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- - - 2013 Hurricane Season - - -

- RAIN
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <tainos at anguillanet.com>
  • Date: Fri, 9 May 2014 15:32:06 -0400

St. Martin (10 miles across the channel from us) reports over 2 inches rain yesterday/last night.  Us in the West End, Anguilla??? How ‘bout a whopping 0.09 inches!  Not enough to even make puddles.  And today?  Heavy clouds all around, but only 0.03 in. rain.  WE NEED RAIN!!!!

 

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

 


- Ground sea pics
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 18:07:37 +0100
Two weeks ago I reported a big ground sea on the north side of Anguilla, here are a few pics of it at Captains Bay and the reefs around Island Harbour. Also I have had so many nice emails wishing the small brown dog a safe passage back from Anguilla to the north of England, and I have to give credit where it is due, GB Express Ferry, Air France, TVG rail in France, Eurostar and Virgin Rail all worked on time and efficiently, but  the small brown dog was tired and slept for nearly 12 hours last night.
My very best to everyone, until the next time.
JH
Little Bay Barn

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- Rain
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2014 19:52:14 +0100
Good Afternoon Everyone,
We have had .59 of an inch of rain in the last 3 days, and very welcome it is too, lets hope it keeps coming.  About 10 days ago we all saw a huge plume of black smoke rising to the sky towards the south of the island, it turned out the dump at Corito had caught fire and several thousands of old tyres were burning and may continue to do so for the next couple of months. A fellow diver from Grand-Case St Martin sent me a pic of what it looked like from over there which I have attached.
Had a lovely dive yesterday on Deep South reef and the Oosterdiep wreck, when we crossed to the wreck we found a little reef shark (about 4ft) circling inside it trying to select his lunch, well when 10 of us appeared around the wreck he got quite cross and if he had been a dog I would have said his ruff went up, the back arched, the fins went down, then he decided there were too many of us and disappeared with a swish of his tail.
Next Wednesday the small brown dog and I renew our acquaintance with the Air France Airbus  and the Eurostar to return to the old country for the summer. I thank all of you who have read my posts and hope I haven’t bored you too much.
I wish all a Hurricane free season.
All the best,
JH
Searocks

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- Ground Sea
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 18:41:07 +0100
Good Afternoon to Everyone,
A magic day in Anguilla today, 84f daytime 75f at night, gentle breeze and the sky and ocean vying with each other for different shades of blue, but the best thing is the the ocean has lain down, we have had a big ground sea since last Friday, I have never seen such big rollers breaking  when there hasn’t been a hurricane, there were 4 or 5 all breaking at the same time starting about half a mile out from the reef, and they were huge, at least 20 footers with great white fans of spray blowing behind them. Although it has meant no diving there was a silver lining, they brought back a lot of sand onto the east side of Shoal Bay and yesterday was the first time I have been able to walk the small brown dog all the way from Gwen’s to Uncle Ernie’s, since October last year. Needless to say one rather hot happy small brown dog, see pic. We are still very dry, though there has been a couple of small showers. Rainfall for March is .55 of an inch, and the water trucks have been busy.  I saw a large pod of Humpbacks last Wednesday from the balcony, they were blowing and breaching, travelling from West to East, my sort of eye candy!
My best to all,
JH
Searocks
P.S. Don’t forget to say ‘White Rabbits’ first thing tomorrow.

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- Promised pic
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 23:13:07 -0000
Here is the Leopard Spotted Flatworm, that I promised.
It has been hot hot today and the wind seems to have shifted around more to the north and has dropped considerably. I made a quick trip to St. Martin (out on the 9 o’clock boat back on the 11 o’clock) and the sea was about as calm as I have ever known it, hope that doesn’t mean we have a big ground sea coming in.
Have a good night everyone,
JH
Searocks

