Hurricane Katrina

[popcorngal]

Wow! It seems Katrina is effecting everyone even associated with South Florida! Tried to call my TA (Miami), no go with her. Tried calling Carnival, even though they are in Colorado, their computer hookup with Fla. is down, so no go there either. And just tried the Carnival website and it's down as well!

 

Stay safe everyone! You are all in our thoughts!

[losuds63]

Just drove back up the sawgrass expy and it seemed like another rainy summer day in florida but i think the south of us like in miami and dade county is getting it a little worse including south broward county,I predict the storm to slow as it goes across the east coast to the west coast and seems to be due south of lake Okeechobie so it should help not make this so intense

[shuttle-c]

Last year when the hurricanes hit around Port Canaveral - the port was closed because of sand / debris being washed into the channel. Even though we didn't get the strong winds that Vero Beach got. I was wondering if that will happen to the ships coming back on Saturday.

 

It was closed for a week last year.

[Duanerice1]

Nah, I didn't have cruise insurance. On the cheaper weekend type cruises we don't usually buy it. Hey only once in 20 yeares so far is not too bad. I can live with it.

 

Besides, I'm already rebooked.

Duane

[vicocala]

shuttle-c,

 

I was on the Sterling this past weekend and they were dredging outside the port area. I think Canaveral should be fine.

[Elaine515]

Sorry it took me so long to report back BUT I did make it home safe and sound...

 

I will say, if you don't have to drive in a Hurricane DON'T.... It was awful. As I left the building the wind was so powerful that another girl and I actually held hands walking to the parking garage so as not to be blown away. Once leaving the garage it was awful.

 

Branches flying in every direction, trees down here and there, garbage cans being flown all over the streets etc. Driving North on I95 was horrible. You want to pull over but can't because it's not like the Hurricane is going to go away anytime soon. So I stayed in the right lane with the other scared drivers, went slow and prayed alot.

 

At times the rain was so hard I couldn't even see the hood of my own car. What is normally about a 45 minute drive took me well over an hour. But I didn't care as long as I got home.

 

Pulled the car into the garage, had a glass of wine to relieve my nerves and promptly fell alseep!!! I think I was burnt out from the stress of waiting to leave work, the drive home etc.... So, in the meantime, we only lost power in my house for maybe 10 minutes or so. I do understand that at least 50,000 customers of FPL in S Florida are without power. My sister is one of them and she also lives in Boynton Beach so I am extremely lucky.

 

Right now there is just lots of hard, sometimes noisy wind and lots of heavy rain. My husband had to walk the dog and got pushed around plenty out there. We have lots of branches flying all over the place and some of the larger trees are currently bent. The lake in my backyard even has waves in it!!! I feel so fortunate to be at home and being able to post this as it's already been said that there are at least 2 deaths due to Katrina.

 

If another Hurricane should threaten us while I am at work, I'm leaving immediately or not going in at all. Even through Katrina is "only" a Category 1, she's dangerous and I truly understand why you are told to stay indoors. I never want to be "out" ever again unless I'm on a cruise ship where I know the Captain would take us to safe/calm waters!!!

 

Elaine :)

[vicocala]

Hurricane Katrina Discussion Number 10

Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl

11 Pm Edt Thu Aug 25 2005

 

The Hurricane Made Landfall About 630 Pm Edt...2230z Earlier Today

Near The Broward/miami Dade County Line. Since Then...the Eye

Of The Hurricane Has Been Moving Southwestward Across Miami-dade

County Where The Calm Was Experienced At Several Locations...

