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- Updates from the Islands -- - Culebra (PR) - - |
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For the most recent reports from Culebra see this page.
| - Surf from the Cold Front |
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Pretty good surf running in on the North shoreline. -- -- you at usa.com is available and 170 other free domains. Sign up at www.mail.com
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| - And on the third day of January... |
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This morning there was a moment of thought about whether or not I
wanted to get out of the blankets...it was cold! But still and
beautiful. Again.
I'm posting part of the discussion out of SJ this morning because the writer is in an unusually artful mood... Discussion...low level trough moving westward across the Caribbean and S of the Mona Passage...and has encountered southwesterly flow aloft associated with East Coast l/west trough...with local feature now beginning to take on a screaming Eagle-like appearance. This feather will exit thelocal area today...with a mild east-northeast to NE flow expected to advect limited and shallow moisture across the area for mainly isolated showers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I don't know who had the director of parking job out at Dakity (our reef area before entering Ensenada Honda, the big bay - during holidays, it is a very popular spot), but...good work!
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| - Happy New Year, 2008 |
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Wishing you all a healthy 2008. Below is the rainfall data for Culebra over the last 20 years. It shows that we ended 2007 a bit below the yearly average of 45.2. Even though, Culebra remains green for this time of year, it is drying out rapidly with the lack of rain and heavy winds. Happy New Year, William -- -- you at usa.com is available and 170 other free domains. Sign up at www.mail.com
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| - Old Year/New Year |
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While yesterday started out looking like it might be less than
beautiful, the universe decided to keep on with the roll of wonderful
weather we've been having. Even the clouds are good ones! It looks to
be another of those days and (knock on wood) a clear night for seeing
in the New Year in the plaza (or where ever you choose to celebrate,
even if it's in dream land, which is the plan for a few I know).
95 L is still out there, falling apart, of interest to few but mariners and birds and weather weenies. We'll likely see some weather from it later in the week, but that will be then, not now. For some reason, all my batteries have decided to die this morning, so I can only paint a word picture of the sun on the water through the mangroves, a very slight breeze making ripples of flashing gold, the sky slowly bluing, while rising Sol is taking the chill off of the morning. The pelicans are splashing about like mad and I know there are fish out there as I caught and released one yesterday afternoon. No, I'm not always a catch and release sort of person, but there is food to eat in the fridge and Mr. Fish got an Old Year clemency break. There is always next year... |
| - 95 L ? Yes, really |
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No dear, nothing is weird about the weather, that's just your
imagination!
Here's what was noted partially in the 10pm discussion out of San Juan... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Other interesting item is the intensification of a surface low pressure system 950 miles southwest of the Azores which is acquiring subtropical characteristics at this time. Latest model invest run moves it west close to 50 west...where it starts to dissipate. If it survives that long...we might have an interestingswell event with easterly energy from that system...and north or northwest large swells prognosticated to sweep down from the next low pressure system to exit North America...same system which produces previously mentioned cold front. Also...if the subtropical low makes it that far...with the front hanging up close to our area...and moisture advection in the low level easterlies from the system...could make for a soupy three Kings weekend. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The 1 a.m. NHC discussion says we'll know if we'll have Pablo very soon, as there is increasing shear that could put the kabosh on any development. Yes. It's Dec. 30th. Do you know where your winter weather is? |
| - Perfection |
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If the day were any more beautiful outside, well...it just couldn't be.
The breeze, the sun, the sky, the freshness in the air - perfection!
Hope everyone's Christmas day is as wonderful as the weather!
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| - Happy Christmas Eve! |
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It has been a beautiful day, finally feeling like Christmas for me
The day continued with a bit of PO and Milka rush with locals and visitors hustling through shopping and package send offs and pick ups (postmaster Howard's hand reaching through my box as I opened it holding my awaited pick up notice, how about that for delivery? We have the BEST PO guys!), opening the cart late and fun with shoppers; back to Milka's on closing to watch the kids with Santa (before picking up a bottle of Coquito, a sort of Puerto Rican egg nog that I've been craving) - an event that gets bigger every year, and finally home again. A breeze is waffling through the trees. Small ripples are on the water. The sun is bright. And the sky incredibly blue. What more is there to ask for? Santa's bag for me is already empty - I have my gifts. May all of the stormcarib *family* with special wishes to Gert and Dave, have the best of the best this season and this year, from Culebra! |
| - La Bella Luna & Mars |
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While Christmas Eve is supposed to be the most spectacular night for
viewing the moon & Mars in close harmony, tonight is pretty amazing as
well.
If you aren't dancing on the outside somewhere in the moonlight, dance on the inside - it's magic time in the islands - great temps, great skies, glorious sunrises and sunsets, great hopes for a good coming year. Wash the slate in the sea and begin the new dance. I'm not sure what I did to get this shot...maybe the universe just had pity on me after 30 bad ones and 300 mosquito bites.
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| - Winter Solstice |
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If you were awake at 1:08 a.m. you were experiencing the Winter
Solstice moment for this year...with the full moon tomorrow. And if
that doesn't combine with the true beginnings of the Christmas season
around here to provide a wee bit of lunacy - you must need stronger
stuff unavailable on a small island like ours.
The carol singers caroled, ending up at Dinghy Dock to be joined by
some less than melodic but heartily enthusiastic others, the live band
at La Cabana played salsa and rock and roll and there was dancing in
the street.
The moon looked on and didn't say a word. Wise old man. |
| - December hots |
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Yesterday was a combination of calm, slight breezes and sun boring down
out of a blue, blue sky. Today looks to be much of the same, though
there are ripples on the water this morning which I hope keep up the
rest of the day. Cart sitting gets a little intense in the hot spot
corner, even with the umbrella, though that doesn't stop the
entertainment factor.
As I was opening the cart, a backhoe stopped on the bridge, steadied with its side braces. The smaller end with the toothed bucket was used very delicately - our backhoe guys are ballet dancers with machines - to pry up the ends of the bridge that are breaking and clanking, while a couple of men put in large pieces of tire rubber for bumpers. A few vehicles got piled up on either side as the machine blocked the bridge, but per Culebra, no one honked or seemed impatient - in fact, we were all sort of mesmerized at this latest *repair*. Then suddenly the backhoe was gone, and traffic continued on, occasionally hitting the one piece of tire sticking up over the edge of the end - lo and behold! No more clanking! Until a few hours later anyway. Well, at least someone gave it a try...and gave me and a few others a pathetic laugh. A rooster in the mangroves, trying out for the role of partridge in a pear tree...we do our best
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| - Happy Saturday! |
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I am wrapped in a sarong as a shawl, which is not really warm enough
for the blustery morning here. Can it be blustery without snow or rain?
Maybe only for us cold weather wussies. No doubt it will warm up nicely
soon; turning into one of those winter days we wait for all year.
The sun is out in a less than deep blue sky, following a night of rain on and off, with lots of gusty moments. I think the gardens are delighted - lots of gentle rains and less than searing sun. I'm pretty delighted myself. AND!!!!! the new gravel in front of the cart does just what it is intended to do! I arrived there yesterday morning after the rain, with Island Woman (dip in the street) Lake full...and NO mud! Very exciting (and yes, I probably need to get out a little more, so don't bother writing me to tell me that). The orchids continue to seem everlasting...
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| - Parranda |
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This morning being woken by the parranda music truck going up and down
the streets of my neighborhood; a Puerto Rican tradition that used to
be groups of people playing instruments, going from house to house
eating and drinking, a sort of middle of the night caroling session
that gathered up people as it went along. Some years there has been a
truck bed full of live musicians, but usually it is recorded music,
happening any time between 3 and 6 in the morning. It's a wonderful way
to wake up during the holidays. Or at least I think so.
It is windy and chilly as dawn starts to break over the horizon. 71 F!!
The forecast calls for on and off showers. I'm hoping for sun, but if
not, I have some wonderful gravel in front of the cart now so it is not
a mudpit if it rains. Bless you guys ( you know you live on a small
island when 10 people come up to you and say, NICE GRAVEL!!!! instead
of hello).
It seems more than a few people had no idea there was a storm named
Olga. I can only guess that since it was already windy and rainy maybe
they thought it was just windier and rainier? A LOT windier and
rainier? Hopefully that is the end of it, as the path of destruction
was once again felt on the big island of PR and the DR.
The roosters have taken over where the music left off...back to another
day in Paradox.
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| - STS Olga |
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What a bizarre morning weather wise. Nothing intense as far as rain or
wind (though it is drizzly/pouring and windy/gusty), but I can HEAR the
surf pounding the north shore - I am one hill range away with the bay
on my side - but I've never heard the surf from there before; with its
dull roar sound. It took a minute or two to figure out what it was, but
if it isn't that, then the island is going to roll in and over here
pretty quickly - so I'm sticking with the less weird.
The other sound is waves of the bay hitting the shore here hard. I hope
it lasts until it's light as that's pretty unusual as well and I'd like
to see it.
And the last weirdness is the radar - most of us are IN the swirl of
Olga.
I don't know how long it will stay that way, but you can see by the
wind directional arrows what I've been watching in loops..
Stay safe, stay dry. It's going to be a sloggy day with, I'm sure, many reports ahead. I'm hoping for good ones. |
| - 94L |
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Latest word out of SJ WEATHER SUMMARY FOR PUERTO RICO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 552 AM AST MON DEC 10 2007 VARIABLY TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES WERE OBSERVED ACROSS PUERTO RICO...CULEBRA AND VIEQUES DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WERE DETECTED BY NWS DOPPLER RADAR ACROSS THE LOCAL COASTAL WATERS...WHILE OVER LAND AREAS...QUICKLY MOVING SHOWERS AFFECTED MAINLY THE NORTHERN CENTRAL SLOPES AND NORTHERN COASTAL MUNICIPALITIES OF PUERTO RICO. WINDS HAVE BEEN FROM THE NORTHEAST AT 10 TO 20 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS...MAINLY DURING SHOWER ACTIVITY. TROPICAL DISTURBANCE LOCATED THIS MORNING TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS IS FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. THIS FEATURE IS EXPECTED TO BRING SIGNIFICANT SHOWER ACTIVITY ACCOMPANIED WITH THUNDERSTORMS AND WINDY CONDITIONS WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH OVER LAND AREAS AND EVEN HIGHER OVER THE LOCAL COASTAL WATERS. BETWEEN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...THE MAIN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO THE AREA. EXPECT NUMEROUS SHOWERS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR MOST OF THE NORTHERN COASTS AND CENTRAL INTERIOR SECTIONS OF THE ISLANDS. RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF THE LOCAL ISLANDS SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM AS IT MOVES CLOSER TO THE AREA WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. MARINERS SHOULD EXPECT INCREASING WINDS AND SEAS THROUGH TUESDAY... WITH SEAS BUILDING IN EXCESS OF 10 FEET IN THE OFFSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS BY THIS AFTERNOON. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR ALL LOCAL ATLANTIC AND CARIBBEAN WATERS AND PASSAGES. ALSO...A GALE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE OFFSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS FROM 11 AM AST THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT. THIS MEANS THAT WINDS MAY BE AVERAGING BETWEEN 34 KNOTS TO 47 KNOTS OVER WATER. SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION ACROSS THE NEAR SHORE WATERS OF WESTERN PUERTO RICO UNTIL 2 PM AST THIS AFTERNOON. |
| - Schtuff |
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It would be a good idea this morning when it gets light to make sure
your outdoor *stuff* is taken care of, especially any Christmas type
decorations.
While I really am not expecting anything on a huge scale (weather does what weather wants and this system could skip off to other pastures) it is pretty likely that there will be some strong rain and wind during the next 24 hours. As always, despite the date, it's best to take the time to do what is needed, just in case. Of course, as I am typing this, the wind has just gone calm for the moment. Also...everyone doesn't get internet...if you know people, land or water, who might be unaware that we could be in for some heavy weather, give them a call!
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| - 94L |
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Weather is weird and there is some weird weather out there. Check your
weather sites.
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| - squall on |
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As predicted, we are getting short time rain squalls. I closed the cart
around 1 this afternoon...no business except chatting and a woman that
I was holding something for from a couple of days ago, plus holding on
to a dog while the owner went over to the new library, which had its
Grand Opening today with a fairly steady parade of visitors and a
serious amount of delicious sweet nibbles on hand (definitely something
to check out, by the way...it's in the trailer right past the Fire
Dept. building with a very impressive selection of both Spanish and
English language books, plus a children's room - which even had two
children lying on the floor reading when I finally got in there,
unposed and as good an advert as I could imagine. Volunteers can sign
up - check with Nadine)
I'd like to say I was clever enough to have closed because I knew rain
was coming but it just seems that way. Somewhere between 1:30 and 2 the
first squall blew through, continuing on and off up to the present
moment. Good thing Greg has his foul weather gear on for his Night
Sail! All I know is it was a wonderful afternoon for sleeping.
