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Many places got the much needed rain Fri. afternoon, but the rain once again favored northern parts of the area. Rain was at least a quarter of an inch ... but up to an inch ... along & north of a Starke to Bostwick to St. Augustine line. Much of Putnam & Southern St. Johns Co. missed out on the rain while amounts reached between 1 & 2" in a few locations north of Lake City into a few spots in Southeast Ga.
Our weekend will feature an influx of drier air & warm temps. One caveat, however, is the weakening front that will be drifting south. With the front near I-10 in Northeast Fl., a few showers will be possible in the morning. By afternoon the front should be near Gainesville, Palatka & Crescent Beach which will be the favored area for an afternoon shower or storm. By Sun., the front should be far enough south so that the First Coast has a partly to mostly sunny, breezy & warm day with showers & storms confined to Central & South Florida.
We'll be heating up again next week with high temperatures near 90 Tue. through Fri.
I'm still getting pic's from the Sun. storms (tornadoes in S.E. Ga.). Check out this one from Naomi Pickett from Jax, but the photo is from near Kingsland as afternoon storms -- cumulonimbus clouds -- billowed up into a very unstable atmosphere. This is the cell that eventually produced a tornado near St. Simons Island. 
Fri., May 16th is "Endangered Species Day". Get info. here.........
Earth Gauge: Beneficial Biking
According to the 2006 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, 79 percent of Florida residents drove to work alone, two percent used public transportation, and four percent walked or used another alternate form of transportation. Choosing alternative transportation - walking, biking, or using transit - can save a typical work commuter about 600 dollars and 1200 miles on their car each year. It also helps alleviate traffic congestion, saves time, and protects air quality.
Tip: May is Bike to Work Month and this is Bike to Work Week - the perfect time to try two-wheeling to work! Research has shown that the length of about half of all car trips – three miles – can be covered as quickly on a bike when parking and traffic delays are taken into account.
Learn more about Bike to Work Week, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists.
Get bicycle safety tips from the Federal Highway Administration here.
Weather is not cooperating? Try a new bus route, hop on the train, or call a friend to carpool.
(Sources: US Census, American Fact Finder. Florida: Selected Housing Characteristics, 2006. factfinder.census.gov; It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air: Alternate Modes of Transporatation. ; League of American Bicyclists. "Ride for the Environment."; McKay, K. and J. Bonnin. “True Green: 100 Everyday Ways You Can Contribute to A Healthier Planet.” The National Geographic Society, Washington, DC.)
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A cool front will move into the area Fri.-Fri. night providing the First Coast with its next best chance for rain, albeit scattered -- especially when it comes to the amount of rain. While most areas will get at least a few sprinkles, rain amounts will likely vary widely from next to nothing to very local spots managing 1"+.
The first disturbance will move through the area late Thu. night with a t'storm possible northwest of Jax. Winds off the Gulf (from the southwest) should lead to some showers & storms Fri. morning in the Big Bend to near Lake City to Waycross. As the cool front moves eastward Fri., showers & storms will develop with individual cells moving quickly northeast while the entire band gradually shifts east & southeast. If we can get enough morning sun, a few storms could produce gusty winds along with the usual frequent lightning & heavy rain but widespread or significant severe weather does not seem likely. The front should be weak
enough & far enough south by the weekend to allow for lower humidity but still warm temps. Sat.-Sun.
NOAA has released their April weather summary with the usual spring extremes:
NOAA: U.S. Has Cool April, Global Temperature Ranked 13th Warmest on Record
This past month was the coolest April in 11 years for the lower 48 United States, and fell into the lowest twenty-five percent of all Aprils based on records going back to 1895, according to an analysis by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C
The average April temperature, 51 degrees F, during April was one degree below the 20th century mean, and was the 29th coolest, or 86th warmest, based on preliminary data.
The combined average global land and ocean surface temperatures for April ranked 13th warmest since worldwide records began in 1880.
U.S. Temperature Highlights
* Fifteen states, all in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic regions, were warmer than average. New York ranked third warmest and Rhode Island, fourth warmest. Sixteen states, all west of the Mississippi, were cooler than average.
Washington state ranked second coolest and Oregon fifth coolest. The monthly temperature for Alaska was 1.2 degrees F (0.66 degrees C) below average, the 43rd coolest April on record.
* The varying temperatures kept the nation’s overall temperature-related residential energy demand for April near average, based on NOAA’s Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index.
U.S. Precipitation Highlights
* An average of 2.4 inches (61 mm) fell across the contiguous U.S. in April, which is 0.04 inches (1.1 mm) below average.
* Iowa, Missouri, Virginia, and Wisconsin were much wetter than average for April, with Iowa and Wisconsin ranking fourth wettest on record.
Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah were much drier than average, with Arizona having the third driest April on record and California ranking fifth driest.
* Twenty-one tornadoes were reported on April 4 across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North and South Carolina. The next week, 62 tornadoes ravaged Texas and Oklahoma between April 9-11. In Richmond, Va., heavy rains from April 20-22 brought the city’s monthly total to 8.32 inches (211 mm).
* Last month, Babbit, Minn., recorded 26 inches (66.0 cm) of snow, while 32 inches (81.3 cm) fell near the town of Virginia, Minn. This was the largest ever April multi-day snowfall in the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. The combination of snow melt and heavy rain continued to flood rivers and streams throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. At the end of April, major flooding was occurring on the Mississippi River between Rock Island, Ill., and Burlington, Iowa. Heavy rains in the upper reaches of the lower Mississippi River spawned historic water levels downstream.
* Bethel, Alaska, received 11.7 inches (29.7 cm) of snow during the month, bringing its seasonal total to 102.4 inches (260.1 cm), nearly twice the average and only the second time in the last 30 years with over 100 inches (254 cm) of accumulated snowfall. By April 19, Nome accumulated 105.4 inches (268 cm) of snowfall, ranking as the second-snowiest winter on record behind 1994-95.
* Rainfall across parts of the Southeast improved drought conditions, with about 43 percent of the region classified in moderate-to-extreme drought at the end of April compared to 59 percent a month ago.
* In April, precipitation was below normal across most of the West, compared to the 1971-2000 average. Areas in California and Nevada reported their driest March-April total precipitation.
Mountain snowpack, however, remained healthy with most of the intermountain and Northwest regions reporting above normal snow packs by the end of the month.
Global Highlights
* April’s combined global land and ocean surface temperature was 0.74 degrees F (0.41 degrees C) above the 20th century mean of 56.7 degrees F (13.7 degrees C).
* Continued weakening of La Niña, the cold phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, occurred during April. The global average ocean surface temperature in April was the ninth warmest on record, with a monthly anomaly of 0.59 degrees F
(0.33 degrees C) above the 20th century mean.
* Typhoon Neoguri brought torrential rains and flash flooding to Hainan, China, April 18. This was the season’s earliest and perhaps the strongest typhoon to strike China since 1949.
* Snow cover extent over Eurasia during April
2008 was the lowest on record for April, following a record low March extent, and a marked contrast to the record January expanse. For the Northern Hemisphere, this month was the eighth least extensive April snow cover extent in the 42-year historical satellite record.
A fun & worthwhile event this weekend -- Sun., May 18th -- at Costco on the Southside (corner of Gate Parkway & JTB) of Jacksonville. It's the 4th annual "Show & Shine for Miracles Car Show" with proceeds benefiting the Childrens Miracle Network. Click here for info.
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Wildfires have calmed for the moment across Central & South Florida but conditions remain ripe for fires. Winds will begin to increase Thu. & will be quite gusty Fri. into the weekend. The best chance for some rain will be Fri. as a weak front crosses the area but again northern parts of the area will be favored for the best rainfall coverage.
Duval & Clay County issued press releases today regarding the wildfire season:
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Urges Residents to Exercise Protective Measures against wildfires.........
Jacksonville, Fla., May 14, 2008 – The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is encouraging residents to take protective measures to help prevent wildfires near their homes. These measures include:
Exercising extreme caution when using and disposing of items that may spark a fire such as cigarettes and fireworks.
Storing flammable materials, liquids and solvents in approved safety containers outside your residence and at least 30 feet from structures and wooden fences.
Keeping lawns trimmed, leaves raked and clearing dead limbs and debris from roof and rain gutters, then properly containing and disposing of debris and clippings.
Stacking firewood at least 30 feet from your residence.
Residents are also reminded that Duval County prohibits any open burning of yard waste on premises. This includes grass clippings, brush, leaves, tree limbs, etc. If a wildfire begins in your area, call 911.
For a comprehensive listing of prevention and protection measures visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Wildfire Web site pages.
Clay County and Law Enforcement Concerned About Burning Dangers
(Release Date 5-14-08) Due to recent weather conditions (wind and lack of rain) Clay County officials are concerned about the potential for small burns to turn into large uncontrolled burns. As seen this week in Brevard County and St. Johns County, it takes no time at all for a spark to ignite a fire that destroys large amounts of acreage and even homes.
Although a burn ban is not in effect at this time in Clay County, there are standard rules and regulations that will be enforced. Officers from Clay County's Environmental Crimes Unit, Clay County Fire/Rescue, the Dept. of Environmental Protection, Dept. of Agriculture and the Dept. of Forestry will respond to reports of illegal burning and fines may be accessed when needed. Now is the perfect time for residents to familiarize themselves with the guidelines for proper outdoor burning (see attached brochure for details). As always, law enforcement will work side by side with Clay County Fire-Rescue officials to respond to fires that endanger property or persons.
The Dept. of Agriculture can be contacted at 904-266-5001 regarding conditions for burning. Locally, residents may call 904-278-3697 to speak to a member of the Environmental Crimes Unit or to report concerns about illegal burning in Clay County.
Please see the attached document also for a graphic that demonstrates the setbacks that residents should attempt to use for safe and legal outdoor burning.
