|
|
- Updates from the Islands -- - Tortola & Virgin Gorda (BVI) - - |
|
|
More recent 2002 reports can be found elsewhere.
| - surf is up and running! |
|
|
The past two days have been wind and rain. The gardens are so happy, outdoor workers have enjoyed a holiday. Today it looks uncommonly bleak at 740am, with a thick cloud cover and light winds. Weather like this is RARE for the islands. Amazingly, you can still get a good tan, even under cover of clouds!
DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Smuggler's View Beach Villa in Pictures |
| - Local Radar |
|
|
|
| - pretty pictures of the storm |
|
|
|
| - the calm before the storm... |
|
|
|
| - Surf is Up! |
|
|
The sun is out and the surf is up! A great day to test your luck on your board. If you don't have a board, you can rent one for the day or the week. Clouds move by rapidly, but no rain in sight yet.
DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Stay at the Beach! |
| - Gustav is First hurricane of the season |
|
|
Well, we are lucky that Gustav is NO WHERE NEAR US!!!! He is up around Canada and no threat at all to the Caribbean at this time. Good luck you Canadian sailors!
DearMissMermaid AT aol.com 2002Tortola & Virgin Gorda (BVI) - Local Reports (Caribbean Hurricane Network) |
| - another tough day in paradise |
|
|
|
| - Two Tropical Waves to Watch | |
| |
|
| - the green flash! |
|
|
I saw it! I saw it! The green flash! I was at Smuggler's Cove beach as the sun was setting over the water. It was a glorious orange, playing peek-a-boo with the clouds. I stared at it intently as the sun made its slow decent over the horizon. Then right at the end, the clouds parted, the zenith set, and *****FLASH*****, there it was! The green flash! Ever so brief, but like someone on the horizon had a jumbo camera and they sent out a green flash to take our picture! I was ecstatic. Tortola is in foreground, Frenchman's Cay is to the right, Little Thatch is island in center, St John is island in left background, St Thomas is in distance.
|
| - Dolly lingers around |
|
Dolly is due East of us. Scattered showers are all around the islands. Let's hope Dolly stays away from us! Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com |
| - Dolly gets bad reviews, show may fold up |
|
|
Dolly is barely a storm now, but of course that could change. She seems poorly organized and uncertain whether she is gearing up or winding down. Today it is bright and sunny at Smuggler's Cove Beach with gentle trade winds rattling the new green growth brought on by recent rains. Each month on the fool moon, Beef Island lights a fire ball. Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Smuggler's View Vacation Villa, in the Beautiful British Virgin Islands |
| - HELLO DOLLY!!! |
|
|
Dolly is singing and dancing around the Caribbean. I think she will probably give us a scare, but we will survive. Last night in West End Tortola, the heavens opened up and poured down, as if all the angels in the world had decided to cry all at once. Today it has been scattered showers and gray skies much of the day, something RARELY ever seen in these parts of the world. If the sun decides to shine today, I will go out and look for rainbows and pots of gold.
