Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Irma Approaching Puerto Rico...

Hurricane Irma has moved over the northern Leeward Islands overnight and is now just east of Puerto Rico.  It appears the north side of the Island will get into the eyewall during the next 6-12 hours so expect some scary video showing buildings falling apart.  Video out of Barbuda showed whole tree limbs flying off. Usually trees can be stripped of their leaves, but for whole limbs to be ripped off indicates the force of 185+ mph winds.  There has been a big shift to the EAST (away from us) in the overnight model runs.   In fact, many models now have the center of Irma turning sooner to the north staying just off the east coast of Florida.   This could just be model flip-flopping and the next run could be back farther to the west.  However, if this trend is confirmed, it would keep the worse side (eastern) of Irma & the highest storm surge offshore.  It’s still too soon to guarantee this track so evacuation of the Keys began at daybreak.   IF the east track becomes reality, places like Disney World, Tampa & Ft. Myers would be spared the strongest, damaging winds.  The “gold Coast” still would be hammered so I don’t want to minimize the danger.  An eastern track would also place Georgia & the Carolinas in great danger.  We’ll see what the models bring later this PM.

 

The cold front has arrive here and is pushing down into the Gulf.  Another upper disturbance will re-enforce the east coast trough protecting us from Irma coming our way.  This will be a wonderful stretch of early Fall in New Orleans.  Without humidity…what we gonna do?   Still focus on Irma.  All signs now indicate she’ll make the turn to the north sooner.  Let’s hope so for us & Florida.  Stay tuned!

4 comments:

Binky said...

Thanks Bob for keeping your eyes on the skies for us!

Nurse Ratch

Jotzilla said...

Thanks Bob for your valuable insight! My dad trusted your forecasts til the day he died. When we wanted to do something that might be affected by the weather, he'd always say "let's see what Bob Breck has to say first!" I'm not as old as you are, but I'll keep trusting you like my dad as long as you and I are still around.

Unknown said...

Thanks for being here for us Bob, I still trust you the most when it comes to these storms. I remember how you nailed where Katrina was going and when I so the look on your face that Sunday morning, I knew that it was time to go!

Girllarry said...

Where's it going Bob? My grandmother, mom and now me only trust your tracks. Some people do not suppose to retire ��