Truemors
UPDATE:
Felix was
packing winds of up to 165 mph as it headed west, according to the U.S.
National Hurricane Center. It was projected to skirt Honduras'
coastline on Tuesday before slamming into Belize on Wednesday."As it stands, we're still thinking that it will be a potentially
catastrophic system in the early portions of this week, Tuesday
evening, possibly affecting Honduras and then toward the coast of
Belize," said Dave Roberts, a hurricane specialist at the center in
Miami.A hurricane watch was issued for parts of Honduras, where
authorities were keeping a close eye on the storm but had not begun any
evacuations. Along the northern coastline, hoteliers said, tourists
were still lounging by the pool and enjoying the sun.In Belize, residents stocked up on water and food, and nailed boards
over windows to protect against the hurricane's howling winds. Many who
lived in low-lying areas were seeking higher ground.At 5 a.m. EDT Monday, Felix was centered about 275 miles
south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and 490 miles east of Cabo
Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua-Honduras border. It was heading west at
about 21 mph, the hurricane center said.On Sunday, Felix toppled trees and flooded some homes on the Dutch
islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire in the southern Caribbean. Heavy
rains and winds caused scattered power outages and forced thousands of
tourists to take refuge in hotels, but residents expressed relief it
did far less damage than feared as the storm's outer bands grazed the
tiny islands."Thankfully we didn't get a very bad storm. My dog slept peacefully
through the night," said Bonaire medical administrator Siomara
Albertus, who waited out the storm in her home with her Labrador
retriever.Many Bonaire residents prepared for the worst, installing storm
shutters and hauling their boats ashore, but winds from Felix's outer
bands left little damage. In Curacao, several homes in a low-lying area
were flooded.In Aruba, there was also little visible damage, although at least
one catamaran snapped off its mooring, a house was damaged by a downed
tree and power was temporarily knocked out in a northern town.Felix is the second Atlantic hurricane of the season following last
month's Hurricane Dean, which killed at least 20 in the Caribbean and
carved out a destructive swath stretching from St. Lucia to Mexico.On Saturday, Felix brought heavy rains and strong winds to Grenada
as a tropical storm, ripping roofs off at least two homes and
destroying a popular concert venue. No injuries were reported.Tropical storm watches were issued for Grand Cayman and Jamaica,
which was battered by Dean on Aug. 19. A watch means tropical storm
conditions could begin affecting the island within 36 hours."Remember that Hurricanes Mitch, Wilma and Michelle passed far from
the island yet tropical storm force winds, waves and storm surge
damaged coastal areas," said Barbara Carby, director of the Cayman
hazard management office.Off the Pacific coast of Mexico, meanwhile, forecasters said
Tropical Storm Henriette could strengthen to a hurricane by Monday, and
officials issued a hurricane watch for the resort-studded tip of the
Baja California peninsula, a vacation area popular with Hollywood stars
and sea fishing enthusiasts.Henriette dumped heavy rain on western Mexico. In the resort city of
Acapulco, three people were killed when a giant boulder fell on their
home, and three more died when a landslide slammed into their house.Rebecca Waddington, a meteorologist with the hurricane center,
warned that both Felix and Henriette could shift course and said people
in the general areas should remain alert even if they aren't in the
storms' direct paths."Even if the forecast is perfect, that's only forecasting where the
center of the storm is going to go," she said. "So everyone in the area
needs to be aware of it, because the storms are quite large."She advised employees of oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico to
monitor Felix's progress and said it could reach the area in a few
days.
[q
url="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-tropical-weather,0,290319.story"]ORANJESTAD,
Aruba - Hurricane Felix strengthened into a dangerous Category 5 storm
Sunday and churned its way into the open waters of the Caribbean Sea
after toppling trees and flooding some homes on a cluster of Dutch
islands.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Felix was packing
maximum sustained winds of 165 mph as it plowed westward toward Central
America, where it was expected to skirt Honduras' coastline Tuesday
before slamming into Belize on Wednesday as a hurricane capable of
massive destruction.
On Sunday, Felix lashed Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire with rains and
winds, causing scattered power outages and forcing thousands of
tourists to take refuge in hotels. But residents expressed relief it
did far less damage than feared as the storm's outer bands just grazed
the tiny islands.
"Thankfully we didn't get a very bad storm. My
dog slept peacefully through the night," said Bonaire medical
administrator Siomara Albertus, who waited out the storm in her home.
The storm forced tens of thousands of tourists and residents on the
three islands to remain in their homes and hotels, stocked with water,
flashlights and emergency provisions.
In Curacao, about a dozen homes in a low-lying area were flooded. In
Aruba, there was little visible damage, although at least one catamaran
snapped off its mooring and a house was damaged by a downed tree. A
northern settlement had a temporary power outage.
Many Bonaire residents had prepared for the worst, installing storm
shutters and hauling their boats ashore, but the storm's winds left
little damage.
Felix became the second Atlantic hurricane of the season on Saturday
evening, following Hurricane Dean, which left at least 20 dead in the
Caribbean and carved out a destructive swath that stretched from St.
Lucia to Mexico.
