Hurricane Charley strengthening and threatening Florida

[Brent88]

This is getting more serious folks. Good chance he will have winds greater than 115 mph at landfall. If the current track holds, he will slam ashore near Tampa tomorrow evening. Storm surge will be devastating if it happens. Here's the latest:

BULLETIN
HURRICANE CHARLEY ADVISORY NUMBER 13...CORRECTED
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 AM EDT THU AUG 12 2004

CORRECTED FOR ADVISORY NUMBER FROM 12 TO 13

...CHARLEY GETTING A LITTLE STRONGER...HURRICANE WATCH EXTENDED
NORTHWARD ALONG THE FLORIDA WEST COAST...

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM THE
DRY TORTUGAS TO THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE...AND FOR THE SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA COAST FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO BONITA BEACH. THE WARNING
WILL LIKELY BE EXTENDED NORTHWARD LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT. 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.

AT 11 AM EDT...1500Z...THE HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN EXTENDED
NORTHWARD ALONG THE FLORIDA WEST COAST TO THE SUWANNEE RIVER. THE
HURRICANE WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM NORTH OF BONITA BEACH TO THE
SUWANNEE RIVER. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM
THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO OCEAN REEF...AND ALONG THE SOUTH FLORIDA
MAINLAND FROM OCEAN REEF TO EAST CAPE SABLE...INCLUDING ALL OF
FLORIDA BAY. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF
THE FLORIDA EAST COAST LATER TODAY.

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.

AT 11 AM EDT...1500Z...THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE
WARNING FOR THE FOLLOWING PROVINCES OF WESTERN CUBA...PINAR DEL RIO
...LA HABANA...CIUDAD DE LA HABANA...MATANZAS...AND THE ISLE OF
YOUTH.

AT 11 AM EDT...1500Z...THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA HAS DISCONTINUED
ALL WARNINGS FOR JAMAICA.

AT 11 AM EDT...1500Z...INFORMATION FROM RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT
AND RADAR FROM CUBA INDICATE THE CENTER OF HURRICANE CHARLEY WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.7 NORTH... LONGITUDE 81.2 WEST OR ABOUT
25 MILES... 40 KM... NORTH OF GRAND CAYMAN.

CHARLEY IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/HR. A
TURN TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 90 MPH...150 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES... 35 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 115 MILES...185 KM.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS 983 MB...29.03 INCHES.

ABOVE NORMAL TIDES...ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING
WAVES...ARE EXPECTED IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS LATER TODAY. STORM SURGE
FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS. STORM
SURGE FLOODING OF 6 TO 10 FEET ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA COAST.

RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE LIKELY IN ASSOCIATION WITH
CHARLEY. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS
AND MUD SLIDES.

REPEATING THE 11 AM EDT POSITION...19.7 N... 81.2 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS... 90 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 983 MB.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 2 PM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 5 PM
EDT.

FORECASTER STEWART

[I am Him]

Yeah I just bought some canned food and bottled water. But the storm would have weakened some by the time it arrives where I'm at.

[Brent88]

Now it's very serious. Rapidly strengthening!

BULLETIN
HURRICANE CHARLEY INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 13A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2 PM EDT THU AUG 12 2004

...CHARLEY RAPIDLY STRENGTHENS INTO A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE AS IT
MOVES TOWARD WESTERN CUBA...

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM THE
DRY TORTUGAS TO THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE...AND FOR THE SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA COAST FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO BONITA BEACH. THE WARNING
WILL LIKELY BE EXTENDED NORTHWARD LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT. 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 HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NORTH OF BONITA BEACH TO
THE SUWANNEE RIVER. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE
CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN
36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM
THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO OCEAN REEF...AND ALONG THE SOUTH FLORIDA
MAINLAND FROM OCEAN REEF TO EAST CAPE SABLE...INCLUDING ALL OF
FLORIDA BAY. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF
THE FLORIDA EAST COAST LATER TODAY.