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- Dry Dry Dry
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:21:39 -0000
Good Evening Everyone,
We have The Mighty Sparrow (great calypsonian) singing here in Anguilla next Saturday night, I hope very much to go and hear him, he may sing ‘Whine Whine Whine’ but at the moment it is Dry Dry Dry on the Searocks, the dust is swirling and we have not had any rain since 10th March and our total rainfall this month is .34 of an inch. The cistern is below half and I am hoping we get a shower or two soon, the trees are all dropping their leaves and even the Oleanders are drooping. Having said that, beautiful days  and lately moonfilled nights, about 85F daytime and 76F at night with, as always, the lovely breeze. A lot of Sahara sand though, it has been quite hazy.
The diving has been fantastic and I had a first the other day, we were diving ‘The Commerce’ wreck and I found for the first time ever a Leopard Spotted Flatworm, this is an extraordinary creature, it looks like a leaf being blown by the wind (at 70ft down), but it is actually swimming. I hope my friend Sandy Gleed got a good picture of it and I will post it for you when it comes, the email is not behaving quite as it should at the moment.
I had so many nice emails (surprisingly) after my last post regarding the old pics of St. Kitts and Nevis that I put on, so here are a few more all taken circa 1962, those of you that know the islands will recognize them. I especially like the one of Nevis airport, there used to be a large hand painted sign at the end of the runway saying ‘STOP’ sadly not shown in the pic.
I wish all a very good night,
JH
Searocks

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- This and That
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2014 00:34:33 -0000
Good Evening Everyone,
Beautiful day here in Anguilla, temp about 82F daytime 73F at night, we have had 1.76 inches of rain here on the Searocks for Feb, about the same as Culebra, they probably had a bit more down the west end of the island. Saba says they have seen wales in the marine park, we have only heard them whilst diving, with luck we will see them soon.
As there is not a lot going on on Stormcarib at the moment I thought I would give you a little history from the bad old colonial days, tonight as I cooked my supper, eggs benedict, I was listening to an old Harry Belefonte CD on the ipod, he sang ‘Cucurucacoo’. My father when he was Administrator of St. Kitts Nevis and Anguilla in the 50’s was invited to Haiti (times of Papa Doc and very unusual to go there in those days), he came back with a record of Haitian Music sung by Guy Durisior  and one of the songs was ‘Cucurocucoo’ I used to climb out my bedroom window and sit on the roof of the music room of Government House St. Kitts and listen (needless to say this wasn’t allowed) and it was magic and hearing it again brought back so much of my past. Life is all about memories I think. I attach some pics (sorry for the quality) of my father back in what is now known as bad old times and few others Nevis from Cockleshell and from GH and Stasha (why haven’t we got  somebody from Stasha reporting?) from Brimstone Hill, all taken circa 1962.
A good night to all,
JH
Searocks

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- This and That
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 00:37:11 -0000
Good Evening Everyone. I had an email from a friend in the UK saying there is  not much on Stormcarib these days, so here is a report of sorts. The weather has been  gorgeous about 82F daytime and  about 75F at night, we have had 1.37 of an inch of rain so far this month which isn’t bad. The sea is up at the moment but not high enough to stop us diving tomorrow, and nobody seemed to notice the 1ft tsunami we had yesterday. 
I have been struggling with the Anguilla wildlife recently. Two days ago I drove out of my driveway and looked over into the floor of the passenger seat (small brown dog was on the passenger seat) to see, to my horror, a large Cuban Tree Frog, about the size of a tennis ball looking up at me, now I know you will think I am pathetic, but these things can jump, and I mean about 15ft if they want, so I pulled up sharpish, got out of the car, got small brown dog out of the car and stopped a Rasta friend who was behind me to help me deal with it. Well we emptied the car we searched everywhere – no frog – so assumed it had jumped out of one of the open doors. I drove to town, did 4 or 5 errands and relaxed somewhat. Diving the next morning so drove to Sandy ground and when I opened the back door of the car to take out my dive bag, there the wretched thing was looking at me from between the door and the back seat.  Panic stations again! I I had to get another kindly rasta friend to dispose of it.  If I had known it was still in the car while doing my errands  I would have been very on edge and would definitely driven into the bush if it had jumped on me.  Then last night at about 10PM my lovely tenants from Vermont knocked on my door an said ‘do you know your have a dog in your garage?’ (not small brown dog who was relaxing on the sofa) I said no I wasn’t aware of that, and there curled up next to my door was a lovely little Anguillan dog, about the size of a whippet saying please don’t turn me out, please love me, please feed me, I will lie on my back with my paws in the air anytime you want.  Needless to say it is still there but if there is anyone out there wants a loving little dog please contact me as I can’t take it back to England and if it doesn’t get a home I am afraid it will have to go to the happy hunting ground.
My next post will be the saga of the Jack Spanners (West Indian wasps), and I attach a rainbow and small brown dog oblivious of my trials and tribulations.
A very good night to all,
JH
Searocks

