Hurricane Cristobal: Third Hurricane of the Season

We have surpassed the midpoint of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season, yet we are only on the 4th storm of this year's season.  That means absolutely nothing regarding the potential for impact from storms this season.

It ain't over till it's over...

It only takes one.  Hurricane Cristobal has reached hurricane strength just off the coast of the Bahamas, skirting the coast of that island paradise and disturbing the plans of vacationers and bumping into the funds that generates for residents.

Hurricane Cristobal does make the third named storm consecutively turned hurricane, starting out the season.  What's kind of cool is that such an event hasn't happened in 22 years.  That's right, back in 1992, the first 3 named storms were hurricanes.  In fact, that year was also a slow season, without any real action until August, where Hurricane Andrew made his appearance... It only takes one.

Fortunately, for interests along the eastern sea-board, it looks like Cristobal is taking a turn to the northeast and not even Bermuda needs to really concern themselves with his movements, but you never know.  We refer to Cristobal-type storms as "fish storms".  I wonder what the fish think...

Trajectory models for Hurricane Cristobal

It only takes one...

I think we have a tendency in the United States (or perhaps just as a human race), to nullify things that don't have a direct impact on us. It's some sort of strange and apathetic ego-centrism.  If it didn't have a big media blitz, it must not have happened.  I can't tell you the people who tell me that we haven't had an active Atlantic season in years...

Actually, in 2011, we made it to the letter "S"  storm, and in 2012, we made it to "T".  It didn't impact the United States though, so it might as well have not even happened.  I think we tend to be that way in other storms of life.  We casually watch the news and see stuff happening to people, but do we really get invested?  Do we feel moved to action when those other people are impacted, or do we somehow put "those people" over there?  Way over there.  Surely, it would never happen to us.  It wouldn't happen here.  That happened to them.  And surely other people are helping them. 

Disasters aren't discriminatory.  People caught up in crisis experience real suffering and need help of those who aren't caught up in the crisis with them.  We have some real opportunities to reach out to others, to be a people of a lifted eye.  We can be a people who look for ways to help others in their greatest moment of need. 

For now, it looks like we won't need to provide too much relief for people in the path of Hurricane Cristobal, but it only takes one.

Until next time...
~Dewdrop 

Tropics Alive!

Well, the tropics sure have come alive! First of all, we have the longest-lived named storm in July's history since hurricane record keeping began. Tropical Storm Bertha still churns off in the Atlantic Ocean after, quite literally, blowing by Bermuda. As we've seen with this tropical lady, she is capable of just about anything. She was named back on July 3, and here we are July 16...

1100 AM AST WED JUL 16 2008

...BERTHA A LITTLE STRONGER...

Wow!

Onto Invest 94L, which I have blogged about over the past couple of days... that area of low pressure sure got a boost of convection over night and is looking like a system with potential once again...

SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1045 AM EDT WED JUL 16 2008

SATELLITE IMAGES AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED ABOUT 225 MILES EAST OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS HAS BECOME BETTER-ORGANIZED AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD BE FORMING. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT WILL BE INVESTIGATING THIS SYSTEM THIS AFTERNOON TO DETERMINE IF A TROPICAL CYCLONE HAS FORMED. EVEN IF NO DEVELOPMENT OCCURS...LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WINDWARD ISLANDS TODAY AND TONIGHT.

There is a high probability of development into, at least, a tropical depression for this one...

Then, we travel to the Gulf of Mexico, where a convective low pressure system spun up over night, just off the coast of Tampa. There is a lower probability of this one becoming something, but that is only a function of its proximity to land. I, however, am seeing a nice spin to that low and solid convection... it seems to be trying to organize quite well, despite the land. We will watch and see... but anyone with vacation plans on the west coast of FL is looking at rain, rain and more rain... and possibly water spouts... send pics!

Locally, yesterday, we had some nice thunderstorm action. Things were booming and pouring, and I caught a glimpse of this beautiful sky... the sun setting shining at the tops of the thunderheads was breath-taking. I was awe-struck. I couldn't get to a position of good composition in time... soon the nimbus sky took over the view. It was so beautiful listening to the booming and rumbling thunder...

On the way to work this morning, I decided to take a pic of that picturesque little barn and silo that I pass daily and have photographed often. Well, unfortunately, during one of the recent storms, much of the roof caved in on this structure... not sure how long it will be allowed to stand in that condition. It is such a striking capture of days gone by... in my opinion.

One of my co-workers sent me this really incredible shot taken by Carlos Gutierrez of the eruption of the Chaiten volcano in Chile, as it generates an explosive thunderstorm. ... Here is an article with more amazing shots of this spectacular phenomenon.

In a random check for updates, after news from Mikey that the recon flight was inside Invest 94L... I discovered this updated map...A late arrival on the scene in the Caribbean...

A TROPICAL WAVE OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA ABOUT 300 MILES EAST OF NICARAGUA IS SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF ORGANIZATION. THIS SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT BEFORE MOVING INTO CENTRAL AMERICA LATE TOMORROW.

Almost forgot to mention... the bass yesterday was the best fish I have ever had. What a difference it is to have fresh fish... and a great cook! ...Though, Mini-Dew wasn't too keen on the rod to plate idea... I don't think she likes to get to know her food before eating it. My little city girl would never survive on a farm.

Just got a message from Christine that there was a tornado warning in Wisconsin... Beth... hope you really are listening to your weather radio. Good news is it is going north of you, and you are in your basement already!) Anyways, when I checked it out, I noticed... well, see for yourself...Sheboygan?! Wasn't I just there! Ugh!

Have a lovely day,
~Dewdrop