"My Safe Florida Home" program has just about reached & will now transition to an inspection-focused program. The Florida Department of Financial Services has released this statement:
MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM NEARS 35,000 GRANTS
Program will continue offering free wind inspections until it reaches goal of 400,000
TALLAHASSEE— Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink today announced that the My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program is projecting it will exceed the Florida Legislature’s goal of approving 35,000 homeowners for grants by the end of May. The first-come, first-served program will stop accepting new grant applications at that time. MSFH will continue to work with homeowners currently making improvements to their homes.
The MSFH program will transition to an inspection-focused program beginning June 2008, offering free wind inspections for eligible homeowners until it reaches the Legislature’s goal of performing 400,000 inspections or until the program sunsets in June 2009.
“With hurricane season less than one month away, I encourage Floridians to sign up for a free wind inspection to learn how to harden their homes against hurricane damage,” said CFO Alex Sink, who oversees the Department of Financial Services. “The response from homeowners has been overwhelming, and I thank the Legislature for creating this program and allowing us to enable more than 35,000 Floridians to make their homes more storm-resistant.”
Homeowners who have already received an inspection and meet other statutory requirements may apply for a grant online or by calling toll-free 1-866-513-MSFH (6734). In addition to completing an application online or over the phone, homeowners are required to provide the MSFH program with proof of homestead and insurance for matching grants or proof of homestead and income for low-income grants. Deadlines for applying for a MSFH grant and the submission of these required application documents are listed below.
Grant Application Methods
Grant Application Deadlines
Apply online
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Apply over the phone
Friday, May 30, 2008
Mail proof of homestead and insurance for matching grants
Mail proof of homestead and income for low-income grants
Postmarked by Friday, June 13, 2008
In 2007, the Florida Legislature directed the MSFH program to provide inspections for at least 400,000 site-built, single-family, residential properties and provide grants to at least 35,000 applicants before June 30, 2009. To date, the MSFH program has approved approximately 32,292 homeowners for mitigation grants and has paid 6,930 grants totaling more than $22.4 million. The MSFH program has also provided more than 222,981 free wind inspections. Participating homeowners receive a wind inspection report, which suggests ways homeowners can harden their homes against storm damage and informs homeowners if they are currently eligible to save money on their wind insurance premiums. To date, 59 percent of homeowners who have received a free wind inspection are eligible for discounts on their wind insurance premiums averaging $217 statewide.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners reports that nearly half of America's consumers are not prepared for an impending disaster:
NEARLY HALF OF AMERICANS UNPREPARED FOR DISASTERS, NEW NAIC SURVEY REVEALS........
What You Need to Know About Insurance Before Disaster Strikes
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 13, 2008) — As the nation braces for the hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and floods that accompany the spring and summer disaster season, nearly half of U.S. consumers are insufficiently prepared – in terms of their insurance coverage – to deal with potential losses, according to new research by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
The NAIC’s national survey revealed a significant lack of preparedness among consumers in documenting their belongings. Nearly half – 48 percent – said they did not have an inventory of their possessions. Of those consumers who reported having a checklist, 32 percent had not taken any pictures and 58 percent had no receipts validating the cost of their possessions. In addition, 44 percent of respondents acknowledged that they had not stored their inventory in a remote location.
“A comprehensive list of your belongings and their value will help you file an insurance claim after a disaster,” said NAIC President and Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger. “Creating an inventory and storing it in a safe location away from home is one of the most basic — and most effective — disaster preparedness steps anyone can take to help protect themselves and their financial future.”
The NAIC survey also found that 43 percent of U.S. adults with homeowners or renter’s insurance owned policies that provided a replacement cost payout. Of the remaining consumers, 27 percent indicated their policies insured their homes for the actual cash value, while another 28 percent did not know which type of coverage they purchased.
Actual cash value is the amount it would take to repair or replace damage to a home and its contents after depreciation. Replacement cost is the amount it would take to replace or rebuild a home or repair damages with materials of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation.
“Many consumers are not able to recover after a disaster because they don’t realize how depreciation can impact their assets,” Praeger said. “It is important that consumers understand the implications of purchasing an actual cash value policy vs. replacement cost insurance. In the event of a disaster, the difference could mean thousands of dollars in payout.”
The NAIC survey also found that the majority of consumers do not have the coverage necessary to protect themselves from specific types of losses that are not reimbursed under standard policies:
69 percent do not have earthquake insurance.
65 percent do not have flood insurance.
56 percent do not have insurance for a water line break.
55 percent do not have insurance for a sewer line break.
“Many homeowners and renters are vulnerable, especially if they live in disaster-prone areas,” said NAIC Executive Vice President and CEO Catherine J. Weatherford. “Consumers should review their insurance policies yearly with their agent or company to make sure they have the coverage needed to protect their family and their belongings.”
The NAIC offers tips and considerations on insurance through its public education program, Insure U – Get Smart About Insurance, at this site.
Disaster Preparedness Tips for Homeowners and Renters from the NAIC
· Take an inventory of your valuables and belongings. This should include taking photographs or a video of each room. This documentation will provide your insurance company with proof of your belongings and help to process claims more quickly in the event of disaster.
· To enable filing claims more quickly, keep sales receipts and/or canceled checks. Also note the model and serial numbers of the items in your home inventory.
· As you acquire more valuables — jewelry, family heirlooms, antiques, art —consider purchasing an additional “floater” or “rider” to your policy to cover these special items. These types of items typically are not covered by a basic homeowners or renter’s insurance policy.
· Remember to include in your home inventory those items you rarely use (e.g., holiday decorations, sports equipment, tools, etc.).
· Store copies of all your insurance policies in a safe location away from your home that is easily accessible in case of disaster. You may want to store your policies and inventory in a waterproof, fireproof box or in a safe, remote location such as a bank safe deposit box. Consider leaving a copy of your inventory with relatives, friends or your insurance provider and store digital pictures in your e-mail or on a Web site for easy retrieval.
· Know what is and is not covered by your insurance policy. You might need additional protection depending on where you live. Make sure your policies are up to date. Contact your insurance provider annually to review and update your insurance policy.
· Keep a readily available list of 24-hour contact information for each of your insurance providers.
· Find out if your possessions are insured for the actual cash value or the replacement cost. Actual cash value is the amount it would take to repair or replace damage to your home or possessions after depreciation while replacement cost is the amount it would take to repair or replace your home or possessions without deducting for depreciation. Speak with your insurance provider to determine whether purchasing replacement coverage is worth the cost.
· Speak with your insurance provider to find out if your policy covers additional living expenses for a temporary residence if you are unable to live in your home due to damage from a disaster.
· Appraise your home periodically to make sure your insurance policy reflects home improvements or renovations. Contact your insurance provider to update your policy accordingly.
Our Jacksonville N.W.S. has a nice write-up on their website regarding Sunday's EF-1 tornado just north of St. Simons Island, GA. in Glynn Co.
And -- it's official -- the Darien tornado in McIntosh Co. Sun. morning was a violent EF-4:
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
220 PM EDT WED MAY 14 2008
...MCINTOSH COUNTY GEORGIA TORNADO RATED A VIOLENT EF-4...
A SURVEY TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA ALONG WITH OTHER DAMAGE SURVEY EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE TORNADO THAT STRUCK MCINTOSH COUNTY GEORGIA SUNDAY MORNING MAY 11TH WAS A VIOLENT EF-4. THE TORNADO BEGINNING AND END TIMES ARE BASED ON RADAR DATA COMBINED WITH CREDIBLE GROUND TRUTH REPORTS.
A TORNADO FORMED AT 952 AM...ABOUT 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF DARIEN AND TRACKED EAST ABOUT 11 MILES BEFORE DISSIPATING AT 1007 AM AS A WATERSPOUT IN DOBOY SOUND.
THE TORNADO FORMED IN A WOODED AREA ABOUT 1/2 MILE WEST OF ROUTE 251 WHERE NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF. THE TORNADO STRENGTHENED RAPIDLY AS IT APPROACHED AND MOVED ACROSS ROUTE 251.
THE TORNADO STRUCK A MARINE SALES AND SERVICES BUSINESS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF ROUTE 251. THE BOLTS FOR ALL BUT ONE OF THE
ANCHORED METAL SUPPORT BEAMS FOR THE METAL BUILDING WERE SNAPPED OFF JUST ABOVE THE CONCRETE SLAB. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ONE METAL SUPPORT BEAM THAT WAS BENT TO THE GROUND...THE SLAB WAS WIPED CLEAN.
ABOUT 50 BOATS WERE TOSSED AROUND AND DESTROYED...WITH ONE 18 FOOT 4000 POUND BOAT CARRIED ABOUT 650 YARDS INTO SOME TREES. A 32 FOOT 8000 POUND BOAT WAS CARRIED ABOUT 130 YARDS ONTO THE TOP OF THE GATEWAY BEHAVIORAL SERVICES BUILDING. A SECOND SMALLER BOAT WAS ALSO CARRIED ONTO THE BUILDING. A VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT WAS CARRIED IN THE AIR 150 YARDS. ONE 125 HP BOAT MOTOR WEIGHING 300 TO 350 POUNDS WAS CARRIED 250 YARDS AND DEPOSITED INTO THE ROOF OF A BUILDING. IN ADDITION...ONE OF THE BOATS HAS YET TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR. SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES NEAR THIS BUSINESS WERE ROLLED OR TOSSED AND SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. NO ONE WAS IN THE BUILDING AT THE TIME THE TORNADO STRUCK AND DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND ALL THE BOATS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 5 MILLION DOLLARS.
