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- - - 2015 Hurricane Season - - -

- Rain
  • By "Kate Cole" <reservations at elquenepovieques.com>
  • Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2016 21:38:20 -0400

It really rained here today. Really, really rained!  The thunder and lightening were grumbling and popping all around and over us!  So far our rain gauge is at 3.5” for the day.  The cell sat right on top of us for several hours.  It even hailed at our house in Pilon. Yes, hail!   Lots of folks here in Vieques have never seen hail. Delvin, our backwaiter, scolded me.  He wanted to know why I didn’t collect it and put it in the freezer so that he could see it.  Next time he told me I have to save some for him.

Hopefully this means our weather will return to usual for this time of year.  Although, gentle rains are greatly appreciated as one of my new garden beds is destroyed.  I think it is time to rethink that drainage situation.  That said we are thankful not to repeat the drought of 2015.  Off to listen to the frogs… They are so happy tonight.

Take care,

K


- It"s all good!
  • By "kate at elquenepovieques.com" <kate at elquenepovieques.com>
  • Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 10:17:50 -0400
Things are a little damp here in Vieques but we weathered the storm without major mishap.  Power went out but was restored around 6:00 am.  The wind really gusted up here in Pilon.  It was our first storm up here in the "hills".  Funny part was this morning when I kept hearing a low rumble and assumed that it was a big truck.  Realized moments later that it was the sea in Esperanza.  To hear that all the way up here is amazing.
We drove down to Esperanza a little bit ago to check on El Q.  They bay is kicking as usual for a south side storm.  Looks like a boat got into a bit of trouble.  He is out there all by himself.  Not a boat that I recognize.
I am starting to hear planes moving around down at the airport.  They are supposed to start flying at noon.  No word on the ferry yet.  
So some wind and some rain is all we received.  Thank heavens.  So glad to read Bob's post that our reservoirs are up.  We received a only a bit of rain that was forecast.  Again beggars can't be choosers on rain levels here in PR.  Still surprised to see Erika lurking to our South this morning.
I was relieved to see Dominica on the postings list.  Our thoughts are with you.  Be safe!
Off to straighten up before the sun comes out...
K

Sent from my HTC

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- Morning showers on the Malecon
  • By Vieques Weather <viequesweather at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 09:12:30 -0400
Good morning.  I just returned from a walk to the Malecon in Esperanza.  I was watching the waves rolling over the docks and got hit by a new wave of rain.  This morning's storm dropped 1.22 inches at our home, since 0730.  Last night we lost power from midnight till 0600, but our neighbor had brownout so but no power loss.  Looks like a lot of tree debris but thankfully no real damage.  I see most of the Reservoirs on Puerto Rico received rain, the one serving Vieques rose a third of a meter.

- Now it starts...
  • By "kate at elquenepovieques.com" <kate at elquenepovieques.com>
  • Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2015 21:30:47 -0400

Wind picking up with light rain.  South western St. Croix is having a squall.  If you get a chance look at the SJU radar and watch the spin.  Stay safe and the lovely Cordillera Central be prepared.  You are one of the sweet spots of PR.
K
Sent from my HTC


- Rain and wind in Esperanza
  • By Vieques Weather <viequesweather at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2015 21:22:57 -0400
The wind has picked up and the occasional rains are now blowing by horizontally.  Power is fluctuating continually; I am surprised it hasn't gone out.  Still awaiting the arrival of Erika's main mass. Temperature is dropping too, now down to 77.

- Taking her time....
  • By "kate at elquenepovieques.com" <kate at elquenepovieques.com>
  • Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:56:09 -0400
Erika is taking her time. Down to 14 mph.  Power is already out in Pilon and it is still a sunny day out there.  We have only had a few rain showers and breezy conditions. At least all the chores are done.  So drinking a cold Medalla is next on my to do list.  Looks like she will hit tonight. It is the waiting that is making me crazy.
Prayers for the "Nature Isle" of Dominica.  One of my favorite islands in the Caribbean with the friendliest people.  It is heartbreaking to look at the photos and must be a true catastrophe for those living it.  Prayers, prayers!
Need to save the battery so it is time to sign off. Take care and I will post when I can.
K

Sent from my HTC


- Anticipating Erika
  • By Vieques Weather <viequesweather at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2015 13:12:39 -0400
Good afternoon.  Erika has changed her west-north west path and is now heading due west. (270). We anticipate getting hit by the northern outer bands.  Everyone is removing outdoor items that will fly about in the winds.  Boat and air service are suspended and hunkered down.  Erika has been slowing down, resulting in pushing back her arrival time.