Followed By A Sharp Increase In The Winds. The Miami National

Weather Service/national Hurricane Center Office Measured A Minimum

Pressure Of 984.5 Mb During The Passage Of The Eye And The Winds

Quickly Increased In The Southeast Eyewall With A Peak Gust Of 76

Knots. Because The Hurricane Has Been Moving Over Land...the

Initial Intensity Has Been Reduced To 65 Knots. This Is Consistent

With Doppler Radar Observations. Some Additional Weakening Is

Anticipated During The Next Few Hours. However...katrina Is

Expected To Gradually Strengthen Once In The Gulf Of Mexico As

Suggested By All Guidance. The Gfdl And Ships Models Bring Katrina

To A Major Hurricane...which Is Not Out Of The Question. In

Fact...the Ecmwf Model Drops The Pressure Of Katrina In The Gulf Of

Mexico To 961 Mb. This Is Very Impressive For A Global Model.

 

Katrina Is Moving Toward The Southwest Or 225 Degrees At 7

Knots...steered By The Northerly Flow Around A Strong And Large

Mid-level High Centered Well To The Northwest Of Katrina. This

Southwest Dip Has Been Suggested By The Gfdl Since Yesterday. The

High Which Is Controlling The Motion Of The Hurricane Is Forecast

To Move Westward And A Trough Or Weakness Is Expected To Develop In

The Central Gulf Of Mexico. This Pattern Should Force Katrina On A

More Northerly Track Over The Eastern Gulf Of Mexico Ahead Of The

Trough. This Is Consistent With Most Of The Numerical Guidance And

The Official Forecast Follows The Global Model Consensus.

 

All Indications Are That Katrina Will Be A Dangerous Hurricane In

The Northeastern Gulf Of Mexico In About 3 Days.

 

Forecaster Avila

[vicocala]

Glad you are safe Elaine. I think I heard over 400,000 are without electricity.

 

You and hubby cuddle up and stay out of the storm, dog or no dog.

[GoinCruisin]

Definitely never go out while a hurricane is hitting... I think the toll is at 3 people dead in Ft Laud due to falling trees... a few years ago when we had Floyd, we lost over 30 people, majority were people that were out and got carried away by flooding, etc. It is soooo dangerous... just stay inside, and stay safe!!! Good luck to all of you in S FL.

[francina]

Happy to know that you made it home safe and sound. Hope everything is alright and that everyone effected by this hurricane be safe.

[loka38]

I leave this Sun. the 28th on Carnival Victory what do you guys think? Am I leaving? We didn't get insurance either should we get it now?

[GoinCruisin]

I leave this Sun. the 28th on Carnival Victory what do you guys think? Am I leaving? We didn't get insurance either should we get it now?

 

Too late now... once the storm is named. It's SOOO important to get insurance, but especially during hurricane season :( There is no telling what will happen... what port do you leave out of? Miami and the SE should be okay and open Sunday... it's the other side of FL that is going to get it over the weekend... depends on where the ship is leaving from??

[jerrymac]

Midnight cruiser you are very near us! I had $90,000 damage from Charley, we have a standing seam metal roof now, should be able to withstand the next one!

[gtalum]

I leave this Sun. the 28th on Carnival Victory what do you guys think? Am I leaving? We didn't get insurance either should we get it now?

 

Things should be pretty much back to normal in Miami by Sunday. It looks like you lucked out. Consider this a free lesson to buy insurance when you cruise in hurricane season. ;) :D

[vicocala]

Hurricane Katrina Discussion Number 12

Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl

11 Am Edt Fri Aug 26 2005

 

Recent Data From An Air Force Recon Aircraft Indicates Katrina's

Central Pressure Is Much Lower...now At 971 Mb. Maximum 700 Mb

Flight-level Winds Are 81 Kt In The Northwest Quadrant...which

Supports At Least 70 Kt Surface Winds. However...the Aircraft Has

Not Sampled The Winds In The Eastern Semicircle Where Noaa/key West

Doppler Radar Velocity Data Indicates Winds As High As 91 Kt At

Around 3000 Ft...which Would Support A Surface Wind Estimate Of

About 75 Kt. The Initial Intensity Of 70 Kt May Turn Out To Be A

Little Low.

 

The Initial Motion Estimate Is 265/6. Radar Data Indicates Katrina

Has Continued To Move South Of Due West During The Past 6 Hours.

