74 replies to this topic

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Probability of tropical storm force winds (39mph +) in my area is about 70-80% if the storm stays on its current projected course.



Probability of 58mpg + winds in my area are 40-50%.



Probability of hurricane force winds in my area (74mph +) is 30-40%.

[securitybreach]

That doesn't look good...  

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Nah... we get 30-40mph winds here in Tampa just during summer thunderstorms. Now, if it gets up to the 50s+, that could be a bit rough. Either way, I'll have a bunch of tree branches and debris to clean up on Tuesday. No worries of flooding or anything like that where I am, though.

[securitybreach]

Oh I know, I was in Daytona Beach for 13 years and have been in New Orleans for a few years. 50 mph winds is not really a big deal.

[securitybreach]

I was in Daytona back in 2004 when 4 hurricanes hit one after another. Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne were fun...

[raymac46]

I hope Eric is going to be OK...it looks like Tampa is now in greater peril than previously thought.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Yessiree, Bob. Ol' Irma has sights set right smack on my rear end here in Tampa. Of course, that could always change, hopefully. The storm will be at its worse in my area around midnight on Sunday to 4AM on Monday. It always happens in the middle of the night. It's so cliche.

Well, I've done all I can to prepare and fortify. All I can do now is wait it out and hope this very well-built house that my dad built with his own two hands 65 years ago can withstand whatever Irma throws at us. Below are two pics of the heavy gauge metal panels that I put up over my front (northern exposure) windows today.





So, if you don't hear from me for a while, don't worry. I'm probably just without electricity. They say it could be days/weeks without power here if this storm beats the fuzz out of us. NO AC. That gonna suck. Well, I have all the necessities... cat food and cigarettes. We'll be OK!

Weeeeeeeeeee! What fun. NOT.

[raymac46]

I have friends I grew up with who now live in the Tampa area and they went over to the East Coast today, I don't know how much difference that will make.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

The east coast is still going to get some rain and moderate winds, but it'll be better than being up close and friendly with Irma. The problem is that Florida is a very narrow (relatively speaking) piece of real estate. That storm can change track on a whim. Donna came on the exact same track in 1960, but as she was cruising up the southern Gulf coast (west side), she made a sudden right turn and cut across the state beating the snot of of the Atlantic (east side) from Daytona Beach all the way up to Jacksonville. You just never know with this storms. The science of prediction is a lot gooder these days, but not foolproof by a long shot.

[ebrke]

We'll all be thinking about you, Eric.

[abarbarian]

Not a bad looking gaff you have there Eric. Hope it still looks as good in a few days time. All the best mate

[frapper]

[securitybreach]

Nice one

[Corrine]

ebrke, on 09 September 2017 - 11:16 PM, said:

We'll all be thinking about you, Eric.

Absolutely!

[abarbarian]

Just read this in the TorontoSun,

Quote

The Tampa Bay area has not taken a direct hit from a major hurricane since 1921, when its population was about 10,000, National Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen said. Now around 3 million people live there.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Yup. We've had a lot of close ones, but no direct hits in nearly 100 years.

[Pete!]

Might be prudent to drag that chair inside, or tie it to something securely....

[securitybreach]

Meteorologist Vs Irma In Key West, Florida

[V.T. Eric Layton]

A little bit of good news...

The updated track has the storm center going north a little ways to the east of me. That's a good thing because the strongest winds, rain, and tornadoes are in the upper right hand quadrant of these storms. It could mean the difference between 75mph gusts and 90-110mph gusts. So, that's a good thing. Every little bit helps. If the track continues to stay to the east of me, I'll be on the weak side during the entire event. Weak is, of course, a relative term in this kind of monster, but it is better to be on the weak side.

You can keep track of this storm with the image below. Just remember to refresh the page to get the updated view.



Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I'm still hangin' on...

[V.T. Eric Layton]

OK... shutting down for a while. I don't want the system up if the power goes. I'll check in again when I can... probably not till tomorrow sometime.

'Night all!

[ebrke]

Latest I read says storm should be at cat 1 in Tampa area. Nothing about hurricane is good, but cat 1 certainly beats cat 5! Be safe, Eric.

[securitybreach]

Hurricane Irma sucks away Tampa Bay water

[securitybreach]

Eric is without power but he is doing well. He called me last night while I was asleep and left this message:

Quote

Josh this is Eric in Tampa Listen. I just wanted to let you know that it's gone past as our way over to the east so we got beat up a little bit, but everything's hunky dory here my house budget down trees little tree branches and leaves and all kind of s*** all over the place, but doing fine. I just don't have any electricity so it's all hot and stuffy in the D*** house. I'm going to shut my cell phone off when I hang up with you. So don't bother to call back cuz I'm trying to save the battery cuz I have no idea how long we're going to be without power, but anyway all's cool. Man later. Bye know. I'm I'm still standing the kitties are all alright, so be good now. I'll see you online soon as I get some electricity later.

[raymac46]

Glad to hear he and the cats are OK. That is the main thing.

[securitybreach]

raymac46, on 11 September 2017 - 07:01 AM, said:

Glad to hear he and the cats are OK. That is the main thing.

Me too