Prospero

For what it is worth, the second post on the Eta forum by yoda (who has my respect): Interesting if you go back to the beginning of the Eta thread and relive a few pages. We got our 2020 storm in Tampa Bay. May Iota leave us all alone!

The worst hurricane to hit Tampa since 1848 was one in 1921. Of course it destroyed Gulfport as well. I've been wishing and wish-casting a tropical storm to visit Gulfport all season. "As strong as possible without power outages, financial hardship, deaths, etc." Well, we got it, with more financial hardship than I wished. No deaths so far. A few hundred lost power, but will be back on soon if not already. As far as local news in the Tampa Bay area, Gulfport had the best visuals. Every local news station was in town today. Here is one link that shows pictures mostly from here: https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/weather/2020/11/12/photos--eta-s-aftermath-in-the-tampa-bay-area I was out late last night doing last minute panic prep in our yard getting soaked in the driving rain when the winds picked up, and spent a half a day today trying to clean up our yard enough to have a path to go where we need to go. Landscapers with chainsaws will do the rest. I am physically exhausted! Too old for this stuff! My back is killing me! I asked for it, and got it. Maybe the last US storm landfall of the season, maybe not. Next year I might not be wishing anything here or for anybody! Side note: I was down by the waterfront at first light this morning and very few people were down there looking at the sights. I took my wife down there a couple hours ago and all the restaurants that were flooded last night were totally packed with storm voyeurs! Crowds with their cell phones were taking pics on the beat up brand new boardwalk. Gulfport is very busy tonight! LOL Tropical System Tourism is maybe not so bad. (Except Camille...)

LOL! I drove down to the Gulfport Waterfront. I didn't see many trees down, but the surge was highest since I moved here in 2006. Irma caused more damage with winds, but Eta appears to have done more flood damage. Several boats are washed up on shore. Fox News 13 was down there so some video should be available soon. EDIT: Video up: https://www.fox13news.com/video/870168

So I believe with Eta, west central Florida was the last piece of the 2020 puzzle. Every mile of coast from southern Texas to northern Maine has been in a tropical warning this year.

5.8 inches with my PWS. That may be it for today. The strongest gust I see so far is 60 mph at the Skyway Fishing Pier and Surfside Condos on Clearwater Beach. Our weather station at Surfside is on top of the building, so the wind is always stronger up there. I think 78 was the peak with Irma. We've had gusts in the 50s around Gulfport.

Well, all season I've been ready for a tropical storm just strong enough to be interesting without losing power. So far so good. A bit more cleanup in my backyard than I need, but at least I didn't miss out on 2020. That would be disappointing. I think the winds have peaked, but the surge is significant for around here and might surprise a few when all is done.

It has the possibility to be a viral video by morning. "Old hippy in a bathrobe trying to take down a sunsetter during Tropical Storm Eta."

Our Spinach Tree blew over. But it IS like an umbrella. Lot of live oak debris in our backyard.

Curious, so like what? Tampa Bay gets a storm, and all the mets and pros take a break? "Only a Tropical Storm, not interesting..."

We have a small sunsetter canopy on our front porch supposed to be good to 35 mph winds. It was thrashing and making a lot of really bad sounds, so I just took it down…for the first time since it was installed. It was about to rip the screws out of the house and become a flapping nightmare. I couldn’t remember how to take it down, so was out in the wind and rain struggling with it! It is down now, after getting soaked and falling down once when I finally figured out how to release the two main structure beams and it folded on top of me! I hope my neighbors across the street were not watching! LOL

After dark my Clearwater Beach cam is not great quality, but worth checking to see how high the water comes in over night. In the morning it should be a sight to see. https://beachresortcondos.com/clearwater-beach-live-webcam.html

Water is coming into downtown Gulfport. FL: http://visitgulfportflorida.com/live-webcams-in-gulfport-florida/

4K without power in Pinellas. Not too bad so far. After Irma Duke Energy replaced most of the main power structure. But it is just now getting more intense. 3 1/2 inches of rain here in Gulfport with gusts into the 40s so far. 60 mph gust on Clearwater Beach. The water is coming up on the beach even with the winds still blowing off the coast.

Bay Shore WILL be flooded tomorrow morning. We already know that.

46 mph gust on Clearwater Beach:

The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Central Pinellas County in west central Florida... * Until 1245 PM EST. * At 1221 PM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Tierra Verde, or near Fort Desoto Park, moving north at 30 mph. HAZARD...Tornado. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * This dangerous storm will be near... St. Petersburg around 1225 PM EST. Saint Petersburg and Downtown Saint Petersburg around 1235 PM EST. Pinellas Park, Seminole, West And East Lealman, Feather Sound, Gandy, Bay Pines and South Highpoint around 1245 PM EST. Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Gulfport, Albert Whitted Airport, Tropicana Field, Weedon Island State Preserve, Venetian Isles, Sawgrass Lake Park, Lealman, Kenneth City, South Pasadena and Vinoy Park. TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED HAIL...0.00IN

Grew up loving snow days! LOL Hillsborough County Schools closed Thursday and Friday so the schools can be shelters.

PINELLAS COUNTY In an abundance of caution, ALL Pinellas County Schools will have early dismissal today, Wednesday, Nov. 11 and will be closed tomorrow, Nov. 12. Today’s dismissal times: High Schools: 10:00 a.m. Elementary Schools: 11:00 a.m. Middle Schools: 12 noon

Here in Pinellas County, Irma brought us tropical storm winds with a few hurricane gusts on the coast. Our power went out at our home in Gulfport with 39 mph winds. It was off for two long weeks. We lost two oak trees from our front yard with that storm. A direct hit with a respectable TS and we'd have a mess. Will do some prep today like taking down bird feeders, wind chimes, putting outside potted plants in somewhat protected areas, etc.

Moderate rain right now with wind picking up. I just dropped my wife at school (teacher), expecting Pinellas County Schools will close early today.

Looks like it is heading for Florida.

For the first time this year, I am actually starting to get a gut feeling like we might get hit harder than we've been expecting here in Tampa Bay. Not a lot of time to get ready, and no warnings up yet. Hopefully I am wrong.

Nice convection burst going on now. I don't know if it is over the center though.

Xi on Xmas? LOL

Zeta > Eta > Theta > Iota?