Cantore Shifts to Biloxi...

When I got up this morning I saw where The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore had moved from Gulfport (yesterday's location) to Biloxi.  Perhaps TWC knew something shifting Jim eastward?  I felt better when the 4 AM NHC center line track also shifted back to the east.  However, the new 10 AM update has flipped back to the west now placing all of NOLA into the eyewall of Zeta.

The top pic is from 4 AM with the middle being the 10 AM update clearly shifting back 20-30 miles to the west.  This increases the threat for high wind gusts (60-80 MPH) across the CBD between 4-8 PM.  Higher speeds will be south and east with lower wind gusts across the North Shore to the west of Zeta's track.

So IF the new NHC track proves correct, what can we expect?   Widespread tree damage and power outages.  The above photos are my son's house in Edmond, OK where the damage was caused by an ice storm yesterday.  Same results there, extensive power outages.  I will go finish preparing my yard after this post by moving some of my potted plants into my "He Shed" and will put some of the others next to my house.  My patio furniture is heavy metal, but I'll pull that next to the house too.

There is some good news to report.  NHC has kept the max winds at 90 mph and they now say Zeta will not become a Cat. 2.    We can now see the center on radar and that will make tracking the eye easier.

Right now this is a very symmetrical storm.  As it heads farther to the north and into increasing upper wind shear, I would expect it to become more "right side loaded".   For the life of me, I don't know why NHC shifted the track back to the west.  They obviously have information I don't know about as I still feel Zeta will turn more to the NE ( currently NNE 010 degrees) taking the track nearer their previous tracks farther to our east.

On the other hand, there is a frontal boundary to our west & north and maybe Zeta is being drawn to that?   Look at how chilly it is in Houston.  We will need sweaters and jackets tomorrow.  Unfortunately the cold air will not get here soon enough to deflect Zeta away.  So here's what I want you to watch during the next 3-6 hours.

On www.bobbreck.com, look at the wind direction.  IF our winds continue to remain out of the SE, then Zeta is going to track over us or even to our west putting us into the stronger side of the storm.  However, IF our wind direction begins to turn to the east or even NE, then Zeta will probably go to our east.   It will make a bug difference on impacts.  I'll be posting at both 1 PM and again after 4 PM.  Right now I'm off to move my plants and then get ready to HUNKER DOWN GANG.  Nobody should be on the streets after 4 PM.  Stay tuned!