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- - - 2006 Hurricane Season - - -

- EARTHQUAKE
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:49:37 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
There was a 5.1 earthquake a few hours ago down south of us - about 120 miles SE, near Antigua - anyone feel it?  See data below:
 
             == PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==
 
Region:                        LEEWARD ISLANDS
Geographic coordinates:        16.884N,  61.527W
Magnitude:                    5.1 Mb
Depth:                        60 km
Universal Time (UTC):         27 Feb 2007  09:42:42
Time near the Epicenter:      27 Feb 2007  05:42:42
Local time in your area:      27 Feb 2007  05:42:42
 
Location with respect to nearby cities:
  25 km (16 miles) SE (133 degrees) of Freetown, Saint Philip, Antigua & Barbuda
  29 km (18 miles) SE (141 degrees) of Willikies, Saint Philip, Antigua & Barbuda
  30 km (19 miles) ESE (120 degrees) of English Harbour, Saint Paul, Antigua & Barbuda
  43 km (27 miles) SE (130 degrees) of SAINT JOHN'S, Antigua
  468 km (291 miles) NNW (334 degrees) of BRIDGETOWN, Barbados
 
 
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
US Phone - (410) 505-8661
Anguilla Phone - (264) 497-8177
- ENOUGH ALREADY!
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:13:30 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
Yesterday we got a total of 2.98", and last night, another 1.30".  Clouds started to break up a few hours ago, but then it started up AGAIN.  In the past hour, we added another 0.2 for a total of 1.52 so far today, 4.50" for the 2 day total.  Entrance to the airport is flooded, but otherwise, just some really big puddles.  This is the most rain I remember for 2 days since August, 2001 when we had 5".  Unusual for our normally dry island. 
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
US Phone - (410) 505-8661
Anguilla Phone - (264) 497-8177
- YIKES!!!!
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 09:15:30 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
Holy-moly - is that big red and white blob to our northwest going to move over us?  Sure looks like it's moving southeast.  Unlike our neighbor St. Martin only 8 miles away who had 2.5 inches of rain overnight, all we got was 0.37.  A nice gentle rain. Lots of dark clouds to our south and northwest, but no rain here since 4:30 this morning.  Could be an interesting day!
 
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
US Phone - (410) 505-8661
Anguilla Phone - (264) 497-8177
- BEAUTIFUL DAY
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 13:26:58 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
Most of the haze and dust has disappeared, and we have a beautiful blue sky today.  Also, great to see our sister island, Saba, again - we've missed you the past few weeks.  (See below)
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
US Phone - (410) 505-8661
Anguilla Phone - (264) 497-8177
Please help support the "Anguilla Youth Sailing Club".  See www.sailanguilla.com for details.
 
- TD-8
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 11:34:39 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
Based on the 11:00 Tropical Discussion, right now looks like TD-8 will follow the same path as Gordon and go well north of the islands, but as always, needs to be watched. Projecting hurricane strength in 72 - 96 hours.  Track follows:
 
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INITIAL      12/1500Z 12.5N  23.0W    25 KT
12HR VT     13/0000Z 12.7N  25.3W    30 KT
24HR VT     13/1200Z 13.0N  28.4W    35 KT
36HR VT     14/0000Z 13.5N  31.5W    40 KT
48HR VT     14/1200Z 14.0N  34.8W    50 KT
72HR VT     15/1200Z 15.5N  41.5W    65 KT
96HR VT     16/1200Z 17.0N  47.0W    75 KT
120HR VT     17/1200Z 19.0N  51.0W    85 KT
 
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
US Phone - (410) 505-8661
Anguilla Phone - (264) 497-8177
Please help support the "Anguilla Youth Sailing Club".  See www.sailanguilla.com for details.
- GREAT DAY
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 14:37:25 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
For the first time in over 2 months, we can finally see Saba (38 miles to the south) - even see houses on Windwardside!  Today is a nice clear day with no Sahara dust or haze.  Welcome back Saba! 
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
Please help support the "Anguilla Youth Sailing Club".  See www.sailanguilla.com for details.
- CARNIVAL BOAT RACES
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:52:40 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
For the second time this week, one of 6 of our sailboat races was cancelled today because of TOO MUCH wind - Tuesday's was cancelled also. Yesterday, 10 boats started (3 choose not to go out), but only 5 finished in winds gusting to 25 knots.  Two boats - including the one I was sailing in - pulled out because we were taking on too much water going downwind.  Two others "blew out" their jib, and one didn't have enough crew (i.e., ballast) to keep the boat upright going upwind.  The problem with these boats are the main sail is huge - a 58 ft. mast, and a boom about 40 feet (see below).  With too much wind going downwind, the bow starts to "dig" into the waves, and you wind up with water just pouring over the bow into the boat (no decking), with no way to slow the boat down.  We had over a foot of water in the boat, and if all 12 of us had not moved immediately to the stern, it never would have come back up. Let's hope the wind backs off a little by Sunday for the "Champion of Champions" race, which will end Carnival for this year.
 
