Category Archives: Adverse Weather

The Calm After the Storm: Cleaning Up After Hurricane Irma

The big hurricane of the season for our area just roared through. This was one of the most powerful storms I can remember there being in the Tampa Bay area since I’ve been alive. We’re fortunate enough to have only had minor damage compared to what could have occurred. Still, there was a lot of destruction throughout the area. A big part of Continue reading The Calm After the Storm: Cleaning Up After Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma Closures

Hurricane Irma is making landfall right now around 3:45pm on the Florida peninsula just south of Naples.  Its projected path brings the eye over the densely populated area of west central Florida. The forecast of this storm brings potentially serious impacts to Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay area.  It’s prompted many closures.  In fact, much of state’s economy has gone completely silent.  Everything is closed from gas stations, to grocery stores, to industrial districts. Continue reading Hurricane Irma Closures

Hurricane Irma: Sandbags in Pinellas County

Sandbag distribution locations were opened today in response to Hurricane Irma for unincorporated parts of Pinellas County. These locations are being inundated with people looking for sandbags to protect their homes from flood and rainwater. Currently, the wait for sandbags is 2 hours. There’s a lot of sand according to the park ranger directing traffic, but if your in a low lying area it might be worth the wait, because the sand could run out like it did today in Clearwater.  Sandbags will help with Continue reading Hurricane Irma: Sandbags in Pinellas County

Hurricane Irma Evacuations: Pinellas County Level A & B Mandatory Evacuations Tomorrow Morning

Today, the board of county commissioners voted for evacuations for Pinellas County zone A.  (Update: Lebel B is also being evacuated) The evacuations take effect tomorrow morning at 6am. Local shelter open at noon.  You’ll want to double check your evacuation flood zone if you haven’t looked since the flood zoning changes were made. Continue reading Hurricane Irma Evacuations: Pinellas County Level A & B Mandatory Evacuations Tomorrow Morning

Hurricane Preparedness: Hurricane Irma Barreling Down on Florida

Hurricane Irma is still headed for the state. On a positive note, yesterday afternoon the NHC and GFS model track shifted to that surfing scenario I was talking about in the Hurricane Irma path of destruction article from Monday morning from the forecast at that time.  The path was for the storm to travel towards the southern gulf down by the everglades; the eye was forecast to travel up along the west Florida coastline.   The thought of this intense storm making landfall through the west side of the state has created a mass buying frenzy. Continue reading Hurricane Preparedness: Hurricane Irma Barreling Down on Florida

Hurricane Irma GFS Forecast Track: Florida In The Path of Destruction

Major Hurricane Irma is currently a category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph, with even higher gusts according to NOAA. Irma is expected to maintain its intensity for the next 5 days, if not strengthen. The ocean’s heat increases along its path, mid-level moisture is abundant, and verticle shear is low. 5 days out, as Irma approaches Florida it’s still expected to be a category 3, a very big storm.

Also, check this out: Part 2 of Hurricane Irma (Wednesday) and preparing for the storm.

Continue reading Hurricane Irma GFS Forecast Track: Florida In The Path of Destruction