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING PROVINCES OF
WESTERN CUBA...PINAR DEL RIO ...LA HABANA...CIUDAD DE LA HABANA...
MATANZAS...AND THE ISLE OF YOUTH.

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.
HOWEVER...THE WARNING WILL LIKELY BE DISCONTINUED LATER TODAY.

AT 2 PM EDT...1800Z...INFORMATION FROM RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT
AND RADARS FROM CUBA INDICATE THE CENTER OF HURRICANE CHARLEY WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 20.4 NORTH... LONGITUDE 81.5 WEST OR ABOUT
190 MILES... 305 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF HAVANA CUBA.

CHARLEY IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/HR. A
TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT.
ON THE FORECAST TRACK...CHARLEY IS EXPECTED TO PASS OVER OR JUST
EAST OF THE ISLE OF YOUTH TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS RECENTLY REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT ARE NEAR 105 MPH...165 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. THIS MAKES CHARLEY A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST
DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND CHARLEY COULD BECOME A CATEGORY
THREE OR MAJOR HURRICANE BEFORE IT MAKES LANDFALL ALONG THE SOUTH
COAST OF CUBA.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES... 45 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 125 MILES...205 KM.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS 980 MB...28.94 INCHES.

ABOVE NORMAL TIDES...ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING
WAVES...ARE EXPECTED IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS LATER TODAY. STORM SURGE
FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS. STORM
SURGE FLOODING OF 6 TO 10 FEET ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA COAST.

RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE LIKELY IN ASSOCIATION WITH
CHARLEY. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS
AND MUD SLIDES.

REPEATING THE 2 PM EDT POSITION...20.4 N... 81.5 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS... 105 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 980 MB.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
AT 5 PM EDT.

[Fleet]

Let's hope it weakens quickly. I will be following it on the Weather Channel.

I remember hurricane Andrew (1992) very well. Also hurricane Hugo (1989).

[Rhiannon]

it's been pouring here all day, floods are popping up everywhere

[Brent88]

Now forecast to have winds of 120 mph when it slams into Tampa tomorrow evening.

BULLETIN
HURRICANE CHARLEY ADVISORY NUMBER 14
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
5 PM EDT THU AUG 12 2004

...CHARLEY STRENGTHENING AS IT MOVES TOWARD WESTERN CUBA...

AT 5 PM EDT...2100Z...THE HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN EXTENDED
NORTHWARD ALONG THE FLORIDA WEST COAST TO BAYPORT. A HURRICANE
WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM THE DRY TORTUGAS
TO THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE...AND FOR THE FLORIDA WEST COAST FROM EAST
CAPE SABLE NORTHWARD TO BAYPORT. THE WARNING WILL LIKELY BE
EXTENDED NORTHWARD LATER TONIGHT. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT
HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA DURING
THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

THE HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA WEST COAST
FROM NORTH OF BAYPORT NORTHWARD TO THE SUWANNEE RIVER. A HURRICANE
WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH
AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM
THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO OCEAN REEF...AND ALONG THE SOUTH FLORIDA
MAINLAND FROM OCEAN REEF TO EAST CAPE SABLE...INCLUDING ALL OF
FLORIDA BAY. AT 5 PM EDT...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED
FOR PORTIONS OF THE FLORIDA AND GEORGIA COASTS FROM JUPITER INLET
NORTHWARD TO ALTAMAHA SOUND...INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING PROVINCES OF
WESTERN CUBA...PINAR DEL RIO...LA HABANA...CIUDAD DE LA HABANA...
MATANZAS...AND THE ISLE OF YOUTH. AT 5 PM...THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
CAYMAN ISLANDS HAS DISCONTINUED ALL WARNINGS.

AT 5 PM EDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE CHARLEY WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 21.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.9 WEST OR ABOUT 140
MILES... 230 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF HAVANA CUBA.

