TD #18 (Rita)

[LoveLifeAtSea]

[color=royalblue]vicocala ... Yes, I fared very well. I live in Lafayette and was one of the fortunate ones in my community who never lost power throughout the hurricane and am only faced with the cleanup of tree branches and other debris. Nothing more than that! [/color]

[color=royalblue]My family members from the surrounding New Orleans area survived Katrina and now my other family members from the Houston area, as well as myself here in Southwest Louisiana, survived Rita. I am truly very blessed! Thank you and everyone else for your thoughts and prayers.[/color]

[color=#4169e1]My personal thoughts and prayers remain with those who are still displaced, have lost family members and are still trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina and now for those who are affected by Hurricane Rita. [/color]

[vicocala]

Let's just hope I don't need to start any more hurricane threads this year. :eek:

I am glad Susan that you and your family came thru ok. You are very fortunate to have your electricity. That was my biggest discomfort last year. We too, were very blessed not to have suffered what others did.

Sage, as always, you are welcome. I will be leaving the 14th for Ft. Lauderdale, hopefully things will be nice and calm by then!

[zydecocruiser]

Was watching Larry King and a few minutes ago heard Ken Reeves with Accuweather predict one maybe two more names storms within a week ?!?!?!

[vicocala]

zydeco,

According to the NWS there are a couple of tropical waves out there but nothing looks like it is ready to bust into a TD. There are always tropical waves floating around but only a few actually become a named storm.

Anything could happen of course, but right now they are not forecasting anything of any significance right away. :)

[LoveLifeAtSea]

vicocala ... have a wonderful cruise on the Zuiderdam! It's truly count down time isn't it? I've sailed the Zuiderdam a few times and enjoyed every one! (I will watch the weather as mid-October approaches and pray for blues skies and calm seas for you!)

Funny how things turn out. I was actually booked to be on the Zuiderdam THIS WEEK! Unfortunately, [i]but[/i] [i]now fortunately,[/i] I had to cancel for other reasons and only did so recently. First, I probably would not have gotten a flight out since New Orleans has minimal flights at this time and Houston was under evacuation orders. Second, I could NOT have enjoyed myself with worrying about what was taking place. And, third, I'm now in the process of cleaning up. I sure would have hated to come home from a relaxing vacation to that!

I always believe that things happen for a reason. Couldn't ask for more proof than this, could I?

Now looking forward to my next cruise . . .

[vicocala]

Thank you Susan. :)

 

 

Yes, the countdown is on, the luggage is already packed and the medical consent forms for our neighbor in case our teens get into any problems are being notorized today.

 

Usually the storms tend to die down in late September to early October which is why I booked in mid-October. We all know this hasn't been an ordinary year though so I am only cautiously optimistic.

 

Being able to take my first cruise on Glory, sneaking out just as Katrina was passing the Keys I took as a promising sign. By doing that cruise solo, I was able to come back home and give my wife a glowing report. She was nervous about going out to sea until I came home and raved on the fun of cruising.

 

Now she has most of her stuff lined up to go (see, I'm packed, she isn't).:p But, she is now excited to go on the trip.

 

I was going to state the "there is a reason for everything" until I scrolled down and saw that you did mention it. I hope you can get things quickly squared away and plan your next cruise and be able to enjoy it without any worries.

 

All the best, Vic

[vicocala]

I will use this thread while I am home to keep the tropical outlook going so those who want a "preview" can have a place to see what the weather service feels may develop.

 

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK

NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL

1130 AM EDT TUE SEP 27 2005

 

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

 

A VIGOROUS TROPICAL WAVE CENTERED A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES SOUTHEAST

OF JAMAICA IS PRODUCING CLOUDINESS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF

THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA. THIS SYSTEM HAS BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED

TODAY... AND UPPER-LEVEL WINDS HAVE ALSO BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR

A TROPICAL DEPRESSION TO DEVELOP DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO. AN AIR

FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO

INVESTIGATE THE SYSTEM TOMORROW... IF NECESSARY. INTERESTS IN

JAMAICA... THE CAYMAN ISLANDS... AND IN THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN

SEA SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM OVER THE

NEXT FEW DAYS AS IT MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT ABOUT 10 MPH.

 

SHOWER ACTIVITY REMAINS LIMITED WITH A WESTWARD-MOVING TROPICAL WAVE

LOCATED ABOUT 950 MILES EAST OF THE LESSER ANTILLES. UPPER-LEVEL

WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN UNFAVORABLE FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT

DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM TO OCCUR DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

 

A LARGE NON-TROPICAL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS CENTERED ABOUT 550 MILES

EAST OF BERMUDA. THIS SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO MOVE SLOWLY

NORTHEASTWARD AND MERGE WITH A FRONTAL SYSTEM WITHIN THE NEXT DAY

OR TWO.

 

ELSEWHERE... TROPICAL STORM FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH

WEDNESDAY.

