surprise -- Be prepared !

Tropical Storm Emily Forms

As of 8am Tuesday, Tropical Storm Emily, the 5th named storm of the 2011 Hurricane Season, was located 245 miles SE of Puerto Rico, which is also 1,265 miles southeast of Miami, Florida.

Although it is too early to tell if Emily will directly impact Florida, there is 20-30% chance that tropical storm winds may reach the East Central and Southeast Florida coastline by Sunday.  The rest of the Florida Peninsula has a 10-20% chance of tropical storm force winds while the Florida Big Bend has less than a 10% chance. 

Currently, there are no watches or warnings issued for the Florida coastline. The National Hurricane Center shows Emily moving across the northeastern Caribbean Sea today, impacting Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) later on Wednesday, then may curve northwest toward the Bahamas by Friday.

It could gradually strengthen. It only has a 12% chance of reaching hurricane strength before making landfall in Hispaniola Wednesday.  Some computer models show the system moving towards the west while others show becoming stronger and curving north through the Bahamas. Winds are currently near 40 mph and may gradually strengthen. Over the next 48 hours its interaction with land will likely weaken the system. In addition, dry air could surround it, limiting its strength.  There is a 20% chance of strengthening into a hurricane by Sunday.

Additional information on Tropical Storm Emily can be found at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

Tropical Storm Don not to impact Florida

Tropical Storm Don is not expected to impact Florida, but watches have been issued for central and southern Texas coastline.

This morning the National Hurricane Center reported it should move west across the Gulf of Mexico for the next 24-36 hours, then inland near Corpus Christi, Texas, late Friday night or early Saturday morning.   

The official forecast and all computer models keep it within tropical storm intensity until landfall. 

There is only a 14% chance for TS Don to reach hurricane strength in the next 36 hours.  

Additional information can be found at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

Possible Formation of Tropical Cyclone Could Bring Heavy Rains This Weekend

Thunderstorm and shower activity associated with a broad low pressure disturbance over the eastern Gulf of Mexico has slowly organized today. As a result, the National Hurricane Center has indicated a 40% chance of tropical cyclone formation within the next 48 hours.

Currents in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico will likely steer the system northward. Computer models are forecasting that the low will move slowly north over the day or two before moving inland over northern Florida.  While most models show this disturbance stays weak due to some dry air and moderate wind shear in the Gulf of Mexico, there is a chance that wind shear will weaken in the region over the next 24-48 hours which may provide a small window of opportunity for the disturbance to further organize before moving inland.

Regardless, tropical moisture from this system will help generate some much needed rainfall across the state through the weekend.

Always remember additional information on flooding can be found at:

• Florida Health's website (when wells are affected), and
• National Flood Insurance Program's website.