At 8 p.m. EDT, the storm was centered about 390 miles southeast of
Jamaica and was moving west-northwest at about 18 mph, the hurricane
center said.
On Saturday, Felix brought heavy rains and strong winds to Grenada
as a tropical storm, ripping roofs off at least two homes and
destroying a popular concert venue. No injuries were reported and the
Grenadian government was still assessing the damage Sunday.
The government of the Cayman Islands issued a tropical storm watch
for Grand Cayman, the wealthy British territory's main island. A watch
means that tropical storm conditions could begin affecting the island
within 36 hours.
Jamaica's government also issued a tropical storm watch. The island was battered by Hurricane Dean on Aug. 19.
In Belize, residents stocked up on water and food, and nailed boards
over their windows to protect against the hurricane's howling winds.
Many in low-lying areas sought higher ground.
Things were more calm in Honduras, where authorities were keeping a
close eye on the storm but hadn't started evacuations. Along the
country's northern coastline, tourists were still lounging by the pool
and enjoying the sun.
On Honduras' Roatan Island, home to luxury resorts and pristine
reefs, the weather was normal and guests were simply enjoying their
vacations, Mayan Princess Beach Resort & Spa employee Arturo Rich
said.
Rebecca Waddington, a meteorologist at the hurricane center, advised
employees of oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico to monitor Felix's
progress and said the storm could reach the area in four to five days.
Along the Pacific coast of Mexico, meanwhile, authorities
discontinued storm warnings as Tropical Storm Henriette moved out to
sea. [/q]
[q url="http://ww
Hurricane Felix began a rapid intensification cycle Sunday afternoon and reached category 5 status by 8pm Sunday evening (eastern time). Top winds increased to 165 mph with gusts possibly as high as 200 mph. A NOAA airplane investigating Hurricane Felix encountered extreme turbulence and graupel (soft hail) forcing the mission to be cut short.
Hurricane Felix passed north of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao Sunday afternoon. The A,B,C Islands were spared any strong winds thanks to the compact nature of Felix's wind core, but heavy, locally flooding rain and some coastal flooding from 12-to-16-foot waves pounded the islands. Conditions should be greatly improved Monday.
In the coming days, Felix will bring large waves to the southern coasts of Jamaica and Grand Cayman Island.
w.weather.com/newscenter/tropical/?from=wxcenter_news"]Hurricane Felix continues to strengthen in the Caribbean, passing north of the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.
After a midday eyewall replacement cycle, Felix has become a category 5 hurricane.
The A,B,C Islands were spared any strong winds thanks to the compact nature of Felix's wind core, but heavy, locally flooding rain and some coastal flooding from 12-to-16-foot waves will continue over the remainder of today.
In the coming days, Felix will bring large waves to the southern coasts of Jamaica and Grand Cayman Island.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic, a tropical wave is located about halfway between the Lesser Antilles and Africa. It is moving to the westard around 10 to 15 miles per hour. Any development will be very slow to occur.
The weak low pressure that has dumped flooding rain from Charleston to Savannah along the Southeast Coast will creep east-northeastward over the Atlantic over the next few days, allowing the worst of the rain to end. Although conditions are not favorable for development in the short term, this low could begin to take on tropical characteristics in a few days.
In the Eastern Pacific, we continue to monitor Tropical Storm Henriette.
Henriette is expected to become a hurricane later today while moving parallel to the Mexican West Coast, heading slowly toward southern Baja.
Tropical Depression Gil continues to weaken and the final advisory was issued at 11 a.m. EDT.
In the Western Pacific, Typhoon Fitow is about 780 miles southeast of Tokyo and is moving to just south of west near 10 miles per hour. Fitow is forecast to move towards Japan mid to late week.[/q]
Hurricane Felix continues to strengthen in the Caribbean. The islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao will feel impacts from Felix today. Felix is forecast to continue to strengthen as it moves through the Caribbean towards Central America by mid-week. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Jamaica. A tropical storm warning and hurricane watch is in effect for Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.As of 5 am Eastern time, Felix was located about 85 miles east-northeast of Aruba at 12.8 North, 68.7 West. Felix is moving to the west near 18 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 miles per hour, making Felix a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Minimum pressure is 984 millibars.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic, a tropical wave is located about halfway between the Lesser Antilles and Africa. It is moving to the west-southwest around 15 to 20 miles per hour. It has potential to become a tropical depression over the next couple of days.
In the Eastern Pacific, we continue to monitor Tropical Storm Henriette and Tropical Depression Gil.
Henriette is expected to become a hurricane later today while moving parallel to the Mexican West Coast. As of 2 am Pacific time, Henriette was located about 160 miles west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico at 18.5 North, 107.0 West. Henriette is moving to the west near 9 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 miles per hour. Minimum pressure is 994 millibars.
Tropical Depression Gil is barely hanging on, now with maximum sustained winds near 30 miles per hour. Gil was located near 19.5 North, 123.2 West, or about 880 miles west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Gil is expected to degenerate into a remnant low later today.
In the Western Pacific, Typhoon Fitow is about 440 miles east-northeast of Iwo To and is moving to the west near 10 miles per hour. Fitow is forecast to move towards Japan mid to late week.
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