Irma now 180 MPH is the strongest storm ever in our hemisphere

[malaise]

since record keeping.
Say along with me now - there is no climate change

[rurallib]

1. good gawd

[GeoWilliam750]

187. Storm surge projected at 15-20 feet for at least the southern Bahamas

[mcar]

2. Off I go to buy water and batteries

[underpants]

11. BTW

My wife has been buying batteries from Amazon. Great deals.

[mcar]

40. That's what I'm planning

The stores are insane already here in W Central FL. No water, no batteries/flashlights to be had. Cars lined up to get gas - now (I'm thinking they'll need to refill by Friday).

Not worried about water as we've got a lot and lots of receptacles to have more. I'm a bit short on light sources though so it's off to Amazon I go!

[Pacifist Patriot]

114. Same in East Central Florida

[Nay]

46. You're in Richmond, right? You know how the electricity goes out at the drop of a hanky.

Thanks for reminding me -- heading to Costco for batteries, etc., this afternoon. I KNOW we're out of AAs.

[underpants]

118. Yes. We're Prime members so we get them crazy fast

Don't forget to get frozen peas. They are a great substitution for ice.

[pangaia]

156. Maybe so, but they sure don't work as food.

[sheshe2]

18. Stay safe mcar.

[mcar]

43. Thanks she

I haven't been this worried since Andrew (lived in SFL then).

[Motley13]

20. Good luck with that

I needed AA & D batteries, went to 3 places before finding D. I had water from a previous scare. While in Target, they got a huge shipment of water, they had been out.

[Big_K]

81. As a Cracker (native born Floridian from the 50's) stay safe....

Now I'm up where the tornadoes and blizzards can get me. But I remember Hurricane Dora when the eye went over our house. No electricity for 2 weeks and no water for 2 days. Back in the days we knew to fill the bathtub so we could use the potty.

Plus our water and cans of Sego (meal replacement drink) left over from the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Ah, I mess the good old days when a wooden school desk could save you from a nuclear bomb.

[Ligyron]

121. Dora, now that was a storm.

I was so excited the school closed but things got boring real quick after my Dad put up the home made wooden shutters.

The yard clean up after was a real mess.

[pangaia]

157. My, my. I remember those desk as well.

Today's desks would NEVER protect a person from a bomb.
They sure don't make 'em like they used to.

[redstatebluegirl]

79. Please stay safe!

[beachbum bob]

145. most places sold out, still time to order from amazon for delivery

My son who is in WPB area says gas stations are running out of gas now

[SHRED]

3. Link?

[NutmegYankee]

53. https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2017/hurricane-irma

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT1+shtml/051446.shtml

000
WTNT41 KNHC 051446
TCDAT1

Hurricane Irma Discussion Number 26
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017
1100 AM AST Tue Sep 05 2017

Irma is an extremely impressive hurricane in both infrared and
visible satellite images. Experimental GOES-16 one-minute visible
satellite pictures show a distinct 25-30 n mi wide eye with several
mesovortices rotating within with eye. The aircraft have not
sampled the northeastern eyewall where the strongest winds were
measured shortly before 1200 UTC this morning, but the Air Force
plane will be entering the eye in that quadrant momentarily. A peak
SFMR wind of 154 kt was reported, with a few others of 149-150 kt.
Based on these data the initial intensity is set at 155 kt for this
advisory. This makes Irma the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic
basin outside of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico in the NHC
records.

[Botany]

4. that is the speed of an F3 Tornado

[gratuitous]

9. It's also kind of slow for an Indy-class race car

But I'm not sure what that has to do with anything.

I will say that the Chinese really seem committed to this global climate change hoax they're perpetrating.

[shanny]

148. well that was a gratuitous dig

but well done! well done.

[gratuitous]

149. Insist on only gratuitous-brand digs

For the slightly-above-average in snark, insist on gratuitous!

[shanny]

151. The best digs, the very best!

[pangaia]

159. Can you imagine 2 republicans having that funny discussion you and gratuitous just had?

me neither.

their, there they're to too stupid.

[shanny]

160. and they're humor is only meanness

[Motley13]

95. Hurricanes can have tornadoes inside of them

[Johnny2X2X]

5. 1000 year storms

So in the last 12 years we had 500 year hurricanes in New Orleans and the East Coast, we had a 1000 year flood, and now we have the strongest storm ever recorded in this Hemisphere.

Warner seas are creating more extreme weather events, that seems pretty clear.