DearMissMermaid AT aol.com 2002Tortola & Virgin Gorda (BVI) - Local Reports (Caribbean Hurricane Network) |
| - the latest and greatest |
|
|
SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT THE AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE LOCATED SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS HAS BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED AND IS NOW TROPICAL DEPRESSION FOUR. THE CYCLONE HAS SOME BANDING FEATURES AND VERY DEEP CONVECTION SOUTH OF THE CENTER RESULTING IN T-NUMBERS OF 2.0 FROM BOTH TAFB AND SAB. CURRENTLY...THE CYCLONE IS EMBEDDED WITHIN A LIGHT SHEAR ENVIRONMENT AND OVER WARM WATER. THIS WILL ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO STRENGTHEN SOME. THEREAFTER...THE CYCLONE IS FORECAST TO MOVE TOWARD AN AREA OF PERSISTENT AND STRONGER THAN NORMAL UPPER-LEVEL WESTERLY WINDS WHICH MOST LIKELY WILL HALT THE INTENSIFICATION PROCESS. IF THE DEPRESSION MOVES ON A MORE WESTERLY TRACK IT WILL REMAIN IN A MORE FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR STRENGTHENING...BUT NONE OF THE RELIABLE TRACK MODELS INDICATE A CONTINUED WESTWARD TRACK. THE INITIAL MOTION IS SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN BUT THE BEST ESTIMATE IS 285/14. A MID-LEVEL SUBTROPICAL RIDGE TO THE NORTH OF THE CYCLONE WILL PROVIDE A WEST TO WEST-NORTHWEST STEERING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THEREAFTER...THE RIDGE IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN ALLOWING THE CYCLONE TO MOVE MORE TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST OR EVEN NORTHWEST. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 29/1500Z 9.6N 32.2W 30 KTS 12HR VT 30/0000Z 10.0N 34.5W 30 KTS 24HR VT 30/1200Z 10.5N 37.5W 35 KTS 36HR VT 31/0000Z 11.5N 40.0W 35 KTS 48HR VT 31/1200Z 12.5N 42.5W 40 KTS 72HR VT 01/1200Z 14.0N 47.0W 40 KTS
Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Smuggler's Cove Beach |
| - Tropical Depression # 4 |
|
|
TROPICAL depression # 4 is located 9.6 North 30.3 West, traveling WNW 16 miles per hour. Winds are about 35 miles per hour. Miss Mermaid is located on Tortola at 18.23.09 North 64.42.01 West.
DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Smuggler's View Vacation Villa, in the Beautiful British Virgin Islands |
| - Something to watch out for! |
|
|
AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES SOUTH OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS IS ASSOCIATED WITH A WESTWARD-MOVING TROPICAL WAVE. THIS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO SHOW SOME EVIDENCE OF ORGANIZATION...AND CONDITIONS APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR FURTHER SLOW DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.   Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com |
| - We survived the Fool Moon Party! |
|
|
It is 88 degrees, 67% humidity with gentle trade winds and blue skies. No storms on the horizon this year.
DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Smuggler's View Beach Villa Availability Calendar |
| - 3pm, 88 degrees, 68% humidity, bright & sunny! |
|
|
FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... A LARGE AREA OF CLOUDINESS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE IS SPREADING WESTWARD OVER THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA. SURFACE PRESSURES ARE NOT FALLING AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IS NOT ANTICIPATED. THE REMAINDER OF THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC BASIN CONTINUES UNUSUALLY QUIET. TROPICAL STORM FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY.
DearMissMermaid AT aol.com 2002 Tortola & Virgin Gorda (BVI) - (Caribbean Hurricane Network) |
| - 88 degrees , 70 percent humidity at High Noon |
|
|
Winds are 10-15 knots, seas are shimmering. I went to the beach two days in a row. What a life! Many locals are on vacation and off island. About 1/4 of the restaurants and bars are closed. Tourists are here and no one is complaining about the gorgeous weather we are enjoying. Smuggler's Cove Beach Warm & Sunny Regards, DearMissMermaid AT aol.com 2002Tortola & Virgin Gorda (BVI) - Local Reports (Caribbean Hurricane Network) |
| - Why Tourists Shouldn't Worry about Storms |
|
|
My mailbag often contains nervous questions from tourists about the possibility of storms. Many ask me to predict them months in advance. I have studied my crystal ball carefully, and it tells me we might get one scare this year and no storms. Let's hope we are right on the money! Even if you are here during a storm scare, you can take the boat back to the bareboat company and hop on the next plane. Passengers with tickets to depart get priority over locals who want to depart but have no ticker. You don't even have to leave. You can turn the boat in and take refuge in a sturdy hotel and enjoy our fabulous hurricane parties. If you are staying on land, you can run for the airport and leave or you can help prepare your place for the storm and stick it out. The MAIN reason you shouldn't worry about a storm scare is that if you are a tourist, then you aren't going to lose your home or business, just a few sunny days at the beach is all. DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By ReservationsBVI.com |
| - Free the Dolphins |
|
|
88 degrees at 1pm Atlantic Standard Time 69% humidity breezy NO hurricanes or storms on the rise, YA HOO!
DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Free the Dolphins |
| - 86b degrees, 70% humidity, gentle trade winds |
|
|
|
| - something to watch |
|
|
CLOUDINESS AND SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE ARE SPREADING OVER TRINIDAD...TOBAGO...AND THE SOUTHERN WINDWARD ISLANDS. THIS ACTIVITY IS MOVING WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT 25 TO 30 MPH AND SHOULD SPREAD INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA LATER TODAY. DEVELOPMENT...IF ANY...WILL BE SLOW TO OCCUR. Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Smuggler's View Vacation Villa, in the Beautiful British Virgin Islands |
| - ~~~~~~~~~~(\_~~~~~~~~~ |
|
|
Well, it is bright and sunny with scattered cloud. Temperature is 86 degrees and humidity is 68%. Winds are blowing 15-20 knots. Great day to go sailing! Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Sailing at Smuggler's Cove |
| - Christobal |
|
|
Christobal is no where near the beautiful Virgin Islands. The weather is 90ish today with gentle trade winds wafting by. Warm & Sunny Regards, DearMissMermaid AT aol.com |
| - Balmy Summery Days |
|
|
Winds were non existent yesterday, but thankfully some breeze came back today. The dead calm had everyone moving like molasses, both on land & sea. Many islanders are taking vacations and though we still have tourists, not near as many as earlier in the summer. Carnival is in full swing and the island is topsy turvey. Businesses are keeping odd hours, employees are missing in action, and now we have a 4 day holiday weekend, cause 3 days just ain't enough. Some folks say to heck with it, and take the whole month off. We need more rain, and I expect it to arrive next week. Hopefully not during the parade Monday. It is early 90's, some humidity but not too bad, the trade winds are cooling me back down. There is a wave to the east of us worth watching (let's watch it go past us and leave us with only rain!) Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Smuggler's Cove beach on a nude day |
| - BEautiful Day To Sail & I got Pic To Prove It! |
|
|
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 530 AM EDT MON JUL 29 2002 FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TROPICAL WAVE OVER THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA HAS DIMINISHED. Oh yes, we had a good ten minutes of thunderstorm activity here night before last and that was it! But the island turned green in under 48 hours, so that is very encouraging. By the way, we voted not to have any storms this year, at least not any hurricanes. So we are expecting an uneventful summer. Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com Today's Picture, See the Weather Yourself Sailing at Smuggler's Cove |
| - We Need Showers! |
|
|
SHOWER ACTIVITY WITH THE TROPICAL WAVE LOCATED ABOUT 1350 MILES EAST OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS REMAINS POORLY ORGANIZED. ONLY LIMITED DEVELOPMENT...IF ANY...OF THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. Limited development.....Poorly Organized..... Are we talking storms or the local government? *Giggle* Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Today's Great Picture Looking West at Smuggler's Cove Beach |
| - Something To Watch, But Not to Worry |
|
|
A TROPICAL WAVE LOCATED ABOUT 1400 MILES EAST OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS IS MOVING SLOWLY WESTWARD. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF DEVELOPMENT. Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Smuggler's Cove Beach, Clear & Calm |
| - Gorgeous Day to Be Here! |
|
|
It is 88 degrees with 10-20 knots of winds. Sunshine is everywhere with a few scattered clouds. A perfect sky for a gorgeous painting. The water is a tropical shade of blue found no where else on this planet. Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Smuggler's View Vacation Villa, in the Beautiful British Virgin Islands |
| - Look at the Turkey! |
|
|
