West Central Florida is going to be wet this week. Rain will advect into the area, bringing with it POPS between 20 and 50 percent all week. Daytime temperatures will be in the low-mid 90s, while at night, we'll see temperatures in the low 70s. Other than the rain, there's not much else to be concerned about weather-wise this week. However, there is a tropical wave that the NHC is watching. Right now, there is around a 50% chance of something forming from it. Within the next day or so, it could develop into a depression or possibly a tropical storm
With the start of hurricane season 2010 just over a week away, I have to ask: are you prepared? Do you have enough food, water, medicine, and whatever else you might need for at least three days after a hurricane hits? Do you know if you live in an evacuation zone? If not, here is a great guide for hurricane preparedness. Also, this week is National Hurricane Preparedness Week. Prepare now ahead of time so you're not rushing around at the last minute trying to get your supplies together.
Here is a list of this year's hurricane names in the Atlantic:
Alex
Bonnie
Colin
Danielle
Earl
Fiona
Gaston
Hermine
Igor
Julia
Karl
Lisa
Matthew
Nicole
Otto
Paula
Richard
Shary
Tomas
Virginie
Walter
Daytime temperatures will be in the upper 80s and low 90s this week, and there will be scattered thunderstorms across the area from Tuesday to Thursday.
I was out of town over the weekend so I wasn't able to update the blog. This week in West Central Florida we can expect rain through Thursday. There is a High Surf Advisory currently in effect from Hillsborough to Lee counties through 7pm tonight. Right now, Ida is expected to make landfall in Alabama near the Mississippi / Alabama border as a Tropical Storm. It should make landfall sometime around 6am tomorrow. Prepare NOW
Even though Ida is only a Tropical Storm, you should still be prepared. The outer rain bands are already affecting land, but you still need to make sure that you have supplies. There is a great hurricane preparedness guide from the National Hurricane Center that tells you everything you need to know about what to do to prepare for a hurricane. Below is Ida's latest forecasted track: (Click Image For Larger View)
As you might have heard, Tropical Storm Danny has formed in the Atlantic. From the NHC: "AT 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM DANNY WASLOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 24.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 70.3 WEST OR ABOUT445 MILES...715 KM...EAST OF NASSAU AND ABOUT 775 MILES...1250 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA.
DANNY IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH...30 KM/HR.A GENERAL NORTHWESTWARD MOTION WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED ISEXPECTED TODAY AND THURSDAY...WITH A TURN TOWARD THENORTH-NORTHWEST EXPECTED ON FRIDAY.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH...75 KM/HR...WITH HIGHERGUSTS. SLOW STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OFDAYS.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES...220 KMMAINLY TO THE NORTH OF THE CENTER."
There is a tropical disturbance in the Atlantic about 350 miles north of Puerto Rico, and from what the National Hurricane Center is saying, it could become a tropical depression at any time.
As of right now, it is moving to the west-northwest at 20 miles per hour.
If you are planning a vacation in the Caribbean in the next few days,
YOU NEED TO MONITOR THIS SYSTEM! It will most likely be a tropical depression by the time the NHC releases their next update.
Tropical Depression 4 formed off the coast of Florida last night. So now, there are three tropical entities currently in the Atlantic. Tropical Storms Ana and Bill, and TD 4. If Ana stays on it's current forecasted track, it should hit the Dominican Republic as a Tropical Storm and then die out over the Gulf Of Mexico. But seeing as how TD 4 formed when the NHC wasn't expecting it to, anything is possible. For all we know it could get out into the Gulf and then restrengthen into a monster hurricane and decimate the Gulf Coast. (Highly unlikely worst case scenario.) 
Tropical Depression 4 is expected to strengthen into a Tropical Storm some time today, at which point it would be named Claudette. Right now, hurricane hunters are investigating if it has already become a Tropical Storm. On it's current track, which is not expected to change, it looks like it is on a collision course headed for Panama City, Florida. The main threat will be rain. Just because it will hit as a Tropicla Storm, DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE IT!
There have been a ton of storms that have caused as much damage with their rains as a hurricane would with it's winds. Look back to Tropical Storm Fay from last year. It dropped up to THIRTY INCHES on parts of the West Coast of Florida. Look back at Erin from 2007 It made landfall near Lamar, Texas. It then moved across Texas and up into Oklahoma, where it got caught up in a passing front, and strengthened near Oklahoma City before finally weakening. The remnants that got caught in the front helped cause alot of rain across Oklahoma nd Missouri.
This is TD 4's forecasted track:
Right now, there is not much to say about Tropical Storm Bill.
It is forecast to become a hurricane, but it does not look like it will impact land. That could always change though. Here is Bill current Forecasted track: 
The National Hurricane Center's next update will be at 2:00 P.M.
NOAA has just released their updated hurricane season outlook. The main change from the May outlook is an increased probability of a below-normal season, and an expectation of fewer named storms and hurricanes. The May outlook called for nine to 14 named storms, of which four to seven could become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes. They are now predicting a 50 percent probability of a near-normal season, a 40 percent probability of a below-normal season, and a 10 percent probability of an above-normal season. Forecasters say there is a 70 percent chance of seven to 11 named storms, of which three to six could become hurricanes, including one to two major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5). Full Story Here
We are now only THREE DAYS from the start of the 2009 Hurricane Season.
This is the last awareness statement from the NWS as part of Hurricane Preparedness Week: Steps To Prepare and Plan For Hurricanes
Being prepared is the most important part of protecting yourself from storms. You may know the dangers of tropical systems, but if you don't know how to protect yourself from one, it's not going to help you much.
SO, THE QUESTION IS
THIS:
ARE YOU PREPARED?