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- Sunshine and showers
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2014 20:47:59 -0000
First of all a happy February to all and sundry, as it is the first day of the month did you say “White Rabbits” first thing this morning? it is an old Cumbrian custom, supposed to bring you luck if you do. It has been a mixed day here in Anguilla, beautiful blue skies and sunshine one minute and a sharp cold squall the next with lots of wind.  The rainfall here on the Searocks for Jan was 1.96 inches, could have been better but could have been much worse as things have been drying up and the dust off the dirt roads has been swirling, so at least the dust has been settled today.  The island has been quietly starting to hum with more and more visitors coming back, you now need to make a reservation if eating out and before you could just turn up and be guaranteed a table. A good sign I think.  Diving has been great as always, a little iffy getting back in the boat as we have had some reasonably rough seas, but gorgeous down below, I don’t know if I mentioned it but Dougie (and us) found again the wreck of the Lady Vi, which had been misplaced since 1991 (due probably to the Department of Fisheries having lost the co-ordinates).  That was exciting, and I attach 2 pics I promised you about a month ago of the Turtle Caterina getting her shell scratched and a rather alarmed little Burr Fish I was trying to herd towards my friend Veronica’s camera.
I hope all is well with everybody and I send you my best,
JH
Searocks

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- Lovely Day
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2014 00:12:13 -0000
It has been gorgeous in Anguilla today, none of the heavy showers we have been having lately, temp about 84F and dropping to about 75F at night with still a stiff breeze from the east. The total rainfall on the Searocks for December was 3.82 inches which isn’t bad. All the snow birds are flying in as and when they can get flights with the disruption of the storm in the US, I had an email from a friend in Minnesota who said the temp was –36F, I can’t even imagine what that feels like and nor do I want to but one can’t blame them for heading south and very good it is to see them too. We have had some super diving, yesterday I was scratching Caterina’s (the little turtle I keep telling you about) shell which was quite extraordinary, there is something magic about a wild creature trusting you enough to let you touch it. Today we were on the pipeline for 75 minutes and I have to say even with a full wet suit on I was cold when I came out, lots of fascinating stuff to see as it is a marine nursery and with the exception of a huge Southern Stingray everything was tiny.
There is a sign I pass whenever I drive to Sandy Ground and I can’t resist posting it for you, it gives me a chuckle every time and I hope it will amuse you too.
I hope 2014 has started well and I wish all a very good night.
JH
Searocks

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- Happy New Year
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 23:12:07 -0000
I wish the best for everyone for 2014, may you have a great night and may a happy and peaceful and prosperous year follow, hopefully hurricane free.
JH
Searocks
P.S. It is a damp and rather chilly evening here in Anguilla, current temp 76f,(great sleeping weather) no real rain to speak of and the ocean is what I would call decidedly choppy. I attach a pic of what the Caribbean looks like to tempt people to call Jet Blue and come on down to what we used to call The Islands.

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- Mixed Xmas
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2013 23:42:56 -0000
Oh Dear, looks like the windwards have been having a hard time, as has the UK and Canada, weather gone beserk, and what is this dragon coming over the Atlantic on the Sat pic?
I hardly dare say it but it has been a lovely day in Anguilla, needless to say church was nothing other than ‘Feliz Navidad’ this morning, I know it is a great song but one can only hear it so often!!
Have a good night all,
JH
Searocks