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| - Rushy wind day |
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Today is one of those days that you could read every bit of every
forecast and discussion, and watch the radar until it blurs and not
know what you would know better with your eyes closed.
The wind is gusting, as it did all night, in untimed waves that rattle the trees and screens, causing papers to fly around inside and the water to be choppy even at the top of this little bay. All anchors should be securely settled in unless you want to find your boat somewhere you didn't leave it, because through tomorrow, it's supposed to continue building in strength, and it seems to be doing just that. It's cool, 72, and overcast but not at all gloomy out as the sun breaks through over and over with clouds scudding by in fast succession. It's instant caffiene jolt air - enjoy!
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| - Friday report |
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Sometime in the night I heard rain, but not enough to have to truly
wake up and cllose a window. Or at least nothing is soaked this
morning! The sun is out full force and the calm of yesterday, a slight
throwback to very warm weather, is over, with a good cool breeze going
on.
According to the weather weenies this trend will continue to pick up over the weekend making for windy conditions, which is fine with me. Windy = less heat, no mosquitos, cart sitting comfort! There may be some rain in that wind but nothing major seems to be out there. Key word is, of course, seems! For those of you who actually HAVE weekends, enjoy! For the rest of us who get that weekend feeling in snatched (okay, rambled into) moments, get 'em while you can - I love this time of year! I don't know the name of this plant, but as the weather gets cooler, its leaves change from green and white to green and rose, like it's dressing up for Christmas. The little bright red spiky bloom is a hummingbird magnet.
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| - Pretty dang perfect |
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This is the first dry morning in awhile, with calm air as well; a good
day for snorkeling in water that was cool without being cold (I don't
swim in cold water - I am a cold water avoider - and not ashamed!) with
good visibility.
A spotted eagle ray swam around four of us, herding us closer and closer together for a good ten minutes or so. We stayed close enough to see him and far enough away out of serious respect for his very long tail. I learned that swimming backward with fins on isn't something I'm good at doing, yet. It was absolutely his pool and awesome to get to share it with him awhile. O the wonder! |
| - showers and sun |
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Happy Chanukah first day!While the previous two days were a mix of sun and showers, this day started with slight rain and then stayed full of sun and light breezes. Right now it is still and calm and cool...fans off, tea on. There are so many blooming things from the rain, but this aloe in bloom at dawn caught me even more than the orchids.
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| - p.s. |
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Forgot to add (and was reminded, reading all the reports I've missed)
that we did feel the earthquake over on St. John...sitting at an
outdoor bar while the canopy supports started shaking. Nothing huge
like so many of you farther south, but a very strange feeling with that
time suspension thing where we were all saying...it's still g o i n
g!?!
And...hello December, good bye H season! Knocking on wood again in
thanks, while others are still dealing with damages done.
It's time to start looking for the guavaberry and coquito... |
| - Take a little trip |
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On a spur of many moments thought, I spent the last week on St. John,
seeing old friends and reminding myself what a beautiful island lies so
close to us - yet so far away as far as easy transportation goes (there
isn't any). St. John has gotten a fair amount of rain and is lush and
blooming. Those twisty, turny, steep hills smelled like something from
North Carolina in some spots, tropical rain forest in others and I was
pretty well too awed to even take pictures until we would stop at one
place or another. I don't know how many times I've been to St. John,
but I'm always blown away by the beauty, up close and far away.
And I don't know why, but it seemed colder there than here.It was good to feel like a tourist for awhile, to eat at restaurants and drink at bars not really knowing anyone except the friend I was sitting with (but of course, the island neighborhood flows - I've brought back messages of hello's from there to here...and shall deliver). Not like here where the person I'm sitting next to at Happy hour is the first person I saw in the morning at the post office...and then the store...and...Which of course makes it the flip side of the same reason it's so good to be home and see five people I know before I even left the airport... The garden is green and glad for the rain water it got while I was away. While I didn't plant a seed for it, a very cool bicycle seems to have grown up in my yard, complete with chain around a sea almond tree. Those suckers grow fast; I'm doubting it even went through a trike stage! No doubt I'll find out who planted it tomorrow, but in the meantime, check your bikes for seed pods. Who knew? View from Red Hook, St. Thomas to St. John, Tortola and beyond.
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| - November Rainfall, etc |
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Good Morning, Happy December, Happy Saba Day! Thanks to all the correspondents "down island" for their reports on experiencing the earthquake. Culebra's November rainfall was 1.7 inches, well below the average of 5.7 inches over the years. That makes our total for 2007 at 36.4 inches and the island remains fairly green. Enjoy, William --
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| - Rainbow |
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Good Morning, In between brief showers we get this glorious rainbow, pretty great stuff! As others have noted the temps are good sleeping weather and the moon so bright you can almost read by it. Good days in the Caribbean, Enjoy, William --
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| - Radar trickery |
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From the big radar, we look to be under clouds...but closer up, we are
having on and off rain, just enough to keep me home. When the rain
starts, the wind picks up and the umbrella at the cart doesn't have
side curtains...though that's a thought.
Right now the sun is shining with clouds every shade of grey all around. Frigates, pelicans and gulls are having a feeding frenzy across the bay, each with their own distinctive fishing style. A couple of children are out in a rowboat, also fishing, but the birds seem to be having a lot more success. At 75 degrees at almost 10 a.m. we're in that excellent time of year here. My overgrown yard got a serious weedwhacking yesterday (thanks, Walt!) and with the rain showers and great temps, it looks very park-like out there; heliconias and orchids and bouganvillas all in bloom. Tomato and hot pepper plants are coming along in the ritual race to see who gets them first, me or the birds and iguanas. Maybe this time, I'll win. |
| - Nice...and nicer |
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Today it has been so cool and breezy out that I was at the cart until
mid-afternoon with no idea of the time, finally closing when the
umbrella couldn't be moved one more inch to keep the sun off. Even with
a breeze and much cooler temps, sun blasting directly on skin is too
much...well, for me anyway.
Visitors are out in full force, getting presents for friends at home, and we welcome their happy buying! What a great life to sell things no one needs but that brings grins all around. Especially when there is no mud to avoid and sweat is not dripping off faces. Our pot luck Thanksgiving feast fed a lot of people, someone counted close to 70!, with leftovers of a few things but no turkey. Including plates going out to some sick friends who couldn't make it, no one went hungry. Those turkeys made a fine sacrifice and were well appreciated, along with all the delicious side dishes and incredible desserts; there are some fine cooks in these parts. The breeze blew and there wasn't a mosquito or no-see-um to be found. It definitely felt like fall. Life is good. |
| - Happy Thanksgiving! |
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For stormcarib , for all of the reporters who take the time, sometimes
in the midst of tragedy, to keep us all informed about the places we
love so much, thank you!
Today the forecast is for clear skies, full hearts and enough good friends and good food to keep any of those potential holiday emotional storms at bay. I can get all maudlin on Thanksgiving (well known to those who know me best - or some poor stranger in a bar on a night I'm feeling glad) but for the best of reasons. There is so much in my life that I am thankful for and I'm going to list th..just kidding. Have an excellent day of Thanks! |
| - Falling weather |
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If this weather keeps going like as it is, I'll expect to see maple
leaves on the ground in a day or so. If I find them, I'll use them to
decorate with for what we used to call the Orphan's Thanksgiving party
somewhere else. The recipe is: find a big house or gathering space with
some shelter in case of rain (that shelter might be boats), invite
everyone who doesn't have family or the families who want to play with
us instead, disregard nationality and consider only the Thankful part
of American Thanksgivin
Yesterday stayed beautifully cool for most of the day, and though the air was fairly still between gusty bits of breeze, I wasn't the only one turning off fans for the evening and night. Some rain came in during the night and then again right before dawn this morning, just to keep things fresh. The actual forecast calls for a lessening of the rain showers as the trough passes on. I'll keep looking for maple leaves. |
| - oops! |
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I take it back...after some clicking and zooming, the radar DOES show
something!
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| - rain? |
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We've had a warm day, but finally some breezes! And now, out of nowhere
(including the radar that shows nothing) rain. a gentle rain, at that
perfect time of day rain when it will leave the air cooler, not steamy
- or so I hope. It hasn't stopped yet, but I doubt that will affect
happy hour much. Just in case, I'd better go check and see.
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| - Feel the difference! |
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While the day may end up a hot one, there was definitely something
different in the air this morning. It is obvious the plants are
enjoying growing, rather than just gasping to be alive; not just as a
result from the rains, but a freshness that hasn't been there until
now. That *spring* fall feeling is comin' round (and according to the
cats who spent most of the night making very loud kitty whoopie outside
under the window at the head of my bed, spring was in the air - I'm so
very happy for them - please don't forget to get your animals fixed!).
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| - Nice |
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When I got woken up last night with the sound of a strong rain on the
roof, I was in the middle of a dream - one of those where you know you
are dreaming but in the dream, you are not sure if you know you are
dreaming or it's real and you wish you were dreaming...so I wasn't
really sure WHAT woke me up, but it felt like a Sunday morning
somewhere and why wasn't anyone bringing me some hot cocoa and the
NYT's? (that's dreaming!) But it's Tuesday, and it really was rain and
wind that seemed to continue on and off for hours and I made coffee
instead.
Right now it is grey and windy, though to the south the sky is broken
with the sun trying hard to shed some light.
Winds out of the NE, the skies have darkend, the wind picked up and
more rain starting, even as I type...I think I'll just go with the
Sunday theme and enjoy coffee and a book.
Official news from SJU -Now A band of showers and embedded thunderstorms will continue to affect the northeast sections of Puerto Rico...Culebra and Vieques and the northern U.S. Virgin Islands through at least 900 am. Some of the showers and storms will produce periods of moderate to locally heavy rainfall...reduced visibilities...gusty winds and dangerous lightning...as well as ponding of water on streets and roadways. The grass in my yard is still very long and when I went out to take pics, it was flattened by the weight of the rain, and swirled in intricate patterns by the wind...or dream horses were sleeping here...
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| - A tad of breeze helps |
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Yesterday, while hearing all sorts of comments about the continuing
high temps, was actually a little more bearable due to some breezes
that lasted more than two minutes and a lessening of the biting
critters. It may not seem like much to some but when I'm outside for
hours under my (thankfully huge) umbrella, those little shifts are
noticed. And why is it hotter when people mention the heat? Another
life mystery!
If red skies at morning mean sailors take warning...something is
brewing out there. 93L, that disturbance near Costa Rica, looked like
it was moving this way, but in reality, it's going west. Go figure.
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| - calm |
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Placid dawns, hot days and cool-ish nights have been the watchword
since the big rains of what became the devastating Noel. Beside grass
up to my knees and the ever present whine of mosquitos left behind
(seriously small annoyances compared to losing one's life and/or home),
we also have blooming flowers of every description in the yards, on the
roadsides, in the trees.
One of my orchids decided on a change of color, going from lavender to pale green - at least the buds are green so far - and this time the iguanas, apparently satisfied with other plant offerings, are leaving them for my viewing pleasure. All that greenery is making them fiesty though. Last night I heard what sounded like one or more humans crashing through the mangrove lined path next to the water. I called out, but with no answer, I went to explore. It turned out to be two iguanas caught in the grips of iguana love. I felt like a mother unexpectedly walking in on her teenager and steady and the iguanas seemed to feel the same way, moving as fast as they awkwardly could to the screen of the mangroves. Sometimes my life is the Discovery Channel on steroids. One of our prettier *weeds*...
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| - Beautiful Day |
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Good Morning, This photo shows the start of a beautiful day on Culebra. The "Mare's Tails", whispy clouds, predicte good weather and great sailing. Enjoy, William --
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| - Happy November |
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Good Morning, I have attached the rainfall data for Culebra through October '07. As you see we received 8.3 inches of rain in October, 5.5 inches was connected with "Noels" passing. With bright sunshine and windy days, things are drying out quickly. Enjoy, William --
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| - Loco fringes |
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We've had some crazy weather today, along with so many. We've had white
outs and flash flood warnings directly for Culebra. We've had fog.
We've had winds that shook every potentially shaky thing around. But
now the winds are dying down and the bay is a muddy pool. The radar
makes it look like we could get this sort of light rain through the
night, which for us, is bearable if uncomfortable for those with leaky
roofs and decks.