Here are a few quick steps to getting prepared:
1. Make a plan - Know evacuation routes and plan for the possible event of having extra people stay with during the storm. (Family, Friends)
2. Make an emergency kit - Make a kit with all the necessary things you'll need: battery-operated radio, NOAA Weather Radio (highly recommended), plenty of food, any medication you require, and other things you might need, I've just listed a few essentials.
3. Know what to do after the storm - Loss of power almost always occurs with tropical systems, and if the area you live in is damaged, and you have evacuated, emergency official might not let you into the area.
FIVE DAYS..... Five days left to get ready for the upcoming hurricane season.
Today's awareness statement theme is Inland (Freshwater) Flooding
Flooding is and has been a problem associated with hurricanes, and yet, you still see people attempting to travel through flooded areas. Follow the National Weather Service's motto for floods: "Turn Around, Don't Drown!"
Quoted from NWS Ruskin's awareness statement:
"PRIOR TO 2005...STUDIES REVEALED THAT FRESHWATER FLOODING WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN HALF THE FATALITIES FROM TROPICAL CYCLONES IN THE UNITED STATES. INLAND FLOODING CAN BE A CATASTROPHIC THREAT TO COMMUNITIES WELL INLAND FROM THE COAST AS TORRENTIAL TROPICAL RAINS PERSIST. RECORDS HAVE SHOWN THAT SEVERAL OF THE STORMS HAD WEAKENED TO DEPRESSIONS WHEN THE WORST FLOODING OCCURRED."
ARE YOU PREPARED? The start of Hurricane Season 2009 is only six days away.
Today's awareness statement theme is High Winds and Tornadoes.
Some people tend to think that all they need to be worried about with tropical systems are the heavy rain, floods, and loss of power, but wind is a cause of concern as well.
Strong winds can send objects flying, and tropical systems have some high (emphasis on high) winds. Here is the Saffir-Simpson Scale from the National Hurricane Center:
Category One Hurricane: Sustained winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Damaging winds are expected. Some damage to building structures could occur, primarily to unanchored mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction). Some damage is likely to poorly constructed signs. Loose outdoor items will become projectiles, causing additional damage. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death. Numerous large branches of healthy trees will snap. Some trees will be uprooted, especially where the ground is saturated. Many areas will experience power outages with some downed power poles. Hurricane Cindy (pdf) (2005, 75 mph winds at landfall in Louisiana) and Hurricane Gaston (2004, 75 mph winds at landfall in South Carolina) are examples of Category One hurricanes at landfall.
Category Two Hurricane: Sustained winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Very strong winds will produce widespread damage. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings will occur. Considerable damage to mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction) and poorly constructed signs is likely. A number of glass windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Loose outdoor items will become projectiles, causing additional damage. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death.. Numerous large branches will break. Many trees will be uprooted or snapped. Extensive damage to power lines and poles will likely result in widespread power outages that could last a few to several days. Hurricane Erin (1995, 100 mph at landfall in northwest Florida) and Hurricane Isabel (2003, 105 mph at landfall in North Carolina) are examples of Category Two hurricanes at landfall.
Category Three Hurricane: Sustained winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Dangerous winds will cause extensive damage. Some structural damage to houses and buildings will occur with a minor amount of wall failures. Mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction) and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Many windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks. Hurricane Rita (pdf) (2005, 115 mph landfall in east Texas/Louisiana) and Hurricane Jeanne (2004, 120 mph landfall in southeast Florida) are examples of Category Three hurricanes at landfall.
Category Four Hurricane: Sustained winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Extremely dangerous winds causing devastating damage are expected. Some wall failures with some complete roof structure failures on houses will occur. All signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes (primarily pre-1994 construction). Extensive damage to doors and windows is likely. Numerous windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Windborne debris will cause extensive damage and persons struck by the wind-blown debris will be injured or killed. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted. Fallen trees could cut off residential areas for days to weeks. Electricity will be unavailable for weeks after the hurricane passes. Hurricane Charley (2004, 145 mph at landfall in southwest Florida) and Hurricane Hugo (1989, 140 mph at landfall in South Carolina) are examples of Category Four hurricanes at landfall.
Category Five Hurricane: Sustained winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Catastrophic damage is expected. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings will occur. Some complete building failures with small buildings blown over or away are likely. All signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes (built in any year). Severe and extensive window and door damage will occur. Nearly all windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Severe injury or death is likely for persons struck by wind-blown debris. Nearly all trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Hurricane Camille (pdf) (1969, 190 mph at landfall in Mississippi) and Hurricane Andrew (1992, 165 mph at landfall in Southeast Florida) are examples of Category Five hurricanes at landfall.
I was on my way to Myrtle Beach, SC when Hurricane Gaston struck South Carolina as a Category One, and a hurricane is DEFINITELY SOMETHING YOU DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THROUGH, I WILL TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.
Quick reminder to local visitors of the site: There will be two Hurricane Expos this Saturday, May 30th, one at Weeki Watchee, in Hernando County and one in Tampa, at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). More info about the Tampa Expo can be found here, and more info about the Hernando Expo can be found here. Both will have vendors and hurricane preparedness information. Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay, from Bay News 9 will be at the Hernando Expo.
Several meteorologists will be at the Tampa Expo: Josh Linker (meteorologist, Bay News 9), Paul Dellegatto (meteorologist, Fox 13), as well as several NWS meteorologists from NWS Ruskin. There will be a panel of meteorologists and emergency manager type people answering questions at 11:00am and 1:00pm. I will be there and will have pictures on the Weekly Update after the Expo.
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