 

FORECASTER STEWART

[vicocala]

Tropical Weather Outlook

Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl

530 Pm Edt Tue Sep 27 2005

 

For The North Atlantic...caribbean Sea And The Gulf Of Mexico...

 

A Vigorous Tropical Wave Over The Central Caribbean Sea Is Producing

Cloudiness And Thunderstorms Over Jamaica... Portions Of

Hispaniola... And Adjacent Caribbean Waters. This System Continues

To Show Signs Of Organization... And Upper-level Winds Appear

Conducive For A Tropical Depression To Develop During The Next Day

Or So. An Air Force Reserve Unit Reconnaissance Aircraft Is

Scheduled To Investigate This System Tomorrow... If Necessary.

Interests In Jamaica... The Cayman Islands... And Elsewhere In The

Northwestern Caribbean Sea And Adjacent Land Areas... Should

Closely Monitor The Progress Of This System During The Next Few

Days As It Moves West-northwestward At 10 To 15 Mph.

 

Shower Activity Remains Limited In Association With A

Westward-moving Tropical Wave Located About 900 Miles East Of The

Lesser Antilles. Upper-level Winds Are Expected To Prohibit Any

Significant Development Of This System During The Next Couple Of

Days.

 

A Large Non-tropical Low Pressure System Is Centered About 550 Miles

East-northeast Of Bermuda. This System Is Moving Slowly

Northeastward And Is Forecast To Merge With A Frontal System Within

The Next Day Or So.

 

Elsewhere... Tropical Storm Formation Is Not Expected Through

Wednesday.

 

Forecaster Knabb

[vicocala]

Tropical Weather Outlook

Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl

1030 Pm Edt Tue Sep 27 2005

 

For The North Atlantic...caribbean Sea And The Gulf Of Mexico...

 

A Tropical Wave Over The Central Caribbean Sea Is Producing

Cloudiness And A Few Thunderstorms Near Jamaica And Haiti... And

Over Adjacent Caribbean Waters. Even Though The Thunderstorm

Activity Has Greatly Decreased This Evening... Upper-level Winds

Are Expected To Become More Conducive For Development... And This

System Could Become A Tropical Depression During The Next Day Or

Two. An Air Force Reserve Unit Reconnaissance Aircraft Is Scheduled

To Investigate This System Tomorrow... If Necessary. Interests In

The Northwestern Caribbean Sea And Adjacent Land Areas Should

Closely Monitor The Progress Of This System During The Next Few

Days As It Moves West-northwestward At 10 To 15 Mph.

 

A Westward-moving Tropical Wave Is Located About 900 Miles East Of

The Lesser Antilles. Upper-level Winds Are Expected To Remain

Prohibitive For Any Significant Development Of This System During

The Next Couple Of Days.

 

Elsewhere... Tropical Storm Formation Is Not Expected Through

Thursday.

 

Forecaster Knabb

[vicocala]

We could have another storm brewing by tonight or tomorrow :mad:

 

 

 

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK

NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL

1130 AM EDT THU SEP 29 2005

 

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

 

A BROAD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED ABOUT 130 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST

OF GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND IS SHOWING SIGNS OF BECOMING BETTER

ORGANIZED. SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY HAS INCREASED NEAR THE

LOW-LEVEL CENTER AND UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE GRADUALLY BECOMING MORE

FAVORABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT TO OCCUR. THIS SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL

TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION LATER TODAY OR FRIDAY AS IT MOVES

TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST OR NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 10 MPH. AN AIR FORCE

RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS ENROUTE TO INVESTIGATE THE

SYSTEM. INTERESTS IN AND AROUND THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA

SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS DISTURBANCE.

 

A SMALL AND WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE HAS REMAINED NEARLY STATIONARY

NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. ASSOCIATED SHOWER ACTIVITY

REMAINS LIMITED... AND UPPER-LEVEL CONDITIONS ARE UNFAVORABLE FOR

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT BEFORE AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT SWEEPS

THIS SYSTEM AWAY FROM THE COAST TONIGHT.

 

ELSEWHERE... TROPICAL STORM FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH

FRIDAY.

 

FORECASTER STEWART

[vicocala]

Tropical Weather Outlook

Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl

530 Pm Edt Thu Sep 29 2005

 

For The North Atlantic...caribbean Sea And The Gulf Of Mexico...

 

Reports From An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter Aircraft And

Surface Observations Indicate That The Broad Low Pressure Area Over

The Northwestern Caribbean Has Not Become Any Better Organized

Today. Upper-level Winds Have Become Somewhat Less Favorable For

Development At This Time...but Are Forecast To Become More

Favorable During The Next Day Or So. This System Still Has The

Potential To Become A Tropical Depression During The Next Couple Of

Days As It Moves To The West-northwest Or Northwest At About 10

Mph. Interests In And Around The Northwestern Caribbean Sea Should

Closely Monitor The Progress Of This Disturbance.