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
Please help support the "Anguilla Youth Sailing Club".  See www.sailanguilla.com for details.
- LOTS OF RAIN
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 08:04:41 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
Had 1.1 in. of rain in one hour last night, and now lots of wind - 18-22 knots with lots of higher gusts.  Not good for the local Heineken boat race today - lots of ripped sails and probably a few lost masts.  Yesterday's race, lost one mast and blew out one headsail, but those boats will be out again today.  Carnival show was rained out last night, but should be OK for the big Beach Party tonight - just windy. Five more races this week starting today - let's hope the weather holds out.
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
US Phone - (410) 505-8661
Anguilla Phone - (264) 497-8177
Please help support the "Anguilla Youth Sailing Club".  See www.sailanguilla.com for details.
- RAIN, RAIN
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 12:41:38 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
You folks to the west of us still have a lot of lousy weather to go through.  We've had a constant drizzle here since yesterday morning.  For a while yesterday and a few hours this morning, some hazy blue sky way south of us (could even see Saba for the first time in 3 weeks), but clouded over again.  Sky has just opened up again with pouring rain - coming down at the rate of 1/2 an inch an hour.  Just keeps looping around - who knows when it will get out of here. 
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
Please help support the "Anguilla Youth Sailing Club".  See www.sailanguilla.com for details.
- TS CHRIS A NON-EVENT
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 07:48:57 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
Not much going on - wind gust of 18 knots at 7:00, but average of 10 knots.  Started raining about 7:00 AM, had 0.07 in. of rain since midnight.  Looks like everyone up north here will be fine.  MY biggest problem is the winds have been out of the W - SW since the rain started - and all my west facing windows leak!  I just hope the rain stays nice and light, as it has been.  But forecast doesn't sound good for our friends in the Bahamas/Florida.  Good luck!
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
 
- TS CHRIS INTENSIFIES
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 16:36:11 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
Just looked at the data from the Hurricane Hunter plane from the eye at 3:50 today.  Maximum sustained winds - 55 knots (63 mph).  What's bad for us - these maximum winds were found 10 nm S-SE of the eye, and the eye is predicted to pass 11 miles to the north of us.  That puts Anguilla right in the path of the highest winds.  Still shows lots of rain.  Here's the data:
 
348
URNT12 KNHC 011910
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 01/18:50:50Z  3:50 PM
B. 17 deg 39 min N  060 deg 43 min W
C. NA  mb NA   m
D. 55  kt  Maximum winds (mph=kts X 1.15
E. 128 deg 010 nm  Location of winds from the eye
F. 179 deg 053 kt
G. 128 deg 010 nm
H. EXTRAP 1007 mb
I.  23 C/ 298  m
J.  25 C/ 301  m
K.  25 C/ NA
L. NA
M. NA
N. 12345/ 1
O. 0.02 / 2  nm
P. AF303 0103A CHRIS        OB 10
MAX FL WIND 53 KT SE QUAD 18:47:40 Z
SLP EXTRAP FROM 1500 FT
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
US Phone - (410) 505-8661
Anguilla Phone - (264) 497-8177
Please help support the "Anguilla Youth Sailing Club".  See www.sailanguilla.com for details.
- TS CHRIS
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <tainos at anguillanet.com>
  • Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 16:05:48 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
The wind has now shifted out of the N - NE - only about 10 - 15 knots.  Lots of clouds to the SE.  Just came over on the ferry from SMX - was definitely getting rough.  Last ferry is at 5:00 from St. Martin, so there will be some people stranded there tonight - probably won't start up again until late Wed..  Hurricane hunter just reported (few minutes ago) winds of 61 mph as they crossed the eye of the storm. 
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
US Phone - (410) 505-8661
Anguilla Phone - (264) 497-8177
Please help support the "Anguilla Youth Sailing Club".  See www.sailanguilla.com for details.
- TS CHRIS
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 08:05:39 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
Looks like Chris will sail right over us Wed. morning.  Will be interesting to see the advisory this afternoon after the Air Force investigates.  Hopefully, the winds will stay below 40 mph and we'll get some nice "cistern filling" rain from it - but this will really hurt our neighbors to the west (last thing they need is more rain).  Also, "someone" up there is looking out for me - scheduled several weeks ago to have my boat hauled today in St. Martin - sailing over there now.  I expect they'll be pretty busy today hauling out, as well as lots of boats going into the lagoon. 
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
US Phone - (410) 505-8661
Anguilla Phone - (264) 497-8177
Please help support the "Anguilla Youth Sailing Club".  See www.sailanguilla.com for details.
- CARIBBEAN HURRICANES/GLOBAL WARMING
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <steve at anguilla-weather.com>
  • Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 08:58:06 -0400 (Atlantic Standard Time)
 
 On the picture below, sea temps in blue areas are colder than 12 year average, red is warmer than average, as measured this week.  Notice the large red swath from Cape Verde to the islands - bad for us, but probably good for the US mainland.  The blue around the islands is probably true - I saw a spike to 83 degrees several weeks ago while diving, but local water temps are now down to 80 - 81 degrees.
 
Also, if you go to http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/Images/sst_anomaly_2006_197_lrg.jpg (an enlargement of this picture), you can really see the effect of global warming at the north pole - VERY red areas, indicating temps at lease 5 degrees C warmer than average.
 
 
 
Steve Donahue
Anguilla, BWI
Please help support the "Anguilla Youth Sailing Club".  See www.sailanguilla.com for details.

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