Unfortunately, our neighbors on the big island have had some serious consequences, with deaths and mudslides, downed power poles, etc. And I fear much worse is in store for Haiti, only recently deluged and decimated. In light of that, we here on Culebra are fine. Another chilly night to watch a movie and drink a hot toddy. Now...if I only had hot toddy fixin's. It looks like the Coast Guard decided to come in with the birds... Attachment:
IMG_7308.JPG |
| - Rain Stopped |
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Good Morning, As it always does, the rain finally stopped after two & half days, 4 inches, and our lady folk needing to heat water for baths because it is below 80 degrees. As you can see from this morning's photo, clouds are trying to break-up and the sun is trying to peak through. Enjoy, William --
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| - Same same |
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We've gotten the wind, we've gotten the rain. Right now it is not
raining but pretty gusty here, with blue skies to the north and grey to
the southeast - sunny cloudy. Five people have been killed on the big
island of PR due to mudslides, involving automobiles. Be careful out
there!
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| - 90L |
|
|
While there doesn't seem much chance that 90L is going to become much more developed as a storm - it's good to keep an eye on it...our local forecast is all over the place with predictions, but the part about this being a serious rain event for the big island of PR sounds like something to be watched. Utaudo is located near the center of the island up in the mountains (very beautiful and worth checking out if you decide to take a drive out of San Juan). From SJU discussion: "Recent rains have left large areas at or near saturation across interior and west PR...and mudslides were reported yesterday in Utuado. Continued rains through the weekend will likely cause flooding problems across Puerto Rico and potential for mudslides...and possibly the Virgin Islands Friday and Sat. This is shaping up to be the most significant rain event of the fall wet season thus far...so local interests and emergency managers keep abreast of ensuing forecasts." |
| - Warning: Local report |
|
(it's just one of those nights, but for you who live here part of the
time, you'll get it - for the rest, um...you know the island deal)
What a strange day...sunshine, rain, ominous looking clouds, rain to the left and right of us so heavy looking but barely touching us. Tomorrow night is the Chili cook off at Mamacita's, so, roped in by Ronni (gotta step up to the girl side with Caroline), I cooked all day - I signed up for the hot chili and found a new secret ingredient. This chili cooks ....hindquarters! So, as the fake winner last year (with the worst food I've ever made in my life, but winner, thanks to Ronni's number error, which she swears will NOT happen this year) I'm throwing down the guantlet to Zach, last year's REAL winner. Check this space for updates on who will be buying WHO a drink. And if it is me, it won't be a drink at Mamacita's, where Zach can get off easy. Oh yeah, the weather....well, this pic will maybe say how strange the day was weather wise. Shiny strange.
|
| - Sunny mornings, rainy afternoons |
|
Heavy rain came in yesterday afternoon, lasting on and off through the
night. A mini rain just came through, even with blue skies and on and
off sunshine.
The gardens are happy, with another orchid getting ready to bloom. Maybe this time the iguanas won't get them...they would have been so beautiful. I can only hope orchid buds are the caviar of hor'deurves for this iguana and that he enjoyed them as much as I would have. Sorta. (I've put the grill very close to the orchids...maybe he'll get the hint) |
| - The moisture was thick! |
|
We did get rain yesterday afternoon, literally out of the blue,
starting and ending with stunning rainbows. The dogs couldn't quite
seem to figure out what to do; the sun was shining, but it was pouring
down - In? Out? But it became strong enough that inside seemed the best
place to be.
While the Saharan dust map shows dust to the east and to the north, our skies are clear blue with an edging of white clouds. The radar shows a more weather full potential in the circle around us, to the west and the south. But right now, it's simply another beautiful day. Bonaire, what is kunuku? All I could imagine it meaning was bush. A great word, whatever it is! Some visitors to Island Woman cart are a bit crabby that I don't take credit cards...
|
| - I like it! |
|
|
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 530 AM EDT SAT OCT 20 2007 FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. FORECASTER KNABB Sort of like our forecast this morning, but much more succinct in the telling. After reading it three or four times, I came up with something like *if Tab A fits into Slot G, twisted around bends C and W, you might end up with a tricycle or maybe a nuclear reactor* In other words...they know there is moisture somewhere, that might do something or maybe not. Ok. In the meantime, while hot, there are some great breezes, absolutely gorgeous water colors and perfect beach conditions to be had both on and below the sea. Places closed are starting to re-open, the last holidays are being taken (have fun y'all!) and new faces are showing up more often for a visit. Sitting at the cart is actually more fruitful than just keeping the chair warm...excellent! The rest of the day, too hot to be at the cart, I sit on the deck of my impermanent aerie in cool breezes, mesmerized with the beauty all around me. Tough life, but someone's gotta do it! Yesterday afternoon...
|
| - Some events of the day...or two |
|
Among other things, October 19th is marked as:
* Mammography Day (National, US) October 19, 2007
o The third Friday in October each year is National
Mammography Day, first proclaimed by President Clinton in 1993.
o See the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month official Web
site: http://www.nbcam.org/about_mammography.cfm
So, at the very least, ladies, do a breast exam for yourself. If you don't know what you're looking for, google it, there are excellent directions! Other notes of the day: Amy Carter turns 40 years old today. If that doesn't frighten you to live life to the full every day becauuse it passes us oh so quickly, you are too young for me to even try. With your interest at peak for more trivia, a look ahead...tomorrow is Make a Difference day, encouraging neighbors helping neighbors. Hey, why not? The radar is pretty splendid today. It's like the whole weather picture is moving in a pretty tremendous circle around us, not touching much. To have a look for yourself (only advised for high speed computers) check out http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/carb/loop-avn.html for a weather ballet. The forecast says 50% rain. And we know what that means...or doesn't mean...or something. My last morning view from this yard for awhile...I started early so as not to miss a thing (hopefully smaller, rather than hogging up so much space...oopsy, Gert! Sorry)
|
| - Partly scattered |
|
Some clouds, some rain, somewhere; a forecast I can live with. With the
radar showing us to be fairly in the clear and the sky and water
agreeing, it looks like another excellent day in Paradox. Yesterday
started and ended in and on the water for me, with some land time in
between. Oh yeah, that's why I live here!
Being at home for a day in between house & dog & cat sitting gigs just makes me love my little world more. At night the yard is unlit by electric lights, bringing the stars out bright and clear in a sky free of haze of dust or ash, from the top of the world to the watery horizon. There is a reason hammocks are so popular around here...day or night. The moon is waxing toward full and seems to go quickly through the sky right now. The tides seem to be affected strongly as well, with this morning's tide very, very low. Attachment:
IMG_7116.JPG |
| - Autumnal Sunrise |
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|
Good Morning, With the autumnal sun moving further south, we start to see the sun rise out of the water. From our postition we get about a months worth of "water rise" view through the harbour opening here in Culebra. Then again when it starts moving north in Spring we get this view in reverse. As you can see our weather is clear and we are enjoying the beauty of the weather and the island. St Marten, welcome home and we really enjoyed the photos of the trip. Enjoy, William --
|
| - Get out your ponchos |
|
According to one of the longest discussions I've ever seen out of San
Juan this morning, we're in for some weather in the next couple of days
that is already fringing into Guadaloupe this morning. There are
questions about how long it will last as well as the intensity of the
rain storms, but whatever happens, it looks like a strong rain event
for sure.
At least the day started with a good (even if very red) sunrise!
|
| - Rain |
|
Along with so many of you, we are getting a lot of rain, along with the
lightning and thunder shows. Right now it is barely drizzling, and the
morning started with a glorious sunrise, but the night was full of a
steady, slow rain and the gardens (and cisterns owners) are delirious.
Few tourists are around to be bothered by less than picture postcard
weather and the ones I've met seem the type to roll with the weather.
People willing to venture down to the Caribbean at this time of year
just seem to be a different sort than some high season visitors. Or
maybe it's me, enjoying the quiet time.
With 94 the only area of interest, presently about 50 miles offshore of
the east coast of the Yucatan and concern that it could become a
tropical depression before reaching shore, once again Nature seems to
have pinpointed that area for this season. Hopefully it won't be too
bad this go-round.
We've been so l---y. Shhhh. |
| - Rain & light shows and sunshine |
|
Today the sun started out shining right from dawn, with lots of huge
clouds hovering. The gardens are happy with the inches of rain we've
gotten in the past few days, which is great when watering plants at two
homes.
The models for 94 (the one down by Venezuela) look like "your guess is
as good as mine" predicting east, west, and north, which leaves a lot
of spots wondering and hoping it just goes poof. 91, our one to keep an
eye on, seems to be not setting off anyone's alarms yet.
While I'm not a Columbus Day fan, I'm glad for those in American spaces who get the day off, and everyone else in the service trades who get more guests to their islands in this traditionally slow time. Here on Culebra, it is very tranquillo, even with a few extra folks around. "Where can we go to get ______(this week it was milk)?" Wait a month or so, you'll have a lot more choices. Or, if you are one of those traveler's that is content with island time, enjoy the lack of waiting for much of anything. Slow is good. Slow is now. Go to the beach, go on a hike, be with friends. This is the time and it will be over soon enough. |
| - Last night rain |
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Good Morning, Last night was BIG thunder and lightning along with some rain (0.20 inches). The cat decided the bed was the safest spot for the night. Dawn and the clouds are breaking-up. --
|
| - Culebra Rain |
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Good Morning, Yesterday Culebra had a mini-deluge of rain amounting to 1.20 inches. It came from the WNW, which is pretty much "backwards" from what we are used to. It was a good soaker, and the grass will shoot up as a result. Attached is a photo of Culebra's bay in the early morning. Enjoy, William --
|
| - September Rainfall |
|
|
Good Morning, Culebra's rainfall for September was 1.6 inches, a very dry September by all standards. This gives us a year-to-date total of 26.4 inches. The island remains green with just enough sprinkles to maintain the flora. Enjoy, William --
|
| - Another month gone & starting |
|
Happy October 1st!The day started with clouds, then a pouring rain, but with nothing of the thunder and lightning from last night's show, which had the dogs I'm caretaking trying hard to get in my lap (except for the one who seems to live under the bed most of the time). Since they are both bulky dogs I kept my lap to myself while they pressed into the couch until the noise and flashing lights abated. I'm not sure how much rain we've had over the last 12 hours or so, but I see new growth on a young tree in my yard that I thought was dead when I got home. Hooray! It is now turning gorgeous, with a good breeze and sunshine in a watery blue sky. The pelicans are having an after rain feast; the water crashing sounds of them diving for breakfast coming in regularly, with gulls close behind. Or maybe ahead...I've not quite figured that out yet. Nice word pictures of the dolphins, Dominica! |
| - Whole lotta stormin' goin' on |
|
Wow. When I left we were on Felix, and now we have Melissa! I stayed
away from computers and televisions for most of my trip and was very
happy to come home to only a few dead plants in the garden and everyone
and everything else just where I left it.
Stuck in San Juan (well, as stuck as hanging out in bars and restaurants with a good friend kind enough to roof my head with missing the plane time to get home can be...) it was rainy yesterday, with lightning and thunder putting on a good show. Checking out the gardens today I looked at my little dock and the land end was completely under water with a seriously high tide. The pool is full! As Dorothy said, there's no place like home (and I'm very glad home isn't Kansas). A watery view of dawn from my cousin's backyard in Canada. Attachment:
|
| - Clear & Calm Again |
|
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Good Morning, Culebra dawns clear and calm with some clouds out to the East. The view to St Thomas was great today (14 miles distant). William --
|
| - Pink Night, Clear Skies |
|
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Good Morning, Like Nevis, Culebra is having clear/hot weather. We are also glad to see "Ingrid" downgraded to a TD for now. Last night was a beautiful sunset: Pink at Night, Sailors Delight goes the old diddy. William --
|
| - up and away |
|
I'll be on a plane about to land in Florida this time tomorrow
afternoon...leaving way too much potential heavy weather going on here,
and wondering what the heck 99L is doing. I'm supposed to be going AWAY
from potential storms.
As with most of us who call this part of the world home, my bi-polar-ness will be showing heavily and I have no doubt people I visit are going to be sick of me asking to use their computers to check in (no, I DON'T want to watch TWC - but I bet I will). I'll try to distract myself with hiking mountains, eating all the foods I can't eat here (look out oyster bars...this IS an R month!), and navigating a big city far, far to the north. Let alone doing relaxation exercises while on interstates going farther and faster than I have in quite awhile. William will be taking care of reporting from Culebra solo while I'm gone, with his good facts and beautiful photos. Hopefully I'll come home to everything being just where I left it...including my friends on other islands in the *neighborhood* being right where I left them. Stay safe and be well. Best of hopes for those in the path of Felix...another frightening hurricane. See you at the end of the month! |
| - Dichotomy |
|
Last night (with my server down and no access...argh) I walked around
my yard, looking up at the clear sky, zillions of stars, listening to
the music & luaghter from parties on land and on water. The breeze was
mild, just enough to keep it a perfect temperature.
