Ernesto and Florence Heat Up the Tropics

The Tropics Come Alive - Two Storms at Once

Tropical Storm Ernesto (Image courtesy NOAA)

The tropics have been quiet for weeks, ever since Tropical Storm Debby made her exit, but this week, things changed.


Tropical Storm Ernesto is stirring up the Caribbean, while Tropical Storm Florence has begun the trek across the Atlantic.


The Windward Islands have already gotten a taste of the 2012 Hurricane Season.  Ernesto passed just north of Barbados, then collided with the southern tip of St. Lucia as he crossed over from the tropical Atlantic into the Caribbean.  Jamaica is under a tropical storm warning today, as that nation prepares to celebrate its 50th birthday on Monday.


Tropical Storm Ernesto is forecast to continue westward for now, and become a hurricane as early as tomorrow.  


Meanwhile, out in the eastern Atlantic, Tropical Storm Florence is starting to make her westbound crossing.  Will she make it all the way across intact?  And, if so, how strong will she be?  Time will tell.


Our thoughts are always with those in the path of a tropical system, whatever its name may be.   Today, it's Ernesto.  Next week, it may be Florence, and then Gordon, who has yet to make an appearance.  Stay safe, everyone! 

ESPECIALLY FOR CRUISERS

We could well see some ships change course and alter itineraries in the coming days to avoid the nastiness - and danger -  of a tropical system.  No changes have been announced yet, but you can bet the cruise lines are monitoring these storms closely!  See my 10 Tips for Cruising in Hurricane Season for more on this topic.


More articles about hurricane weather:

Know the Cone  - This is an important one.  Many people who think they know exactly what the Cone of Uncertainty means actually don't.  I've frequently heard the cone being mis-characterized!

2012 Hurricane Season Names - Just what the title says.

Weather Alert Radios -  Another important one.  Yes, you DO need one of these if you live anywhere in the US where severe weather is possible.

2012 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Journal - Here's where I'm keeping track of this years tropical weather activity.

Eight Weeks Until . . .

It's just eight weeks until the start of the 2012 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season. 

Officially, hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov 30, though storms can (and have) occurred outside that date range.  The most active part of the season is typically from about the second week of August through October. 

The alphabetical list of  hurricane names for 2012 starts with Alberto, and goes through William.  

Here's hoping they don't get all the way through the list this year!

With just a couple of months until the season begins, it's a good time to be thinking about things like your evacuation plans, checking the batteries in your NOAA Weather Radio, updating your hurricane supplies, and seeing to hurricane preparedness for your roof.

Six Years Ago Today: Hurricane Dennis

Six years ago today, Hurricane Dennis was assaulting Navarro Beach, Florida.  Dennis was the first Major Hurricane to make landfall on our own shores during the record-setting 2005 Hurricane Season.  There were 28 named storms that year - the most ever for a single season.

Hurricane name lists are on a six year cycle, so the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane names are the same ones that were used in 2005,  except for the names of the five storms that were so devistating their names were retired for good.

2005 was also the year of Hurricane Katrina, and some may have forgotten the year, but no one has forgotten how horrifying she was. So many lives were changed . . . 

So far, knock on wood, this year hasn't been a repeat of 2005, even though many of the names will be the same.  On the same date in 2005, we were already up to the 'D' name on the alphabetical list.  This year, we've only seen the 'A' storm - Arlene.  

Word from the National Hurricane Center today is that "TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS."  Here's hoping our luck holds! 

Related Stories:

Hurricane Hunters:  Heroes Inside Storms

Pictures of Hurricanes and other storms

Hurricane Season Predictions for 2011

Weather Alert Radios

Photo by FEMA, PD

TS Arlene Heads for Mexico. Princess - not So Much.

Arlene Heading for Mexico

Well. 2011 Atlantic Basin hurricane activity has started. Tropical Storm Arlene, is on her way to somewhere near Tampico, Mexico.  The terrain around there is hilly to mountainous. Copious rainfall in such a region can mean life threatening flash flooding and even mudslides.  Arlene is first on the list of  2011 Hurricane Names... let's hope we don't get too far through that list this hear.

Hurricane Hunters have been flying into the storm, and  found maximum sustained winds of 50 mph this morning.  It's expected to make landfall early tomorrow. 

We are keeping the people of the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, San Luis Potosi, and Nuevo Leon, in our thoughts.  There are Hurricane Watches and Tropical Storm Warnings posted for these area.

 Princess - Not So Much 

Meanwhile, in case you haven't heard, Princess Cruises has cancelled previously scheduled stops at Puerto Vallarta for the remainder of the year.  This news came out a few days ago.  The US State Department has a travel warning posted for the Mexican state of Jalisco, which includes Puerto Vallarto.  The warning cites drug-related violence. 

Mazatlan has seen its cruise ship port calls curtailed recently, as well.

So, if there is a Mexican Rivera cruise in your future, it would seem itinerary options are narrowing considerably.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Cruising in Hurricane Season

2011 Hurricane Predictions

June is Coming and So Is Hurricane Season

One of my very favorite months is nearly over, but another favorite one - June - is nearly here.  June 1 is Wednesday, and that means Hurricane Season will be here.  I've been busy writing a few articles about hurricane season over the past several weeks... One of them, about pictures of severe weather features art prints and other things with a hurricane or weather theme that you can buy. 

Stormy Anastasia

by southeastimagery

It's amazing how much art and design has been inspired by something we live with every day - the weather.  (Although, hopefully, we don't have to live with SEVERE weather on a daily basis!)  The above art print is from that article, called Pictures of Hurricanes and Storm Pictues, and it features wall art, along with a variety of other consumer items designed by selected artists at Zazzle, and inspired by the weather.

Some of the other articles I've been working on are a little more serious in nature, and are geared to raising the awareness of the necessity to be prepared for what can happen during severe weather in general, but hurricanes in particular.  Here's a list of those articles:

2011 Hurricane Season Predictions and 2010 Forecasting Accuracy
2011 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Names
Hurricane Preparedness - Your Roof
NOAA Weather Radios
2011 Hurricane Season Journal

That last one will be a journal I will keep and add to throughout the season. 

You are welcome to read, and to comment on any of these articles that might interest you.  I'd be SO pleased if you did!

Another Hurricane Season Approaches

Hurricane Epsilon (2005) from space. (NASA public domain photo)

Unbelievably, the beginning of the 2011 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season is only 45 days away.  This month, experts once again called for an above average season in terms of tropical activity, with a greater chance than last year of a US landfall.

 

HURRICANE SEASON for the Atlantic Basin:  June 1 - November 30

Peak activity is usually August - October 

Last year, Hurricane Alex didn't appear until almost the end of June.  And, in 2007, Subtropical Storm Andrea was named on May 6!  So, who knows when Arlene - the first name on this year's list - will arrive?  No one, really. 

The list of the names that will be used this year is the same list that was used for the hyperactive 2005 season, except for the FIVE names from that year that were retired. To see this years list, including the five new names, which ones they are replacing, and why, see  Atlantic Basin 2011 Hurricane Names.   Here's a hint:  Hurricane Katrina.

Pre-season reminders:

1 - Check your supply of betteries.

2 - Make sure your NOAA Weather Alert Radio is in good working condition.

3 - Where are your important papers and data?  Can you easily grab them for evacuation?

4 - Review your evacuation plans.  Don't forget to include your pets!

5 - Check seasonal cruise prices.  (It's often cheaper to cruise during peak hurricane season)