- Rain from Danny and more rain from Erika
  • By "Kate Cole" <reservations at elquenepovieques.com>
  • Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2015 10:08:38 -0400

Technical difficulty with my last post so here it is again!

The remnants of Danny rolled through yesterday.  We received rain!  My funky little rain gauge showed about 1.5”.  Something is something!  But the best part of yesterday was the loud thunder and lightening.  What a show! And what a wake up call.  I launched out of bed to watch it rain grinning from ear to ear. Rain, rain, rain at last.  The power stayed on with plenty of blips around 4:45 am.  The best part is that our reservoir n Main Island received rain too.  According to the gossip mill (I did not read this first hand) the Rio Blanco reservoir picked up 2”!  So no water rationing in our immediate future but please use water sparingly. 

So now we wait for Erika.  Another rain event with some wind at 45 mph with gusts to 50 mph.  Her closest point of approach will be tomorrow, Thursday, at 8:36 pm and 22.3 miles away.  Since the winds extend 105 miles out and primarily to the east we should feel some of it.  But we have an even greater chance of rain! 2-4 inches with the possibility of 8 inches in some areas.  So my tropical storm list to do today is remove all of the cushions from the porch, clean out and set up the candle holders, and move my smallest plants down low.  Of course I will have to stock up on the obligatory milk, wine (for me) and beer for the hubby!

Also the port is under code X-Ray and is expected to move to Zulu tomorrow morning at 6:00 am.  That means no ferry.  I have been listening to planes taking off and landing all morning.  When I get an update on the flight situation I will let you know.

So from a Vieques that is starting to green up with some really happy horses, birds and small critters we say to Erika “Give us more rain and easy on the wind.”

K


- Rain from Danny and more rain Erika
  • By "Kate Cole" <reservations at elquenepovieques.com>
  • Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2015 09:51:15 -0400

The remnants of Danny rolled through yesterday.  We received rain!  My funky little rain gauge showed about 1.5”.  Something is something!  But the best part of yesterday was the loud thunder and lightening.  What a show! And what a wake up call.  I launched out of bed to watch it rain.  I was grinning ear to ear.  Rain, rain, rain at last.  The power stayed on with plenty of blips around 4:45 am.  The best part is that our reservoir on Main Island received rain too.  According to the gossip mill (I did not read this first hand) the Rio Blanco reservoir picked up 2”!  So no water rationing in our immediate future but please use water sparingly. See the chart below!

So now we wait for Erika.  Another rain event with some wind at 45 mph with gusts at 50 mph.  Her closest approach will be tomorrow, Thursday, at 8:36 pm and 22.3 miles away.  Since the winds extend 105 miles out and primarily to the east we should feel some of it.  But we have an even greater chance of rain!  2-4 inches with the possibility of 8 inches in some areas.  So my tropical storm list to do today is remove all of the cushions from the porch, clean out and set up the candle holders, and move my smallest plants down low.  Of course I will have to stock up on the obligatory milk, wine (for me) and beer for the hubby!

Also the port is under code X- Ray and expected to move to Zulu tomorrow morning at 6:00 am.  That means no ferry.  I have been listening to planes taking off and landing all morning.  When I get an update on the flight situation I will let you know.

So from a Vieques that is starting to green up with some really happy horses, birds and small critters we say to Erika “Give us more rain and easy on the wind”.

K

NIVELES Embalses


- Almost an inch of well needed rain!
  • By Vieques Weather <viequesweather at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2015 11:45:54 -0400
Good morning from Esperanza.  Even though Danny did not make an appearance, the system he brought with him provided much needed rainfall.  According to my Davis weather station, we receive  .95 inches in the past 24 hours. Even better, it is currently raining over the ressrvoirs in eastern Puerto Rico.  Erika is heading this way, but the current track is well north of us.  At least Vieques will be greening up over the next few days.


- Rain?
  • By "Kate Cole" <reservations at elquenepovieques.com>
  • Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2015 17:44:24 -0400

Hi there,

Danny is headed way to the South of us.  That said I hope not too far away to share some rain!!!!  Please Danny bring us rain!!!

