The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
-Psalm 19:1

Do you know that God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
-Job 37:15



Thursday, August 21, 2008

Fay, Fay GO AWAY!!!

Happy Sky Watch Friday!! Here's my post!!! (Please visit Tom, Klaus, Sandy and Imac's SKY WATCH BLOG (click here or on the logo) to participate in Sky Watch Fridays. It really is so much fun and interesting to see skies all over the world!!! I highly recommend it!) Many of you, especially those of you in the United States, are pretty aware of Tropical Storm Fay, a storm that is dumping historically catastrophic amounts of rain in central and eastern Florida as it spins almost stationary off the eastern coast of Florida. Being that I am just a hop, skip and a jump away from the not-so-sunshiny state of Florida, I am getting the rare pleasure of experiencing the outer convective bands of this sizable stationary tropical storm. Yesterday, we were bombarded with a strong line of heavy precipitation, drenching us with a solid downpour, including some ferocious wind and lightning for good measure. After the rain, I went outside to see this beautiful sight.Beautifully illuminated Cumulus Fractus racing by trying to keep up with the outer band of this monstrous and quite wet Tropical Storm Fay.

Fractus clouds are small, ragged cloud fragments which, usually found under an ambient cloud base, form or have broken off a larger cloud, and are generally sheared by and shredded-looking due to strong winds. Fractus have irregular patterns, appearing much like torn pieces of cotton candy, change constantly, often forming and dissipating rapidly. They do not have defined base.

Cumulus fractus actually looks like a ragged cumulus cloud. Cumulus fractus form on the leading and trailing edges of summer storms in warm and humid conditions. Observing fractus gives indications of wind movements under the parent cloud. A mass of multiple fractus clouds, located under main cloud is called pannus. ~source
Here's a very brief video, showing the cloud movement, pardon the bark by Mini-Dew... she rather enjoyed the echo between the buildings.

Still this morning (considering Tropical Storm Fay has hardly moved), I was able to see more movement in the clouds. Seems this morning, I was perfectly placed to watch the convective band fly by. I had a solid cloud structure moving from the northeast to a south southwest. It was very cool. The video is not great because my camera was trying to focus on these rapidly moving clouds and couldn't quite get a handle on that, but you can see in this brief video how quickly the bands are moving up here.


Back to my Tropical Storm Fay update... the serious catastrophic flooding, as I said, is a huge concern with Tropical Storm Fay. She is dumping tons and tons of rain on an already saturated ground. Many homes are taking in up to 5 feet of water... roads are flooded... farms are flooded... alligators and snakes are swimming in residential area flood waters (please don't let you kids play in this water)... sewage issues... it's definitely a disaster down there.... In line with that... I want to share the CoCoRaHS data with you (to the left here). For those who don't know already...
CoCoRaHS is an acronym for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow). By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive Web-site, our aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications. We currently operate in many states across the country. If we are not in your state please drop us a line and let us know that you have an interest in participating. This helps us know where a desire exists for the network and where to focus our future expansion efforts.
If you live in the United State (in states that are included in the CoCoRaHS network), you can become a part of the CoCoRaHS network by following the link in my sidebar or by clicking HERE. On TWC, I heard reports of almost 2 FEET of rainfall since Monday in some areas. It goes without saying that areas are dangerously flooding... not to mention, beach erosion is underway. Fay just needs to go away. Unfortunately, she is nearly stationary at this time with ramped up winds of 60mph (now that she got back over water) and a pressure at between 993 and 994mb at any given time. The expectation is that Tropical Storm Fay will get caught up in the high pressure system bearing in from the north and carried off to the west, which would be her 3rd Floridian landfall... depending on when that happens determines if yet another landfall will occur. If she is far enough south, she will emerge in the Gulf of Mexico and possibly make yet another Floridian landfall. If not, she will just continue to drop her moisture wherever she decides to be. Seriously, Fay... go away.

Here's the 11:50 look at TS Fay on radar... looks like the center is beginning to come ashore on a west northwest path...Do my eyes deceive me??? Does anyone else see a clear eye forming? Check it out... Currently winds are slamming into my office building causing creaking noises...

Here is what it looked like outside during lunch hour... fast moving cumulus...

INCOMING!!!!!

4:00PM: They just cancelled school tomorrow for the whole area... UGH! Why?

Have a lovely day...
~Dewdrop

46 comments:

  1. thanks for your very informative posts. I love all the pictures, definitions, and analysis!

    ReplyDelete
  2. loved all the info..glad u all are doing well

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful, and great info too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great videos, photos and information.

    I was just watching Abrams and Bettes showing their people out in Hurricane winds.

    The strongest sustained wind I was ever in was 105. I couldn't stand up. I had to crawl. And that was when I was an athlete, young and just out of college.

    Hope you fare OK.

    Troy

    PS: hooray, we finally got a few inches of rain!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your photo is gorgeous. Hope the storm moves on soon.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh dear! I wish Fay would just fade away!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your offering this week!