What a strange feeling to know Felix is out there, getting stronger, and knowing the hell coming for those in his path. All of us are thinking of all of you...the you including the untold many who will never have a computer, where the basics are more basic than most of us have ever experienced. Check out the pleas for help...if you can, do. There is more to come. It seems one of the latest models has 98L disappearing in 6 hours. While I look at models about the same way I look at the radar at times, this is one I'd like to hang my hat on. |
| - maybe unnecessary but... |
|
I tend to get confused over the exact geography of certain areas of the
Western Caribbean....so maybe I'm not the only one. This helped me
re-orient areas I tend to jumble up, in light of Dean and now Hurricane
Felix. The lat long here leaves a lot to be desired, but I liked the
color separation and we can figure out the rest.
(Mentally superimposing these huge storms across the map chills me, personally - when I really think of our own spit size, which for some reason is nowhere in my mind on a daily basis - when I read Honduras is slightly larger than Tennessee in America; it looks so much BIGGER! - perspective gets sharpened all over again)
|
| - Felix and a bit more |
|
September starts out with newly upgraded tropical storm Felix, far to
the south of us, right now impacting Grenada. The 5 a.m. TWO in part
(found on the home page) - is unusual again...so much for the *usual*
hurricane safe zones (as we here already know all too well). I guess
Mother Nature didn't get the insurance memo. Good luck to all of you
getting newly or once again splattered and battered. Be safe.
Here on Culebra, benign would be the word. Barely a breeze, shiny metal sky, and the sun promising hot already. Welcome back from from the land of too much, our long awaited sailors! As for *the boat that wouldn't sail*, she sure looks pretty now! And on this day of memories, we raise high the glass to Danny, one of the last great pirates - we would have liked more time with you - but because the stories will live forever, so do you. |
| - Culebra Rainfall Data |
|
Good Morning, While you in the Lesser Antilles deal with "Felix", we up here in the Greater Antilles are enjoying a beautiful sunrise and mild weather. I have attached the updated rainfall data for Culebra, PR, noting the bit higher than average for August this year of 4.3 inches. Culebra remains wonderfully green. William -- -- you at usa.com is available and 170 other free domains. Sign up at www.mail.com
|
| - 94L |
|
|
With 94L trying to kick up the labeling, I woke up thinking, WOW - that
thing must have moved fast - as the wind was gusting and I heard the
beginning pitter patters of rain on the roof. But walking outside, I
could still see the moon, hazy cloud covered but visible, in the west,
and patches of sky through the clouds above my head. The wind settled
down and the sunrise began with muted colors in every direction.
With the 5:30 a.m. TWO saying 94L could be a TD by later this morning
and a recon mission set for 11:30 out of St. Croix, no doubt all in the
Windwards are rechecking their preps. Another waiting game as even just
a lot of rain and wind could be a mess in places continuing to clean up
from Dean.
|
| - Lunar eclipse |
|
If you were up between around 5 and quarter of six this morning, the
lunar eclipse was a total beauty! I've never seen an eclipse at this
time of day. To the west, the moon was lowering and getting covered by
our shadow, to the east, pre-dawn brought dark blue velvet to the sky.
As the last sliver of moon was seen resting on the hilltop, to the east
were the first rose colors of sunrise.
Linda and I moved from her porch to a front row seat up on another
hill, sidewalk sitting above someone's roof, with views of the entire
bay and over to Vieques (great choice for viewing, Mike, thanks!). The
air was still, Ensenada Honda like a lake. Clouds moved out of the way
and we got the entire show, a total eclipse on a spectacular morning,
with the temp around 78.
What a way to start a Tuesday! Attachment:
IMG_6434_1.jpg
|
| - Yep...it is chilly here too |
|
|
Not 72, but 76, which, for me, is enough to have me hoping it gets
warmer before I go snorkling in an hour or so (if it was 72, there
would be no issue of hoping, I'd be under a blanket).
While we had no rain yesterday, we also had a quite impressive water
spout off in the west, where dark clouds gathered and drifted east for
most of the day. Not nearly as big as Aruba's *tube* which was a shape
I've not seen before. Thank goodness for the cell phone camera that was
handy (I don't own a cell phone, but I do know the law of: not having
my camera with me means something good will come along to make me kick
myself for leaving it at home).
The blobs to the east have only my token interest at this point, mainly
as incentive to pull together all my little bits and pieces before
heading out on the 4th. Procrastination is easy when I can tell myself,
"Hey, I'm USING that! It can get shoved away at the last minute..." Uh
huh.
|
| - Rain and sun and rain and...etc |
|
We joined many of you yesterday in the squall parade. The ground is
even a little bit squishy with all of the rain we got on and off. After
about a gallon dumped off the cart owning down my back I closed up and
came home to enjoy it rather than fight it.
This morning's skies are lacking the massive grey thunderheads of yesterday, instead a pale blue predominates. The radar shows bits of rain scattered around with movement due west - we'll see if that tiny red blobbette over St. Thomas comes for a heat quencher later on. Today is the day we harvest the yuca from the children's garden. Since I have absolutely no clue what we're actually doing, having never messed with yuca before, it should be interesting. I'm just glad the rain will have loosened up the roots...since the upper part of the plants average 5-6 feet...what is below view??? |
| - Thursday |
|
Today looks to be one of *those* days...warmer at 4 am than at 5, then
back to warmer yet before it is even 6:30, with a sluggish wave that
might bring some rain with it, covered over with *the beauty of oh
wonder*.
We have two, count 'em, TWO weddings on the island this weekend! Who'da thunk it at this time of year? Congratulations, Lizzie and Melissa, husbands to be (names unknown, sorry), along with family and friends. Welcome to Culebra!
|
| - *Situation Normal, not ***** up" |
|
Life has gotten back to August/September normal around here - warm to
hot, humid, beautiful colors in the skies and seas. Quiet streets and
easy to find your pre-selected bar stool in your favorite watering
establishment, no waits for meals - well...relatively speaking, of
course and quick access to the cash registers at the local markets.
I can actually remember most of the visitors who come by the cart and
have moments of farewells when they leave for home. This goes a long
way toward the hope that I am not well down the road to total memory
loss, but rather, in a rest area for the time being.
Dean is now slamming the Yucatan and Mexico, having brushed the Caymans much more lightly than feared after wreaking havoc through Jamaica, though again, thankfully not to the extent it appeared would be the eye over the island case early on. Easy for me to write...my roof is still attached, if not quite firmly (no comparisons or analogies from any of you in the peanut gallery! I can HEAR you!!) Thoughts and prayers in the ongoing clean ups at present and to come. It will soon be time for me to make all fast here for my northern departure, so I am glad to have a head start that here, thankfully, wasn't absolutely necessary for Dean. Leave all the preps you can in place! A few of us had a great time starting the first layer of cleaning at what will be the new *Susie's* restaurant at the Pescaderia by the Gulf station. Grubby work but fun, envisioning the doors opening in a couple of months. |
| - small aftermath |
|
We are in much the same condition as our nearby neighbors;having a
sunny, typical day wiping out all traces of what passed south of us in
the name of Dean. Except that barely anyone has shown up on the ferry -
maybe due to the fact that there wasn't supposed to be any ferry
running until tomorrow.
But ferries are running and planes are flying. We thought the only mishap was one boat going on the hard until a friend told us of a waterspout that literally came into the hotel where she works (outdoor bar area facing the water, though quite high on a hill above and well off the shore). A very heavy wooden desk blew over onto her, hitting only her leg as she turned to avert her very pregnant belly being hit, and scaffolding for a large construction project there was blown over. She is fine, though she was quite shaken. As the reports come in from the islands around us affected, it just makes us grateful, in that awfully guilty way of being spared...and saddened for the losses of life and property (thrilled to hear of the man missing who turned up though!). And very concerned about what lies ahead, starting already, for Jamaica and the Caymans. I read a report on the BBC which is taking current reports from people in Jamaica, beyond what our correspondents are sending. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6952773.stm All best hopes for those to our west. |
| - Over & done |
|
I wanted to wait awhile as I thought we'd get another band or so...but
all we have now after our little blast (where I doubt we got 1/4 in. of
rain), it's gone back to fairly calm. The gazebo roof is back in place,
blown over plants staked up, and all thoughts can go to Haiti, DR,
Jamaica and the Caymans. We only got the most minor of effects, but a
good prep time that can now just stay in place until the American
Turkey sings.
As noted in the Jamaica post, there are online radio stations to listen
to to hear what is happening in Jamaica. My favorite is
http://go-jamaica.com/power/ as they are very low-key with a LOT of
info & good reggae, but more news and weather.
That boat is still out there...weird.
|
| - More so late |
|
Thinking we were just going to continue to get gusts (as we have during
the whole Dean & Us scenario - so fortunate we are!) when about an hour
ago, the sky darkened and the wind picked up enough to tear off part of
my gazebo roof (it's made of the same stuff as some airports, that
strong plasticized cloth), with the waters churned up and the temp
dropping to 79 from the mid to higher 80's. Just that small taste
tossed my thoughts to the islands affected so sadly that Dean passed as
a cat 1 or 2 and the tragedies ahead.
I'm afriad the pleas for help board ARE going to fill quickly in too
soon a time.
Looking out to the harbour entrance from my bay, where this ship apparently is waiting for better conditions. C'mon in, the weather's better and the bars are empty!
|
| - Gusts |
|
I went to sleep early last night, to fairly mild gusts..waking about
12:30 to the same. A cup of tea and back to sleep, waking around 4 am
to quiet, calm air. I figured that Dean had passed to the west, and
thought of those ahead, when suddenly it started gusting more than it
has for the whole southerly passage.
Nothing at ALL severe in the gusting, but stronger and surprising because of that strength. Looking at the radar (which I wouldn't have), Dean seems to have grown considerably, but I haven't been watching every second as I have over the last week. Best hopes for those in the path ahead. |
| - Now |
|
So far we've had nothing more than a blustery day and 75 heavy
raindrops. I went on a beach tour with a friend to look at waves...one
side (Zoni) was slightly heavy surf and beach erosion, the other, mild
as any day. Very hazy though. I guess dropping that Atlantic side
warning was for real. Well, the night isn't over yet. We'll see what
tomorrow morning says.
All preps were done, and we all were done in, prepping businesses and homes. Sat with friends in a local bar/restaurant watching TWC and laughing at our non-coverage (can someone tell them there that Dominica is pronouced Dohm-oh-NEE-kah, NOT Dough-MIN-ee-cah? and...to get their bodies out of the way of the islands when TALKING about them?). Hurting for those south of us; we were thinking we'd be in a bit of soup but so far, not. I even made soup, figuring the power would go out and it would be a cozy thing to eat and share. The cozy, getting together time isn't happening yet (well, unless you count bar time and I should -it was a good letting down of tense muscles and psyches), if at all. We'll see. No regrets on preps...it's what we do. As a friend of mine from Jost who just called to check in with me said, it was, for this area, a good drill. Hearts out (and hands out to help) to those affected, and those who will be. So very sorry for the losses of life and the havoc to be dealt with in the coming days. Keeping our eyes to the west for those next on Dean's list and to the east for whatever comes next. |
| - regarding update |
|
Explanation from my San Juan weather guru (which many of you may have
understood already)
"mj,what they did was to cancel the warning for the Atlantic side only as the biggest impacts from the Tropical Storm force winds in gusts will be in the Caribbean Sea meaning the South coasts of PR,Culebra and Vieques." |
| - update |
|
Interesting news from the 6am report out of San Juan: BULLETIN- HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 600 AM AST FRI AUG 17 2007 ...CENTER OF DEAN PASSING BETWEEN MARTINIQUE AND ST. LUCIA...MOVING RAPIDLY WESTWARD...AND ENTERING THE CARIBBEAN... ...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO... ...NEW INFORMATION... TROPICAL STORM WARNING DISCONTINUED FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS OF PUERTO RICO AND THE NORTHERN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FOR ALL ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS.I'm not sure exactly what this means in light of the other information that they have left standing, but I think it's a good sign! Awaiting news from down island and praying for the best. |
| - Still some time to finish up preps! |
|
Lots to read here, but this is the day we've been wondering about and
preparing for.. Remember, not everyone has a computer around here, and
TWC sucks, so if you have neighbors or friends you think might not be
aware of what's coming along later today and tonight, please please let
them know.
