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I have captured some very impressive high-resolution storm-centered GOES satellite images of Erin, while making it's closest-point-of-approach with Bermuda. - Gert


- - - 2001 Hurricane Season - - -

- Michelle
  • From: "Marcus Kermode" <mdkaek AT ibl.bm>
  • Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 20:55:50 -0400
Bermuda is pretty complacent about this storm.  Although it has been very strong, most folks figure that the water out here is so cool now (73 degrees), that it's not conducive to sustaining anything big.  A couple of weeks ago we were taken by surprise by a storm that formed right on top of us, and didn't even have tropical characteristics, although it later became Hurricane Karen.  We were hit quite badly - lots of debris, some flooding, power out for days, days, days.  Thinking is that it can't be as bad as that one was, and now everyone has supplies fromm "Karen".
 
If this storm had formed a few weeks earlier, we might be worried.  As it is, the seas will be rough, and the rain and wind will be hard and strong, but it'll be business as usual.
 
Many blessings to those who were hit, particularly in Cuba.
Anne

- Erin - Anne Kermode
  • From: "Marcus Kermode" <mdkaek AT ibl.bm>
  • Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 20:14:06 -0300
Strange weekend - an erractic storm to say the least.  The media began alerting Bermuda to the threat from Erin on Friday.  On Saturday, the forecast was that Erin would arrive Monday at 3 A.M., as a cat 1, and Bermuda would experience tropical storm force winds - no a big deal here really, as we get storm force winds (approaching the speed of t.s. winds) occasionally in winter.  Still, the feeling was watchful and cautious.  Updates moved the closest point to Sunday at 3 P.M. - quite a difference.  Cat 1, possibly cat 2.  60 miles away, so at the east end we would expect hurricane strength winds.  But then the forecast moved the storm to cpa at 6 or 8 P.M.  I went for a walk with my kids yesterday and the silk spiders were weaving their webs low - a sure sign that there is bad weather ahead.

People here must be paying attention, because I went out to pick up some batteries for my radio this morning, and I could find no "D" cells at this end of the island (east)!.  Shame on me for not getting them earlier.  While I was out, my hubby filled every container we have full of water, including the bath.  Bummer - all I wanted to do was shower, but he'd filled up the bath. We closed up all of the shutters, but by 4 P.M. opened them again because it was pretty quiet out. The authorities were taking  the threat seriously too, of course, and every credit to them.  Part of the Regiment (Bermuda's military farce [oops, typo?]) was embodied, with all other soldiers on alert.  The Emergency Measures folks met on Friday and Sunday morning.  At this stage, we expected a brush with a cat 2/3 storm, but with Erin changing so rapidly, who knew what might happen?  A cat  3 could cause severe damage to our infrastructure.
 
But it looks like we have been lucky.  We are just past the closest point now, I think (8 P.M. at last estimate) and there have been a few squally showers, but nothing much in the way of wind and thunderstorms.  I expect tonight will be wet and windy, but no real damage.  Ah well, I guess I'll have to make work tomorrow. 

If you haven't yet, have a look at a satellite image of the storm http://stormcarib.com/goes.htm (updated image, so no good after the storm has died!).  It's a beauty - very clean eye, 40 miles wide.  Fantastic circulation - catagory 3 right now.  Every time we get a brush like this, it amazes me to think that just over the horizon is a monsterous storm, churning up the water and whipping up the wind.  Anyway, everyone is fine, there was no disaster, and I'll finish this mammoth posting.  Fingers crossed it doesn't turn around and come back (this has happened a couple of times in recent history).

- TS Dean
  • From: Anne and Marcus Kermode <mdkaek AT ibl.bm>
  • Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 09:53:42 -0300
Bermuda is already anticipating that Dean will head up this way.  The press 
is really excellent at notifying people about the potential for a close 
call with a storm, thanks to the Bermuda Weather Service.  We are expecting 
Dean to pass by early Sunday morning about 200 miles away.  But things can 
change, so it's good to know we will be well informed.
Anne Kermode


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