Fay / Cuba / Bahamas / Florida (obs / preps / reports)

[Canelaw99]

2.27 in Homestead since 7AM this morning...

http://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page?_pageid=3194,21328260,3194_21169358:3194_21178598:3194_21198519:3194_21198543&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

[HurricaneQueen]

Very light rain and a few small gusts of wind in North Collier. Schools and government are both closed tomorrow. Shelters are opening at 6 P.M. and residents east and south of US 41 are under a voluntary evacuation order.

We are being told, as things currently stand, to expect the eye around 2:00 a.m. tomorrow. Still have a few small things to do but I guess we are as ready as we are going to be. Staying home for the first time ever-left for Charley, Georges, Wilma and several others over the years as we are 1/4 mile from beach.

Be safe everyone.

Lynn

P.S. Our cat and dog are both surprisingly quite calm but I imagine that will change in a few hours.

[HURAKAN]

2.44 since this morning, 2.55 since yesterday.

[abryant.ma]

Second confirmed funnel cloud associated with Fay being reported:



TORNADO WARNING
FLC011-182200-
/O.NEW.KMFL.TO.W.0033.080818T2145Z-080818T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
545 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN BROWARD COUNTY IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

* UNTIL 600 PM EDT

* AT 544 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR NORTH PERRY
AIRPORT...MOVING WEST AT 54 MPH.


* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
NORTH PERRY AIRPORT...
COOPER CITY...
PEMBROKE PINES...
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

IF YOU ARE NEAR THE PATH OF A TORNADO...SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY
BUILDING ON THE LOWEST FLOOR...AWAY FROM OUTSIDE WALLS AND WINDOWS.
GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT MONDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHERN FLORIDA.

LAT...LON 2598 8038 2612 8035 2602 8015 2598 8016
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 100DEG 47KT 2600 8021

$$

GARCIA

[sittingduck]

Channel 8 is driving me crazy - I want to scream
First - they say that Fay passed over Key West at 3 pm - it is there NOW - NHC already corrected that - don't they read the discussion
Second - he keeps saying that Fay is not projected to become a Hurricane - again - don't they read the discussion.
sheesh - lol - thank God for the nhc site and S2K

[msbee]

some web cams
Holiday Inn Sanibel
http://72.236.138.36/view/index.shtml

Mucky Duck Captiva
http://www.muckyduck.com/webcam.htm

Tween Waters Inn Captiva
http://tweencam.tween-waters.com/twcam/twcam.html

Vanderbilt Beach Cam
http://www.vanderbiltbeachresort.com/webcam.asp

Ft Myers Beach cam
http://www.nbc-2.com/WebView/Diamondhead.shtml

[kranki]

I live in the middle of the big clump of keys east of Key West. Lots of rain, some wind, but nothing really bad (been thru several storms in the last 10 years). Still raining off and on.

[baygirl_1]

I posted this on the main thread for Fay, but it got buried in a hurry. Things are moving quickly over there. It probably should've been in this thread, anyway. I just can't figure out why the Coast Guard has issued this alert that was just posted on one of our local TV news websites (http://www.wkrg.com/hurricane/article/port_conditions_in_effect_for_panhandle/17005/)

Port Condition 4 In Effect For Panhandle
Published: Mon, August 18, 2008 - 4:33 pm
Last Updated: Mon, August 18, 2008 - 4:39 pm
Coast Guard sets port condition for Florida panhandle
MOBILE, Ala. - The Coast Guard set the Port Status for the Panhandle of Florida to Condition 4 today, a 72-hour alert, in anticipation of Tropical Storm Fay.
Tropical Storm Fay could affect waterways from approximately mile marker 175, in Pensacola, Fla., of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway east to mile marker 432, in Panama City, Fla., including the Port of Pensacola and the Port of Panama City.
Mariners are encouraged to use all means available to monitor the path of the Tropical Storm Fay and remain prepared to take actions as the weather system develops.
The following actions are required when a port is in condition 4:
(1) Masters, owners, operators, terminals, and agents of all ocean going commercial vessels and CG regulated barges shall notify the captain of the port (COTP) as soon as possible of intentions to depart or remain in port.
(2) Vessels desiring to remain in port may be required to submit a written request to the COTP along with a mooring plan. This includes vessels in lay up status.
(3) During commercial vessel loading operations, terminals should make allowances for requirements of vessels that may be required to depart the port.
(4) Ocean going ships and CG regulated barges greater than 200 GT remaining in port should have the outboard anchor at short stay, adequate mooring lines out, have a navigation watch set and maintain a listening watch on Channel 16 VHF-FM.
(5) Measures for attaining maximum stability for all vessels should be considered. Vessels required to depart port shall ensure cargo operations are secured to meet sail times. The COTP will consult with shipping and cargo handling interests regarding the time of phase down and termination of cargo handling operations, if necessary, for those vessels remaining in port.
4. Ports and mariners are cautioned that the COTP Mobile may quickly set Port Status X-ray and further conditions as the situation develops.
Current information may be obtained from the captain of the port voice mail announcement System at phone number 251-441-5080.