[luvtheGWN]

78. I lived through Hurricane Hazel in 1954,

so deadly in the Caribbean, the United States and Canada of all places, that its name was retired. We'd had a lot of rain in the Toronto and Southern Ontario area 2 weeks prior, and Hazel was not predicted to cross the border, but a northern cold front said otherwise. It happened a week before my 6th birthday, my parents had gone to visit my grandmother in Detroit and couldn't make it back home for a few days because so many bridges had been washed away. Our house was built in the 1830's, with a cellar whose walls were stones and mortar. The water reached the top step of the cellar and my brother and sisters hauled buckets and buckets AND buckets of water. Was never so scared in my life, and when I see the results of Harvey, Katrina, Sandy et al, I think how lucky we -- and our home -- were to survive it.
Interesting article in Wikipedia about the evil Hazel.

[eleny]

100. I'm pretty sure that's the big one I remember

I turned 8 that year.

We lived in Queens, NY. My vivid memory of Hazel's fury was watching my mother in the backyard holding onto the grape arbor trying to keep it from falling over. It was a major storm.

[Glorfindel]

108. I remember Hurricane Hazel, too. I was nine years old

It worried me to death, even though it didn't really do anything here in the southern Appalachians. It was all over the news and weather (such as they were, back then) and newspapers, and all the grownups were talking about it incessantly. It's the first hurricane I ever remember hearing about. I lived in southern Mississippi when Katrina hit, but I was in Georgia for Labor Day and missed the storm but certainly not the aftermath.

[WinkyDink]

113. Me, too! I was five. Bethlehem Steel area got flooded. Decades later I lived on the Army

Corps of Engineers-reclaimed land!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

136. I remember Hazel also.

I was just six. For some reason I didn't hear "hurricane" correctly, and for a while people were saying "hurry king".

We were living in Utica, NY, and I recall all the grownups being mystified and a bit scared that a hurry king had reached so far inland.

[wishstar]

155. Hurricane Hazel broke windows in our NY home near Lake Ontario while we sheltered in basement

however, our basement flooded. I was too little to recall, but growing up, my parents told us kids often about carrying us down to the wet basement to stay safe since our upstairs bedroom windows had blown out.

This storm Irma will have serious impacts inland as well as coastal if it goes direct north through Florida after hitting land. Some of the current tracks place Irma going near my home in western NC, so I am preparing for basement flooding and loss of electricity possible from blown trees from Irma.

[treestar]

197. In an old town in Delaware

There was a huge tree stump, and the story was that Hurricane Hazel had brought the tree down. They left the stump until the 80s or so.

[MFM008]

207. Remember the song

"Hazel" by Tommy James?
I don't know why that popped into my head.......

[Stargazer99]

167. Except if you are a conservative republican-must keep those profits rolling in

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. We been saying

we gonna see one of those monsters that have shown up in the Pacific.

[malaise]

144. Precisely sis

[meow2u3]

7. Irma ought to be labeled a Category 6 superhurricane

But there is no global warming.

[Stargazer99]

52. The fact that scientist told them weather would be more intense

never filtered through their conservative Republican brain....to pay attention to facts might dilute profits you know

[Mariana]

84. Or they could, you know, express wind speed in mph

and say it's the strongest hurricane ever recorded in this hemisphere. Nothing wrong with that - I think most of us can understand three digit numbers. Irma has broken the category system. And please let it die. I think you're right. There is global warming and she won't be the last.

[cwydro]

96. There is no such thing as a Cat 6.

Twice I've seen it on DU now.

Jeebus, people.

[Iwasthere]

107. Will they one day change the categories to include 6?

[cwydro]

115. Why?

What's the point?

Cat 5 is devastating. Period.

[Callmecrazy]

171. If the winds reach 186 mph...

I'm calling it a cat 6.

WHO'S WITH ME?

[Agschmid]

182. No point.

Once you reach the point of devastation what the hell does the category matter?

[Mariana]

117. Better to do away with the silly categories altogether.

It's redundant if they also tell us the wind speed, so just tell us the wind speed and be done with it.

[Me.]

8. Does It Have Haiti In It's Sights?

[HAB911]

17. Haiti and DR will be hit hard

I'm in Tampa, not looking good for us either

[Me.]

37. Dear God

I don't know what Haiti will do, it really hasn't recovered from the last one,
as for you and yours as well as all in the path do your best to stay safe

[HAB911]

48. Watching closely

It doesn't seem like driving north would be of any value unless I left today and even then it will catch up in Georgia. Also considering driving east if it goes into the Gulf, put a 160 miles more between us. Too soon to decide because it may yet go up the east coast of FL in which case I would be safer here. Also all depends on strength, CAT 3 not too bad, 4+ I think it better to leave.

[Nay]

42. I'm trying to convince my brother in Clearwater to get his ass out of FL right

now, but he's dragging his feet. I can just see that damned Irma doing a hard right around the Keys and motoring straight up to the Tampa Bay/Clearwater/St Pete area.