- Happy Christmas (winds!)
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2013 00:29:55 -0000
That time has rolled around again, nothing but ‘Feliz Navidad’ on the radio, still I wish everyone who reports and who reads Stormcarib a very Merry Christmas, especially Gert and Dave who make it all possible, and may you all have a star of a year in 2014. I have to say I feel very privileged to be one of the Island people who post on this site especially as I am not here all year round. The current temp is 78F there are some really strong Christmas winds blowing, we have had intermittent showers to keep the cistern’s topped up and the sea is pretty rough, tonight I watched the waves breaking over Little Scrub Island.
We have had some spectacular diving this last week, not so good getting in and out of the boat but at  70/80 ft. it has been magic.  The giant angels of the ocean have been flying, what I mean is Spotted Eagle Rays one with a wingspan of 7ft and flying close, 3 or 4ft away, day before yesterday I thought one was going to swim right into me but it just tipped it’s wings and swerved around me, it was huge almost as big as a Manta Ray, and I have been lucky enough to dive with them in the Andaman Sea off Burma, as it passed I thought it had it’s eyes closed, but I don’t think that can be so. Then last Thursday I was investigating a small arrow crab on the bow of the wreck of the Oosterdiep when Caterina (see pic), a small turtle, came swimming up, I thought she would turn around and scarper when she saw me but not at all she almost swam into my lap and started scratching her shell about 2ft away, I sat there with her for about 7 minutes scratching her shell as well, until my computer started behaving badly and telling me I was going to go into a decompression dive, which I try to avoid, so reluctantly I started my assent.  Another great pleasure has been seeing, catching up and diving with old friends whom I dive with every year but only see when diving with Dougie (www.dougcarty.com ).  I apologize to all the non-divers out there that I have been boring, but I hope you all have very Happy Holidays.
JH
Searocks
I attach the small brown dog enjoying her Christmas Rum who also wishes all and sundry a Happy Christmas and says to hell with turkey how about a bit of cow! and  Dougie playing with Caterina.

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- Sparkling Anguilla
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2013 17:07:21 -0000
It is the most lovely day here today, temp is 80F in the shade, a good stiff breeze that has swung slightly more to the south of east in the last 24 hours and if Anguilla was a drink today I would say it is an ice cold champagne glass of Veuve Cliquet (spelling?). The ocean has calmed itself down, just a few whitecaps, so hopefully we might dive tomorrow, will report if we do.  We have had 1.98 inches of rain here so far in December, long may it continue.
I have a charming if rather messy guest staying at the moment on a roost in my garage, a yellow crowned night heron, or gaulin as we call them here, I think he has discovered that the cats can’t get him roosting on my ladder and also I think he is feasting on the Cuban tree frogs that have invaded Anguilla and are doing their best to get into everyone’s cisterns and contaminate the water, as long as he eats the frogs he is welcome to stay and I hear him fly in every evening a dusk with his rather brash call ‘woc woc’.  KLM’s jumbo has just flown over the house on its way to SXM, bang on time, there will be a lot of happy people on board having left a cold dreary Amsterdam early this morning. It is that first breath of Caribbean air after being cooped up in a mechanical silver bird  for 8 or 9 hours that I find so wonderful.
Hope everyone has a great day and small brown dog says it’s time for a siesta.
JH
Searocks

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- No sun today
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2013 02:06:51 -0000
If Anguilla was a drink I think it would have been a ‘Dark and Stormy’ today, we have hardly seen the sun and have had thunder and rain and it has been overcast all day. Yesterday we had 3/4 of an inch of rain and today we have had another .40 of an inch, not a lot compared with St. Thomas but good for the plants and cisterns, not so good for our visitors, the current temp is 75F and there is a strong easterly wind.  I have guests from the UK staying at the moment and I asked them what were their best impressions of Anguilla, they said the food, peacefulness, the people, the colours of the ocean and the fact that their tanks are being filled to face their busy (and cold) lives at home. I can vouch for all of this especially the food, we were at ‘On Da Rocks’ in Island Harbour for lunch today and one visitor at the next door table had 3 crayfish for his main course and then another two for desert!! They were delicious.
It is a great night for sleeping tonight so I wish everyone sweet dreams.
JH
Searocks

