Hurricane preparedness and other summer-like discussion

SKY WATCH FRIDAY time! Our hosts: Klaus Sandy Ivar Wren Louise Fishing Guy

SKY WATCH FRIDAY (click the word to link and participate!) Thanks to Dot and Tom, who were instrumental in the success of this blogging event. You should definitely come fly with us!For today's picture, I decided to share a shot of what our skies have been looking like most days lately. I took this shot back in late August 2008, during an impromptu chase, supported by my dear friend, Christine. I love the boiling cumulus as it swells into the rich blue sky demonstrating the key elements are in line for thunderstorms... moisture, instability and lift. This shot as an example of current skies, further exemplifies our summer-like afternoon thunderstorm pattern, which is getting old, though I love the swelling cumulus... gorgeous.

Now, something I have neglected to talk about this week is Hurricane Preparedness Week. (That is a shot of my wonderful groom--- well, he was just my bf at that time-- and I at the National Hurricane Center-Tropical Prediction Center, when we were there in Miami last June... we saw the end of a tornado that same day!!!) With the Atlantic Basin 2009 Hurricane season just around the corner (it starts on Monday), it is important that people start to get their hurricane minds on and start preparing for the inevitable, a significant chance of hurricanes over the coming months. Today's focus is in the forecast process. One advantage of hurricanes over tornadoes or flash floods, lightning, earthquakes... is the advance notice that people are offered (generally) with hurricanes. Technology has allowed for warnings to be in place well ahead of hurricanes, so that attempts can be made and time is allowed to secure structures... but most importantly to evacuate people and save lives. Homes can be replaced. Material possessions can be replaced, but lives... lives cannot, and can be spared thanks to forecasting and advanced warnings by the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Prediction Center, with regard to hurricanes.

Part of the mission of the National Weather Service (NWS) Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) is to save lives and protect property by issuing watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous weather conditions in the tropics.

This is accomplished through many ways...
1. OBSERVATION
2. ANALYSIS
3. MODEL GUIDANCE AND INTERPRETATION
4. COORDINATION WITHIN THE NWS
5. PRODUCT GENERATION
6. PRODUCT DISSEMINATION
7. COORDINATION WITH CUSTOMERS

The NHC-TPC do a great job of forecasting, and keeping a watchful eye on the Atlantic Basin for us... As you can see, that low pressure system I wrote about yesterday is still churning off the NC coast and has actually picked up some shower activity.A special tropical outlook has been issued by the National Hurricane Center- Tropical Prediction Center, which indicates:

THIS SYSTEM STILL HAS SOME POTENTIAL (≤ 30% chance) TO BECOME A TROPICAL CYCLONE OVER THE NEXT 12-24 HOURS BUT IS NOT EXPECTED TO THREATEN ANY LAND AREAS.

Aside from that, locally just to my west, including much of Alabama and parts of Georgia and north of those areas, there exists a slight risk for severe weather. It's actually relatively late in the season for this neck of the woods, but I am sure, storm chasers, Alabama Mike and Alabama John don't mind.SPC outlook
It looks like the big show in town is coming up next week though... lots of chatter going up about June 5 & 6 in the alley, where models are spouting out information that is leading some to believe there might be a tornado-fest. I guess we'll see. I know those guys are chomping at the bit, having been through a May like this.

1:00PM: Well, what do you know... THE NHC-TPC, at 11AM, issued a public advisory for Tropical Depression 1, which is the first tropical cyclone in the Atlantic Basin for 2009, and arriving on the scene 5 days ahead of the season.

THE DEPRESSION IS NOT EXPECTED TO THREATEN ANY LAND AREAS. THE DEPRESSION IS FORECAST TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO...

Looks like we've got the birth of Tropical Storm Ana.Have a great day!
~Dewdrop