The 5 am advisory is out and it's looking good for us as the ridge is appearing to stay firmly in place! Again, good for us, not so good for those south of us right now and those to the west of us, ie Jamaica and the Caymans., when intensity is supposed to get much higher, Right now the model tracks have Dean not affecting the DR, Haiti or Cuba, but rather making a beeline for the Yucatan. HURRICANE DEAN ADVISORY NUMBER 16 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042007 500 AM AST FRI AUG 17 2007 ...CENTER OF DEAN PASSING NEAR ST. LUCIA AND MARTINIQUE. A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ST. LUCIA... MARTINIQUE... DOMINICA...AND GUADELOUPE AND ITS DEPENDENCIES. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. AT 5 AM AST...0900 UTC...THE METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE OF ANTIGUA HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING ISLANDS OF THE LESSER ANTILLES...GRENADA AND ITS DEPENDENCIES...ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES...BARBADOS... SABA...ST. EUSTATIUS... MONTSERRAT...ANTIGUA...NEVIS...ST KITTS...BARBUDA...ST. MAARTEN...AND ANGUILLA. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. AT 5 AM AST...0900 UTC...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN PENINSULA OF HAITI FROM PORT-AU-PRINCE TO THE HAITI/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BORDER. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM CABO ENGANO TO THE HAITI/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BORDER. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN CARIBBEAN...INCLUDING JAMAICA AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF DEAN. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE DEAN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 60.9 WEST OR IN THE ST. LUCIA CHANNEL BETWEEN ST. LUCIA AND MARTINIQUE. DEAN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 24 MPH...39 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH SOME DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THIS MOTION SHOULD TAKE THE CENTER OF DEAN AWAY FROM THE LESSER ANTILLES LATER TODAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. DEAN IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. STRONGER WINDS...ESPECIALLY IN GUSTS...ARE LIKELY OVER ELEVATED TERRAIN NEAR THE PATH OF THE CENTER. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES...35 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES...220 KM. FORT-DE-FRANCE ON MARTINIQUE RECENTLY REPORTED A WIND GUST OF 59 MPH...94 KM/HR...WHILE BARBADOS HAS RECENTLY REPORTED A WIND GUST OF 55 MPH...89 KM/HR. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 976 MB...28.82 INCHES. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS... ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...IS POSSIBLE NEAR THE CENTER OF DEAN. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OF 2 TO 5 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS...ARE POSSIBLE IN ASSOCIATION WITH DEAN IN THE LESSER ANTILLES. ACROSS PUERTO RICO...STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED...WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF UP TO 5 INCHES. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES. REPEATING THE 500 AM AST POSITION...14.3 N...60.9 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST NEAR 24 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...976 MB. AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 800 AM AST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1100 AM AST. $$ FORECASTER BEVENWe'll be getting the outer bands, and we do have a tropical storm warning on us, so most likely we'll be...well, here is the 3 am report (which I just found...there is SOOOOO much stuff out there!) . It's long, but worth a read to know what the official weather weenies at the National Weather Service are thinking. So...*good* is relative, but as far as I'm concerned, I'll take this over what it looked like earlier in the week and knock on wood. Again...there is still time to secure anything you don't want blown into your house, the water, your neighbors' yard, etc. along with being ready to lose power. I hope I don't lose dial up connection but we'll just see how it goes. Hurricane Local Statement Culebra (Puerto Rico) HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT PRZ001>013-VIZ001-002-AMZ710>750-171000- BULLETIN- HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR 300 AM AST FRI AUG 17 2007 ...CENTER OF DEAN TO PASS NEAR MARTINIQUE AND ST. LUCIA DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS...MOVING RAPIDLY WESTWARD... ...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO... ...NEW INFORMATION... AT 2 AM...MAXIMUM SEAS OF 14 TO 18 FEET EXPECTED ACROSS THE LOCAL CARIBBEAN COASTAL WATERS FRIDAY EVENING AND NIGHT. ...AREAS AFFECTED... THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY RESIDENTS IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO. ...WATCHES/WARNINGS... AT 2 AM A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO. A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH AND A HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH AND EAST COASTS OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS...CULEBRA...VIEQUES AND PUERTO RICO. ...STORM INFORMATION... AT 2 AM AST...HURRICANE DEAN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.3 NORTH LONGITUDE 59.8 WEST...AROUND 465 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SAINT CROIX...510 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ST THOMAS...570 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SAN JUAN AND AROUND 590 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PONCE. DEAN WAS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 25 MPH...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 100 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN 24 HOURS OR LESS. RESIDENTS OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO SHOULD RUSH TO FINALIZE PREPARATIONS FOR DEAN BY FRIDAY MORNING. TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN AFFECTING THE LOCAL AREA AROUND MID DAY FRIDAY AND LAST THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT MARINE INTERESTS ACROSS THE LOCAL CARIBBEAN...WITH HIGH SEAS EXPECTED ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN COASTAL WATERS AND PASSAGES...AND VERY HIGH SURF ALONG THE CARIBBEAN COASTS. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT. ...WINDS... BASED ON THE CURRENT FORECAST TRACK...SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN THE 39 TO 45 MPH RANGE ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN WATERS SOUTHEAST OF SAINT CROIX AROUND MID DAY FRIDAY. AS DEAN CONTINUES MOVING WESTWARD INTO THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL RAPIDLY SPREAD TO THE CARIBBEAN WATERS JUST SOUTH OF PUERTO RICO BY LATE AFTERNOON FRIDAY. BY LATE FRIDAY NIGHT TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ACROSS THE SAINT CROIX CARIBBEAN WATERS SHOULD BEGIN TO DIMINISH AND BY MID MORNING SATURDAY ACROSS SOUTHERN PUERTO RICO WATERS. FOR THE LAND AREAS OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO OCCASIONAL WIND GUSTS TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY WITH PASSING SQUALLS AND OVER HIGHER TERRAIN. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS COULD BE STRONG ENOUGH TO BLOW DOWN POWER LINES MAINLY OVER SAINT CROIX AND THE SOUTHERN HALF OF PUERTO RICO. WITH THE CURRENT FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE DEAN IS FORECAST TO REMAIN SOUTH OF SAINT CROIX AND PUERTO RICO FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. HOWEVER...ALL LOCAL INTERESTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS CLOSELY AS ANY DEVIATION TO THE NORTH OR INCREASE IN INTENSITY COULD RESULT IN STRONGER WINDS TO THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO. ...INLAND FLOODING... RAINBANDS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NORTHWESTERN FRINGES OF HURRICANE DEAN SHOULD BEGIN DURING THE AFTERNOON FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT ACROSS THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND OVER VIEQUES...CULEBRA AND THE EASTERN HALF OF PUERTO RICO. LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE AS THE CENTER OF DEAN PASSES SOUTH OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO ON ITS FORECAST TRACK FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF ONE TO TO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS OF UP TO FIVE INCHES POSSIBLE IN THE INTERIOR SECTORS. FLASH FLOODING AND MUDSLIDES ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. ...LOCAL MARINE IMPACTS... WINDS ACROSS THE OFFSHORE SAINT CROIX WATERS WILL BE REACHING TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH 34 TO 40 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS AROUND MID DAY FRIDAY CONTINUING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. ALONG THE SOUTHERN PUERTO RICO WATERS TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OF 34 TO 40 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS ARE EXPECTED BY LATE AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. AS HURRICANE DEAN PASSES SOUTH OF THE AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON SEAS WILL BUILD RAPIDLY...REACHING 14 TO 18 FEET ACROSS THE LOCAL CARIBBEAN WATERS...AND TO 10 FEET ACROSS THE ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT THROUGH SATURDAY. MARINERS IN THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREA ARE URGED TO SECURE THEIR VESSELS OR MOVE THEM TO SAFE HARBOR ESPECIALLY ALONG THE LOCAL CARIBBEAN WATERS. ROUGH MARINE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED BY LATE FRIDAY MORNING...AND WILL DETERIORATE THROUGH SATURDAY. PERSONS ALONG THE EAST AND SOUTH EXPOSED COASTAL AREAS SHOULD REMAIN OUT OF THE DANGEROUS SURF. ...TORNADOES... ISOLATED WATERSPOUTS ARE POSSIBLE MAINLY ALONG THE LOCAL CARIBBEAN WATERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH RAINBANDS AND SQUALLS FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...AND COULD MOVE ASHORE ALONG THE COASTS. ...NEXT UPDATE... THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY 600 AM AST FRIDAY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO. $$ |
| - San Juan 5pm update |
|
and comment from my weather guru in San Juan AT 500 PM AST...2100 UTC...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.For our fellow members in PR,Culebra,Vieques,U.S.VI and BVI we have a TS watch as the windfield has expanded 150 miles from the eye.We can have a warning tomorrow morning. |
| - 2 a.m. update |
|
This is the 2:00 a.m. update. It looks like we are in the clear, but
there is always the potential of a shift. The weather weenies are
pretty stunned at this continuing westward track, it's unusual and good
for us, very bad for the mid-chain islands. Our thoughts are with those
in the path of Dean, now and afterward for whatever we can do.
A hurricane hunter on one of the forums I read said, around 1:00 a.m.
that they will be flying the storm in the morning, rather than what
this says, in the afternoon. We'll know a lot more during and after the
flight.
WTNT34 KNHC 160543 TCPAT4 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM DEAN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 11A NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042007 200 AM AST THU AUG 16 2007 ...DEAN NEAR HURRICANE STRENGTH...CONTINUING QUICKLY WESTWARD... A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ST. LUCIA...MARTINIQUE... GUADELOUPE AND ITS DEPENDENCIES...SABA...AND ST. EUSTATIUS. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. ADDITIONAL WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED ON THE NEXT ADVISORY. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 200 AM AST...0600Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM DEAN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 13.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 51.3 WEST OR ABOUT 550 MILES...885 KM...EAST OF BARBADOS. DEAN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 23 MPH...37 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AND DEAN IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TODAY. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT WILL INVESTIGATE DEAN THIS AFTERNOON. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM FROM THE CENTER. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 991 MB...29.26 INCHES. REPEATING THE 200 AM AST POSITION...13.2 N...51.3 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST NEAR 23 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...991 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 500 AM AST. $$FORECASTER BEVEN |
| - Our local discussion |
|
This is what is coming out of San Juan NWS this morning. Note the
capital letters as indicators well. Tickets for this roller coaster
ride are still on sale.
Dean is forecast to strengthen gradually over the next 36 hours...and then a bit more rapidly...as it enters the Caribbean and moves south of the local area. Satellite imagery past few days suggeststo ME that the middle level vorticity center occurring to the west of the low level center has weakened considerably...allowing for some intensification and better organization of the system past 24hours. But low level cloud bands in northwest quadrant continue to feed or dive into this remnant vorticity-convective blob...and this may be stealing inflow into the northwest and west of the low level circulation center. Would thus have to agree with NHC intensity guidance...to be slow and gradual next 24 hours or so. Based on the latest NHC intensity guidance...and trajectory...tropical storm winds would spread across the local Caribbean waters Saturday...requiring a watch then warning. Storm force winds...high seas...and cyclone swells will likely affect the local Caribbean coasts...producing high surf and the likelihood of beach erosion and some isolated coastal inundation. Over land...windy conditions should be expected...and it remains to be seen exactly how much of the rainbands and squalls on the north side of Dean make it into the area. This latest forecast does give US better confidence that a direct hit will not likely occur...but some unforeseen changes in the forecast and a slight northwest trajectory could threaten St Croix and south Puerto Rico. Therefore all local interests are advised to keep abreast of the evolving forecasts for Dean. By the way...there are a couple of decent looking tropical waves behind Dean...so this may just be the beginning of an active peak of theseason for the region. |
| - It's all about the ridge |
|
|
Still dropping south overnight, though not as dramtically as
yesterday, Dean continues on his westward path. Depending on how the
ridge to the north maintains is what we'll be watching up and down the
chain. People here have moved into preliminary made, with the heavier
chores getting done now. Regardless of Dean's final track, it can't
hurt to do what we would all have to do anyway, with any threat down
the road.
A friend of mine noticed that yesterday, there was no birdsong at 5:30,
the usual chirp chorus was missing. I was off island, so didn't notice.
