Tropics Going Quiet, Sweater Weather Coming Next Week

I always considered a big part of my job was to minimize anxiety, not to increase it.  After two back to back Hurricanes battering Florida, the last thing they want to hear is there might be a third.  Today on my phone (from AccuWeather) was a story about the "Potential" for low pressure to develop over the Caribbean in the 10-14 day time frame moving either into central America OR heading northward towards Florida.  Aw C'mon Gang.  It's pure hype designed to keep viewers watching their phones AND making them nervous again.  As Joe Friday would say, "All we know are the facts Ma'am."  And there is NOTHING  there yet.

There is a weak wave currently over the extreme southern Caribbean, but models do nothing with it.  Yeah, but what about the GFS Mr. Bob?   OK, it still tries to develop a storm over the southern Caribbean for next weekend, but it takes it into Central America and NOT northward towards Florida.

The top view is valid for Friday Oct. 18 followed by Saturday and Sunday.  Do you see anything that might suggest Florida (or any of us along the northern Gulf) should worry?  NO.  So why create hype before there is a reason to worry?  On TV, it's called ratings.  On the internet it's hits/clicks on numbers.  That's how they sell advertising.  Humm?  Back to our weather....oowee, Canada is getting cold!

Some of that chill is coming our way as an upper trough will form over the East coast by late Tuesday allowing the cold to head south.

We still have another 2-3 days of summer-like warmth before that old Fall feeling arrives.

Not sure why we need to have First Alerts/Impacts/Warnings just because the first real Fall cold front is coming.  Alert me when the first freeze is coming, not because I'll need a sweater.  Finally,

We all know there will be more hurricanes in the future just as there have been in the past.  Modern technology/engineering has shown that you can build back stronger minimizing or eliminating damage.  However, if builders take short cuts and local inspectors don't catch the errors (less than code), these pictures show you what will happen.  Note the structure is fine.  It was built to withstand hurricane winds.  But check the pilings.  To me, they look way too short, too skinny and not high enough.  I believe our local codes now call for new structures built along the coast and outside levee protection must be 20 feet above ground.   We see all the damage videos, but what media rarely shows are the newer structures built stronger that survive with little damage.  It can be done, but it does cost more.  Stay tuned!  Who Dats 28, Bucs 24 Sunday on Ch. 8.