Hurricane Irma

holnrew

Lolling at the sign off, not the predicament

ICBM

Looks like the projected track has shifted slightly further to the west again, and the eye may remain just offshore at Cape Coral. I'm not sure if that's good news or not…

RaymondLin

ICBM said:

Looks like the projected track has shifted slightly further to the west again, and the eye may remain just offshore at Cape Coral. I'm not sure if that's good news or not…

Bad news, because if it doesn't make landfall, it doesn't slow down, and what it does is that it creates a space, aka, water between the eye and the coast which pushes those water into the coast even more.

The sooner it touches land, the sooner it looses power.

ICBM

RaymondLin said:

ICBM said:

Looks like the projected track has shifted slightly further to the west again, and the eye may remain just offshore at Cape Coral. I'm not sure if that's good news or not…

Bad news, because if it doesn't make landfall, it doesn't slow down, and what it does is that it creates a space, aka, water between the eye and the coast which pushes those water into the coast even more.

The sooner it touches land, the sooner it looses power.

But equally, you don't want it to slow down too much because that increases the height of the storm surge and the amount of rainfall in one place, which is what happened with Harvey.

Probably the worst case is if it moves slowly up the coast with the eye wall right on it.

RaymondLin

ICBM said:

RaymondLin said:

ICBM said:

Looks like the projected track has shifted slightly further to the west again, and the eye may remain just offshore at Cape Coral. I'm not sure if that's good news or not…

Bad news, because if it doesn't make landfall, it doesn't slow down, and what it does is that it creates a space, aka, water between the eye and the coast which pushes those water into the coast even more.

The sooner it touches land, the sooner it looses power.

But equally, you don't want it to slow down too much because that increases the height of the storm surge and the amount of rainfall in one place, which is what happened with Harvey.

Probably the worst case is if it moves slowly up the coast with the eye wall right on it.

It's only moving like 8mph, there is no good news no matter where this lands.  I can't believe
@chillidoggy chose to stay put.

I grew up in HK, in 10 years I think i experienced category 4 may be twice, but living in a 34 storey buildings with metal bars on the windows I felt safe, was actually fun looking out the windows watching debris flying around.  I would however never voluntarily stay if i know the storm is coming and i know i am by the coast.

chillidoggy

We're staying put because we don't have any other option. Hotels are either closed, or those that are open are full, shelters are full, and we are in a concrete house with steel storm shutters over all the windows. The roads out were either closed, or packed with traffic, and gas stations are closed, or out of gas altogether. So far, the water and power is still on, but if I don't log in, then it will have gone off.

Good job with wife and I get on well, cos we're gonna be cooped up together for a while.

Axe_meister

So will your next child be called Irma then?

RaymondLin

chillidoggy said:

We're staying put because we don't have any other option. Hotels are either closed, or those that are open are full, shelters are full, and we are in a concrete house with steel storm shutters over all the windows. The roads out were either closed, or packed with traffic, and gas stations are closed, or out of gas altogether. So far, the water and power is still on, but if I don't log in, then it will have gone off.

Good job with wife and I get on well, cos we're gonna be cooped up together for a while.

But you have had warning days before, I would have booked a hotel in Boston or something and got my ass out of Florida soon as the warning came.

Good luck to you, the next 24 hours will not be fun, and I would stay off the alcohol personally, emergency services will not be attending any calls in hurricane strength winds.

chillidoggy

Sadly, thousands of others must have had the same idea of leaving, flights out of here were fully booked. Plus, as I said, I75 north was one big traffic jam, and gas stations all over the show had run out of gas. Restaurants closed, so nowhere to eat, sleep or take a shit/piss. We can't fly back home because Fort Lauderdale airport is closed until further notice.

I've just been outside to move the car parallel across the garage door, and got soaked in about 2 seconds flat!

chillidoggy

Just seen it's heading more northerly, predicted to hit here as a cat 3, then falling to a 1 as it gets further north.

ICBM

chillidoggy said:

Sadly, thousands of others must have had the same idea of leaving, flights out of here were fully booked. Plus, as I said, I75 north was one big traffic jam, and gas stations all over the show had run out of gas. Restaurants closed, so nowhere to eat, sleep or take a shit/piss. We can't fly back home because Fort Lauderdale airport is closed until further notice.

I'm not sure what they were on about recommending that 6 million people evacuate. There is no way the roads and airlines could cope with even a fraction of that number without weeks of notice.

You're safer staying put if you're in a strong building well above water level. It's probably going to be a bit scary, but as long as you know what's coming and have prepared well it's not *that* dangerous - very few people have actually been killed so far along the whole track of the storm, despite the overwhelming damage to buildings.

You will almost certainly lose communications at some point tonight, so we'll just have to keep fingers crossed for you.

DiscoStu

My cousin and his wife live in Fort Myers. They can't evacuate as she works at the hospital and has to be on duty. My cousin has boarded up the house and raised a Saltire in the garden as he's "not going down on foreign soil"!

chillidoggy

That's the spirit!

ICBM

DiscoStu said:

My cousin has boarded up the house and raised a Saltire in the garden

Which will probably later be found somewhere in Tennessee...

usedtobe

https://scontent.flhr4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/21369266_1791954134166593_8762338789030101691_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=c200ab1751795f5fd186215b087cc71e&oe=5A12CB9F

Babones

quarky

https://i.redd.it/0r8nld7cc2lz.jpg

ToneControl

I've been watching the live CNN coverage from Naples, and it looks like everyone will be OK if they are in proper concrete buildings more than 10 feet up from sea level, so not as bad as it was looking

Emp_Fab

The current track is now heading directly to where he is.  The leading edge of the strongest wind zone is about to reach him any minute.  If it remains on the predicted course, the eye will pass right over them... And then beat the shit out of them with opposite wind as it leaves.

I think he's mental for staying but I have to admit, I'm kinda jealous - it must be something to behold.  

jonnyburgo

If I was in chilli's position id get out in the garden when it hits, make my coat into a cape and hold it over my head then jump into the air and fly to higher ground. Sorted.