I looked up Port Status X-Ray and found this:

This readiness condition is set when threatening winds of 39 mph are possible within 48 hours.
Under condition X-Ray:
Ports should remove potential flying debris, hazardous materials and oil pollution hazards from dockside areas.
Coast Guard port survey teams conduct surveys.
Oceangoing commercial vessels greater than 500 gross tons must prepare to depart the port.
Vessels that are unable to depart the port must contact the Captain of the Port to request and receive permission to remain in port.

(http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-sets-port-condition-x-ray-for-wilmington-and-morehead-city/2007/09/08/)
Anybody have any idea why they are doing this for the Panhandle? And, perhaps, Mobile? Just a precaution? I'm confused...

[JonathanBelles]

IF the current trend continues, I may get very little from this system.

[Patrick99]

Big lull in the rain bands here in Miami-Dade......haven't had a squall for a couple hours. WPB looks like it's going to get it pretty good in just a bit, though.

[Canelaw99]

Same here in Homestead. After raining all day we've had a lull this last hour and a half or so....looks can be deceiving I suppose, but it's rather nice out after today.

[Weatherboy1]

Here in Northeastern Palm Beach County, it's been steadily raining for hours on end ... but no real serious squalls yet. Just steady rain with a little thunder and very little wind to speak of.

[RL3AO]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
945 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
EAST CENTRAL COLLIER COUNTY IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

* UNTIL 1000 PM EDT

* AT 943 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 8 MILES
NORTHEAST OF BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 29
MPH.


* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE...
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
I-75 AT COLLIER COUNTY REST AREA.

[JonathanBelles]

Completely clear skies right now. You would never know that there is a TC just a few hundred miles to my south.

[Patrick99]

Squalls now starting up in Miami-Dade again. Looks to be a large, strong line traversing up the Overseas Highway that will be getting to us in the next couple hours.

[JonathanBelles]

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 840
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1040 PM EDT MON AUG 18 2008

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA
COASTAL WATERS

EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING FROM 1040 PM
UNTIL 800 AM EDT.

TORNADOES...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 60 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 40 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF
MELBOURNE FLORIDA TO 70 MILES SOUTH OF MIAMI FLORIDA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE
UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU0).

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...THIS TORNADO WATCH REPLACES TORNADO
WATCH NUMBER 837. WATCH NUMBER 837 WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT AFTER
1040 PM EDT. CONTINUE...WW 839...

DISCUSSION...T.S. FAY WILL TRACK NWD AND INLAND ACROSS CENTRAL FL
OVERNIGHT. CONVECTIVE BANDS WILL CONTINUE TO ROTATE NWWD ACROSS THE
WATCH AREA THRU THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT. SHEAR IS SUFFICIENT FOR
ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT CONTINUING PRIMARILY WITH EMBEDDED SMALL
SUPERCELLS IN THE BANDS.

AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH EXTREME
TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI
WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 13035.


...HALES

[Thunder44]

All Hurricane Warnings have been cancelled as of the 5am advisory:

...Fay making landfall at Cape Romano...
At 5 am EDT...0900 UTC...all hurricane warnings are discontinued.

[gatorcane]

Winds still increasing in Southern FL as Fay's windfield interacts with the friction of land.

Boca Raton just saw a 42mph wind gust

[Jinkers]

It's pretty windy here right now too, low clouds, but not raining at the moment.

[JonathanBelles]

Winds are up to about 20mph here.