The Eastern Pacific is Already Heating Up...Hurricane???

***This is an abbreviated version based on information form the National Hurricane Center

TROPICAL STORM ALMA SPECIAL ADVISORY

NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI, FL

ALMA STRENGTHEN...HURRICANE WARNINGS ISSUED...

AT 9 AM PDT THE GOVERNMENTS OF NICARAGUA AND HONDURAS HAVE ISSUED HURRICANE WARNINGS FOR THE PACIFIC COASTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES.

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN THE NEXT 12 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

AT 9 AM PDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ALMA WAS LOCATED ABOUT 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MANAGUA, NICARAGUA AND ABOUT 210 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR. ALMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 7 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY.

ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF ALMA WILL REACH THE COAST OF NICARAGUA TONIGHT AND BE NEAR THE COASTS OF HONDURAS AND EL SALVADOR DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 65 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ALMA COULD REACH THE COAST AS A HURRICANE. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER. ALMA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA FROM COSTA RICA NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH PORTIONS OF NICARAGUA...HONDURAS...ELSALVADOR...AND GUATEMALA.

ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN AREAS OF HIGHER TERRAIN. THESE RAINS MAY PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES.

Source: NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI, FL

Click the link below to visit the National Hurricane Center Website:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

The tension builds…as hurricane season 2008 looms!

Forecasters from Colorado State have upgraded its 2008 Hurricane Season forecast. The Colorado State forecast team proclaims; “the U.S. Atlantic basin will likely experience a well above-average hurricane season this year.” The Colorado State University team's forecast now anticipates 15 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin between June 1 and Nov. 30. Eight of the storms are predicted to become hurricanes, and of those eight, four are expected to develop into intense or major hurricanes. (Credit: NOAA)
Here is a link to the full story provided by Science Daily:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080409133718.htm
Here is a link to the National Weather Sevice:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/tropical/

Weather...or not?

Let's talk about the weather. Weather has always been so fascinating to me...mainly because no matter where you are, it is always there. A constant in a world of variability. I find solace when I gaze up at the sky on a cold winter day viewing the wispy cirrus clouds above...peeking out the window during an evening thunderstorm as lightning lights up the sky displaying flashes of the energy from the storm...or waiting for the bottom to drop out before a summer pop-up shower on the Florida coast then, the rain tapers off right before the sun goes to bed on the horizon of the Gulf Coast and all seems well with the world.

Another wonderful aspect of weather is that it links all of us together: humans, animals, plants...all living things. We all depend on it and follow it whether we like it or not. Also, what other topic can you strike up a conversation with a complete stranger about other than the weather?

I am taken by the splendor of our atmosphere. The weather is always changing and so are we. The fact that we can predict the weather but, know deep down anything can happen, relates a lot to life in general.