Today on Tortola, it is 80 degrees, with low humidity and gentle trade winds. A great day to be on vacation! I have to work, but I still love the beauty. No storms in sight though we would like some rain for our gardens. Years ago, I was working on a charter boat with a Swedish Captain who spoke very good English, but confused Turkey and Turtle. This had some comical consequences with passengers who were not aware of this problem. We are out sailing one fine day and he yells "Look! A Turkey!" and the passengers are straining to see a turkey on the water... Another day I had sent lunch up to the cockpit for the passengers and captain. I went back down below to clean up the dishes. When I went to check on the guests again, I saw that their sandwiches were all untouched, they were munching on the Calypso Coleslaw and the Papaya Pineapple Salad yet inexplicably, no one had touched their sandwiches. I looked at the captain, with that question in my eye of "What gives?" His sandwich only had one bite left, which he champed on happily. Then he announced "She makes the BEST TURTLE sandwiches!" After I assured the guests they had TURKEY and not TURTLE sandwiches, they seemed to enjoy them too. But to this day, I wonder what they thought when the Swede told them I had made them delicious Turtle sandwiches. |
| - (no subject) |
|
|
ARTHUR RAPIDLY BECOMING AN EXTRATROPICAL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE FAR NORTH ATLANTIC SOUTH OF NEWFOUNDLAND Yahoo! Another stormm misses the BVI. We voted to send all our storms North this year. So far, that has worked out nicely. Years ago, I was working on a charter boat with a Swedish Captain who spoke very good English, but confused Turkey and Turtle. This had some comical consequences with passengers who were not aware of this problem. One day I had sent lunch up to the cockpit for the passengers and captain. I went back down below to clean up the dishes. When I went to check on the guests again, I saw that their sandwiches were all untouched, they were munching on the Calypso Colesalw and the Papaya Pineapple Salad yet inexplicably, no one had touched their sandwiches. I looked at the captain, with that question in my eye of "What gives?" His sandwich only had one bit left, which he |
| - Put it in Natural! |
|
|
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE ARE SPREADING WESTWARD THROUGH THE LESSER ANTILLES. UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE UNFAVORABLE FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION. Yesterday it was clear and sunny with the odd dark cloud rolling by raining everywhere but where we needed it! I went to check on Smuggler's Cove Beach and it was gorgeous as ever with few folks around. Very peaceful and the water was perfect, nice and clear, with a soothing temperature. Life just doesn't get any grander! The man from Sweden was a charter boat captain. His passengers spoke English only, but the Swede was well educated, or so he thought. But neutral and natural gave him trouble. He continually confused the two with each other and nothing seemed to straighten him out. I used to work as crew with the Swede and he often cracked me up, if not startling the passengers! As we anchored, late one night, in the dark, in an already crowded anchorage, he prepared to put the anchor down from the bow, and yelled back to me at the wheel, in his loudest voice, "Put it in NATURAL!" It was pitch black in the harbor, way past sunset, no moon, no stars, lots of clouds. You could barely see the outlines of any boats, just vague shadows that only became apparent after a few minutes of studying the darkness. "Put it IN natural!" he yelled again, as the boat glided smoothly further than the Swede wanted. Other nearby sailors, must have wondered, "Put WHAT in natural?" in the darkened harbor and we could hear assorted laughter around the anchorage. The Swede yelled "Put IT IN RIGHT!" meaning for me to put the engine in gear and creep to starboard while he chose a spot to drop the hook. "Put IT IN NATURAL!" he yelled again and I slid the lever to neutral, to even louder laughter from around the dark and crowded cove. I don't think they could see him on the bow. To let me know that he had put the anchor down, he screamed "It IS IN!" triumphantly. As the gentle night breeze pushed the boat aft, the anchors set firmly as the Swede cried "Good! Good! Good!" Throughout the harbor we could hear "It is IN! It is IN! It is IN!" from a chorus of giggling and no doubt rum inebriated sailors. The Swede pronounced the place a friendly harbor with very good folks, totally clueless. Another time, we sailed early in the morning to Solomon Beach, with a different group of passengers. For many, many years, it has been a clothing optional beach. It is small and secluded, can only be reached by boat or lengthy trail. People from all walks of life tended to use the beach in the buff. But it was still early, and only two men were on the beach, laying belly up, together on one big towel on the sand and holding hands. The only adornment on their bodies were some odd placed jewelry. The Swede turns to the cockpit where only the male passengers were lazing about, as the ladies were changing into bikinis down below, and says "At this beach, you can go NEUTRAL! Warm & Sunny Regards, DearMissMermaid AT aol.com Picture of the Week: Smuggler's Cove Beach on a Gorgeous Day |