ABOUT 100 YARDS TO THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE MARINE SALES AND
SERVICES BUILDING...THE MCINTOSH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BUILDING WAS DESTROYED BY THE TORNADO WITH DAMAGE TO THREE AMBULANCES AND ONE FIRE TRUCK. MANY OF THE METAL SUPPORT BEAMS FROM THIS METAL BUILDING WERE TORN FROM THE CONCRETE SLAB OR SNAPPED OFF. THIS BUILDING WAS RATED FOR 120 MPH WINDS. NO ONE WAS IN THIS BUILDING AT THE TIME OF THE TORNADO BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT ON A NON WEATHER RELATED CALL.
THE GATEWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SERVICES BUILDING WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THIS METAL FRAMED BUILDING WITH BRICK EXTERIOR WAS LOCATED ABOUT 100 YARDS EAST-NORTH EAST OF THE MCINTOSH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BUILDING AND 130 YARDS EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE MARINE SALES AND SERVICES BUILDING. THE ROOF OF THE GATEWAY BUILDING COLLAPSED ALONG WITH MANY OF THE OUTER BRICK WALLS. MANY OF THE LARGE LOAD BEARING METAL BEAMS WERE BENT OR KNOCKED DOWN. PORTIONS OF THE METAL ROOF WERE CARRIED A MILE AWAY ONTO INTERSTATE 95. SOME OF THE ROOFING MATERIAL WAS FOUND 11 MILES AWAY ON SAPELO ISLAND. OF THE 12 PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE BUILDING WHEN THE TORNADO HIT...9 WERE INJURED SUSTAINING BROKEN BONES AND/OR LACERATIONS. SIX VEHICLES AROUND THIS BUILDING WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED AND A METAL
LIGHT POLE AND SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF IN THIS AREA.
TWO OTHER BUSINESSES IN THIS AREA SUFFERED DAMAGE...INCLUDING DAMAGE TO SATELLITE DISHES AND TWO OVERTURNED TRACTOR TRAILERS. DAMAGE TO THE MARINE SALES AND SERVICES BUSINESS AND THE GATEWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SERVICES BUILDING INDICATE THAT EF-4 DAMAGE OCCURRED HERE WITH WINDS LIKELY IN THE 170 TO 180 MPH RANGE.
AFTER LEAVING THIS AREA THE TORNADO TRAVELED EAST AND WEAKENED. THE TORNADO REACHED ITS MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 700 YARDS AS IT CROSSED INTERSTATE 95...AND THEN DECREASED IN SIZE AND WAS MAINLY FROM 200 TO 500 YARDS WIDE DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE PATH. THE TORNADO DAMAGED OR DESTROYED FOUR BILLBOARDS ALONG INTERSTATE 95...PRODUCED MAINLY MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO SEVERAL DOZEN HOMES MAINLY IN THE RIDGEVILLE AREA...SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED THOUSANDS OF TREES...SOME OF THEM FALLING ON HOMES OR VEHICLES AND DAMAGED OR DESTROYED NUMEROUS OUTBUILDINGS.
A RESIDENT OF RIDGEVILLE...WHOSE HOME SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE IN THE TORNADO...TOOK SHELTER IN A CLOSET AFTER SEEING A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT ON THE TELEVISION MENTIONING THAT RIDGEVILLE WAS IN THE PATH OF THE TORNADO.
THE TORNADO DAMAGED THE BLUE-N-HALL MARINA AND FISHING DOCK. IN THIS AREA...A LARGE BOAT HOIST ALONG WITH 18 BOATS AND SEVERAL BOAT TRAILERS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. SEVERAL POWER POLES WERE SNAPPED OFF AND SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. NUMEROUS TREES WERE ALSO SNAPPED OFF ON HIRD ISLAND. THE TORNADO LIKELY DISSIPATED OVER DOBOY SOUND AS A WATERSPOUT. BESIDES PORTIONS OF THE GATEWAY ROOF...LOTS OF OTHER DEBRIS INCLUDING SIGNS WERE DEPOSITED ON SAPELO ISLAND.
STRENGTH...... EF-4
PEAK WINDS.... 170-180 MPH
MAX WIDTH..... 700 YARDS
TRACK LENGTH.. 11 MILES
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Nice weather to continue through Wed. before humidity begins to return Thu. along with warmer temps. Pleasant lows in the 50s & afternoon highs near 80 Wed.
Looks like our next best chance for rain will be Fri. as low pressure moves by to the north of Jacksonville swinging a cool front across the area. Showers & t'storms will develop Fri. into Fri. night but coverage remains questionable. The situation is at least somewhat similar to Sun. in that we'll be dealing with weakening convergence with the front & possible upper level warming. Moisture might end up more favorable, however. The rainfall potential should become more clear the next couple days.
Winds will continue to keep smoke away from Jax Wed. but southeast winds should carry smoke from the Daytona fires into Palatka & maybe as far west & northwest as Gainesville, Starke, Lake Butler & Raiford. Winds will become more southerly Thu. which could carry the smoke more north possible including metro Jax...depending on the size & intensity of the fire by that time.
NOAA reports today that 3 names from last year's hurricane season will be retired:
Dean, Felix, and Noel Retired From List of Storm Names
International Committee Selects Replacement Names for 2013 List
The names Dean, Felix, and Noel, three of the most devastating storms of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, were retired by members of the 30th Session of the World Meteorological Organization's Regional Association IV Hurricane Committee during its annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.
Members of the committee, which includes representatives from NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, can remove names associated with storms that cause significant loss of life and property. These names will not be used again because of the wide spread destruction caused by these storms.
The committee issues a list of potential names for tropical cyclones every six years and for 2013, Dean, Felix, and Noel have been replaced with Dorian, Fernand, and Nestor. Since tropical cyclones were first named in 1953, 70 names have been retired, the first two being Carol and Hazel in 1954.
Details of the newly retired 2007 named storms are shown below:
• Dean passed between St. Lucia and Martinique on Aug. 17 on a remarkably constant heading across the Caribbean Sea, passing just south of Jamaica with Category 4 winds of 145 mph. Over the warm waters of the northwestern Caribbean Sea, Dean reached Category 5 strength of 165 mph just before landfall on Aug. 21 near Costa Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula. It weakened over land but emerged into the Bay of Campeche, strengthening to Category 2 status just before landfall the next day south of Tuxpan, Mexico. Dean is directly responsible for 32 deaths across the Caribbean, with the largest tolls in Mexico and Haiti.
• Felix was the second hurricane of the season to make landfall as a Category 5 hurricane, a feat never seen before in records dating back to 1851. Felix became a hurricane on Sept. 1 over the southwestern Caribbean Sea. It rapidly intensified, and Felix became a Category 5 hurricane about 400 miles southeast of Jamaica. The storm weakened to Category 3 but re-intensified to Category 5 status just before landfall on Sept. 4 at Punta Gorda, Nicaragua. Felix was responsible for 130 deaths in Nicaragua and Honduras, causing major damage in northeastern Nicaragua and inland flooding over portions of Central America.
• Noel was a slow-moving tropical storm from Oct. 25 to Oct. 31, while over the Dominican Republic, Haiti, eastern Cuba and the lower Bahamas before reaching Category 1 hurricane strength on Nov. 1 in the northwestern Bahamas. As it accelerated northeast over the western Atlantic waters near Nantucket Island, Mass. it was no longer classified as a tropical system but packed 75 mph winds as it came ashore near Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Noel was responsible for at least 160 deaths across the Caribbean and Bahamas. The system produced hurricane forecast winds over portions of the northeast U.S. and Canada, producing widespread power outages. It also produced significant coastal flooding and wave action that washed out coastal roads in portions of Nova Scotia.
Names for the upcoming 2008 Atlantic season, which begins June 1, include Arthur, Bertha, Christobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna, Ike, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paloma, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, and Wilfred.
Pictures continue to roll in from Sun's. tornadoes. The photos below are from "Dave" & show the St. Simons Island/Easter Island tornado (EF-1) + damage at a golf range business. This tornado occurred between 2:30 & 3pm.
The Darien tornado in McIntosh Co., GA northwest of Brunswick which crossed I-95 Sun. near 10am was very violent & has been rated at least as a high end EF-3. Check out
these photos from Brunswicknews.com which include some excellent photos of the twister(s).
Here's the preliminary summary from Charleston, SC:
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1025 PM EDT MON MAY 12 2008
...PRELIMINARY INFORMATION FOR THE MCINTOSH COUNTY TORNADO ON SUNDAY
MORNING MAY 11TH...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TEAM HAS SURVEYED THE AREA OF MCINTOSH COUNTY NORTHWEST TO NORTHEAST OF DARIEN. AS A RESULT...A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN MADE ON THIS TORNADO.
A TORNADO FORMED AT 956 AM...3 MILES NORTHWEST OF DARIEN AND TRACKED EAST 5.5 MILES TO ABOUT 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF DARIEN IN THE VICINITY OF HIRD ISLAND AT 1003 AM.
THIS TORNADO DESTROYED A MARINE SALES AND SERVICES BUSINESS. ALL
THAT WAS LEFT OF THIS METAL BUILDING WAS A CONCRETE SLAB. ABOUT 50 BOATS WERE TOSSED AROUND AND DESTROYED...WITH ONE 18 FOOT 4000 POUND BOAT CARRIED ABOUT 650 YARDS INTO SOME TREES. A 32 FOOT 8000 POUND BOAT WAS CARRIED ABOUT 130 YARDS ONTO THE TOP OF THE GATEWAY BEHAVIORAL SERVICES BUILDING. A SECOND SMALLER BOAT WAS ALSO CARRIED INTO THE BUILDING. A VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT WAS CARRIED IN THE AIR 150 YARDS. ONE 125 HP BOAT MOTOR WEIGHING 300 TO 350 POUNDS WAS CARRIED 250 YARDS AND DEPOSITED INTO THE ROOF OF A BUILDING. AT THIS TIME...ONE OF THE BOATS HAS NOT BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR. SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES NEAR THIS BUSINESS WERE ROLLED OR TOSSED AND SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND ALL THE BOATS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 5 MILLION DOLLARS.