- Is the fat lady singing?
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2013 00:49:42 -0000
The end of another hurricane season hopefully, but as someone pointed out the weather doesn’t really pay any attention to dates. It has been a sparkly day here in Anguilla, the sea calmer than it has been for some time but I have a feeling we have another ground sea building. We had a great dive on the Commerce wreck this AM, there was a very large Puffa fish hiding in the depths of the wreck with its huge round eyes looking nervously up as if to say ‘please don’t hurt me’ then a frenchman came along with a flashlight and that was too much, it vanished in a flash. The air temp was 86F and it was 77ish at 80 feet.  We have had 3.74 inches of rain on the Searocks in November, but I think the west of the island will have had more, it usually does. There has to be something going on in the Atlantic as I had some friends come in on the KLM jumbo from Amsterdam a couple of days ago and it was an hour early into St. Martin, they said the ground speed on the monitor was reading 670MPH which is fast for coming west.  I hope all stays quiet and that it continues to rain at night.
My best to all,
JH
Searocks

- STORMY
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <tainos at anguillanet.com>
  • Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 09:01:34 -0400

Lots of thunder/lightening last night, 0.83 in. of rain with some 27 mph wind gusts - plus the temp dropped from 79.4 to 73 in just 20 minutes!  But it has just turned very dark outside and started raining again.  Looks like a cool, rainy day based in recent sat. pictures.

 

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

 


- Dive Report as promised
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 15:25:48 -0000
Yesterday we eventually got back underwater, just two lovely ladies of indeterminate ages, Dougie and myself (small brown dog hasn’t passed her open water yet!). We were diving The Oostierdeep Wreck, vis was not good because of the recent ground seas, so we weren’t expecting a lot.  Well, it was one of the best dives I have ever done in Anguilla, we saw everything except an Octopus from Sharks to Eagle rays to turtles to Morays and on and on, I’ll try not to bore the non-divers among you too much, but it was amazing like someone had just given you a huge present, and all at close quarters almost like swimming in an aquarium –magic- Sorry no pics as I still haven’t upgraded my 35mil to digital.  I did notice the temp of the ocean was quite a bit colder than when I was out a couple of weeks ago, I suppose also from Melissa who looked like she really stirred up the mid Atlantic and now appears to be heading for northwest Europe.
Today the sun is out there is a stiff breeze it is 80F on the gallery and the ocean is the colour of a beautiful Burmese Saphire.
I attach a pic of Concord in the clouds (for St. Croix) taken while we had crayfish for dinner at On Da Rocks in Island Harbour last night.
Have a peaceful and lovely day,
JH
Searocks

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- Cloud and rain continued
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 00:25:37 -0000
This new Lenovo computer works much faster than either my fingers or brain, (does is happen to anyone else?) I had meant to wish everyone a great night, hope you all have one.
All the best,
JH
Searocks

- Cloud and rain
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 00:13:27 -0000
We have had that blob that was lurking to the south east of us pass over today and it has given us some very welcome rain, an inch and three quarters in 36 hours, the plants and cisterns are singing and so are the frogs I might add.  Of course I had topped up the pool the night before but that is Murphy’s law isn’t it?  We have had a series of ground seas from Melissa but finally things look quieter and hopefully we might be able to dive Saturday AM. I will report if we do.  The small brown dog is happy and well, Anguilla is green and lovely and there was great music and dancing last Sunday at Gwens.

- A Hazy Day
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:49:31 -0000
This morning I got up to a hazy, hot but with a good breeze, grainy sort of day, I suppose it is the Sahara Sand that is lurking before a blob that might or might not produce a little rain, we haven’t had any for about 3 days. Gwens opened yesterday which was a joy, it was packed with two busloads of autistic children, their families and carers who came over specially from St.Martin also a few regulars.  The beach is in a bad way though, all the sand seems to have shifted round to the north side of Shoal Bay in front of Elodia’s where there is masses. See pics one taken last year and the other last week.  We have also had a huge ground sea the last few days which hasn’t helped.
It is the 11th day of the 11th month so I also attach ‘The Exortation’ in memory of those that made our lives possibly today.
 
