Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Tarpon Rodeo Begins Next Thursday...

One of the annual highlights of summer for me is the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo.  It begins one week from tomorrow culminating in the awards ceremony on Saturday night.   You can go to www.TarponRodeo.org for rules & regulations.  Registration allows you the opportunity to win a fully equipped boat & trailer so even if you can’t make it down to Grand Isle, you can give yourself the chance to be lucky and win a nice boat.  Barry Kern is this year’s President and he is throwing a “Tarpon-Gras parade” Saturday morning on the island.   You can come down for just a day or stay for all 3.  It’s a great way to introduce your kids to fishing and/or crabbing the beach.  Jim Henderson will join me to be Master of Ceremonies so come on down and say hello.  All we need is some good weather…and I’m working on that!

 

Looking back, it’s almost embarrassing how quickly Tropical Storm Don faded away.   Why waste a name on a system that appears to be, at best, a strong tropical wave?   Long range computer models continue to show nothing developing in the Atlantic during the next 10-14 days.  The Eastern Pacific continues going “nuts” with several named storms, a depression and another likely storm later this week.   That is where the MJO is in the favorable (rising air) phase.   None of these systems will be a threat to land.  The western Pacific has no storms so only EPAC is keeping hurricane trackers busy.  I’m sure we’ll get our opportunities later in August & September to be nervous, but for now enjoy the quiet.

 

The Summer heat is on in full force as is typical for this time of the year.  Watching the network newscasts, you would think this has never happened before.  You do have to use common sense if you work or play outside during the heat of the day.  While golfing today, I drank 2 bottles of Gatorade light and didn’t have to pee.  I sweated it out!  If you don’t hydrate, you’ll quickly find yourself disoriented and in need of medical attention so start drinking water or the sports drinks BEFORE you get thirsty.   Also wear a hat & use sunscreen if you’re outdoors for many hours.   David indicates the next 2 days will see below normal rain chances resulting in above normal temps. until an upper low increases clouds & showers for the weekend.  We hate all the daily showers but without them highs will be in the mid to upper 90s with the heat index topping 100-105.  I still remember the summer (1980 I believe) where Dallas topped 100 for 42 straight days!  Can you imagine that!  Stay tuned!

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