THE GATEWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SERVICES BUILDING WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE ROOF COLLAPSED ALONG WITH MANY OF THE OUTER BRICK WALLS. PORTIONS OF THE METAL ROOF WERE CARRIED MORE THAN A MILE AWAY WITH SOME OF IT LANDING ON INTERSTATE 95. OF THE 40 PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE BUILDING WHEN THE TORNADO HIT...9 WERE INJURED SUSTAINING BROKEN BONES AND/OR LACERATIONS. SIX VEHICLES AROUND THIS BUILDING WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED AND A METAL LIGHT POLE WAS SNAPPED OFF.
THE MCINTOSH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES METAL BUILDING WAS DESTROYED BY THE TORNADO WITH DAMAGE TO THREE AMBULANCES AND ONE FIRE TRUCK.
TWO OTHER BUSINESSES IN THIS AREA SUFFERED DAMAGE...INCLUDING DAMAGE TO SATELLITE DISHES AND TWO OVERTURNED TRACTOR TRAILERS.
IN OTHER AREAS ALONG THE TORNADO PATH THE TORNADO DAMAGED OR
DESTROYED FOUR BILLBOARDS ALONG INTERSTATE 95...PRODUCED MAINLY
MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO SEVERAL DOZEN HOMES...SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED THOUSANDS OF TREES...SOME OF THEM FALLING ON HOMES OR VEHICLES AND DAMAGED OR DESTROYED NUMEROUS OUTBUILDINGS.
NEAR THE END OF THE PATH...THE TORNADO DAMAGED THE BLUE-N-HALL
MARINA AND FISHING DOCK. IN THIS AREA...A LARGE BOAT HOIST ALONG WITH 18 BOATS AND SEVERAL BOAT TRAILERS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. SEVERAL POWER POLES WERE SNAPPED OFF AND SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED.
THE MAXIMUM WIDTH OF THIS TORNADO WAS 700 YARDS WHEN IT CROSSED
INTERSTATE 95. THIS TORNADO WILL POTENTIALLY BE RATED EF3 OR GREATER BASED ON THE DAMAGE TO MARINE SALES AND SERVICES BUSINESS AND THE GATEWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SERVICES BUILDING.
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Some natural air conditioning through Tue. & into Wed. with low humidity, cool nights & mild days. Unfortunately this pattern is making for a serious wildfire situation. SE Georgia managed plenty of rain over the weekend but most of Northeast Fl. had little or none. Our next chance for rain won't be until the end of the week. Scattered showers & storms should occur Fri. into Sat. as a cool front moves into the area.
This front will be part of another large & strong storm system that will move across the Central & Eastern U.S. Yet another major severe storm outbreak is likely from the Southern Plains to the East Coast. It's possible that some strong storms will occur on the First Coast as the front approaches later Fri.
It has indeed been a very stormy year so far -- 910 tornadoes & 96 deaths compared to the yearly avg. of 1,000 tornadoes & 60 deaths.
The First Coast was included in the severe weather over the weekend. The photo below is from St. Simons Island, GA where an EF-1 tornado hit Sun. afternoon.
Here's the storm survey from our Jax N.W.S.:
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
149 PM EDT MON MAY 12 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0250 PM TORNADO 6 ESE COUNTRY CLUB ESTA 31.18N 81.38W
05/11/2008 F1 GLYNN GA NWS STORM SURVEY
NWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMED F1 TORNADO DAMAGE ALONG A 2 MILE LONG PATH IN AND NEAR THE SEA PALMS RESORT AREA. PATH WIDTH WAS 1/10 TO 1/8 OF A MILE. MANY TREES WERE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. NO SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OTHER THAN WHAT WAS CAUSED BY FALLEN TREES. WINDS ESTIMATED TO BE 80 TO 100 MPH.
But the southern edge of the storms was abrupt with most areas staying dry south of the Fl./Ga. border except for Nassau Co. & extreme Northeast Duval Co. where a few evening t'storms occurred. Three primary reasons:
(1) as the trough of low pressure helping to produce the storm system began to lift out to the north, the trailing cool front became more west/east oriented &
surface winds veered more westerly thereby decreasing the convergence necessary to cause sustained lift to help produce & sustain t'storms......
(2) the deepest moisture in the atmosphere pushed east & northeast away from the area with the veering winds
(3) temps. warmed aloft causing a "cap" through which storms had a difficult time penetrating (the warm layer is a stable layer)
Rainfall amounts in some parts of Southeast GA reached 2".
A huge severe storm complex moved across Georgia Sun. morning -- something referred to as a "derecho". These are long lasting, fast moving clusters -- often a line -- of storms that produce intense, damaging winds, hail, heavy rain & tornadoes. Click here for a nice description of a derecho courtesy NOAA. This press release Mon. from John Oxendine, Ga. Insurance & Fire Commissioner:
OXENDINE: 6,000 HOMES DAMAGED FROM GEORGIA STORMS, INSURED LOSSES ESTIMATED AT $50 MILLION AND GROWING
Atlanta – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John W. Oxendine said he estimated that violent weather across Georgia over the weekend caused more than $50 million in insured losses, with more than 6,000 homes damaged.
“Our preliminary estimate today is more than $50 million in damage across Georgia. That figure may rise as new claims are reported,” Oxendine said. “I’ve been Commissioner for 14 years, and I don’t recall ever seeing damage spread across the whole state like this.”
The Commissioner sent consumer service personnel to storm-damaged communities today to get a first-hand look and to offer help to affected citizens.
“I’ve directed my staff to make every effort to work with consumers and help them through this difficult time,” Oxendine said.
Oxendine reminds Georgians that they can call his Consumer Services Division at 404-656-2070 or, outside the Metro area, 1-800-656-2298, if they have questions about a claim, or if they are experiencing difficulty reaching their insurance company. Phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Here are storm surveys from the weekend severe weather outbreak:
-- Atlanta
-- Tulsa
-- Springfield, MO.
-- Little Rock
Today I interviewed Mark Goldwich, author of "Uncovered: What Really Happens After the Storm, Flood, Earthquake or Fire". Parts of the interview will air in our hurricane program: "First Alert: Hurricane Watch '08". I'd highly recommend his book -- a tutorial on how to deal with insurance companies that don't want to pay up. Mark emphasizes that the consumer should not give up when it comes to be "strong armed" by large insurance companies. Click here for info. on his book.
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Partly sunny, breezy & hot Sat. with afternoon highs in the 90s all the way to the coast. The record high for Sat. (May 10) in Jax is 93 set in 2003. Looks like we'll be real close if not break the record by a degree or so. Winds will once again increase from the west at 10-20 mph with some higher gusts.
Sunday is looking stormy. It'll be a windy day with sustained winds of 15-25 mph but gusts of 30 to even 40 mph. A squall line of thunderstorms should already be occurring early in the day in Georgia, Alabama & the Florida Panhandle. The line of storms will move east through the day accompanied by strong, possibly damaging winds, hail & heavy rain reaching Waycross to Lake City by at least early afternoon then spreading east all the way to the coast through the afternoon.
It's possible that we'll also have isolated to widely scattered storms develop out ahead of this line. Any of these "individual" storms will have the potential to also become severe & could even produce an isolated tornado. Keep an eye to the sky Sunday!
In fact, this will be a messy weekend of weather. Flooding rains will occur from the midwest to New England with a late season Nor'Easter by Mon. Severe storms will break out Sat. from Texas & Oklahoma to Tennessee & Alabama....moving to the Mid Atlantic to the Southeast & Florida by Sun.
We'll catch a nice break from the heat & humidity early in the week -- Mon. through Wed. -- before southerly winds & moisture return along with more rain Thu. into Fri. Overall, it's a pretty active pattern for this time of yr. & for this far south with the potential for some much needed rain but also the potential for severe weather.
Have you seen the video from Leighton, AL of a tornado moving through a parking lot? Click here to see the surveillence video from CNN.
Our assistant news director sent this to the staff today:
The True Story of Mother’s Day
A Day of Peace
In 1870, Julia Ward Howe, distressed by her experience of the realities of war, determined that peace was one of the two most important causes of the world (the other being equality in its many forms) and seeing war arise again in the world in the Franco-Prussian War, she called in 1870 for women to rise up and oppose war in all its forms. She wanted women to come together across national lines, to recognize what we hold in common above what divides us, and commit to finding peaceful resolutions to conflicts. She issued a Declaration, hoping to gather together women in a congress of action.
Influenced by the work of Julia Ward How Anna Jarvis, started her own crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother's Day was celebrated in West Virginia in 1907. And from there the custom caught on — spreading eventually to 45 states. Finally in 1914 the President, Woodrow Wilson, declared the first national Mother's Day.
This will be the first Mother Day I've ever known to not have my mother to call (see April 9th post). The permanence is what mystifies & bothers me most. It was melancholy to order roses to be placed on her grave.
Earth Gauge: Reducing Yard Waste
Yard trimmings are the second largest component of America's waste stream (paper is the largest), and recent recycling efforts have resulted in 62 percent reduction in the amount of yard trimmings that make their way into landfills. One way to cut down on this number even more is to re-use your grass clippings. The annual clippings from a 5000 square foot lawn can add up to one ton!
Tip: Many people no longer think of grass clippings as garbage, and instead view them as a valuable resource! Instead of throwing your clippings away when you mow, consider three easy alternatives. One is to leave the clippings where they fall. By doing this, you recycle the nutrients in the grass as it breaks down, which reduces the need for lawn fertilizer. A second option is to use the clippings as mulch over tree roots, garden beds, and other areas in your yard to keep weeds at bay, reduce erosion and rain water run-off, and reduce moisture loss from evaporation on warm days. Lastly, grass clippings are a great addition to your compost pile.