My best to all,
JH
Searocks

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- Beautiful Rain
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2013 18:54:29 -0000
last night we had .35 of an inch of rain and a bit the nights before, all in all about half an inch since I got back.  It is overcast right now and looks like we could have a bit more but after that judging from the sat pics looks like the sun will shine for Gwen’s opening tomorrow.  Managed a lovely dive with Dougie this AM, bit of current not very good vis, but just wonderful to be underwater again, eels, lobsters, turtles, spade fish, pompanos and spider shrimp, that’s without mentioned the cudas angel fish conch and many others so the fish population is looking good. Come on down to the islands everyone it is gorgeous and I don’t want to sound mercenary but we need your greenbacks.
My best to all
JH
Searocks

- Back again
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 13:40:42 -0000
Hello Everyone,
The small brown dog and I are once more in our winter home, still jet lagging but very glad to be warm and to have got out of the UK while they were having a hurricane. Anguilla is green and lovely, good breeze, blue blue ocean and a bright sunshine, but very quiet and people still struggling with the economic situation, lets hope things pick up and we have a good season or at least a better one. Temp is about 86F and drops to about 78F at night and we had .02 of an inch of rain last night here on the searocks. I attach the small brown dog having her dinner in the restaurant of the Sheraton Hotel at Paris Charles de Gaul airport on the way out.
My best to all and have a great day.
JH
Searocks

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- Anguilla is still dry.
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2013 18:37:02 +0100
Good Evening all,
I have been watching the white powder puffs making their way from the east coast of Africa across the Atlantic towards the Caribbean, Dorian looked ominous for a bit but then unpuffed itself, that doesn't mean one or more of the others may not prove dangerous, so keep alert. Anguilla has had very little rain and is still very dry and with guests coming into my house on Thursday I am worried my cistern is not full enough, I would hate to have to buy water in August.
I wish everyone a good and peaceful night.
JH
Little Bay Barn
PS The small brown dog's best friend 'Humdinger' has had a litter of puppies, if anyone would like a Border Terrier from their native land let me know ASAP (see pic)

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- DORIAN LITTLE STRONGER, BUT NO CONCERN TO AXA
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <tainos at anguillanet.com>
  • Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 09:05:59 -0400

TS Dorian intensified slightly overnight to perhaps 60 mph winds, but the track is pretty much unchanged and straightforward – taking it about 170 miles to our north at dawn on Monday.  Some forecasts call for possible TS weather here in AXA, but with most of the wind field to the NW around to the ESE, don’t think there will be much of an impact.  There is a lot of rain to the south, so could get some strong showers/gusty winds late Sunday/Monday.  Expect just moderate swells (10 – 12 ft.) on the north shore.

 

Need to continue to monitor at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ , but think this one will just pass us by.  Unless there are any changes affecting AXA, there will be no further reports.

 

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

 


- TROPICAL STORM DORIAN
  • From: Steve Donahue <tainos at anguillanet.com>
  • Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 12:53:37 -0400

Lots of changes since yesterday, when it looked like this would just be a weak tropical storm when it reached us.  There are now several models that are predicting Dorian to become a hurricane possibly as early as tomorrow, and one that is predicting cat 2/3 by the time it reaches us this far west.  Best guess right now is it will pass to our north (closest point 120 miles) late Sunday/early Monday as a possible weak cat 1 hurricane.  But it is forecast to pass close enough that it needs to be watched closely.  There is plenty of rain to the south of the center (see satellite picture below), so at least expect heavy rains/gusty winds with heavy surf on the north beaches of AXA.  And if it continues to track to our south it will only strengthen.

 

Of course, this is all forecasted based on current conditions.  Need to continue to check forecasts for current conditions, and keep a close eye.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

 

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- INVEST 95-L LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED
  • From: Steve Donahue <tainos at anguillanet.com>
  • Date: Sun, 7 Jul 2013 09:07:37 -0400

Still a tropical wave heading WNW about 20 mph.  Good news is all the models now have it passing - possibly as a tropical storm - well south of us – too much Sahara dust around.  This could change, but right now, maybe get some passing showers but not much more. 

 

More later if there is any change.

 

Capture (Small).JPG

 

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

 


- INVEST 95-L - TROPICAL DEPRESSION?
  • From: Steve Donahue <tainos at anguillanet.com>
  • Date: Sat, 6 Jul 2013 11:47:11 -0400

First Atlantic disturbance of the year – Invest 95-L.  Located over 2,000 mi. to the east, but satellite indicates may already be close to tropical depression.  Water temps and wind shear are favorable for development.  Early tracks call for it going south of Anguilla early next week, but could bring some nasty weather.  But still a long way off – may be nothing or something!