He may not be any safer up here in VA, but at least we are far inland and can't possibly get the flooding that FL is gonna get. Jeez.

And what if it hangs that right and goes straight to Texas? Would there be anything left of the state?

[HAB911]

50. Yes, If I were in Clearwater

I would leave as soon as it gets on the west side of the state at the very least. Hopefully it will not be too late by then. I'm dealing with the same calculus myself.

[Nay]

57. I'd like him to leave a bit early, since I-95 north will be a parking lot once evac is

underway. He can come other routes, but all will be crowded when Irma is obviously going to hit.

As a native Floridian, I would certainly urge you to get out soon. I've been through about 5 hurricanes - none are fun, and Irma looks like it might be the worst one ever.

[tavernier]

189. My daughter lives in Clearwater.

She manages a restaurant on the beach and is afraid the owner will want to keep it open. Nutty, greedy people!

[Nay]

192. Good God. That's insane. It's not the Columbia Restaurant, is it?

[tavernier]

193. Cooters.

He's a very nice guy but sometimes his priorities are wacky.

[Nay]

194. I don't exactly remember where Cooters is -- is it on Sand Key, or right in downtown

Clearwater on the beach?

It doesn't matter, I'm just curious. Did you see that this morning they think Irma is now more likely to go up the east coast of Florida? Let's hope it swings away from Fl altogether.

[tavernier]

196. It's one street east of the Main Street

on the beach, close to the Walgreens. Really good food.

[dewsgirl]

45. I'm in Vero Beach, people are terrified. Stay safe.

[HAB911]

51. If it makes it to the west coast

I will probably go to Cocoa, I don't think driving up 75 is the way to go. There aren't many good options.

[dewsgirl]

58. Hurricanes are just so darn unpredictable, try to stay inland if you can. I've lived here

my whole life, and this is probably the scariest for my area.

[Nay]

59. We used to zoom up to the Georgia hills. nt

[spanone]

10. be safe down there malaise.....

[malaise]

26. Thanks spanone - we're good

out of the cone. Spare a thought for the folks in the Leewards and Puerto Rico.
None of us has ever experienced anything like this.

[spanone]

27. 👍🏼😎

[mcar]

173. My son in DC's former roommate

just moved back to PR. He and his family have been prepping for days but still...

They will take a direct hit. They cannot evacuate.

[malaise]

175. PR is going to take a beating

Damn

[mcar]

177. This is going to be bad

[marybourg]

12. I'm reading that it's

" . . . the strongest hurricane ever recorded outside the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/09/05/catastrophic-hurricane-irma-now-a-cat-5-is-on-a-collision-course-with-florida/?tid=pm_pop&utm_term=.b01a4715a02f

But possibly you have later information?

[bluepen]

21. Right. Those qualifiers are important.

And there have been stronger ones, anyway. Best to go by pressure, not wind speed.

[GusBob]

23. Yes I read it that way too, they were saying strongest in the Atlantic basin

outside of the other 2 locations, which begs the question: what were the strongest storms in those locals

[GusBob]

25. storms outside of the Atlantic with equal or stronger winds

Labor Day storm of 1935
Allen
Mitch
Gilbert
Rita

[obamanut2012]

89. I am in SOFL, and keep thinking of the Labor Day 'cane!

[shanny]

150. Patricia 2015

[BadgerKid]

13. Not quite the lowest pressure (870 mbar, 190 mph winds) recorded (in 1979)

12 October 1979

A figure of 870 millibar (25.69 in) was recorded on 12 Oct 1979 by the US Air Weather Service 483 km (300 miles) west of Guam in the Pacific Ocean in the eye of Super Typhoon Tip which involved wind speeds of 165 kts (305 km/h; 190 mph). Barometric pressure is the physical pressure exerted by all of the air above you.

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/lowest-barometric-pressure


Irma is currently at 931 mbar and 180 mph sustained winds. Could get worse, hope it doesn't, but at that level, does it matter?

[bluepen]

22. Yep. There have been several stronger.

Always best to go by pressure.

[heaven05]

65. so what

that is NOT the price of groceries here!!!!! To hell with millibars and all the BS, we are talking about people and their lives.

[bluepen]

82. Not a bad satirical post.

If serious, it's a bad post.

[heaven05]

206. Snark uneccessary

it's like water down a ducks back with me. But here, I have grown used to it. In fact I expect it here, actually, when certain people who have no more to say and never really said anything of merit relative to the importance of a person's life versus millibars. Who should care about millibars and from all accounts millibars won't mean a damn thing to Floridians.

[bluepen]

208. It's science.

It has to do with pressure, which is directly related to the strength and power of a hurricane. Which just happens to be the topic here.

So be as ignorant and dismissive of science as you want. Doesn't make a damn bit of difference to me.