 

A Small And Weak Low Pressure Area Located About 60 Miles

South-southwest Of The Mouth Of The Mississippi River Is Moving

South-southwestward At 5 To 10 Mph. Associated Shower Activity

Remains Limited... And Upper-level Conditions Are Unfavorable For

Significant Development.

 

Another Area Of Low Pressure Has Formed About 600 Miles

West-southwest Of The Southern Cape Verde Islands. While The

Associated Shower Activity Is Currently Minimal...some Slow

Development Of This System Is Possible Over The Next Day Or So As

It Drifts Slowly Northward.

 

Elsewhere... Tropical Storm Formation Is Not Expected Through

Friday.

 

Forecaster Beven

[vicocala]

Tropical Weather Outlook

Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl

1030 Pm Edt Thu Sep 29 2005

 

For The North Atlantic...caribbean Sea And The Gulf Of Mexico...

 

A Broad Low Pressure Area Continues Over The Northwestern Caribbean

Sea Between The Cayman Islands And Honduras. While The Associated

Thunderstorm Activity Has Become A Little More Concentrated East Of

Swan Island This Evening...the System Remains Poorly Organized.

Upper-level Winds Winds Are Forecast To Become More Favorable For

Development...and This System Has The Potential To Become A

Tropical Depression During The Next Couple Of Days As It Moves To

The West-northwest Or Northwest At About 10 Mph. An Air Force

Reserve Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Is Scheduled To Investigate The

System On Froday...if Necessary. Interests In And Around The

Northwestern Caribbean Sea Should Closely Monitor The Progress Of

This Disturbance.

 

A Small And Weak Low Pressure Area Located About 150 Miles

South-southwest Of The Mouth Of The Mississippi River Is Moving

South-southwestward At 10 To 15 Mph. Associated Shower Activity

Remains Limited...and Upper-level Conditions Are Unfavorable For

Significant Development.

 

Another Area Of Low Pressure Is Centered About 600 Miles

West-southwest Of The Southern Cape Verde Islands. While The

Associated Shower Activity Is Currently Minimal...some Slow

Development Of This System Is Possible Over The Next Day Or So As

It Drifts Slowly Northward.

 

Elsewhere... Tropical Storm Formation Is Not Expected Through

Saturday.

 

Forecaster Beven

[Sage]

Vicocala,

 

Thanks again for keeping us updated. It looks as though the season just wants to use all of those names. I hope that everything is clear by the time you set sail.

 

It's been really dry here in Gainesville; have you gotten any rain there in Ocala?

[vicocala]

Sage,

 

 

We had a thunderstorm a couple of nights ago, other than that, not really. I think all these storms have moved a lot of drier air a lot further south than usual. The water vapor maps have actually shown a lot less humidity than we normally would have which decreases the chances for rain.

[vicocala]

Tropical Weather Outlook

Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl

1130 Am Edt Fri Sep 30 2005

 

For The North Atlantic...caribbean Sea And The Gulf Of Mexico...

 

Satellite Images And Surface Observations Indicate That The Large

Low Pressure Area Located Over The Northwestern Caribbean Sea Has

Become Better Organized... Even Though Upper-level Winds Have

Become Less Favorable. Shower And Thunderstorm Activity Has

Increased And This System Still Has The Potential To Become A

Tropical Depression During The Next Day Or So As It Moves Slowly

West-northwestward. The Reconnaissance Flight Scheduled For This

Afternoon Has Been Canceled. However... Another Air Force Reserve

Aircraft Is Scheduled To Investigate The System Late Tonight Or

Saturday...if Necessary. Whether Or Not This System Become A

Tropical Cyclone... Locally Heavy Rainfall Will Likely Affect

Jamaica... The Cayman Islands... Portions Of Central And Western

Cuba... And The Yucatan Peninsula Over The Next Couple Of Days.

Interests In And Around The Northwestern Caribbean Sea Should

Closely Monitor The Progress Of This Disturbance.

 

The Low Pressure Centered About 575 Miles West-southwest Of The

Southwesternmost Cape Verde Islands Has Become Much Better Defined.

Thunderstorm Activity Has Increased And Become Better Organized...

And Upper-level Winds Are Favorable For A Tropical Depression To

Form Later Today Or On Saturday As The System Moves Slowly

Northwestward Over Open Waters.

 

The Small Low Pressure Area Located Over The Western Gulf Of Mexico

About 275 Miles East Of Brownsville Texas Has Weakned And Become

Less Organized. Shower Activity Remains Limited And Upper-level

Winds Are Unfavorable For Development. This System Is Moving Toward

The West-southwest At 10 To 15 Mph And Should Move Inland Over

Extreme Northeastern Mexico Or Extreme Southern Texas On Saturday.

 

Elsewhere... Tropical Storm Formation Is Not Expected Through

Saturday.