(Sources: State of Connecticut: Department of Environmental Protection. "Don’t Trash Grass." Accessed Online 14 February 2008 and United States Environmental Protection Agency: Municipal Solid Waste. Accessed Online 14 February 2008)
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Climate Fact: Central Asia’s Glaciers
Central Asia, a general term for the landlocked region extending from the Caspian Sea eastward into China, has a growing and economically developing population that is largely dependent on glacial melt for its water supply. The Region’s glaciers, however, have been shrinking. In the Eastern Pamir Region of Tajikistan, for example, between 1978 and 1990, glaciers shrunk 7.8 percent and between 1990 and 2001, glaciers shrunk by 11.6 percent. In the Northern Tien Shan Mountain Range in Kyrgyzstan, glaciers have lost about 28 percent of their areal extent since the 1960’s. These glaciers provide water for parts of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and China.
(Sources: Khromova, T. E. et al. “Changes in glacier extent in the eastern Pamir, Central Asia, determined from historical data and ASTER imagery.” Remote Sensing of the Environment 102 (2006): 24-32 and Niederer, P. et al. “Tracing glacier wastage in the Northern Tien Shan (Kyrgyzstan/Central Asia) over the last 40 years.” Climate Change 86 (2008): 227-234.)
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Climate in the News – “Scientists Head to Warming Alaska on Ice Core Expedition” – Science Daily, 1 May 2008 .........A team of scientists are travelling to Alaska to find the perfect "layer cake" ice core, which will hopefully provide insights on the last 2,000 years of Alaska's climate.
Have a great weekend...stay safe & treat Mom perfectly!
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The heat's arrived & will stay through the weekend. A disturbance passing north of the area could trigger an isolated t'storm Fri. -- especially over Southeast Ga. The highest potential for widespread showers & storms still looks to be Sun.-Sun. night.
So "The Players" is underway. Early morning players had the lowest scores which was no surprise given the increasingly difficult conditions through the day -- heat & wind. Same story for Fri. & Sat. which will probably send the stimp meter on the greens to 13+! Timing on the thunderstorms will be an issue for the final round Sun.
I'll be paying a special & long visit to "my hole" -- #13 (see March 17th post). Funny thing...I haven't played a round of golf since that big day.
So in the mail today I get a letter informing me Hanover Ins. is dropping my homeowners basically because "they can", & they don't want to have to insure potential catastrophic losses. Great....these big insurance companies are a joke, & I guarantee you will come crawling back once they again pad their coffers. The good news is that there are smaller companies working in Florida that are at least as good, if not better than the self-serving large insurance companies. The smaller companies can serve as an excellent, effective & affordable option. Click here for some good info. from First Coast New Home Expo.
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Hot! The longest stretch of consecutive 90+ degree days in nearly 7 months is on the way. Forecast high for Thu: 90...Fri: 92...Sat & Sun: 91. If we indeed hit 90 four days in a row, it'll be the first time since Oct. 12-15th (91, 92, 92 & 93 degrees respectively).
And it looks to be mostly dry & breezy with west/southwest winds of 10-20 mph but with higher gusts. So our fire danger will be high & even the beaches will approach 90 thanks to an offshore wind. We should see a few isolated thunderstorms with 2 most favored areas:
(1) near the sea breeze which should be "pinned" near the coast......
(2) Southeast Ga. which will be closest to a weak front which upper level disturbances will travel along.
For "The Players".....hot, partly sunny & breezy with an extreme UV index -- burn time will be near 15 min. An isolated thunderstorm will be possible each afternoon/early evening. A pretty strong cross wind -- from the west/southwest will blow each day & will be particularly gusty Thu., Fri., & again Sun. afternoon -- will be blowing on the infamous 17th...that's a left to right wind. The course will play just as the PGA has always wanted it to: fast & little room for error.
It looks like there will be a greater threat of storms late Sun. & Sun. night.
This from Al Gore on NPR Tue.:
"And as we’re talking today, Terry, the death count in Myanmar from the cyclone that hit there yesterday has been rising from 15,000 to way on up there to much higher numbers now being speculated. And last year a catastrophic storm from last fall hit Bangladesh. The year before, the strongest cyclone in more than 50 years hit China – and we’re seeing consequences that scientists have long predicted might be associated with continued global warming."
Ah, come on!! From the freedictionary.com:
o·ver·sim·pli·fy (vr-smpl-f)
v. o·ver·sim·pli·fied, o·ver·sim·pli·fy·ing, o·ver·sim·pli·fies
v.tr.
To simplify to the point of causing misrepresentation, misconception, or error.
v.intr.
To cause distortion or error by extreme simplification of a subject.
Fact is the majority of scientific evidence & the majority of people in the know --meteorologists! -- simply indicate there is no such cause & effect -- at least not to a degree that's at all significant. This is the consensus statement by the International Workshop on tropical cyclones-VI participants (courtesy NHC):
-- Though there is evidence both for and against the existence of a detectable anthropogenic signal in the tropical cyclone climate record to date, no firm conclusion can be made on this point.
-- No individual tropical cyclone can be directly attributed to climate change.
-- The recent increase in societal impact from tropical cyclones has largely been caused by rising concentrations of population and infrastructure in coastal regions.
-- Tropical cyclone wind-speed monitoring has changed dramatically over the last few decades, leading to difficulties in determining accurate trends.
-- There is an observed multi-decadal variability of tropical cyclones in some regions whose causes, whether natural, anthropogenic or a combination, are currently being debated. This variability makes detecting any long-term trends in tropical cyclone activity difficult.
-- It is likely that some increase in tropical cyclone peak wind-speed and rainfall will occur if the climate continues to warm. Model studies and theory project a 3-5% increase in wind-speed per degree Celsius increase of tropical sea surface temperatures.
-- There is an inconsistency between the small changes in wind-speed projected by theory and modeling versus large changes reported by some observational studies.
-- Although recent climate model simulations project a decrease or no change in global tropical cyclone numbers in a warmer climate, there is low confidence in this projection. In addition, it is unknown how tropical cyclone tracks or areas of impact will change in the future.
-- Large regional variations exist in methods used to monitor tropical cyclones. Also, most regions have no measurements by instrumented aircraft. These significant limitations will continue to make detection of trends difficult.
If the projected rise in sea level due to global warming occurs, then the vulnerability to tropical cyclone storm surge flooding would increase.
Inspection of sea surface temps. in the Bay of Bengal prior to the landfalling cyclone shows temps. only slightly -- less than 1 degree C -- above avg. sea surface temps. Check out the sea surface temp. map by clicking here (Bay of Bengal is about at 15 degrees N., 90 degrees E.).
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One more pleasantly warm day Wed. before a surge of summer-like heat for Thu. through the weekend with highs reaching 90 in some spots. Increasing humidity will accompany the surge of warmth, so the sea breeze should trigger a thunderstorm or two each afternoon Thu., Fri. & Sat. It doesn't look like much rain but thunderstorms could be a little more numerous Thu. night/early Fri. as an upper level disturbance moves by to the north of the First Coast. The best chance for rain from the disturbance will be across Southeast Georgia. It's looking like the best shot at widespread rain for the First Coast will be late Sun. through early Mon.
The Chaiten volcano in Chile began erupting last Fri. for the first time in thousands of years. Check out the satellite photo below from NASA showing the ash & steam being pushed into the Atlantic Ocean. When I saw this eruption on T.V. today, I thought to myself "what about effects on our climate"? Well, it turns out -- while the eruption seems impressive -- it's not anywhere close to enough sulfur dioxide to have much of an impact. Apparently "only" a few thousand tons of sulfer dioxide are being released...some 1 million tons are generally thought to be needed to affect the climate. Get the story from the Assoc. Press. 
A big announcement today (Tue.) from the Georgia Aquarium & Marineland:
GEORGIA AQUARIUM ANNOUNCES $110 MILLION EXPANSION
New Addition Will Be Home to Bottlenose Dolphins
ATLANTA (May 6, 2008) – When Bernie Marcus opened the Georgia Aquarium in November 2005, he promised that it would always play a role in animal conservation, that it would make an important economic impact on downtown Atlanta, and that it would constantly reinvent itself to continue to "WOW" and attract visitors from around the world. Today, Aquarium founder Marcus and Jim Jacoby, owner of Marineland of Florida and a member of the Georgia Aquarium board, disclosed a key relationship for the Georgia Aquarium with Marineland that ensures those promises continue to be met.
"The Georgia Aquarium will break ground this summer on a $110 million dolphin exhibit that will open by the end of 2010," Marcus announced. "For four years, my friend Jim Jacoby has encouraged me to partner with him to bring dolphins to Atlanta, because they are the aquatic animal that most people know and love, and still there is a dire need in this area of the country to help dolphins."
"Even before the Aquarium opened in 2005, Jim made the incredible offer to lend us up to four trained dolphins on a breeding loan from his world-famous Marineland. With the expansion we are announcing today, we will have an 84,000 square foot space, about the size of two football fields, with a 1.3 million gallon exhibit to accommodate them, and graciously accept Jim’s offer," Marcus added.
"We have a wonderful group of dolphins at our Dolphin Conservation Center, and breeding is active. A breeding loan, which is common among aquariums and zoos, made perfect sense," Jim Jacoby added. "Our guests have been educated and entertained by these charismatic animals, some for more than twenty years, and they will be an exciting addition to the family of fish and mammals that are already at the Georgia Aquarium."
Located on the west side of the present building near the Luckie Street parking deck entrance, the building will encompass areas that include dolphin encounters, viewing windows and dolphin shows. The bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that will initially inhabit the Aquarium’s new building will come from Marineland’s Dolphin Conservation Center, founded in 2006 to educate and entertain guests through interactive dolphin encounters.
"This is the next ‘BIG WOW,’ the attraction that will continue to bring millions of people to downtown Atlanta and make it the most interesting and exciting facility in the world," Marcus said.
Construction on the dolphin exhibit is expected to begin in August 2008 and will open to the public winter 2010.