[heaven05]

210. not dismissive

just don't see the relevance of ANYTHING you are discussing...as far as ignorance goes your opinion "doesn't make a damn bit of difference to me". backatcha

[hamsterjill]

14. For all in any potential path of Irma, I sincerely hope you will stay safe and be careful.

My area of Texas (San Antonio) was so very lucky during Hurricane Harvey. The coastal areas are devastated and it all just breaks my heart. I've got friends who have lost everything.

The stress surrounding Harvey and the impact - where it was going to hit, etc. was hard on everyone in its path in the days leading up to the actual land fall. Now, unfortunately, it looks like it's Florida's turn. I know everyone in any potential path is upset and unsettled. I sincerely hope and pray that Irma will not be as bad as predicted.

Take care of yourself and be diligent.

[clutterbox1830]

15. I'm not sure about ever. Hurricane Allen reached 190 mph of sustained wind speed.

Either case 180 mph is a very strong storm.

[roamer65]

16. Imagine what hurricanes will be like in 2050 at this pace.

[malaise]

162. Thankfully I'm betting I won't be here

[Pacifist Patriot]

198. My actuarial odds are pretty good I won't be either.

[IronLionZion]

19. Hurricanes are a liberal conspiracy

You know there is Soros money behind these record-breaking storms designed to destroy punish our job creators in the Southeast who need more tax cuts not more job killing environmental regulations.

[Lithos]

61. No

It's Gawd punishing the Southerners for removing the statues. Notice how most of the models have it moving up the coast towards Central Virginia and Charlottesville?

[B2G]

24. Outside of the Carribean and Gulf, yes.

In the our hemisphere? No.

[Orrex]

28. Has a hurricane demonstrated higher winds in our hemisphere?

I know of course that Mt. Washington has clocked much higher wind speed, but I honestly don't know if a hurricane has recorded higher speeds.

In any case: holy shit!

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. The "Outside of the Carribean and Gulf" qualification is official, so I think 'yes'

"Hurricane Irma has intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane," the National Hurricane Center says, citing the latest data from NOAA and Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft.

With maximum sustained winds of 180 mph, Irma is a Category 5 — the most serious type of major hurricane on the Saffir-Sampson wind scale.

Irma is the strongest hurricane the NHC has ever recorded in the Atlantic basin outside of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, the agency says.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/05/548606014/category-5-hurricane-irma-brings-175-mph-winds-to-bear-on-caribbean-islands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Atlantic_hurricane_records#By_highest_sustained_winds

[Orrex]

36. Again: Holy shit!

Makes those 50 mph gusts I get north of Pittsburgh seem pretty damn inconsequential.

#perspective

[malaise]

88. And there are gusts up to 220mph

That's freaking tornado strength here - houses will fly - and boats and buses.

[Orrex]

39. And thanks for that wiki link

Scary stuff.

[B2G]

32. Yes.

But that's not to say Irma can't surpass those. Looks like she's up to 185 MPH now based on recon.

She's bad.

[Orrex]

38. Holy shit once again

Here in western PA we don't feel much impact from hurricanes, and tornadoes are very rare, so that force of wind is hard to comprehend.

[shanny]

152. Hurricane Patricia 2015

215 mph (hit the west coast of Mexico)

[Orrex]

183. Holy shit!

[shanny]

184. Odd thing was...it hit the coast

and all but disappeared. Really strange.

I know some are asking "why is there no category 6 designation?" and yes, I agree with the response "what could be worse than devastation?" But I have also heard that a Cat 6 storm will blow itself to bits / can't be sustained. Dunno if that is true, but maybe it had a bearing in this case.

[whopis01]

191. Yes. Hurricane Allen in 1980 had 190mph sustained winds n/t

[greyl]

29. Please don't mention climate change while posting untruths. nt

[GaryCnf]

31. I know this dates me

But I thought I remembered Gilbert was close to 190.

You're right, though, if people want to deny climate change, they need to come up with an explanation for the what looks like it might be 3 major (4/5) hurricanes making it into the Gulf/Caribbean before 9/15.

Btw, be safe, that Southward bob from Irma is more than a little troubling

[B2G]

35. Here is your explanation.

Active seasons have been happening since the 1800's. Some with a lot more than this year. We have 2 so far. Not sure where you're getting the 3rd from.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_hurricane_season

[GaryCnf]

55. THANKS!!

For number 3, my eternally pessimistic self (yep, it infects and affects me elsewhere too), was looking at TS Jose that looks to my uneducated eye as if it is going to follow Harvey's path.

[malaise]

93. Harvey came up below Barbados

Two completely different tracks

[GaryCnf]

122. Thanks to you as well!

I was looking at the modeling on TS Jose and I see it tracking North.

Looks like Irma will head north of you like it is supposed to as well. That's good.