But I noticed it this morning. It is like the 3:00 a.m. quiet. I don't
think birds fly away from storms this early on, but it still is weird,
and I'd really like to hear some chirping!
|
| - Can you sleep if the wind blows? |
|
I got this today in email and it seemed pretty apropos. Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded theawful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received A steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew. |
| - After the latest TWO... |
|
Something else to look at for awhile.Stretched out on a towel over the grass, with an old pillow under my head, I kept wondering, how do I watch the whole sky? Thoughts meandered from the philosophically obvious - the eons this sky show has been going on, the madness and futility of war in the face of the indifference of the natural world - to memories of other years, other settings when I've watched the sky for wonders - to the mundane, I wish those damn dogs would shut up - to amazement at the stillness of the night, the air cool and slightly damp on my skin, the sound of the water coming to the shore, an occasional fish splashing, at one point a bat (or something very small and fast) making a soft air whoosh right across me - and back to how can I watch the whole sky? In between thoughts were a dozen and more *shooting stars* and making wishes, and my own one, brilliant, whole-sky-crossing wow-ser, aptly named by Hillman. And thankfulness...that I can go into my yard and have a dark sky to watch this, that those lights aren't tracers of bombs, that I live in a place where the quiet is louder than anything else, even, eventually, the dogs. And hoping this hurricane season leaves us all with nothing more to do or think about than observing the sky in the middle of the night for light shows before climbing into bed to sleep; waking up tomorrow, content and glad, on islands. |
| - Getting out the word |
|
|
As most everyone here knows the skinny on 90L and how to find out the
info (that was a very cool image of the overlapping cone areas! never
saw that one before), I'll just report that I was pretty surprised as I
talked to people in town today that very few knew what was going on.
Since prepping can be time consuming for some (boats, tree trimming,
general clean-up, getting propane, etc), I was giving heads ups all
morning. If nothing comes of 90L, and I am hoping it won't, being
prepared otherwise is only all to the good, so I'll take the backlash
that will surely come from those few who are new to this sort of thing
that I *encouraged* this morning. So, even if you think all your
friends know what you know, it doesn't hurt to spread the word a little
early.
I've cancelled my trip to Tortola this coming weekend for the obvious
reasons; also, my Tortola friend has 3 big boats to deal with himself.
Of course, if I went, nothing would happen! Maybe it will work in
reverse?
|
| - gloomy cool |
|
|
A pale, watery sunrise starts the day but the coolness is wonderful, anticipating the heat repeat most likely to fill the hours ahead. Though right now it is overcast more than usual for this late in the morning. We'll see what happens, ayup! This from late last night's weather discussion out of San Juan. Hoping it's true! The remainder of the forecast will depend greatly on a low pressure over western Africa. The GFS has become very aggressive with this low and develops it into a hurricane and places it over Puerto Rico by Saturday night on 18 August. But a number of things suggest that this may not be the scenario we experience. First there is a considerable amount of dry surface and Saharan air layer being advected into the southwest quadrant of the system just beginning to show on the coast of Africa around 12 degrees north. Second...the strongest convection has formed a line which is south of 10 north off the African coast. Third...precipitable water imagery shows drier air forcing the moisture south. Fourth...this system does not look as strong now as it was 24 hours ago. And finally the path which the GFS projects this system to move over has not been particularly favorable to convection. |
| - Good Morning |
|
Good Morning, Culebra received a "gulley washer" of 1.1 inches of rain last night. Filled all my tanks and cleared the air. This morning it is overcast, but seems to be clearing rapidly. I attach a photo taken a few days ago of PR (Fajardo) as it appears through the Sahara Dust from Culebra. Holla Saba, are you green once again? William -- -- you at usa.com is available and 170 other free domains. Sign up at www.mail.com
|
| - 82 degrees and blowing |
|
The rain that started yesterday afternoon has continued on and off,
with a really strong session around 4 a.m. and continuing this morning
with on and off showers. There is actually a little bit of sog in the
ground, rather than the cracked earth just being filled in a bit for 10
minutes.
The temperature, 82, is keeping it cool with that good kind of dampness in the air, making it almost chilly. Only a breeze ruffles the water and maybe the leaves of plants and trees, but they might also be life dancing. It's a good day for cooking, or curling up with a book. I'm choosing cooking - perfect hot sauce making weather! While I'm typing, the wind is picking up and according to (dare I say it) the radar, what is pouring - or looks to be pouring - over St. Thomas will reach us very soon. |
| - Relief of the exciting kind |
|
How bizarre and wonderful! One hour, around 4:30, I was at Flamenco,
swimming in the water, relief from the very intense heat we were having
today, wishing I had housing for my camera as the water was that unreal
tourquoise and I wanted to photograph my toes (not being a mermaid, I
must settle for toes) half in the water, half in the air, that water,
oh my! So refreshing after literally being covered in a light coating
of sweat all day, even the middle of the bridge, usually a wind tunnel,
had no relief.
Now, an hour later, I was sitting at the computer and suddenly the sky went dark, the temp dropped a good 8 or 9 degrees and the rain was coming in, and now falling beautifully. I wondered out loud around lunch time where the heck was that wave...and ZAPO! here it is. While I was loading up photos, the phone rang. A friend on Jost was calling to ask if I saw the rain coming...he was watching the progress and knew it would be hitting here soon. I was jazzed and babbling, which he knew I would be - yes, I admit it, my name is MJ and I'm addicted to exciting weather (to a certain extent, really Universe!). Hey, I'm a beach baby, no matter what beach it is and storms get the blood flowing - and if they aren't dangerous, what's not to enjoy?! Thunder now...yee haw! |
| - Two wave day |
|
Going over and coming in is the call for the next 48 hours around here.
But the chances for rain have lessened and after a look at the sky
around 2 a.m. this morning, I'm not surprised. It was clear and cool
and crisply still - not unlike a morning far to the north, smelling and
feeling like a false ending of spring moment. This morning it is also
still, a contrast to the last few blustery days, but hopefully there is
a breeze in the offing, while the coolness is already becoming a
memory.
Seas have gone down as well...I expect to see some empty spots out
there today. And they say we don't have seasons around here - and we
all know who they are..they just aren't named after Princess
SummerSpringWinterFall.
Enjoy a good Sunday in Paradox. |
| - Strange brew |
|
A strange day for weather...gusty and overcast with the sun shining,
not so unusual. But the thunder mid-day was different for sure. A
friend was going for his daily walk to Electric beach and was soon
back. He said over the hill out of my line of sight, it was black in
every direction, with rain blocking any view of Vieques, and the
thunder was enough to convince him to head on back home.
Some sailor buds postponed their departures today, one going north, two going south. Something was said about a rum squall...and that tomorrow would be the day...or maybe the next day...Culebra seems to be one of those places sailors find a bit difficult to leave, even for the best of reasons. We understand, really we do. Fair winds and see you all in November. Bring back good stories. Rain came in during the mid-afternoon, longer lasting than most of our short bursts' the soaking in kind of rain that the plants love. Laughing gulls seemed to be everywhere, enjoying the fresh water bath. It was good napping weather, so I did. I went down to Zoni beach late in the afternoon. The winds that have been whipping up the waves had done some serious work on the beach there. According to some friends who came down and had been there yesterday as well, about five feet of sand was just gone. There are a lot of turtle nest sites and I wondered how the turtles would get over the deep shelf to lay their eggs. But I guess where there is a will and a few hundred pounds of power, there is a way. |
| - Gusty |
|
Far (relatively speaking) to our south, 99L hangs on, its status iffy
but still significant as a wave. NHC says in part "THERE IS STILL SOME
POTENTIAL FOR TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMATION BEFORE THE WAVE REACHES
CENTRAL AMERICA IN A DAY OR SO". Hopefully it will move along with harm
to none.
We had really gusty weather yesterday, which I really like, especially with my new huge bungee cords, sent by a friend who read of the *flying umbrella* at the cart. It works like a charm; thanks, Doug! This morning is grey and bright and windy. Dust is back upon us after a short respite. The gardens get any moisture sucked out of them immediately and one avocado tree, struggling along for a few years now, is looking very unhappy. Since my gardens are about 20 feet from the edge of the bay and maybe a foot above the waterline I never know how any plants will do that aren't in containers. Being shielded by mangroves helps some, but those mangroves also are full of chickens and iguanas who consider themselves unappointed trimmers of plants. Oh well, they were here first, at least in my time frame. Eyes to the east as the waves are rollin' rollin' rollin' in. These are the days when wanting rain is only said in a whisper. |
| - Culebra Rainfall, July |
|
Good Morning, Culebra's rainfall for July was 1.6 inches, not even half the monthly average of 3.6 inches. That amount gives us 20.5 inches for the year thus far. I attach a photo of the Red Tail Hawk soaring above. William -- -- you at usa.com is available and 170 other free domains. Sign up at www.mail.com
|
| - Let the rain fail down |
|
| Nice showers last night, with the light of the almost full moon visible through the clouds on occasion. This morning I had the cart open about 45 minutes when the deluge hit. I waited awhile but when I was completely soaked I decided to call it a day. Of course, home now, the sun is out again. Oh well, Open Somedays, Closed Others. We now have Chantel, which looks to be a fairly harmless lass who hopefully won't do anything more than give a good head's up to Bermuda. And as always at this time of year, eyes to the east, where an invest is deciding its future. I consider it what it is at present, an *area of interest*. Early this morning the moon was so beautiful...sunrise and moonset, gorgeous clouds and light at all points of the compass...why would anyone sleep so late they miss these moments? |
| - Happy Birthday, Dr. B? |
|
Dusty and hazy, with that long, grey tunnel of cloud, above which the
sky is bright blue. Or it was a minute ago! The radar looks clear, so
it will probably rain. With the humidity at 65% and the temp already 84
or so - it's going to be a warm, sticky day, even though last night was
cool enough to have a sheet handy.
A couple of tropical waves coming off Africa are looking interesting this morning...but they are far, far away and a glance a day is about all they are worth at the moment. We're loaded up with holiday makers here, as the PR gov't is off of work all week and two major PR holidays occur, one this past Wednesday for Constitution Day and one today for the birthday of Jose Barbosa. "Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (ELA) holiday. Dr. José Celso Barbosa (1857–1921) was a medical doctor and an early advocate of statehood, founder of the Republican Party on the Island." I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do to celebrate this, but it clearly must include alcoholic imbibing if the beer trucks and banners that sprout like mushrooms on all holidays are any indication. I sort of verbally attacked one hapless guy who was tying a banner to the bridge; he promised to remove it at the end of the weekend. I asked why he couldn't put up a banner saying Don't Throw Your Beer Trash on the Ground or in the Water! Keep Culebra Beautiful. He just sort of looked at me with that "I'm just doing my lousy, low paying job, lady" look, in a nice way. Gotta try, though! |
| - Gritty & Pretty |
|
|
Swirly gusts lately (enough to knock down the huge umbrella at the cart
twice yesterday - a guy driving the van for Club Seaborne jumped out
during the second, longer gust as he saw me struggling with a giant,
inside out umbrella and a 5 gallon cement filled bucket trying to
pretend it weighed 2 pounds, doing a jiggle dance over to the bridge We
righted the thing and he suggested bungee cords, a great idea if I'd
had two extra but twine worked. Luckily, both times no one was standing
at the cart to be potentially impaled), random breezes, hot & humid
days and deliciously cooler evenings have been the pattern around here.
Include the few hard rains lasting long enough to puddle up the roads -
or flood the area in front of the cart so I can sweep away the lake
created there - and give the plants some relief and hazy, dusty skies
and that would complete the picture.
No complaints! But a little rain today would be welcome, as last night
my neighbor showed up after 10 (that's LATE in my world) to tell me a
pipe had burst on this property that was shooting water into their
porch. Luckily my landlord sailed up right then and I went back to bed,
only to remember this morning when trying to get water for
coffee...OOPS! No watering the gardens this morning...sorry, plants!
Lucky I'm stocked up on water for one of *those* kind of morning
abulutions, hope you all are as well...stocked up I mean.
|
| - Sheesh |
|
Like Charlie Brown, I keep believing in what Mr. Radar appears to be
about to throw. Oh well, Lucy, you win. We've gotten some rain (not the
blobs' worth though, not even close) and the plants are happier for it.
Yesterday was windy and wild, like the earth was as stirred up as all of us, waiting for something to happen (and it did: welcome to the world, Sophia Olivia! Your fan club is waiting for you to come across the water home - oh yeah, Mama and Daddy too!). Today just feels humid and hot, as if the day is resting after yesterday (and it is, and we are - who knew frozen mojitos - bless you Perry, bartender of newly named Delusion fame - were such a wonderful celebratory drink? If anyone wonders why half the stores were closed yesterday, you didn't go to Mamacita's - which may have been a wise choice. It's too easy drinking green). Today is so bland with a haze covered shiny no color sky that even the cute little icon filled forecast just says "Clear". Take it for all its meaning - and yes, I believe it. |
| - I believe |
|
Ok, Mr. Radar says...this time it's real. Really! We've gotten the
first edge of the system's rain, lasting about 5 minutes...though it
looks like the real kicker is yet to arrive here. It looks like STX is
going to be getting it soon. I have my books and vino ready to tuck up
for the afternoon and evening. We've lost power a couple of times
briefly for some reason (maybe prepping as what STT and STJ went
through - nah, that would take planning).
