Not only are they coming fast, but the storms are getting bigger too. The second Cat 4 hurricane in as many weeks will brush past Jamaica over the weekend on it’s way through the tip of the Yucutan peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico. That’s 2 major hurricanes so far this season out of a predicted 3-5 for the season.
A few days behind Emily is yet another tropical wave that might develop into something over the next few days. Lots to keep an eye on this year.
And Emily makes 5
Boy, when the the NHC forecasts a busy season, they’re not kidding around. Not even two months into the season and already there have been 5 named storms out of the 12-15 forecast for the season with almost 5 months left to go. At this rate the number of storms we’ll end up for the season will either blow that prediction out of the water, or the rest of the season will be quiet(er). I’m starting to think the former, but hopefully it will be the latter.
TD5 became TS Emily over night and the long range track has it heading over Cuba, becoming a hurricane in a couple of days. Another one to keep an eye on.
The Tropical Storm Express train
While I was blissfully sleeping and recovering from the floor installation, TD5 popped up in the middle of the Atlantic, just a few days away from the Carribean. According to the 5AM discussion, it’s forecast to become TS Emily later on today and then a hurricane by the end of the week. Based on the early track, this is one I will have to keep an eye on.
And then further east coming off the African coast is yet another tropical wave that may develop into something in a little while.
In the meantime, Dennis has weakened to a depression and will just drop a bunch of rain over the midwest for the next few days.
Getting the floors nailed down.
After spending a couple of hours practicing with my new power tools, building a couple of simple items, another trip to Lowe’s and learning how to use the nailers we rented, the flooring installation finally got started.
It took us about 6 hours to get 2/3s of the office done, but now that we’ve got our technique down I expect that we’ll be able to finish off the room and the hallway today, and maybe even get started on the red room.
Nailing in the 3/8″ wood flooring is turning out to be a little more difficult than expected. Hit the nailer too hard, and the nail ends up going too deep and cracking the tongue. This ends up making it harder to put the next row in because you end up having to hammer it in. Just makes the job a little more time consuming. It’s too bad we couldn’t do the 3/4″ wood. Probably would go a little faster with the thicker planks. Still looks good though. I figure we should be able to get it all finished by the middle of the week.
Dennis is gonna be a doozy
Looks like that Florida panhandle/Alabama/Louisiana coast is going to get smacked into again in a few days. It’s already a Cat 3 hurricane, and may even reach Cat 4 later tonight. Time for folks there to start battening down the hatches.
From today’s 5 PM discussion:
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS REMAIN QUITE FAVORABLE FOR STRENGTHENING AND THE OFFICIAL FORECAST SHOWS A BORDERLINE CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE IN 12 HOURS. DENNIS IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN SOMEWHAT OVER CUBA…BUT IT SHOULD REGAIN STRENGTH WHEN IT EMERGES OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. ALTHOUGH THE WIND SHEAR MAY BECOME LESS FAVORABLE FOR INTENSIFICATION OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO…THE OFFICIAL FORECAST MAINTAINS DENNIS AS A MAJOR HURRICANE UP TO LANDFALL IN THAT AREA.
