Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Ike begins Turn to the West...

Watching satellite loops and plotting coordinates tonight, one can see a shift back to the west in Ike's track. My concern continues to be the slow forward motion (7 mph) but once again ALL computer models keep Ike well south and west of us. We will see impacts (windy, high tides,few heavy squalls), but nothing as bad as Gustav. The farther west one travels, the worse the impacts. NHC has shifted its track farther northward up the Texas coast taking the threat away from Corpus Christi and more towards Galveston/Houston. If they are correct, this will be the worst windstorm (Trop. Storm Allison brought them record flooding) since Hurricane Alicia hit in 1983. We feel for them as we have been there a lot lately.

Regarding impacts...Winds in Baton Rouge no worse than 20-30 with gusts to 40. No flooding expected locally except outside the levee protection system. Gusts in Kenner Friday night could be above 30 +. A little less wind on Saturday.

I have heard from caveman. I may let him back in tomorrow if he explains his "predictions" with solid science and not just throws out statements to scare folks. As we know, most of us are fragile mentally. Cry wolf over & over and you're outa here. We don't mind opinions based on science.

18 comments:

SunRunner said...

Yup yup i see that westward turn!! How Exciting for us in Mississippi

Star said...

Bob if lke stay at 7 moving i think this will be a problem for us i think they going to get this one wrong hope not what you think?

Beans said...

Soft hearted Bob.... How sweet!!

Unknown said...

First and foremost, thanks for producing a great blog. Your insight and information here is invaluable to people like me who grew up in the viewing area, but have since moved to Baton Rouge and do not get to see New Orleans news (except the web stream).

But secondly, it's basic kindergarten, Bob. Ignore the bully and he will go away.

I think that by singling out Caveman and some of the others by name, you are giving them what they want (attention) and are making it more and more likely they will continue to do their doom and gloom tactics.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

Have a great weekend!

SarahShano504 said...

Bob, first let me start by saying
me & my husband LOVE you.
& we trust your word.

now, with saying that...tonight i noticed a sliiiight over confidence in you're actions.
example, after a VERY brief over veiw in your 10pm broadcast(with the newest update), you based your confidence in a 10th of a in. to the west.
and proceeded to make the "phew" motion, as the cameras pulled back.
i found this odd, because from flippin, Bruce Katz mentioned the slowing of the storm in his preview, as being a negative thing.
why didn't you?
yes, you did on your blog, but not everyone is aware of this blog...ya know?
i think this storm has been dodgy and all over the place, and to be so confident in the fact that it made the TINIEST lil movement to the left, is misleading...to a degree. am i wrong?

Shanz said...

Bob,
We are finally making our trek home on Saturday from TN. Will conditions have be improving by that point in SELA?

Unknown said...

I came here to sayy pretty much what Casey said, but not as well.

So I will just second that comment, adding only that some people on the internet are just there to feed their need for attention. We call them trolls.

Please don't feed the troll anymore, Bob.

pontalba said...

Bob, do you think Waldheim [between Covington and Bush] will get much in the way of wind if Ike keeps on his present track?
Thanks. :)

Unknown said...

Bob:

I am seeing a little bit of chatter about the remnants of Josephine, which is now nearing the Bahamas.

Some folks there seem to think it has some potential to redevelop, and that it should be getting more attention from the nws. But I am not seeing anything about it anywhere else.

Can you share your thoughts about it?

Memory said...

I feel sad tonight for Galveston and Houston, very sad. We witnessed so much destruction in the last few years from the Panhandle of Florida to Southwest Louisiana and now our neighbours to the west might never be the same after this weekend. It is just unbelievable.

the life of Denise said...

Bob, we live in the woodlands, a suburb North of Houston..considered the Houston area...but how bad would it be here? How close are they taking the track to Houston? Houston has not called for any evacs and my son goes to catholic school in the Klein ISD and NO word on closings at all...Do we just go on with normal life? I do not see anyone boarding up as I did when we lived in Louisiana. How bad would it impact here?? I am getting concerned. We have 2 small children.
Please help!
Thanks!

Catfish said...

Hey Bob- Just say the word so I can take these dang boards off my windows from Gustav. I left them up because of the threat of Ike... A little more west and we are good..

Thanks for your insight into these storms and the plain english you use to tell us what is going on with them.

Most people read this blog to hear what you have to say, not garage meteorologist's who love to predict storms. Heck, I would love to try to give some insight into these storms, but any model I would run would have the hurricane entering the gulf and making landfall into Canada....

Keep up the good work!

Mary L said...

First of all, I wanted to tell you that when my husband and I see you breathe a sigh of relief about Ike, We do too, because we trust your experience and the knowledge base you draw upon to base your conclusions.
I don't know if you realize it, but the last person to gain and keep the people's trust as you have was Nash Roberts. Thanks so much for being that voice of reason in the weather world that we depend upon to keep us informed and sane:)
I'm waiting, based on your thoughts, for Ike to cross the Ninety degree line. I feel like then, I can begin to breathe again.
Thanks Bob, for helping us to keep focused on the reality of these storms and not just the hype the media displays.

pontalba said...

Sarahshano504,
I heard Bob mention the slowness of the storm yesterday at least on the 5 p.m. show, I didn't see the 9 p.m. show though, so can't be sure about that one.
I've heard him refer to the speed any number of times. Maybe you just missed it whilst changing around?

sunshine said...

Bob this is a Fantastic Blog!!!! I am a big fan of yours!! I'm new to the SE and Gustav was my first hurricane ever and I don't think I really like them so much but I'm addicted to watching them!!
I would like to know what kind of weather to expect in the Des Allemands area?!?!? Everyone keeps talking about the bad side of the storm and how we are on it. It seems to me that we are going to be getting some really bad weather???

SarahShano504 said...

pontalba,
i am a Bob fan ALL THE WAY.
but on my way from the weather channel, to Fox 8, i go past ABC channel 11.

the ONLY meterologist i listen to, is BOB.

i watch every last broadcast he makes, and check this blog more than daily.

his 9pm broadcast, he mentioned it.
but the 10pm broadcast was soooo brief. it was shocking.
i was like...'is that it??'

i asked my husband if he'd want to listen to Bruce Katz, and he shook his head in disgust, almost.

and as much as Bob said he wouldn't be 'comfortable' until Ike passed 90west, he was exerting muuch confidence on the slight shift to the west.

hurry with a new update BOB! LOL!

Unknown said...

Thank you Bob, you are truly the refuge from "the storm"

whatstorm504 said...

bob u da man gust had to say that. I have been a weather nerd since i was a kid and now im 28 and a big kid i was looking to get a weather station for my house.Thers a fue to select from.What shuld i look for and whats one u recommend(trying not to spend over 500$).O yea the storm ike why do you think the gulf of mexico loop current has not worked as in the past(thank god)and why the dry air in the gulf has a bigger effect on storms than the atlanic