I have an old friend who lives near Red Hook on St. Thomas who has moved in with a friend up on the mountain. She said it looks bad but she has a satellite phone from her job and they are just going to hunker down as best they can.

Take care.

[beachbum bob]

33. the famous 1935 labor day hurricane that wiped out florida keys and destoyed the rail line

going there.....hit land at 181mph, wind sustain speed of 186-187mph

but Irma has 24 hrs of further intensification


The Labor Day Hurricane was the most intense storm ever known to have struck the United States, having the lowest sea level pressure ever recorded in the United States—a central pressure of 892 mb (26.35 inHg)—suggesting an intensity of between 162 kt and 164 kt (186.4 mph – 188.7 mph). The somewhat compensating effects of a slow (7 kt, 8.1 mph) translational velocity along with an extremely tiny radius of maximum wind (5 nmi, 9.3 miles) led to an analyzed intensity at landfall of 160 kt (184.1 mph, Category 5). This is the highest intensity for a U.S. landfalling hurricane

[cwydro]

69. Yes indeed.

And there was the Galveston storm of 1900 or 01, not sure.

I think, and hope, that Irma will dissipate some. I've seen disaster folks on here (most banned now) really get off on generating panic. It serves no good purpose.

Time will tell.

[Motley13]

102. Galveston lost about 10,000 lives because they were told they were safe & didn't need to evacuate

[cwydro]

104. Awful storm.

I have a book on that one and on the 35 Keys storm.

Highly recommend reading that if you're a weather buff.

[obamanut2012]

126. The 1935 book is really good

[beachbum bob]

143. 1935 hurricane was a SOB and luck the keys had very few people, unlike today

the EGRI model is updated to show Irma on a beeline to Miami, lauderdale and the east coast of south floride just riding off the coast. The worse case scenario for wind, storm surge and water damage for florida. Will be more accurate in 2 days time.

[obamanut2012]

153. I know, I am here, and have lived on the coast all my life

This is literally the 15th hurricane I have ridden, and not my first C4, either.

I also think it will go up the west coast.

I was saying that the book was good.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

137. What is the name of that book?

I love reading entire books on weather.

Two of my favorites are Isaac's Storm by Eric Larson and The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin. I actually got to see each man speak about his book when they came out. Also, each book talks about the development of the U.S. weather service in connection with those events. Fascinating.

[cwydro]

140. Unfortunately, I'm not at home right now.

I'll find out and let you know.

I bought it for my mom years ago. She recently died, so I'm packing things up and clearing out her place. I know where I packed it however.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

147. If you would, just PM me whenever you find

the book.

[obamanut2012]

125. It can break up some over DR and Cuba

I am in SOFL, so am watching this, believe me, but you are right about some people liking to panic people, or else just freaking out.

[beachbum bob]

142. no chance of this storm breaking up...it may get reduced in strength to high CAT3 or low Cat 4

when it comes in contact with florida coast

[womanofthehills]

186. It will be slightly reduced, but it could also pick up speed again from the warm water

One of the hurricane sites I was on said the above.

[obamanut2012]

124. It may also break up over the DR and Cuba

There is a lot of things that could happen, good and bad. I'm literally right in its way, so I'm taking it seriously, but the enxt 48 hours will really tell the tale.

[spiderpig]

34. Stay safe, malaise. Sending this while sitting on top of the Hayward fault in CA.

When I moved here nearly 40 years ago, I was told by locals you could plan a picnic any day from April to November. It never rained. Car dealers told me I didn't need air conditioning since the Bay Area was so temperate. You could set your watch by it.

A couple of years ago that changed, and it hasn't been a freak occurrence. We've had droughts in the winter and record rainfalls in spring.

We just had a few days of temperatures in three figures, along with forecasts of thunderstorms.

But climate change is a myth, isn't it?

[CountAllVotes]

64. Over 100 degrees +++ in the East Bay

And that was common 40 years ago and is still common today.

Enjoy that HOT HOT picnic w/o rain!

[spiderpig]

66. Hey, I have some chicken brats in the fridge.

Wanna picnic? (weather permitting)

[malaise]

98. Jamaica is out of the cone

We may get some outerbands

[bathroommonkey76]

41. I'd start prepping if you live in any of these states

Remember:

Katrina made landfall at 920 mb.

Link to tweet

[Cryptoad]

44. scary part ,,,,,

Storms of this magnitude do not react to other steering currents like the less storms do. Prediction is out the window....... this baby will go where ever it wants to go!

[MerryBlooms]

47. This is going to be really bad, she's a monster and getting stronger by the day.

[mitch96]

49. "Say along with me now - there is no climate change"

Neil deGrasse Tyson hit it on the head..
"Scientists using objective scientific truth predicted the solar eclipse.. and it happened. Scientists, using objective scientific truth predicted Hurricane Harvey.. and it happened. When scientists predict using objective scientific truth, Climate change. People deny it.."
There is something else going on..

