For a while now I've had the makings of a post rolling around in my brain. It was all about El Niño, the weather phenomenon that emerged mid-summer and kept this year's Atlantic Hurricane activity on the quite side. But I was going to wait until the end of the month...the official end of hurricane season.
Good thing I didn't rush to write it as Ida seems intent on paying us a visit.
Here's the map from the National Hurricane Center with the 9pm position and forecast. See that little black dot on the Florida coast where Ida is expected to make landfall? They couldn't have drawn it more on top of Pensacola if they'd tried. That would be the bad news, I suppose. The good news? The Gulf waters are cooler as they get closer to shore meaning the storm should weaken some. That's definitely better than August or September when hurricanes get stronger and stronger as they approach over the warm Gulf. And there's some other weather conditions that may help weaken Ida and possibly even turn her more to the east.
Still, we'll spend tomorrow buttoning things up. As storms go, this isn't a big one but we'll be prepared...we know the drill.
And when I flip on the TV tomorrow to check the latest weather news, I fully expect to see Jim Cantore or one of his cohorts giving live reports from Pensacola Beach. After all, the Weather Channel crew hasn't had many reasons to travel this summer. And I'da (a pun worthy of a groan, for sure!) rather they didn't have this one.
Yeah, it's never a good sign when the Weather Channel shows up. Take care, you two.
Posted by: Pat | November 09, 2009 at 05:26 AM
Stay dry and safe. As much as we all like watching Jim Cantore on tv,we don't want to see him broadcasting live from our neighborhood!
Posted by: Janet | November 09, 2009 at 09:02 AM
How funny! When they activated the EOC yesterday and Michael went into work, I thought the same thing about Jim Cantore!
;-) Knew he was packing his bags to hit someplace in Florida.
Posted by: Dana | November 09, 2009 at 10:27 AM
As soon as I heard about the hurricane, I thought of you. Keep safe!
Posted by: Judy H. | November 09, 2009 at 12:47 PM
I saw Jim Cantore at Pensacola Beach this morning! Take care!
John
Posted by: John | November 09, 2009 at 01:16 PM
Be safe Brenda and Wayne!
Posted by: Charlenenglish | November 09, 2009 at 08:07 PM