Most Of The Nhc Model Guidance Indicates The Track Should Flatten

Out In A More Westward Direction During The Next 12 Hours As The

Influence Of An Inverted Trough Over The Caribbean Sea Decreases.

The Mid-level Subtropical Ridge To The North And Northwest Of

Katrina Is Forecast By The All Global And Regional Models To

Gradually Weaken Through The Forecast Period As A Strong Shortwave

Trough Over The Central U.s. Digs Southeastward Toward The Northern

Gulf Of Mexico And Southeastern United States. The Timing Of The

Erosion Of The Ridge And An Induced Northward Motion Of Katrina Is

The Main Difference Between The Models...which Has Resulted In A

Large Spread After 48 Hours. The Nogaps And Gfdn Models Have Made A

Large Jump To The West Over Louisiana...whereas The Majority Of The

Nhc Models Take Katrina Inland Over The Northeast Gulf Coast. The

Official Forecast Track Remains In The Right Portion Of The Model

Guidance Envelope.

 

Strengthening To A Major Hurricane Is Expected. In Fact...a Recent

Dropsonde Report Received From The Reconnaissance Aircraft

Indicates Maximum Winds Are Now Up To 80 Kt. So...a Special

Advisory Will Be Issued Shortly To Update The Current And Forecast

Intensities.

 

Forecaster Stewart

[vicocala]

Hurricane Katrina Special Discussion Number 13nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl1130 Am Edt Fri Aug 26 2005 This Special Advisory Discussion Is Only To Modify The Initial Andforecast Intensities. Recent Dropsonde Data From An Air Forcereserve Unit Reconnaissance Aircraft Measured A Surface Wind Of 83kt In The Southeast Eyewall. The Minimum Pressure Of 971 Mb Alsocorresponds To About 88 Kt Surface Winds. Therefore...the Initialintensity Has Been Increased To 85 Kt...or 100 Mph.given The Rapid Improvement In The Inner Core Structure And Thesharp Pressure Drop...rapid Intensification Seems Likely For Thenext 12 Hours Or So. Afterwards...steady Intensification To Nearcategory Four Strength By 72 Hours Appears To Be In Order Given Thevery Warm Gulf Waters Beneath The Hurricane And The Vertical Shearforecast To Decrease To Less Than 10 Kt By 48 Hours. Forecaster Stewart

[h204d]

What about the Ports in the Gulf New Orleans? My son is to return on Saturday? Any news on a change?

[Rowan555]

Living in New Orleans, I would venture to say that the cruises returning Saturday to New Orleans will not be affected - the ship still has time to head out Saturday evening and stay out of the storm's path. I'm curious as to what the Conquest will do - looking at the projected path, leaving Sunday at 6 PM might be cutting it a bit close in terms of getting away from the storm. It's a long trip down the river before getting out into the Gulf!

[losuds63]

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/USLocalWide.asp?loc=kpie&seg=LocalWeather&prodgrp=RadarImagery&product=RadarLoop&prodnav=none

[NimSum]

Living in New Orleans, I would venture to say that the cruises returning Saturday to New Orleans will not be affected - the ship still has time to head out Saturday evening and stay out of the storm's path. I'm curious as to what the Conquest will do - looking at the projected path, leaving Sunday at 6 PM might be cutting it a bit close in terms of getting away from the storm. It's a long trip down the river before getting out into the Gulf!

 

The Conquest returns to New Orleans at 4 A.M. sunday morning. It is going into drydock after that. The next sailing is on 09/11/05. At worst it may be delayed reaching NO.(assuming they sail away from the hurricane).

[MidtheNight]

jerrymac-

Ouch! Hope your insurance co was fair to you! Still know some people who say that the own their home outright so why should they carry insurance...I simply smile and shake my head.

 

Katrina is definitely doing some weird things...takes a left hand turn coming ashore and now at the 2pm update decides to take another left hand turn to the west-southwest. Although I know in my heart that these storms are natural I just wish this puppy would die into a nothing storm.