    ReplyDelete
  8. the clouds are awesome... take care.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The illumination is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Good work. Beautiful report and shots. A Lecture.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Photo is stunning. Added info is bonus. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you for the info and wonderful sky and clouds.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome clouds and very informative posts.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You are a star Dewdrop... always that extry mile in your postings...I have marked you down for a revisit so I can take my time here and watch the vids as well as take in all this great info..
    Tom

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great post! So interesting and informative! I too, will re-visit your post to view the videos! Great job!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I learn so much about clouds from you each week, DD. I guess it is your life's passion. I thank you for it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow - hang on to your house if that's genuinely heading in your direction. Or perhaps, hang onto your camera as I'm sure there'll be some dramatic photo-ops on the way!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Stay Safe!

    ReplyDelete
  19. great sky. love the video

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love to come to your site for skywatch. I get to look at your pretty pictures and get a lesson in forecasting. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great sky watch!

    ReplyDelete
  22. You have a fabulous information and great pictures! thanks for sharing. Happy SWF to you and If you have time visit me here:
    travelnorms
    sweetnorms
    ladynorms

    ReplyDelete
  23. Very informative post and nice capture! thanks for sharing:)

    Mine is here;
    Sky Watch #8

    ReplyDelete
  24. The sun seems to be sinking into the earth rather than beyond it!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I dew have to check your dewlicious blog more often - you're info is better then the media...
    Down here - smack in the middle of Florida, it almost appears as if Fay has intensified. Rain has become heavier in the last hours, and winds have picked up. Now it's raining for about 32 hours straight. And while most of the area here is ok - there are some pockets, where people do have severe flooding. The much we need rain - please Fay - now it's enough!
    Hey Dew - you're the dewdely expert - make her go away. Tap on your Barometer or something!
    Cheers, Klaus

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm loving all the you tube videos... "real time dew-casting" (get it newscasting?! Okay... very corny I know! I guess mini-dew can enjoy an extended weekend now. Take care! :O)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have a blog friend from Florida and she has been posting about her fear. Now to see it in photos I understand. You have said some of the best information. Thank you. Happy SWF.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow, saw a beautiful sky and learned a lot, too!

    ReplyDelete
  29. It's always a treat to visit your blog, Ms. Dew! Wonderful photos and great information. Thanks!

    You stay safe, now, y'hear?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Good one with terrific updates. I don't watch television (no time or inclination), so I can see all the "good stuff" here!

    ReplyDelete
  31. this is not just some plain rain! this is going to be a storm! :(

    ReplyDelete
  32. Fantasti photos and always interesting to learn more about what gives our skies more than just shades of blue to photograph.

    ReplyDelete
  33. This is one very serious sky watcher site!

    ReplyDelete
  34. There will be sunshine after the rain. Very nice photo and a lot of information, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great information thank you nice picture to.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Had enough rain yet?
    Are the dry ponds filling up?

    Hope you are OK!

    Troy

    ReplyDelete
  37. Is Wow, just plain Wow, a whole sentence.

    amazing stuff you post.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Wow, you've got a lot of information of Fay. In my neck of the woods we've been experiencing it first hand. And believe me I'm ready for it to get moving.
    Check out my shots of her coming ashore.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thanks to all who have complimented my blog information and photograph. I am very passionate about weather and having a storm come this close to home makes it the focus of my blog. I am glad you all found it interesting and informative.

    Troy, I heard Steve Lyons telling about when he went in a hurricane chamber and broke a rib from the winds, well probably from fighting the winds. I would love to experience winds like that. Glad you finally got some rain.

    YEGTG, LOL.

    Tom, a star?! Aww shucks! Please do stop back by.

    Kelly, Yes, please come back anytime!

    Julie, It is indeed. You;re welcome and THANKS!

    Lirone, I'm counting on it!!!

    Sandy, So poetic!

    Klaus, Hope you dew have a boat! Tap on my barometer? lol! Hope you're doing well.

    Island Rambles, I will be safe.

    Suzanne, The flooding is awful down there. I can imagine that she would be scared. Hopefully, Fay will pass soon.

    Pat, Yes, ma'am.

    Louise, Wow, my blog replacing TV. So much pressure. I hope you have a weather radio at least!

    Rhoen, Yes...

    Yes, Pearl, the sky is way more than just shades of blue! :O)

    Linda, You betcha!

    Dirk, God's promise.

    Troy, I think now they might be...

    Gramma, I would imagine you are. Hang in there.

    ReplyDelete
  40. What a beautiful shot! love the sky and thanks for the info.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Such an informative post! Love the details you explain! And in your SWF pic, you have captured the powerful pace of the clouds! There is a real sense of energy motoring along in it!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Love the sky! Thanks for sharing.

    Please stay safe.

    SkyWatch Friday Post

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hope you survive the rains and... more rains. I hope they reinstated tomorrow, which I guess would now be yesterday for you.

    We've been having some excitement here in Laos. My SWF offering shows scenes of floods and sandbagging over here.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Greyscale, Yes... so much energy racing by...

    Minkydo, I was safe!

    Chanpheng, I survived. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

Dew comment, please...