No Shit... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
m

[malaise]

141. That simple

for rational folks

[Demtexan]

54. Get jump starter with usb ports and a light.

Recharge it with your car.
Lots of places have them.

[niyad]

56. Dear Goddess, that is frightening!

[Demtexan]

62. Scary has hell.

I am still numb from the flooding.

[niyad]

63. it feels like a 1-2 punch with no time in between.

[Demtexan]

68. I am in Houston.

There are still military copters flying over the house going west then east.

Water is being released from a damn.

On the west side.

[niyad]

72. Scary. I have several friends in the area, who, luckily, escaped major damage.

there are just no words. please be safe.

[Demtexan]

75. I am fine.

I long way from there.

They dumping into a major bayou.

[Demtexan]

76. Hope your friends stay safe.

I think extra water will cause more flooding but water has to be released.

[heaven05]

60. nah, it's not global warming

cough, cough

[IronLionZion]

67. Video of NOAA's hurricane hunter plane flying through Irma

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2017/09/05/hurricane-irma-noaa-airplane-flies-through-storm-orig.cnn

[world wide wally]

70. When will these neanderthal Republicans realize that it doesn't matter what "they think"?

It's fucking real!
Now we have to live with it no matter how much you want to deny it.

[central scrutinizer]

71. The reports never mention Cuba

I guess those commies don't deserve a warning but do deserve whatever bad weather comes their way.

[B2G]

80. Cuba has their own weather service

And a great emergency response plan. They are aware and taking action, believe me.

[Big_K]

85. And they correctly predicted that 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston

But the weather service in the U.S. wouldn't believe them. Those backward brown people could never know science.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

138. To be a bit picky, they didn't so much predict it

as tracked it.

People had an almost religious belief that hurricanes could not possibly make landfall in Galveston. Alas, they were wrong.

[Big_K]

154. Yep, you're right...

Not so much prediction but they did track and knew it would be a bad one, particularly after they went through it.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

185. I bet you also read

Isaac's Storm. I had the amazing good luck to see Larson talk about the book on exactly the 100th anniversary.

[central scrutinizer]

129. Yes, I know that

I was simply commenting on the reports that mention every other island in the Caribbean except Cuba. I was there in February 2016 in Baracoa and was saddened by the destruction caused there by Hurricane Matthew. Although 90% of the buildings were damaged, there were no casualties.

[B2G]

131. A potential hit to Cuba is further out.

Rest assured that as the hurricane move west, you'll hear about it. They don't even know how/if Cuba will be impacted yet.

[greytdemocrat]

73. What a monster!!

[elleng]

74. OH MAL!

Just saw this, and checked 'my' weather, 60 miles south of DC, forecast for which seems to have moderated since yesterday, showing 'thunderstorms' tomorrow, and only 'showers' next Tuesday and Wednesday.

BEST to you!

[malaise]

170. Thanks

So far so good - we're not in the cone

[shanny]

77. "Our hemisphere"?

is where? 'Cause Hurricane Patricia (2015) had wind speeds of 215 mph / 872 mbar--2nd most powerful anywhere

[LeftInTX]

119. Patricia certainly was an interesting storm

[shanny]

146. Yes it was.

It (she) was a monster that came ashore...and disappeared. Evaporated into the air, it seemed.

I've heard that Cat 6 storms cannot really exist, because they essentially blow themselves to bits. Maybe that is what happened.

[suffragette]

83. Scary shit. Here in PNW, we are having yet another week of hot, smoky weather.

More temperature records set and a hazy yellow blanket of smoke, with the added bonus of ash flurries.

Every year, we get an eastern wind flow shift and higher temps. And every summer there are forest fires. Yet this is the first summer this has brought along smoke as thick as fog.

Hmm, so what has changed.

[malaise]

200. One of my good friends is involved in disaster management across the region

He said :
Update: no "major" damage in Antigua, no reported loss of life (yet) - as per my source via radio.
Also the PM of Antigua and Barbuda said no major damage in Antigua, No word on Barbuda yet.

[suffragette]

203. Glad to see this. Hope they escaped the worst of it.

We finally have some light marine air that is trying to push back the smoke today. Sky is not as eerie yellow as yesterday.

[elmac]

86. Normally these storms don't last long at that strength

they weaken, reorganize and start the cycle again. But these aren't normal times, 6% more moisture in the atmosphere, extreme, temps. Normally I would say in would degrade before it hits mainland but this could be another perfect storm .

[B2G]

90. There are things that can degrade it.

This storm will behave like all others, there's nothing magical about it.