[Bsan1221]

Hey everyone.

 

I finally got power back and am checking in.

 

Am fine and so is my home.

 

There are a lot of down power lines, trees and an incredible amount of flooding.

 

I spoke to a couple of my friends on the phone from south Miami and we had no idea the hurricane had taken such a turn to the south. No one was really expecting it. Lots of damage down there by flood waters.

 

My moms house looks like a disaster area.

 

Most of the roofs on Miami Beach are in the middle of the streets, huge trees are covering lanes.

 

We even had an overpass that was being built collapse in 3 places... :eek:

 

One of my good friends from work had most of her windows broken by the wind, then one of her kids needed a nebulizer (sp?) treatment because he has horrible asma but she had no power, she called 911 but they wouldn't dispatch a rescue unit. She had to drive under the storm to the nearest hospital.

 

So it hasn't been pretty..

[Rowan555]

The Conquest returns to New Orleans at 4 A.M. sunday morning. It is going into drydock after that. The next sailing is on 09/11/05. At worst it may be delayed reaching NO.(assuming they sail away from the hurricane).

 

 

I didn't realize that - well, that's perfect, then - it can head out of harm's way as soon as the passengers are all off the ship!

[vicocala]

Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl

5 Pm Edt Fri Aug 26 2005

 

Most Recent Reports From An Air Force Hurricane Hunter Aircraft

Indicate The Central Pressure Has Dropped To 965 Mb...but The

Flight-level Winds Have Only Increased To 94 Kt At 700 Mb...which

Is About An 85-kt Surface Wind. A 1701z Dropsonde In The Northeast

Quadrant Reported 85 Kt Surface Winds. Therefore...the Initial

Intensity Is Held At 85 Kt For This Advisory...even Though The

Central Pressure Supports About 95-kt Surface Winds. The Eyewall In

The Northwest Quadrant Has Remained Open...probably Due To Dry Air

Entrainment...and This May Partly Explain The Difference Between

The Observed Winds And What The Central Pressure Typically

Supports.

 

The Initial Motion Is West-southwestward...or 255 Degress...at 07

Kt. Katrina Remains Caught Between The Northeasterly Flow On The

West Side Of An Inverted Trough Over The Western Caribbean Sea And

The Northeasterly Flow In The Southeast Quadrant Of The Subtropical

Ridge Located To The North And Northwest Of Katrina. Both The Ridge

And Trough Are Forecast To Slowly Weaken Over The Next 12-24 Hours

...which Allow The Hurricane To Turn More Westward...and Most Of

The Nhc Model Guidance Agrees On That Scenario. After 24 Hours...

The Models Are In General Agreement On A Shortwave Trough Currently

Over The Northern And Central Plains States To Gradually Dig

Southeastward Toward The Central And Western Gulf Of Mexico And

Erode The Ridge...which Allows Katrina To Move Northward By 72

Hours. As A Result...the Models Have Shifted Significantly Westward

And Are Now In Better Agreement. This Has Resulted In The Official

Forecast Track Being Shifted About 150 Nmi West Of The Previous

Track...on The East Side Of The Guidance Envelope. However...

Projected Landfall Is Still About 72 Hours Away...so Further

Modifications In The Forecast Track Are Possible.

 

Katrina Is Expected To Be Moving Over The Gulf Loop Current After 36

Hours...which When Combined With Decreasing Vertical Shear...should

Allow The Hurricane To Reach Category Four Status Before Landfall

Occurs. This Is Consistent With The Ships And Gfdl Models...which

Bring Katrina Up To 118 Kt. The Fsu Superensemble Model Is More

Robust And Brings Katrina Up To 129 Kt Just Before Landfall.

 

Forecaster Stewart

[Bunkie103]

Rut Row....just heard Katrina took a sharp turn to the west and expected to make landfall in NOLA as a Category 4.......not a good thing!