Prospero

Oh, it is going to happen soon. I just had lunch on the water at a Marina in South Pinellas County and even though pleasant right now, everybody knows we will not be eating lunch anywhere in the area tomorrow.

Nice sunset right now on Cozumel:

38 mph winds with gusts to 49 at the Yucatan Basin Buoy in the past hour.

https://www.fox13news.com/weather/tropical-depression-10-sunday-idalia-track-forecast-florida State of Emergency Ahead of the storm, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday declared a state of emergency for 33 Florida counties, including the Tampa Bay Area, "out of an abundance of caution."

Downtown Gulfport was impacted as well. https://thegabber.com/eta-packs-a-punch-in-gulfport/

This was a 3ft storm surge in Gulfport, FL during TS Debbie:

I was here in 1972 with Hurricane Agnes and we had a ten foot storm surge even with Agnes some miles out into the Gulf. Tropical Storm Debbie flooded some businesses in downtown Gulfport, Florida. Here's a night clip of the Gulfport Casino showing where Beach Blvd meets Gulf Blvd during Debbie:

Sand bags are available now in Pinellas County: https://thegabber.com/td-10-update-3-pinellas-sandbag-locations/

What about Hermine in 2016? We lost an oak tree during an outer band here in Gulfport, Florida in Tampa Bay. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Hermine I think there have been others as well. EDIT: "Since 1968, no hurricane has made landfall between Tampa and Florida's big bend. " I guess the key word here is "between".

That puts us (Tampa Bay) on the surge side. Still, its likely the path will change every day. But they are getting much better last few years.

Here in Tampa Bay we who are experienced are preparing a little. Gulfport Florida has been so lucky for too many years. There is a physical reason why we don't get nailed like the panhandle, but it we are still vulnerable even if not as often as the northern Gulf of Mexico. Storm mode on: https://thegabber.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-td-10-in-gulfport-st-pete/

I ordered a mix of batteries (D, AA, 9volt, etc.) and a couple basic supplies from Sam's Club when I woke up this morning and they were delivered by mid-afternoon. Sure beats the old days of driving down, parking and hiking across a vast hot parking lot, and being in the aggressive panicking crowds. But it was not as fun as the old chaos where you could get beat up for grabbing the last pack of D batteries...

It feels like the Fall in Tampa Bay, hot but dry and not so uncomfortable. Bought half-n-half and two gallons of water today, a couple cans of beans, etc. Two cases of beer in reserve. I saw people stocking up on toilet paper as I guess it is common knowledge that running out of toilet paper during a raging hurricane is a serious nightmare. We still have our COVID stock-pile of Northern Quilt...but is the expiration date expired?? Oh my!

Happy First Day of Hurricane Season! Yesterday felt like a Tropical Storm here in Gulfport, Florida.

I've been through dozens of Tropical Storms and a few Hurricanes here in Florida, even into December. This is the first where it is chilly outside with drizzle! Yea, we have some wind, but the warm soupy tropical fuel is missing. I feel like I should wake up to some snow on the ground tomorrow...

Here in Pinellas County, when we see 40 mph gusts, power starts to go out and we hear transformers exploding. At night we see the bright blue flashes. It's life in a Tree City with old trees.

Here in Gulfport FL, Tampa Bay, it is 68 degrees with a strong breeze and gusts into the 30s with cold drizzle at times. It feels like a big storm, but not Tropical. It feels like a Winter storm. A Southeaster?

Curious about the second eyewall.

You have a webcam?? How about a website link? is this the one with the beach erosion. UGH

The strongest winds right now are on the NC coast. So far the highest gust I've seen is 58 at Alligator Bridge.

We've had gusts to 40 mph on Tampa Bay.

Charlie the Cat 5?

Whatever. The Legend is Charlie was a Cat 5 badass legendary storm that is known as the most mighty badass legendary Cat 5 to ever hit these parts in a long time. Don't mess with me on banter. Charlie was a Cat 5 for the Legend. Maybe the Cat 5 legend was born when the hype was all about rapid intensification over favorable conditions on its way to destroy Tampa Bay. Was there a Cat 5 model coming over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay?

Please don't, but I understand. Charlie, the famous Cat 5 (about the size of a Dime), was heading straight into Tampa Bay. The traffic jams right now may not beat Charlie's. You know, every minute checking forums, TV, anything that had latest information. Right in the path of the Cat 5. Past couple or few days it's been building. The latest NHC graphic is very worst. Yet, as the tracks go this way and that, no matter what they can not be worse than this moment where I live.

Live storm streaming HD video from Gulfport Florida. Its raining. But our cool little town if there is any kind of Storm Surge attracts all of the local TV news as our downtown is low and the photo ops are always news worthy. For years I dreamed of a live webcam in Gulfport for a storm. Well, with the local rag we just pulled it off: https://thegabber.com/gulfport-fl-beach-webcam/ We have a solid UPC battery backup that will record for several hours (if the water does not drown all our equipment), but come back to see how the street looks while it is live. Eta has 4ft at this location. Irma a bit more. Agnes has the record as far as I know. We hope it stays online enough to see!!