Marcus Announces Aquarium Support of Marine Animal Conservation Field Station
In a second announcement, Marcus said the Georgia Aquarium is making a $1.5 million contribution for a new marine animal rescue, care and research facility near Marineland outside St. Augustine, FL. The Georgia Aquarium will provide additional support for operational costs of the conservation field station once it has opened in 2009.
"In our discussions with Marineland and government officials, they informed us of an urgent need for a research facility in that area that can rescue and study the many marine animals that get stranded along the coastlines of Georgia and northeast Florida," Marcus explained.
Manatees, whales and dolphins are among the marine animals that have been stranded on those shores either from illness or as a result of injury or age.
The contribution will be used toward initial capital expenditures in the construction of the marine animal conservation station.
"As a member of the Board of Directors since its inception, I have well understood the Georgia Aquarium’s commitment to conservation and care of fish and mammals, wherever they might be located," Jim Jacoby said. "Once I shared our awareness of this great need with Aquarium leadership, they asked what needed to be done and how they could help."
The conservation field station will be dedicated to studying marine animals off the coast of Georgia and northeast Florida and rescuing and rehabilitating stranded animals. According to Jacoby, it will include veterinary facilities, quarantine pools for rehabilitating rescued animals and housing for researchers and volunteers. Animals deemed releasable by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will be released in the ocean after rehabilitation. Animals deemed by NMFS to be unfit for release will be provided a home at Marineland or another facility selected by NMFS.
"One of the species we need to actively study is the dolphin, particularly those off the coast of Georgia and northeast Florida," said Billy Hurley, General Manager, Marineland. "More work needs to be done in this area of Florida to understand the effects of pollution on dolphins. It is vitally important to be proactive in our care and understanding of this population before it is too late. This conservation field station will make a positive difference to dolphins and many other marine animals in the wild."
Jeff Swanagan, President and Executive Director of the Georgia Aquarium, said that the dedication to research and conservation programs the Aquarium presently conducts with whale sharks, beluga whales, coral reefs and sea turtles will be applied to the dolphins that are coming to Atlanta.
"The Aquarium is excited about bringing this aquatic animal to Atlanta and educating millions of visitors on the challenges this animal faces in its native habitats," said Swanagan. "At the same time we have an amazing opportunity to couple the research conducted at the Georgia Aquarium with the research that will be done at the new marine mammal conservation field station."
In honor of one of America's toughest jobs ... Today is National Teacher Day. This from the National Education Assoc.:
WASHINGTON—In a monumental effort to say "thanks" to the nation's 3.2 million public school teachers and to celebrate National Teacher Day (May 6) and Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-10), the National Education Association and the Parent Teacher Association are urging individuals nationwide to send thank-you notes to their favorite teachers.
The Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You Card project was created by NEA and PTA in response to an NEA poll showing that the gift nearly half of all teachers would most like to receive is a simple "thank you.” Several thousands of thank-you notes have been collected from students, parents, celebrities, elected officials and individuals from across the nation. A sampling of those messages includes:
• "Ms. Brown was very special because she was my mentor. She was very helpful to my family and me. She and I became close friends and are good friends. After so many years, we still spend time talking on the phone." Patti LaBelle, singer • "Mr. Sellereit gave me my first acting job in my school production of 'The Jungle Book!'" Hilary Swank, actress • "Mr. Tucker has never forgotten what he has in common with his students...he was a kid once, therefore he will always be able to be heard by his students who feel 100 percent respected and validated by him." Wilmer Valderrama, actor • "Teachers are often the people who inspire us the most. I know I wouldn't be where I am today without my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Duncan. She so believed in me, and for the first time, made me embrace the idea of learning. I learned to love learning because of Mrs. Duncan." Oprah Winfrey, entrepreneur
To contribute to the Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You Card Project, individuals can visit this site and send a free e-card or post a video thank you. Thank-you cards can also be mailed to: The Nation's Largest Teacher Thank You Card Project, c/o NEA, P.O. Box 66458, Washington, D.C. 20035. The cards collected will become part of a larger-than-life mural measuring approximately 8 feet tall and more than 50 feet wide that will be unveiled for the first time during a high profile event in May 2009.
"This project is about taking the time to say 'thank you'—two simple words that are not said often enough," said NEA President Reg Weaver. "On behalf of NEA, I thank teachers for their care and unwavering devotion to America's students. Teachers spark imagination, cultivate creativity and make dreams become reality."
Warlene Gary, National PTA Chief Executive Officer, adds, "As a parent and a former teacher, I know firsthand how important teachers are to leading children to promise. PTA Teacher Appreciation Week is designed to remind parents and children across the country to thank teachers for the amazing work they do each and every day! Thank you, thank you, thank you teachers of America!”
The Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You Card Project carries a simple message: Thank a Teacher. The goal is to create a public tribute that helps to demonstrate gratitude for the hard work and dedication that teachers carry into the classrooms and schools across the nation every day.
About National Teacher Day/Teacher Appreciation Week NEA celebrates National Teacher Day each year on Tuesday of the first full week of May. The day celebrates the outstanding work and lifelong dedication of teachers nationwide. National Teacher Day came into being through the leadership and persistence of Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1953, she persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim May 7 that year as National Teacher Day. PTA took Roosevelt's idea and dedicated a whole week to celebrate the accomplishments of educators. PTA's annual Teacher Appreciation Week honors the dedicated men and women who lend their passion and skills to educating children. For more information visit here and here.
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Quiet weather the next few days before some subtle but potentially significant changes by the end of the week & weekend. A pretty cut-&-dry forecast through Wed. with a dry northeast wind & inland afternoon temps. in the 80s but only upper 70s before falling off some at the beaches. Winds will begin to become more southeast by late Wed. & Thu. then more southerly as a weak front approaches from the north. This is where the forecast becomes a bit more problematic. It looks like we'll have enough atmospheric moisture by Thu. & especially Fri. through the weekend for at least a few afternoon thunderstorms near the sea breeze.
Complicating this forecast will be the weak front to the north which looks like it'll stall just north of the First Coast. Little upper level disturbances will move along the front & trigger clusters of showers & thunderstorms. Depending on the exact location of the front, some of these thunderstorm complexes could affect parts of the First Coast. The most favored locations for rain will be northern parts of the viewing area as it looks right now but a major caveat could be:
(1) outflow boundaries from the storms to the north which could develop storms farther to the south
(2) sea breeze development...winds will generally be offshore (from the west/southwest) so sea breeze penetration should not be very far inland.
Otherwise it'll be hot & humid Thu. through the weekend with the potential for some of the hottest temps. we've experienced in months.
So here's how it shakes out for "The Players" (highly dependent on the location of the front):
Thursday: Partly sunny. Wind: SW - 10 mph becoming SE late in the day. 8am: 65....Noon: 83...5pm: 81
Friday: Partly sunny with a brief midday or afternoon t'storm possible. Wind: SW 10-15 mph. 8am: 67....Noon: 85...5pm: 83
Saturday: Partly sunny with an afternoon/evening t'storm. Wind: SW 10-15 mph. 8am: 68...Noon: 86...5pm: 84
Sunday: Partly sunny with an afternoon/evening t'storm. Wind: W/SW 10-15 mph. 8am: 68...Noon: 85...5pm: 82
Check back for updates on this forecast!
An intense tropical cyclone (hurricane in our neck of the woods) slammed Southeast Asia Sat. The high end Cat. 4 came out of the ever dangerous Bay of Bengal & was very well forecast, but the area hit -- Myanmar which is sandwiched between India, China & Thailand -- does not have the kind of warning system nor the infrastructure or housing that will stand up very well to such a powerful storm. Estimates are that 10,000 people could be dead, thousands are still missing. The Bay of Bengal is notorious for powerful tropical cyclones though May is just the beginning of the Bay of Bengal cyclone season which runs May-Nov. peaking in Oct., Nov.
My cousin sent me some photos from last Monday's (April 29th) EF-3 tornado damage in Suffolk, VA. The photos were taken by my cousin's father-in-law who lives near Suffolk. The last photo is a newly constructed stip mall that's demolished. The other 2 photos illustrate why meteorologists emphasize to never get in a car if a tornado is approaching or try to get out of your vehicle if a tornado is approaching.
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A very warm weekend on the way with afternoon highs in the 80s. An isolated afternoon shower or storm might pop in Southeast Ga. Sat. but a somewhat better chance for widely scattered showers & storms will move into Southeast Ga. Sat. night shifting from Southeast Ga. Sun. morning into Northeast Fl. through the day. Not everyone will get rain this weekend & long parts of the weekend will be dry & warm with a high to extreme burn time of 15 min. Sat. & 20-25 min. Sun.
The weak front moving into the area with a bit of rain this weekend is the same one wreaking havoc throughout much of the midwest & Tennessee Valley with numerous severe storm reports Thu.-Fri. An EF2-EF-3 tornado (still to be determined exactly) hit the suburbs of Kansas City, MO....tornadoes also occurred in Oklahoma, Arkanasas & Iowa. Tornadic storms in Mississippi, Alabama & Tennessee are ongoing as of late Fri. On the cold side of the storm, it's been a major spring blizzard. Click here to check out some of the snowfall (up to 48"!).
Speaking of severe weather, it will have been 1 yr. Sun. -- May 4th -- since a massive EF-5 tornado hit & destroyed virtually the entire town of Greensburg, KS. The rebuilding is underway & Greensburg is determined to become green -- literally. Click here for an excellent write-up on the tornado from the Dodge City N.W.S. & click here for a story from CNN.
"The Players" will get underway next week with activities Mon.-Wed. & the actual tourney beginning Thu. The weather looks warm & dry through Thu. but there could be a thunderstorm threat by Fri. I'll update Mon.
April numbers for Jax are in. Temps. averaged 0.4 degrees below avg. -- essentially average -- & rainfall was 0.80" below the avg. of 3.14". We're pretty dry going into what is the peak of our fire season.