CHARLEY IS NOW MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH
...30 KM/HR. A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTH IS EXPECTED DURING
THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...CHARLEY IS EXPECTED TO
PASS NEAR THE ISLE OF YOUTH TONIGHT AND NEAR HAVANA CUBA FRIDAY
MORNING. WEATHER CONDITIONS SHOULD BEGIN TO DETERIORATE OVER
WESTERN CUBA DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 105 MPH...165 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. THIS MAKES CHARLEY A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS
FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AND CHARLEY COULD BECOME A MAJOR
HURRICANE LATER TONIGHT OR FRIDAY.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES... 45 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 125 MILES...205 KM.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 980 MB...28.94 INCHES.

STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 10 TO 14 FEET CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE
SOUTH COAST OF CUBA NEAR AND EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES
LANDFALL. IN ADDITION...STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET...ALONG
WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE
FLORIDA KEYS. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 10 TO 13 FEET IS ALSO
POSSIBLE NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE WHERE THE CENTER CROSSES THE FLORIDA
WEST COAST.

RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE LIKELY IN ASSOCIATION WITH
CHARLEY. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS.

REPEATING THE 5 PM EDT POSITION...21.2 N... 81.9 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...105 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 980 MB.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
HURRICANE CENTER AT 8 PM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT
COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 11 PM EDT.

[Moondance]

We're getting ready for this storm, too.


What part of Florida are you guys from?


Feen

[David]

It's gonna affect me >_<

[TVJunkie101]

I'm in Florida, but I don't think it will hit my area directly, though we'll definitely feel the brunt of it. I live around the Melbourne/Vero Beach area. We had some rain (very brief but VERY windy and heavy) today as well as a Tornado watch. I don't wish this hurricane on Tampa or anyplace in Florida, but I'm hoping it doesn't turn more south and hit my area.

I've heard Bonnie is now just a tropical storm/depression. I didn't follow that one too closely, but it seems to have lost some strength along the way. I wish Charley would... LOL. I hate hurricanes.

[Moondance]

Originally posted by TVJunkie101
I'm in Florida, but I don't think it will hit my area directly, though we'll definitely feel the brunt of it. I live around the Melbourne/Vero Beach area. We had some rain (very brief but VERY windy and heavy) today as well as a Tornado watch. I don't wish this hurricane on Tampa or anyplace in Florida, but I'm hoping it doesn't turn more south and hit my area.

I've heard Bonnie is now just a tropical storm/depression. I didn't follow that one too closely, but it seems to have lost some strength along the way. I wish Charley would... LOL. I hate hurricanes.

Well I live around the Cocoa/Rockledge area. I remember Hurricane Floyd that was pretty scary! I'm no fan of lightning either


Feen

[JDS84]

My Aunt lives close to Tampa Bay. Stay Safe everyone.

[Brent88]

Slamming into Cuba right now.



Forecast to be just west of the Florida Keys in the morning then it will parallel the coast until landfall(near Tampa or a little north of there). This will put everyone in Florida in the worst part of the storm. A 10 to 14 foot storm surge is expected in Tampa Bay and significant flooding is expected.

[JT]

That's nothing. Here in Louisiana, we get hurricanes almost every year. In October 2002, we had two big ones strike one week apart, both on a Wednesday night/Thursday morning.

[Moondance]

Thing is, in Florida, we've got this water surrounding us - called the Atlantic Ocean, lol. I'm down the street from the river - I hope no alligators get washed up in our yard. One year, a storm came through and cause the river to over flow, so we had fish, seaweed, shells, rocks, everything in our yard and streaming down the street.


Feen

[JT]

Originally posted by Moondance
Thing is, in Florida, we've got this water surrounding us - called the Atlantic Ocean, lol. I'm down the street from the river - I hope no alligators get washed up in our yard. One year, a storm came through and cause the river to over flow, so we had fish, seaweed, shells, rocks, everything in our yard and streaming down the street.


Feen

Ever woke up to find a coffin floating through your yard? Nah, me neither, but it happens a lot in New Orleans, I've heard.