| - Riding Monkeys... |
|
|
The weather is gorgeous today, in the low 80's with low humidity and gentle trade winds. The water is cool and crystal clear, a great day for sailing and swimming. We are praying for more rain, we need more of those 5 minute showers we used to get this time of year. It keeps our island green and our cisterns full. Tortola attracts folks from around the world. Many speak English as a 2nd language. We also have local riding stables. Two German ladies decided to go ride some horses and check out the local riding stables. The horse owner asked them if they had ridden a horse a before. They replied in near perfect English: "No, we have not ridden horses before, but we have ridden monkeys before." Intrigued, the horse owner asked them what was it like to ride a monkey? He had never heard of such a thing, but was certainly interested. Perhaps he would look into getting s a few monkeys and offering monkey rides... "Well, you know, it was like a horse, I suppose. They put a saddle on him, and we climbed on and rode him all day. You just sort of kick him a little and off he goes, at a slow trot, no galloping." Throughout the day, as he guided the ladies on their horse back riding adventure, he asked them more and more questions about this monkey riding. The ladies were equally puzzled that he was so keen to know about something he should already know about, but they answered all his questions. Towards, the end of the day, they said: "Look! There is a monkey! We rode one like THAT." The owner craned his head in 360 degrees, only to see a Donkey... As you can imagine, a good laugh was had by all, as he tried to explain to the ladies, the difference between a monkey and a donkey... Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Smuggler's View Beach Villa in Pictures |
| - Territory Day & Independence Day |
|
|
The British Virgin Islands just celebrated Territory Day and the US Virgin Islands celebrated Independence Day. Needless to say, we are all very happy to be free and happy. This year, we voted to send all the storms north, and so far that is working, the threats listed below from the weather forecaster are about weather far north of us. Ya hoo! Tortola is falling below the usual rain for this season, which means that our island is just not as green as we would like. But the Caribbean Sea is still warm and crystal clear, great for swimming, snorkeling, sailing, diving and general limin'. If you haven't made plans to come to Tortola, then you should! We are expecting a beautiful summer and storm free fall. While he US is having a record breaking heat wave, we are enjoying near constant trade winds with cool breezes and not much humidity. For these reasons, a great deal of Tortola does not have nor use, air conditioning. See you soon in the beautiful BVI! FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... THE AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER ABOUT 225 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF BERMUDA HAS BECOME A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED DURING THE NIGHT. SOME ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO AS IT MOVES EASTWARD. OTHER AREAS OF DISTURBED WEATHER ARE LOCATED ABOUT 225 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST AND ABOUT 750 MILES NORTHEAST OF BERMUDA. SURFACE PRESSURES ARE RELATIVELY HIGH IN THESE AREAS AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT...IF ANY...SHOULD BE SLOW TO OCCUR. ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL STORM FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY. Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By Car Rental Rates on Tortola, British Virgin Islands |
| - Beach Days |
|
|
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 530 AM EDT MON JUL 1 2002 FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... TROPICAL STORM FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH TUESDAY. The weather is so exciting here! Warm and sunny with gentle breezes, a great day for the beach! Your Correspondent DearMissMermaid AT aol.com This Report Sponsored By ReservationsBVI.com |
| Back to top |