Wind shear, water temperatures and interaction with land will all potentially impact it. From what I can tell, land interaction is the best hope for disturbance since water temps are high and shear low.

EWRCs can help to knock it down for the short term. But that's all in the timing as it approaches land.

[relayerbob]

87. Now 185

[mcar]

91. As others have suggested here

Order flashlights/batteries on Amazon. Mine will arrive Thursday. Stores are already out near me.

[paleotn]

92. To add insult to injury....

Jose, a new tropical cyclone, is a few days on Irma's heels. Plus an area of low pressure off the Mexican gulf coast will probably become another tropical cyclone in the next 2 days. Looks like a rough Sept.

[malaise]

97. Jose looks like a fish storm - Irma has gusts of 220mph

[paleotn]

120. Lets hope he stays that way...

Irma is a true monster. Potentially 1935 Labor Day storm intense. And I thought incorrectly that super cyclones were a Pacific phenomenon.

[OxQQme]

94. Follow Irma here

An interactive wind map: https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-47.07,17.34,962

Or this: https://www.windy.com/?clouds,21.780,-69.170,5

Kinda looks like another one forming behind Irma.

[Warpy]

99. Glad none of the models have it hitting you in Jamaica

Scared for all the good Democrats in Florida, including the financial guy I inherited along with my dad's portfolio. He's on the east coast on a barrier island, and yes, he's a rare bird, a financial guy who is a strong Democrat.

[cwydro]

101. We will see what happens.

I've seen these hysterical threads and predictions before.

Time will tell. There is no reason to panic folks ever. My hurricane veteran friends in the Keys laugh at these kind of threads. As do I as a survivor of many of these "killer" storms.

But go ahead...keep inflating it and ginning it up. I suppose you think somehow you're helping someone somewhere? SMH.

[B2G]

103. I honestly doubt they're laughing at IRMA.

Every model is bad for the Keys.

[Motley13]

105. Your friends in the Keys will be evacuating very soon

[B2G]

110. Non-residents have already been told to leave. nt

[WinkyDink]

106. Hey, it's supposed to be "No more water; the FIRE next time"! WTHeck, God?!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

109. 😰😭😭 n/t

[left-of-center2012]

111. Climate change is a Chinese hoax

Trump said that,
and,
he told us he'd never lie to us.

Oh, here's the obligatory 'sarcasm' thingy,
because sometimes I get attacked by people who think I'm serious.

[secondwind]

116. Yikes. Am on the northern coast of Dominican Republic.

I doubt we will be able to get off the ground

[Ligyron]

123. I'm in South florida and everyone is talking of leaving.

IDK if that's a great idea or not.

Shuttering up the house but with 3 dogs and 2 cats I don't know where I'd go exactly. Have to get to the mountains to be safe and even then it could be a flood situation there in some places.

Run up the east coast and it could catch you.

Soon 1-95, I-75 and the Turnpike north will turn into a parking lot. That could be deadly.

Guess I'm staying here and fighting it out with my animals.

This should be fun.

[obamanut2012]

128. Also in SOFL, and all my family, friends, and coworkers ar staying

We think it's safer.

[RKP5637]

132. I'm thinking it's safer to stay than leave, all of the traffic, unpredictable storm, where

to stay, all of that. Unless in a really weak structure, it seems to me safer to stay.

[Awsi Dooger]

133. I was planning to leave but now my aunt wants me to stay with her

She is elderly and lives nearby in an old house. I'm not sure if my house if safer, or hers. Her foundation is probably stronger but the roof might be weaker and more vulnerable. It's certainly older.

I also might drive to Orlando to stay with my sister.

Have to figure this out within a day or so.

[guillaumeb]

127. Climate change?

The Koch brothers say no, there is no climate change.

Stay safe in Jamaica.

[MFM008]

130. If it hits Florida

Just Ocean Drive.
A little dump called Mar-a-Lago.
Thats it
no one hurt, just little bits of M-A-L raining down.
Espicially the maggots expensive picture of himself.
In small enough pieces to blow to Washington D.C.

[greatauntoftriplets]

134. The gods must be angry.

[Johnny2X2X]

135. 200 MPH

This storm is warming in the eye, cooler clouds or the right convection and this could explode to a 200+ mph monster.

We'd be talking about 200 MPH sustained wins over a large area, perhaps 30-40 miles for peak wins over a few hours. At that point we're basically talking about an F4 tornado that is 30-40 miles wide, moves only 10 MPH and last for several hours. If that hits a population center we are in for a tragedy of unimaginable horror. Total devastation with no standing structures left at all for tens of miles.