Here are the May averages for Jax:
1st 31st
Low / High 58 / 81 66 / 87
Sunrise / Sunset 6:43am / 8:05pm 6:25am / 8:24pm .... increase of 37 min. of daylight
Rainfall: 3.48"
Earth Gauge: Water Well
From 1950 to 2000, population size in the U.S. nearly doubled, and during that same time period, demand for water tripled! The EPA estimates that typical surburban households use about 30 percent of their water for outdoor irrigation. Unfortunately, about half of the water used outdoors is wasted through evaporation on warm days or runoff from overwatering.
Tip: Save money and water by switching your irrigation system off when there is rain in the forecast. You can also add a rain sensor to your sprinkler system, which will automatically shut the system off when adequate rain has fallen. It's estimated that weather-based controls, such as rain sensors, can save up to 24 billion gallons of water per year in the U.S. - that's equivalent to 7,000 hoses running continuously for one year!
Thinking of installing a new irrigation system? Consider a drip watering system, which uses up to 50 percent less water than traditional sprinklers, and loses virtually no water through evaporation, wind, or runoff.
(Sources: US EPA. "WaterSense."; Consumer Reports. "Home and Garden: Water Wisely."
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Climate Fact: Strengthening Upwelling Patterns
Ocean currents transport heat from the Equator to the higher latitudes, as well as nutrient rich water from the depths of the ocean to the surface. The transport of cooler, nutrient rich water upward is a process known as upwelling. Upwelling feeds much of the life at the ocean’s surface, and 20 percent of the world’s fish catch occurs in areas where the upwelling is strong, although these areas account for only about one percent of the planet’s ocean surface area. The Canaries Current, a southward moving current that brings cold, nutrient rich water up to the Moroccan Coastline, feeds a valuable fishery there. In the past century, the Sahara Desert region has warmed faster than the adjacent ocean waters. This means that the low pressure zone over the Sahara desert has become lower and the high pressure zone that sits over the ocean has not changed that much, which has increased the pressure difference between these zones. Because the difference in pressure between the land and the ocean drives the winds that "pull" cold waters from the depths of the ocean to the surface, the winds have strengthened, and the upwelling has also strengthened. Over the Twentieth Century, the surface waters off the Moroccan coast have cooled by about 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Although other warm periods over the past 2,500 years have also corresponded to a strengthening of this current, the cooling that has happened over the past century is unprecedented.
(Source: McGregor, H.V. et at. "Rapid 20th-Century Increase in Coastal Upwelling off Northwest Africa." Science 315 (2007) 637-639)
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Climate in the News – “Scientists Reveal Presence Of Ocean Current 'Stripes'” – Science Daily, 26 April 2008
Several decades of data appear to confirm the existence of subtle crisscrossing patterns of ocean currents, or striations, that run perpendicular to major ocean currents.
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Despite an intensifying storm over the middle of the U.S. that will bring a wide range of inclement spring weather from the Rockies to the East Coast through the weekend, the First Coast will remain in a benign but downright beautiful weather pattern. Temps. will slowly warm but humidity will remain tolerable though you'll notice it being a bit more muggy by late Sat. & especially Sun. A few showers & storms will occur Sun. but widespread rainfall looks unlikely anytime soon.
The storm over the middle of the U.S. will be a prolific snow-producer in the high Plains...& major severe storm-"maker" to its east from Oklahoma to the Great Lakes. Tornadoes already have occurred from Oklahoma to Iowa. Check out this strongly worded statement from the Tulsa N.W.S. Thu. evening: SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
847 PM CDT THU MAY 1 2008
OKC113-117-020230-
/O.CON.KTSA.TO.W.0059.000000T0000Z-080502T0230Z/
OSAGE OK-PAWNEE OK-
847 PM CDT THU MAY 1 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM CDT FOR PAWNEE AND WESTERN OSAGE COUNTIES...
AT 843 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM SPOTTERS CONTINUED TO TRACK A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF RALSTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. A LARGE TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!
SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...SHIDLER AND PAWHUSKA.
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY! IF NO UNDERGROUND SHELTER IS AVAILABLE MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR MORE SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. AVOID WINDOWS!
And check out this storm spotter report:
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
839 PM CDT THU MAY 01 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0825 PM TORNADO 2 SE RALSTON 36.48N 96.71W
05/01/2008 OSAGE OK STORM CHASER
100 YARD WIDE MULTI VORTEX TORNADO. HAS BEEN 2 TORNADOES
ON THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME.
Take part in next week's Nat. Teacher Appreciation Week (one of the toughest jobs in America!). This from the Nat. Education Assoc.:
This year, to celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-10, 2008) and National Teacher Day (Tuesday, May 6, 2008), the Parent Teacher Association and the National Education Association are honoring teachers with a very special public tribute: the Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You Card Project.
To date, the project has collected thousands of thank-you cards from celebrities, notable public figures and individuals from across the country. Our goal is to continue collecting cards to create a monumental display of thanks to teachers.
Please show your support by encouraging your audiences to take part in this one-of-a-kind project. Participating is easy. Simply log on and send a free e-card or video message. You can also mail a thank-you card to:
Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You Card
c/o NEA/PTA
P.O. Box 66458
Washington, DC 20035
From "Earth Gauge"......May is Asthma Awareness Month!
The Environmental Protection Agency has designated May as Asthma Awareness Month, with May 6th being World Asthma Day, an event sponsored by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Pollen and air pollution, particularly ground level ozone, are important outdoor triggers of asthma symptoms. In the United States, an estimated 22 million people, including 6.5 million children, have asthma. Each year, asthma attacks in the United States result in:
two million emergency room visits;
sixteen billion dollars worth of lost productivity and health care costs; and
thirteen million missed school days.
Because pollen counts are at or nearing their peak in most areas, and because we're entering peak ground level ozone season, this is a great time to give viewers simple tips to help them reduce their exposure to potential asthma triggers. Dry and windy days are usually the worst for pollen counts, and changes in weather conditions, especially abrupt changes, can trigger asthma symptoms. Because most pollens are released in the morning, susceptible individuals should avoid outdoor activities between 5:00 and 10:00 AM. Outdoor activities should also be avoided when ground level ozone concentrations and particulate pollution levels are high. Encourage your viewers to stay informed by watching pollen and air quality reports from local media. Before heading outside, they can also visit this site to check on local air quality, and here to view local pollen counts. Remaining in a clean, indoor, air-conditioned environment where filters remove most pollutants and pollens is recommended for asthmatics on days when conditions are conducive to asthma symptoms.
For more information on Asthma Awareness Month, including a list of events near you, click here.
Information on Asthma Awareness Day can be accessed here.
Additional information about allergies and asthma can be found at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
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Jax hit 44 early Wed....just 2 degrees above the record low for the date. But Gainesville (42), Alma (43) & St. Simons Isl. (48) hit new record lows. Another cool start to the day Thu., not far from record lows in what otherwise will be some gorgeous weather! Low humidity will continue through Fri. with daytime highs inching up each day.
There's been some scuttlebutt about Dr. Gray's hurricane research funding being cut at Colorado St. This actually came up last year ('07) but has hit some media outlets the last week or so. Dr. Gray said the funding issue was resolved last year & things are now fine. There was initial concern that the possible cut in funding was linked to Gray's global warming opinion (claims it's a cycle & not permananent).
Speaking of hurricanes, a local man -- Bob Brookens -- was honored at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando in early April (see photo below). Bob has a great website "Hurricane Hallow" which will be added to our "Hurricane Center" on our websites. Bob also has a regular "Barometer Bob" radio-style show that airs each Thu. night live. In the photo below, Bob's award is being handed to him by former NHC director Max Mayfield. The award was in honor of Bob's efforts to raise hurricane safety awareness & his tireless work to disseminate critical information before, during & after a landfalling hurricane. Congratulations Bob! 
The Wakefield, VA N.W.S. has posted an excellent summary of Monday's tornado outbreak that included an EF-3. You'll find video of one of the larger tornadoes, damage photos, radar imagery & maps.
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A chilly night on the way. Our First Alert Forecast is for 44 early Wed. which would be just 2 degrees from the record low for the date (April 30th) of 42 set way back in 1874. Beautiful weather will continue the next couple days with large diurnal (night to day) temp. swings thanks to a very dry air mass. Early morning temps. in the 40s & 50s will warm to the mid to upper 70s Wed....near 80 Thu. & into the 80s by Fri.
Nice & much needed rain for a good part of the area Mon. though there were some "misses". Here are reports from the Community, Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) from Florida (Georgia is looking for observers & will begini their network soon):
BROOKER 6.6 SSE * : 0.45
GAINESVILLE 8.1 SW * : 0.02
GAINESVILLE 3.8 W * : 0.08
MACCLENNY 2.5 S * : 0.58
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS 6.9 ENE * : 0.02
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS 7.6 ENE * : T
ORANGE PARK 4.7 SW * : 0.39
ORANGE PARK 3.0 WNW * : 0.61
MIDDLEBURG 6.5 NNE * : 0.30
ORANGE PARK 0.7 NNE * : 0.60
MIDDLEBURG 6.3 NNE * : 0.30
STARKE 6.4 ENE * : 0.58
JACKSONVILLE 6.2 ENE * : 0.55
JACKSONVILLE 5.9 SW * : 0.65
JACKSONVILLE 8.4 SSE * : 1.04
NEPTUNE BEACH 0.5 NNW * : 0.73
JACKSONVILLE 8.1 SSE * : 0.70
JACKSONVILLE BEACH 4.5 W * : 1.03
FRUIT COVE 6.1 N * : 0.65
TRENTON 8.0 ENE * : 0.25
JASPER 5.5 S * : 0.82
BELLEVIEW 6.0 SSE * : 0.07
MICANOPY 3.6 SSW * : 0.01
DUNNELLON 2.4 NE * : 0.00
FERNANDINA BEACH 5.4 SW * : 0.37
HILLIARD 5.4 NW * : 0.50
SATSUMA 0.2 WSW * : 0.07
ST. AUGUSTINE SOUTH 2.1 S* : 0.06
LIVE OAK 9.1 NW * : 1.01
Our wet weather Mon. was caused by the same front that produced the highly local but intense tornado outbreak in Eastern Virginia. N.W.S. storm surveys are still being conducted by the Blacksburg office. Click here for tornado info. from the University of Oklahoma. We're entering the month -- May -- with the most average tornadoes in the U.S. (165).