Love the blended view, Gert! Thanks more. |
| - A wave by any other name |
|
I think the most dramatic thing about the much hyped wave(s) passing
through yesterday was the abundant and beautiful cloud formation
activity at dawn and sunset. Which luckily, we have proof happened,
because otherwise, the wave was a pretty much of the limp and slightly
clammy variety, not like the Queen's wave during a parade, confident
and steady; no, this was more like the politician everyone knows
cheated by stealing kids' milk money to get elected and has been found
out just as the parade begins to roll - that sort of wave.
And yes, once again, the radar showed what looked to be an oncoming steady rain event - it lied. Yes. Lied. Powerful angry red concentrations would dump a bit of rain and then POOF!!! Like magic, they blew apart and away, until a few hours later, it would reoccur. Stand up and deliver, you red blobs! At least one hour of rain (no more than that necessary, by the way) should result from such a picture. So - while, I know visitors are happy about this forecast gone somewhat awry, and while the gardens did get some blessing drops that I can tell they enjoyed, I shall watch the back of this wave with one thought. Again. Next time, I'll believe it when I hear steady rain on the roof long enough to sleep through it and not just be woken up by it. I mean it this time. Sure. |
| - Rainy AM |
|
Good Morning As MJ reported it has been showery/sprinklly during the night and AM. Rain gauge only measured in at 0.10 this morning so far. I did get a photo of the sunrise in between showers. Seems we are between a TUTT and a Wave, we can use the moisture. This is how the NWS reported it this AM: LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AHEAD OF THIS WAVE...COMBINED WITH A RETROGRADING TUTT LOW NORTHWEST OF THE LOCAL AREA...ARE CURRENTLY COMBINING TO BRING SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWER ACTIVITY OVER THE COASTAL WATERS...THE VI...AND EASTERN PUERTO RICO THIS MORNING. As MJ stated the sunrise was changing every minute, Enjoy, William -- -- you at usa.com is available and 170 other free domains. Sign up at www.mail.com
|
| - Summer sky |
|
|
After trying to capture a picture that would show what this morning
looks like, I am feeling a little dizzy (don't even THINK that!). Every
view is different, high thunderheads, fleecy horse feathers, a nice sun
dog, some patches of blue, though to the south there is a great wall of
grey and the sound of occasional thunder coming from it.
During the early a.m. hours we got some good rains and more today in a
sporadic way wouldn't be surprising at all.
A look at the radar has the tropical wave we have been watching is
moving in our direction, while the formal discussion is basically
singing As the Waves Come Marching In - with two more fairly close
behind this current one.
Meaning what? It is going to rain some and shine some. The dust is
backed off for the moment but expected to return. In other words...it's
summer!
|
| - Lookout Island |
|
Reading the other island reports it is difficult to fathom that I live
in the same part of the world. We have had no rain (ok, we've had rain
lasting 2 minutes, and 1 1/2 minutes a few times), some good breezes
but nothing that made anyone say more than "Finally, some breeze!" (ok,
a couple of gusts knocked over the umbrella at the cart - and as it's
an 8 foot wide umbrella, that was noticed...a couple friends were
there, one sort of leaning against the umbrella after the first gust -
I asked if I could hire him to stand there the rest of the
day...amazingly, he declined, opting to go to the beach instead - and a
couple of sailor friends have reported some good rock and roll *out
there* on day sails). The skies flucuate from beautiful sunrise scenes
to washed out blue to grey overcast with a lot of humidity to brassy
no-color at all to some beautiful sunsets. No complaints! Really!
Watching the wave round 12.5N-42.5W. Those lats and longs always have my interest this time of year. By the way Gert, I really like the USA map! Thanks. Clarity for the more simple minded weather geek is always welcome. |
| - Are you feeling lucky? |
|
Today is 7-7-07...thought by many to be a very lucky day. The number 7
is considered, in many beliefs (including gambling bookies). to be the
perfect number and today we have three in a row! People are getting
married today in record numbers (hey, with statistics being what they
are, every bit helps!), casinos are full, gatherings are planned all
over the world for everything from Live Earth all over the planet to
YouTube in New York City to Prince launching a new cologne.
Do something in 7's today - 7 random acts of kindness, give away 7 homemade desserts, buy 7 friends a drink, plant 7 trees, notice 7 things in your immediate surroundings you never saw before, plan on 7 new books to read, say hello to 7 strangers...need I go on, seven more times? Use your imagination...at least 7 times today! Oh yeah...the weather. Well, there will most likely be 7 hours of sunshine, 7 seconds of rain for us, at least 7 knots of breeze, and those absolutely beautiful 7 minutes before sunset - magic light time. Enjoy! |
| - oops! |
|
Wrong wind direction! South, not north. More coffee please... |
| - Week end |
|
Overnight we had some nice gentle rain on and off. The sky this morning
is a washed out blue with clouds on the horizon, but nothing more
sinister than puffy white at the moment, while the sun shines on. There
is a great breeze out of the east/northeast that I hope lasts all day,
as it makes cart sitting much more enjoyable, managing to slide down
the street and come around my corner, unblocked by trees and the cart
itself (I've considered cutting out wind holes in the cart, but I think
it might be a bit more than a fix).
My first ever black urchin spine to skin encounter has left no mark. The black inky spotting went away in 24 hours, as all the sites on black urchins I googled predicted, and there never was any stinging (so the U method either works, or it wasn't going to sting in the first place). Advice - do not take a very strong, large frisky dog on a leash into the sea near a knee high coral shelf covered with sea urchins. The dog will win, it annoys the urchins and your shins might sport tribal look-alike skin art for awhile (which, I have to admit, was pretty interesting to observe, though I won't miss it). |
| - Happy 4th of July! |
|
I can't think of a better place to celebrate freedom and independence
than Culebra, even though we won't have a firework in the sky (at least
that I know about). Enjoy family and friends, and good food.
For the *not Americans* - be kind to your occasionally conflicted ex-pat friends today. America really is beautiful, even if we choose not to live there. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful, warm day - good beachin' and bar-b-que weather! Vive la vida! |
| - Culebra Rainfall for June |
|
Good Morning, July starts with a hazy, Sahara Dust (SAL) morning. Rainfall for June was 4.6 inches, making the years total 18.9 inches. We did better than many of the surrounding islands for the month, and Culebra is very green as a result. Enjoy, William -- -- you at usa.com is available and 170 other free domains. Sign up at www.mail.com |
| - Cheap entertainment |
|
The forecasts this last week have become laughable. Rain chance
20%...oops! let's make that 60%...oh wait, no...never mind!
What we've actually been getting are a few showers early at night and very very early in the morning, never lasting long, but enough to take the heat out of the air from the very warm days and giving us wonderful sleeping weather. Definitely something to be thankful for as June draws to an end. Tomorrow is the actual full moon, but even with the overcast and clouds it is bright enough to walk around the yard and watch moon shadow games played out on the ground; a good night for moon dancing... |
| - Watch and learn |
|
Why do I EVER read forecasts and believe them? Probably because it
seemed like it should rain and it didn't. Yesterday the wind did blow a
bit harder, on and off, and it was hot hot hot again. But as soon as
evening came, little rains started, never lasting long but enough to
think, OH, it's really going to pour! There was even the sound of
distant thunder.
This morning there was yet another little shower, but it didn't stop the hummers, banana quits and bees from continuing their forage on the dusky smelling tree.The leaves were actually shaking with their activity. Right now it is grey and fairly still, with the radar showing a lot of activity swirling all around us. And the forecast calls for rain...a complete switch from before. Well, heck, I could have done that! (oh...I just did...shhh) |
| - Oops! |
|
I can't believe I forgot to mention the summer solstice yesterday! We
have now crossed the bar into a new season, following the sun on the
downward slope of shorter days and (dare I say it?) a lessened heat
factor. One can hope, anyway!
Despite the barest of both rain showers and waterings in my three weeks away from home while housesitting, somehow the yard continued to carry on, even producing blossoms on some of the plants and trees. The bees are going mad over this tree I don't know the name of, whose flowers produce a lovely musky fragrance that, if I wore fragrance, I'd try hard to find duplicated in a bottled form. Instead I just enjoy walking by it, wishing I could invent an audio enhanced scratch and sniff email to share the buzzing of the honey bees along with one of nature's perfumes. |
| - something different |
|
|
After days and days of glaring skies, intense heat and high humidity with occasional gusts of tepid air, this morning has continued to get darker and darker, and now, as I type, rain is starting to pelt the roof, a VERY welcome, very unexpected sound! No doubt it won't last long, but any break from what we've had here lately is welcome indeed. Definitions: Bad Sweat is everyday sweat, the "even my chin is sweating" sort that starts the minute you dry off from a shower until 3 a.m. when it might begin to cool off. This is versus Good Sweat, which is when the (wonderful) bartender, at the only bar where smoking is still allowed, a very local bar indeed, takes in the fact that there are only gringas at the bar, and changes the music to classic, excellent rock and roll (and somehow, young as she is, knows all the words). This, of course, leads to having more than the *just one drink* because hearing American rock and roll is a rarity, leading to a long session of singing and dancing on the sidewalk, thus producing copious amounts of Good Sweat. Luckily, we don't sweat as dogs do; it would really mess up the taste of the drinks. Let's Twist Again! The rain has stopped. The sun is back out. Let the Bad Sweat begin (henceforth known as BS). |
| - Clouds and...clouds |
|
The air is humid is humid and still, but at least we have overcast to
cut the heat factor, and I am grateful. It's a little too much Island
Woman reality when nice visitors ask to take your picture and sweat on
your face screws up the light meter. Oh well, they can tell people I
was crying with ...uh...joy?
The radar shows rain circling around us and I could swear I felt a few drizzle drips at one point today. I was ready to close the umbrella and just sit in the rain, but it didn't happen. The few showers we have gotten affect all the growing things with magic. New leaves, new blooms result in what hours of watering cannot do. I know I've said this before, but it never ceases to amaze me (having a seriously short term memory helps too). Not that I'm ASKING for rain, mind you...but if a nice slow soaker happened along tonight, I wouldn't mind. |
| - Breeze is back! |
|
The ground in my yard is still pretty muddy, but for the most part the
effects of our big rain (which is STILL going up the East coast of the
States, with strong effect) is only seen in new green growth).
With the high temps, the return of good breezes is very welcome around
here. A bit overcast, we can look for rain at the end of the week...so
they say. A high pressure system elicits this from our local (San Juan)
meteorologist report.....
"This feature is expected to slowly move towards the northeast during the next couple of days...providing the local area gentle to fresh wind flow across the local islands and coastal waters."Sometime these reports are like little poems...gentle to fresh wind flow...I like it! Walking home yesterday, it was either refreshing and cool (where the road - and I mean THE road) is near the water) or like slogging through an arid desert (where, blocked by mangroves or homes, the breeze couldn't get through). My bike has decided it wants to live in the big Bike Shop in the Sky so until I take the trip over to the big island for a replacement, these sandals are made for walking. Usually I get a ride at some point of the walk, but a Sunday is usually not the day for rides., and rightly so... Saturday, loaded down with a bag of mangos for hot sauce, a taxi guy I know stopped to give me a ride. I traded two mangos for the trip and we were both happy. Life is good. |
| - Early a.m. music |
|
Barry is no longer a player, officially. But the remnants are wreaking
some havoc as the system moves up the coast. This is the one of the
reports from Charleston, SC.