[Cattledog]

139. Gusting now at 220mph.

[mainer]

158. Just heard on TV the pressure's still dropping

This monster is still growing

[PatrickforO]

161. Geez. Lord help those people in its path.

And curse the oil fucks who have paid consultants to issue dubious reports to 'cast doubt' on global warming so they can eke out the uttermost profit from the rape of the earth.

Wouldn't it be nice if those motherfuckers put that much money and effort into transforming us away from oil/gas and to other energy sources. Those companies have huge resources and huge knowhow, but hey, it is all a bunch of liver spotted, wrinkled up, white, male hands, grasping after profits. That's what you see when you lift the rock. Freaks like Charles Koch and the Mercers.

[malaise]

163. And their pets and other animals

I can't imagine the stress tonight in the islands.

I detest the scumbags

[Purveyor]

164. Uh nope: Hurricane Wilma, 2005, 882mbar, 185 mph.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Wilma

Hurricane Patrica: 2015, 215mph, 872 mbar

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Patricia

[Amaryllis]

165. No clilmate change. It's the lesbian mayor's fault.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029558899

[gfwzig]

166. Please everyone, evacuate Florida, save yourselves, let maralago get swallowed by the sea alone

[pangaia]

168. OK ---there is no climate change.

I mean, it's just a couple of hurricanes.
Kinda big..
Doesn't mean they are man made.
Things change, ya know.. good days bad days.

Some days my right wrist is sore.. doesn't mean it's because I'm 73 and have been practicing timpani 3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 3 months after not playing at all for 35 years.. Nope..

Once again,,,,,stay safe...

[Amaryllis]

169. Not just hurricanes. Forest fires all over the western states. Hottest August on record in Portland.

[ancianita]

172. All the best to you and yours. Sounds like you've got this.

Florida's not much above sea level anywhere, so I hope the surges don't affect the springs and north FL rivers much.

My place will drown, but it's just stuff when I realize all the people I love are safe.

Climate change ain't no joke.

[malaise]

174. Thanks

Don't think this one is our problem if the models are correct.
I liked your post telling folks to get out

[ancianita]

176. The computer models have merged and it looks like it's exactly FL's problem. We'll see.

[cstanleytech]

178. According to wiki hurricane Allen back in 1980 was the strongest at 190mph.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Category_5_Atlantic_hurricanes

[raven mad]

179. 185 now (6:36 p.m. AST) NOAA/NHS

I hope EVERYONE vulnerable to this gets the heck out of dodge. If anyone needs shelter, I have extra - a lot cooler than most are used to but I have blankets. And floor space. And tent space. As do all my neighbors, and we're all used to lending a hand, and used to some extreme weather.

Don't wait, EVACUATE. I love you all too much to lose a single one.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?cone#contents

[zentrum]

180. And his inauguration...

...was larger than O's and the Women's March. And the popular vote majority was due to fake ID's. And he's the best ever since Lincoln and facts can be alt.

[malaise]

181. LOL

I'm betting he's pissed that these hurricanes are coming on his watch and stealing attention away from him.

[Lyricalinklines]

188. I figure he'll wait and see the outcome then claim his administration is the greatest...

...best to manage the greatest, hugest storms of the century. Of the history of the country! He'll take credit for lives saved yet he had nothing to do with it. Imo anyway.


Oops! Meant to include the sarcasm

[malaise]

190. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

He can say anything but the hurricane victims will also have a say and this is a mess for all ReTHUGs. Just wait 'til they start looting the hurricane funds and we all know that's coming.

[Lyricalinklines]

195. Yup. And using the disasters to appropriate money to build new refineries.

I fully expect part of the reTHUGS (stealing your idea of usage here) infrastructure plan is using tax money to build new oil refineries. I figure they'll use Harveys destruction to claim a national emergency for rebuilding them. Despicable!

[Nitram]

199. Patricia October 2015: 200mph

Allen – August 1980: 189mph
Labor Day Hurricane September 1935: 185mph
Wilma – October 2005: 185mph
Gilbert – September 1988: 185mph

[maddiemom]

202. No climate change---YOU'RE the climate change."

Makes no more sense than Trump, of course.

[backscatter712]

204. One meme I saw on Facebook:

[underpants]

205. 52 seconds in St. John's US Virgin Island.

http://www.mahobeachcam.com/

[Awsi Dooger]

209. Latest Euro model places center over Miami

The impact would be devastating. I can't even imagine what the aftermath would look like.

I just hope my house survives mostly intact. If I lose a partial roof, that's okay. That's where I am right now in terms of expectation. I have a new tapered roof combined with a tile roof over the bulk of the house.

Some models like the GFS try to steer Irma somewhat offshore but the other models don't agree. I still have some hope at basically 72 hours from Florida landfall that something will ease this offshore to the east at least a little bit. That's been the tendency for many hurricanes I have experienced, dating to David in 1979.