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
541 PM EDT TUE APR 29 2008
...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...
A SMALL BUT INTENSE CLUSTER OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED IN A WARM...MOIST AIR MASS AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT ON MONDAY APRIL 28...2008. THE STRONGEST STORMS OCCURRED OVER SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND PRODUCED SIX TORNADOES.
THE STRONGEST TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR SUFFOLK, VA AT APPROXIMATELY 405 PM. MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE TORNADO HAD A PATH LENGTH OF ABOUT 10 MILES LONG AND A QUARTER MILE WIDE. THE PRELIMINARY RATING OF THIS TORNADO IS AN EF-3...PENDING FURTHER ASSESSMENT. THE TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND CAUSED WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO HOMES AND A FEW BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT SUFFOLK, VA.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE IN WAKEFIELD VIRGINIA IDENTIFIED AND OUTLOOKED THE THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AS EARLY AS SATURDAY...APRIL 26. THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD ISSUED A WARNING FOR THE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WHICH PRODUCED THE SUFFOLK, VA TORNADO AT 303
PM...WHILE THE STORM WAS STILL IN NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CONTINUED TO INTENSIFY AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING AT 311 PM FOR PORTIONS OF SUFFOLK VA...ALMOST AN HOUR PRIOR TO THE STORM AFFECTING DOWNTOWN SUFFOLK. THE TORNADO WARNING WAS REISSUED AT 350 PM...AND STATED THAT THE TORNADO WOULD BE NEAR DOWNTOWN SUFFOLK BY 405 PM. AT 404 PM...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUED A SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT...STATING THAT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO NEAR DOWNTOWN SUFFOLK. THE PRELIMINARY LEAD TIME FOR THE TORNADO WAS 15 MINUTES.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
215 PM EDT TUE APR 29 2008
...STORM DAMAGE IN HALIFAX COUNTY VIRGINIA CAUSED BY EF1 TORNADO...
A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY FOUND THAT STORM DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED IN HALIFAX COUNTY VIRGINIA IN THE TOWN OF VIRGILINA MONDAY AFTERNOON WAS CAUSED BY AN EF1 TORNADO.
WINDS IN THE STORM WERE ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 86 AND 109 MPH.
THE STORM WAS ON THE GROUND FROM APPROXIMATELY 110 TO 115 PM. THE INITIAL DAMAGE STARTED JUST SOUTH AND WEST OF THE INTERSECTIONS OF HIGHWAYS 96 AND 49. THIS ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE TOWN OF VIRGILINA. THE TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE TRAVELING TO THE NORTHEAST. SPORADIC DAMAGE OCCURRED FURTHER NORTHEAST ON GILLS MOUNTAIN ROAD FROM STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. AT THE WIDEST POINT...THE TORNADO WAS 240 YARDS WIDE.
6 HOMES WERE DAMAGED...AND NUMEROUS LARGE TREES WERE DOWNED AND SNAPPED.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER WANTS TO EXTEND IT THANKS TO THE VIRGINIA
DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...AND HALIFAX COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN THE STORM SURVEY.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
405 PM EDT TUE APR 29 2008
... THE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF TORNADO SURVEY RESULTS FOR THE COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA TORNADO ON APRIL 28, 2008...
SURVEY DAMAGE SCALE RESULT: EF1
ESTIMATED WINDSPEED: 86-110 MPH
TOTAL INJURIES: 21
TOTAL DEATHS: 0
PATH LENGTH: APPROX. 1/2 MILE
PATH WIDTH: APPROX. 75-80 YARDS
SUMMARY...
IN COLONIAL HEIGHTS...THE TORNADO APPEARED TO MOVE ALONG AN
APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF MILE, 75-80 YARD WIDTH PATH FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST. AS INDICATED FROM THE DAMAGE, THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN SPOTS BEGINNING NEAR THE END OF THE FOOTBALL FIELD NEAR COLONIAL HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL, ACROSS INTERSTATE 95, INTO THE DIMMOCK SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER. THE FIRST OF THE DAMAGE WAS TO A FOOTBALL FIELD CLUBHOUSE AS A PART OF THE ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF. THE STORM THEN LIFTED ACROSS AN AREA OF HOMES AND TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN JUST WEST OF THE INTERSTATE AND TEARING A PATH THROUGH THE ROOF OF THE MEDALLION POOLS BUILDING. TWISTED METAL WAS STREWN ACROSS THE PARKING LOT WITH
A FEW CARS DAMAGED FROM THE FLYING DEBRIS. THE TORNADO LIFTED AGAIN ACROSS I-95 SCATTERING DEBRIS ACROSS THE SOUTHGATE SQUARE PARKING LOT INCLUDING A HALF-TON AIR CONDITIONING UNIT BLOWN APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS AND DEPOSITED IN FRONT OF THE HELZBERG DIAMONDS BUSINESS NEAR SOUTH PARK BOULEVARD.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED WITH THE FINAL TOUCHDOWN IN THE DIMMOCK SQUARE STRIP MALL. A STRING OF 4 STORES AROUND 75-80 YARDS IN WIDTH HAD CEILING TILES BLOWN OUT, ROOF PEELED OFF AND WINDOWS BLOWN OUT. SEVERAL CARS WERE DAMAGED...AS SOME HAD WINDOWS SHATTERED FROM FLYING DEBRIS. OTHER VEHICLES WERE FLIPPED AND TOSSED ABOUT IN PILES. THE STORM APPEARED TO LIFT AGAIN BUT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO A BANK AND LIGHT POLES BLOWN DOWN IN A CAR LOT APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 100 YARDS EAST OF DIMMOCK SQUARE. CARS WERE ALSO DAMAGED HERE FROM THE
FLYING DEBRIS.
A couple of weeks ago I visited Stockton Elementary for their career day. Click the following links for a fun-to-read card sent to me from one of the classes. Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3
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Our showers & storms will come to end Mon. night from west to east followed by another stretch of "chamber of commerce" weather for the First Coast Tue. through Thu. Nighttime temperatures will drop into the 40s & low 50s...afternoon highs will be in the 70s with nice & low humidity.
Humidity will creep up along with temps. Fri. into the weekend with possibly a few hit-&-miss storms by Sat./Sun. but widespread rain doesn't look to be in the cards anytime soon after Mon. night.
..... which is why I applied a "weed & feed" on my yard about noon. Soaked in nicely -- just what the Dr. ordered (put pressure on myself with my own forecast!).
We've had some strong storms Mon. A tornado warning was issued for parts of Baker County when a motorist reported a funnel cloud near I-10 not far from Sanderson. The image on radar was only marginal but did match up with other storms earlier in the day that produced damage. In this case, no damage was reported in Baker Co. The damage occurred in Suwannee County -- Live Oak -- west of Lake City with more serious damage in Taylor Co. (Big Bend) confirmed by the Tallahassee N.W.S. to be a waterspout that came ashore as a tornado. Here's the storm summary:
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
440 PM EDT MON APR 28 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0106 PM TORNADO DEKLE BEACH 29.85N 83.62W
04/28/2008 TAYLOR FL EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL HOMES DAMAGED BY AN APPARENT WATER SPOUT THAT
CAME ASHORE. MAJOR ROOF DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO 3 HOMES.
OTHER HOMES HAD MINOR DAMAGE INCLUDING DAMAGE TO PORCHES AND SCREENS AND BROKEN GLASS. THE DAMAGE OCCURRED ON
DEKLE BEACH ROAD...MEXICO ROAD AND PALMETTO ROAD.
While the First Coast will enjoy beatiful weather much of this week, another powerful storm will evolve over the middle of the U.S. producing more spring snow on its cold side & flooding & severe storms on the other (warm) side.
A weekend of family fun. Seems like it's been weeks if not months -- for a variety of reasons -- since I've had a purely family Sat./Sun. It all began Sat. with a noon-hour soccer game followed by several hours at the beach. Despite water temps. only near 70 (just reached the 70 degree threshold the last few days), my 5-yr. old was in the water much of the afternoon. And we had a good lesson: my 5-yr. old was riding a "noodle" in the waves of the water -- probably about 20 feet from the shore. My wife & I were watching her -- as we always do when our kids are in the water -- when she became "trapped" between the incoming waves & the outgoing waves. She was floating on her noodle & safe -- not really going anywhere but couldn't make any headway toward shore either. After a minute or two, this really became disconserting for her & she began to yell out to us. Well, my wife went "Baywatch"! running to come to the aid of the 5-yr. old. This wasn't a rip current...just caught between waves not too long after high tide. She was fine, took about a 5 min. break with a few sniffles then was back on the "horse" (in the water!).
Sun. I took the kids to the golf range to break in the their news golf clubs (a Christmas gift so a long time coming). Wow...what an experience. They really liked their shiny new clubs &,
of course, had lots of questions about what the different numbers on the clubs meant, how to hold the club, etc. Now...they need a real(!) instructor, but I showed them some of the basics, & they really enjoyed it & got into it. Swing easy didn't mean a lot to my 5-yr. old, & I'm surprised she didn't hit herself in the back of the head a couple times! She had this habit of wanting to watch the head of the club as she took the club back -- tough to keep your eye on the ball that way! Anway...we had fun, & the girls can be decent I think....once that get some re | |