 

Capture.JPG

 

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

 


- Surprising
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:24:44 +0100
Good Morning Caribbean,
Having been watching the satellite pictures and reading everyones reports I had assumed that you had all had plenty of rain, so was surprised when Lime Anguilla forwarded the following government text to me yesterday.
"Please be advised water rationing of Public water supply on the island continues. June 19th - 7th July - in East side -
8pm-8am and West side 8am-8pm."
It appears Anguilla at least is not getting as much as I thought.
Hope the storms keep away and that all is well.
JH
Little Bay Barn 
PS For fans of the small brown dog, she is fine, see pic, I think her location is an indication of our summer!

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- Be prepared!
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 30 May 2013 21:56:35 +0100
I thought I would ask a good friend who lives in East End Anguilla to give me an update on what the weather is like on the island now as the hurricane season starts tomorrow. All I can say is that the reply was not a lot of help.
"The weather is fine my Darling!" 
Lets hope it stays that way and that we are all prepared.
A calm and peaceful hurricane season to everyone and have a great night.
JH
Little Bay barn

- RAIN, RAIN!
  • From: "Steve Donahue" <tainos at anguillanet.com>
  • Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 09:38:03 -0400

No more complaints about rain – 3.1 inches since 5:45 this AM – and it’s still raining.  Looks like more coming from the SE.  Added a almost 20 inches to the cistern.  This is as much rain as we have in the last 4 months – combined!  I would think the water delivery guys are looking out their windows crying. 

 

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

 


- Enjoy the sunshie
  • From: "Joanie Howard" <joanie.howard1 at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:16:07 +0100
Looks like some rain coming, I hope it falls on those islands that need it, at least it will be warm.See pics to see what small brown dog has had to put up with here yesterday.
My best to all,
JH
Little Bay Barn

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- Whales
  • From: Joanie Howard <joanie.howard1 at googlemail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:10:13 +0100
A few weeks ago I posted that we had seen a pod of humpbacks while going out to dive, I attach a few  pics taken by the lovely Sandy Gleed from Buffalo NY who I have been diving with recently.
As far as I know the weather is lovely in Anguillla, pretty awful here, rain and 50MPH winds.
My best to all,
JH
Little Bay Barn

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- Back on the silver bird
  • From: Joanie Howard <joanie.howard1 at googlemail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:27:45 +0100
This is the post I least like to write every year. The day before yesterday the small brown dog and I returned to the old country via the Link Ferry, Air France's silver 340 bird, the TGV, the Eurostar and Virgin Rail. The weather in Anguilla, when I left, was gorgeous, 82, 83 ish F in the day time, the ocean about 78F and nightime temps about 74F, not full scale rain but the odd shower arriving to keep the cistern and the pool topped up, when we arrived in Paris it was about 55F with a freezing cold wind, London was a bit better, same temp but without the windchill factor. There is still snow up here in the Lake District lying in the gullies and behind the walls, they say it is waiting for more to come - I hope not. We are mid April and there are still snowdrops and my daffodils are only half way up their stalks, the lambs are not gambling but lying huddled up next to each other trying to stay warm, I had hoped I would bring some Caribbean sunshine and warmth back with me and today it has been a bit better, but wether that is because I had 12 hours sleep last night after no sleep but 3 movies the night before and was less tired I don't know.
My last few days in Anguilla were fabulous and hectic at the same time, on Sunday I had one of the best dives this year with Dougie and then some great music and dancing at Gwen's, I have had a great 6 months  in Anguilla (it has been a lean year but I think that is the same everywhere) I have seen lots of old friends and met some new and I close this post with a comment from an old friend from Minnesota who spends 3 months year in Anguilla "I hate to leave, I have many more friends in Anguilla than I have in Minnesota." I think that is very true of all of us who travel long distances to be warm, well and happy.
Have a great night everyone and hopefully a safe and trouble free hurricane season.
JH
Little Bay Barn
PS a few pics of the springtime I left in Anguilla and what greated me back here.
PPS I took all these pics with my Blackberry which seems to have a pretty good camara, surprisingly!

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