000 NWUS52 KCHS 030225 LSRCHS PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1025 PM EDT SAT JUN 02 2007 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 1009 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG CHARLESTON 32.78N 79.94W 06/02/2007 CHARLESTON SC COAST GUARDNUMEROUS BOATS BREAKING FREE OF MOORINGS AND FLOATING THROUGHOUT THE CHARLESTON HARBOR. COAST GUARD IN THE PROCESS OF CONTAINING THEM. Winds of up to 65 mph were recorded. It ain't over 'til it's over.The clouds flitting around here in a not quite full moon bright sky are moving fast - it should be as bright with sun come the later a.m. hours (later than this, anyway!) There are a lot of birds singing in the moonlight. I've heard more birdsong at night than I can ever remember before. Could be faulty memory, but others say they have noticed it as well...maybe I should ask a kid. At 2 tomorrow is the big rock push at the muellecito to officially take back the beach from The Bad Man. who believed that with rocks, concrete, limitless dollars and high powered lawyers, he could steal waterfront property that never belonged to him. He was wrong. When this community unites for the sake of Culebra...get out of the way! The spirit of the activism (the same spirit that got the Navy with its bombs out of here in the early 70's) is alive and well here. Looks like another beautiful day in Paradox! |
| - Full Moon Rain |
|
Good Morning, I have attached the rainfall data for the year up through May, an abnormal dry month this year. However, about 3 AM the skies opened up with a deluge and lightning and thunder. As of 4 AM we had got 2.4 inches of rain and it is still raining, but not as a deluge, mostly steady type rain now. In between I did get this photo of the full moon rising. Enjoy, William -- -- you at usa.com is available and 170 other free domains. Sign up at www.mail.com
|
| - First! |
|
|
And...coming around the corner this morning, unexpectedly, another
sailor friend, who came in first in the Wooden Boat Regatta with her
all girl crew...You rock! Nothing more wonderful than someone saying, I
have no idea how the hell we did that...but we did!
It's been still, hot, and strange today. Electric on and off, barely
any wind, bits of rain, lots of sun and now overcast. Makes a body
restless.
|
| - Thunder?! |
|
|
Pitter patter rain, barely rain at all, glassy water, just now visible
in the new light...and thunder. Weather to make you think. Huh?
|
| - no air in the air |
|
While the Wooden Boat Regatta over on Jost did get enough wind to bring
in my friend at 2nd place (truly fun, as the schooner has been reworked
with the same love it was built which added about 3 to 4 knots of speed
to her former lovely but very slow self), over here we only had gusts
in fits and bits over the weekend, with lots of stillness in between.
Today was hot & airless, even though it sure looked pretty. I spent the morning gathering mangos from kind friends with good trees for making hot sauce. The making of the sauce had to be done in stages...cook, go to the beach while it cooled. Except it didn't *cool* for hours. Puree, bottle, and full stop until the late afternoon, as even the thought of the over hour long water bath heat was unbearable. Water bath, fourth shower of the day, and hoping for a break in the weather (just a tiny one, really!) Waxed tops will have to wait until morning...maybe the wax will just melt on its own? Tonight, if possible, even more so, it is even more still. There is complete silence, like when the electric goes out all over the island, but I think it is just people inside their homes trying not to touch any skin to skin while breathing very slowly to avoid the Oven Breath Effect. |
| - Overcast, cool With Breeze to Go |
|
While there isn't really much of a breeze, there is a swell going on
out there, as the little wavelets on my little bit of shore are making
wave noises - hope that makes some sense.
The skies have been beautiful with Caribbean blue & spacey clouds and a very bright, very hot El Sol. Yesterday the Vieques crew were here with their paso fino horses, who get together with the horse folks here at the baseball field for a showing. But the horses and riders are everywhere, up and down the streets, with the unique staccato rhythm of the paso fino's gaits echoing. If you haven't ever seen a paso fino horse and rider in action, I can only say a key word for a mental visual would be proud. The experienced rider, with perfect posture, doesn't move an inch while the horse is in its fastest gait, head up, chest out (the horse AND the rider)...beautiful Good thing Joe Ice brought in the big truck though. I have a feeling El Batey (the bar & restaurant in front of the ballground) went through a lot of hielo yesterday...it's thirsty work, playing with horses! No reports yet on the Wooden Boat Regatta since the *no wind* report I had...hope enough breeze came along for those wonderful boats to fly all of their sails...or at least move around for different views while drinking beer and waiting... |
| - Fog |
|
After a day that left most people reeling from the heat, the night
turned cool and this morning, 74 degrees and 78.5 percent humidity, we
have fog! It looks like some photograph of a harbour in New England,
complete with heavy dew fall.
While I expect it will return to hot as the day carries on, and the fog
is already burning off a bit, what a great surprise! There are some
plus's to being a morning person (though don't bother even trying to
convince those sleep late types, weird sunrises and dew on the grass
aren't usually anything that excites them!)
Fog! Wow. |
| - Another |
|
With the dust cleared away yesterday, the skies *that* shade of blue
with a few clouds puffing around in the sky, the heat was on high, with
a good breeze helping make it bearable.
Except for where we were, gathered for a baby shower - on a small resort's deck with a beautiful view, a gorgeous pool with frangipani blossoms afloat, but with water at...body temp, so not exactly refreshing, and a dozen or more women, half whom are at *that stage of life* (which makes *that* the word of the day for stoking imagination and/or memory). With rum punch, LOTS of bottled water, and the general joy of a group of friends playing hookey to give presents & blessings to the brilliant and beautiful mother to be, we somehow staggered through the heat until a wonderful overcast covered the sky, and the wind came right along with it. Last night I turned off the fans as it was 79 degrees of great sleeping weather. This morning the sun is glaring off the water, with a bit a a breeze. With rain chances up (but likely not for us), some cloud cover would be a good thing, a little rain even better. |
| - Haze days (part II) |
|
While I like to claim that the weather is all about me and my actions
or lack of same (and who doesn't?), the truth is, that's only the case
sometimes. I know, it's a shocker...have another cup of coffee.
This is the official word for today...the Atlantic high pressure will maintain an east to southeast low level wind flow through the upcoming weekend. This will result in warm temperatures along most of the coastal sections of Puerto Rico. Imagery of the Saharan air layer indicated an area of Saharan dust just southeast of the local islands. This area may be pushed into the local area as the winds continue from the southeast.For some reason, the orchids are loving this weather pattern. Our good shot of rain led the way and the yard is full of blooming plants of all sorts. At night the smell of flowering trees and plants is in the air in a way not noticed during the day. Now...if the no see ums/gnats would leave...all will be well. Though a woman told me yesterday that compared to the NE gnats, what we have is nothing at all, so good! One more reason I will never live in the NE US! |
| - Wow |
|
|
Thanks, Dave, for...er...clearing up the serious haze mystery today...I
first thought rain was coming up the bay...then wondered if I was going
blind! It's very gusty here (and my cart front is getting painted
today, natch! Oh well, a bit of Sahara dust will make it
so...authentic) which might help blow away the no-see-ums which
followed the mosquitos. It sounds like it's going to be a less than
postcard sky for the beginning of my brother's visit...we'll just have
to fake the pictures later.
I end my housesitting gig today and head back down to the waterside,
where I won't have the high view, but I'll got MY view! It's been a
good time critter sitting, except for this morning when I came back
here and found one of the dogs decided to try out my red tea...and
they've been so good until that little incident. Oh, aren't animals
fun? No special treat for YOU today, bucko!
|
| - Critter weather |
|
While we are still in the hazed sky warm to hot mode, last night was
cool enough to not have the fans blowing full blast, as there was a
good breeze here on the mountain top.
The little shot of cooler weather kept the dogs all excited and instead of their normal zonk through the night, they were in romping mode. Even the cat seemed more restless. At least they all wanted to go out and in together, while I came close to stumbling through the screen door - and I do mean through - not quite awake, to do their bidding - a regular animal idiot savant/servant, and they know it. It reminds me too much of little kids, which is why I am the critter sitter around here - with none at home to distract me from my insomnia, it's like being a Grandma; enjoy someone's dogs and cats, with different views of the island, and then go home! |
| - Happy Mother's Day |
|
On a day of pale blue skies over bright sun, take a moment to raise a
toast the mothers in your lives. Maybe they are birth mothers, or maybe
adopted by law or by life chance. Maybe it was a teacher or someone who
cooked your favorite meals when you couldn't or someone you know you
can go to for wisdom, whether easy or difficult to listen to.
Mother, Mom, Ma, Mama, Mami, Grandma too...sometime along the way, we get touched by a woman with a mother soul, whether she *borned us* or was brought into our path along the way. They shed more light than the sun, and make the word cozy a temperature. Salut! |
| - All weather, all day (so far) |
|
|
This morning started with ominous grey clouds, went to pale white skies
with intermittent rain showers, white sunshine next...then the rain was
racing up the bay creating a white out, delivering a two second blast
shower, and now the sun is back out. The cat is curled up on the couch,
the dogs are in the bed...that weather energy is in the air. Crazy,
unpredictable, exciting, which reminds me that...
...on a personal note, today is my daughter Sarah's 31st birthday. How
she got older than me is one of life's little mysteries I won't try to
figure out. Happy Birthday, Sarah, you beautiful child/woman!
|
| - Are you ready? |
|
As asked by Gert way back a whole two days ago when the season was still something upcoming, are you ready? Because now, brought to you by the weather gods, subtropical storm Andrea is here, as most of you already know. Hopefully it will give some rain to the drought areas, but it isn't expected to be much of a rain producing storm, unfortunately (at least that's the word for now) It is causing a lot of erosion along the coasts however. They just don't make storms to order, no matter how much we want that. Let's see, we're not half-way into May and have our first named storm. If this is not a wake up call for anyone not prepared yet for the coming season that is suddenly not up ahead but NOW, it should be. In case you need some reminders, or have never had to prepare before, here is a good starter list that can be added to with your own personal needs and wants adjusted in. Think about how you will cook food (it's the dumb stuff like forgotten can openers that make the difference), clean yourselves, etc. Common sense ain't always so common... http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/supply_kit.shtml |
| - moi? bzzzzzzzz |
|
Why Dave, I would never send mosquito hell to STT! Unless I could
figure out how to do it, anyway...and then I'd send them to...well,
never mind, but the people who closed Bottom's Up (one of whom, by the
way, stood right in front of me at the cart, looking at me eye to eye
and promised me NOTHING would change at Bottom's Up due to the purchase
- geeze, I was talking about the freaking MENU! Never imagined the
whole place would be swooped - thanks a lot, Tripp - remind me never to
buy a used boat from you) would be on that list. As the Caribbean
turns...$$$$$$ gets in your eyes.
The mozzies are abating here a little bit at a time. Tomorrow I start housesitting on top of one of our bigger hills, so hopefully the breeze up there will blow them away. Hope is a beautiful thing. Right now it is overcast, with a bit of sun coming through, a very slight breeze and hot sauce to make. Blessings on CK for the *yes you were right* hottest jalepenos I've ever tasted. Zowie! |
| - shh, the air is sleeping |
|
While not perfectly mirrorlike, the weather is following the pattern of
the evening before, very still, and edging toward high heat. BUT only
five mosquito bites in a little over five minutes, so there is
improvement.
Watching the Kentucky Derby at Dinghy Dock, which seems to be turning into an unplanned tradition for a handful of us, would have looked pretty funny to a Martian...chatting, drinking betting, spraying on poison and swatting the heck out of ourselves and each other "Excuse me, there's one on your forehead/cheek/neck/arm/back *whap!*. "No, thanks! Really, that could have been the dengue one!" But there were no Martians, and no Tourists, and no matter who anyone bet on, Street Sense's move to the front was so spectacular (and a certain mimic's imitation of the jockey's first words was so hysterical - try doing a strong Cajan accept while crying) that we may have frightened a few mosquitos away with the shouting and laughing. I know better than to ask for a breeze at this time of year, so poison fragrance will again be the theme of the day. |
| - mosquito shower |
|
I'm trying not to rip off my skin scratching from the 30 or so mosquito
bites I got while watering the gardens this morning as fast as I could.
Of course, we are now getting a nice rain, enough to have watered the
gardens on its own, though it's not going to last much longer.
Argh! |
| - May Day |
|
The first day of May, what strange confusion! May Day is marked around
the world and around world history, with pagan, political and pure joy
of spring celebrations being enacted with everything from religious
festivals to martial parades, from twining the Maypole with ribbons and
flowers to well...the fertility thing.
Wikipedia has an exhaustive amount of info on May Day around the world
at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day .
Of course, this is not to be confused with Mayday! the call of distress, which is derived from the French m'aider, meaning Help me! It might come in handy after some of the festivities, however. May Day on Culebra is very breezy, with the sun peeking in and out of clouds both heavy with grey, and fleecy. A forecast for on and off showers sounds fair enough. I hope I don't get tangled and sopping in my ribbons. Enjoy your May Day however you celebrate! |
| - Culebra Rainfall Data |
|
Good Morning, The attached chart shows our "record" 9.4 April rainfall total and how it bumps-up the yearly totals. I also attach a photo showing what all that rain produces; lots of blooms and busy bees and hummingbirds. Enjoy, William -- -- you at usa.com is available and 170 other free domains. Sign up at www.mail.com
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