Off to work,

K


- First we see Danny, then Erika?
  • By Vieques Weather <viequesweather at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2015 15:16:53 -0400
Good afternoon from Esperanza.  The winds are kicking up a bit and a few clouds have moved in.  We eagerly anticipate needed rainfall from Danny, who in now projected to pass by Vieques to the south.  Danny has been downgraded significantly and we no longer anticipate having to prepare for hurricane force winds.  However, disturbance #2, which will soon become Erika, has now been given a 70% of cyclone formation in the next 48 hours.  This could prove to be interesting in the week to come.  


- Danny
  • From: "Kate Cole" <reservations at elquenepovieques.com>
  • Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:55:00 -0400

What a day watching Danny!  He is a trooper, that is for sure.  He is downgrading in strength as I type.  So now we get to sit and wait and see how far north of us he will travel and what he will become.  Right now he will just nearly miss Vieques but I still think he will move to the North a bit.  That said we need rain!  I saw a blogger on Wunderground (In Dr. Jeff Masters section) that had a big blob of moisture running over the reservoirs in eastern PR from Danny.  I know that is “wish casting” but is would also be a dream come true for us.   Below is the drought map for PR.  What you are seeing on the East side of PR (including Culebra and Vieques) is severe to extreme drought.  So Danny please send some rain and no wind.  Fill our reservoirs, water the plants and horses.

As for our rain event today…  A brief shower.  Enough to kick up the dust as the drops fell but not enough to quench the dry earth. 

Off to work…

K

 

U.S. Drought Monitor forPuerto Rico

 


- Vieques needs rain - in controlled doses
  • From: Vieques Weather <viequesweather at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2015 19:53:09 -0400
Good evening from Esperanza on the Isle of Vieques.  As is the case with most of the northern Caribbean, eastern Puerto Rico and it's two islands of Vieques and Culebra are in a drought situation.  The Rio Blanco reservoir, located just south of the El Yunque rain forest, supplies water to Vieques.  As of today, the reservoir is rapidly approaching the "control" stage, which would most likely result in water rationing or controlled outages. It is with this in mind we await Danny's visit with mixed emotions.  A few days of soaking rains would be greatly appreciated, as long as they are accompanied by manageable winds. 

- Rain?
  • From: "Kate Cole" <reservations at elquenepovieques.com>
  • Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2015 18:30:22 -0400

Hi there from dry, hot Vieques!

We finally received a bit of rain last Saturday night and Sunday.  It was a relief to hear some rain drops but still not enough to relieve our severe/ extreme drought.  I have been filling 5 gallon buckets of mangoes for the hungry horses and mounding them on the other side the fence.  They love to eat them and for a while I was able to put 4- 6 buckets a day out there.  Today I only had 2 buckets and I got a look from one of the horses.  I think she was like “Really?  2 buckets for all 6 of us?”.  At least some of the horse grass is starting to grow again and that means a little food.  However there is not any water for them to drink.  Please put buckets out for them with fresh water.  (From experience I would chain them to the fence or they might disappear!)  My “adopted” herd of 6 drinks about 24- 30 gallons in 24 hours.  But I think another group is stopping by for a sip late at night.  And there is one little lady that loves to let water roll down here nose, around her eyes, and then shake her head. 

A little action is happening in the Atlantic.  TS Danny is trying to develop.  It is far too early to say where, when, how strong or even if he will make it.  We really could use the rain but we need it without wind.  Something to watch…

Our next chance of rain is a weak wave that will pass through on Friday.  It doesn’t look promising but beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to rain.

Off to work… 15 nights left until El Quenepo closes for the season!

K

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- Hoping for rain
  • From: "Kate Cole" <reservations at elquenepovieques.com>
  • Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2015 18:04:07 -0400

Good early evening everyone,

Not too much to report form the Isla Nena.  We are just hoping for rain.  It looks like we have a chance tomorrow.  Please let it happen.  We are dry and dusty here.  When I was driving across the island today everything was brown, brown, brown and then on the Destino hillside great big swaths of red appeared.  Thank goodness for the Flamboyan trees throwing out their vibrant color!  After tomorrow the Sahara Air layer moves back in for more hazy, hot dryness.  Next chance for rain is Monday.  Hopefully it will come! Thank goodness we are not on water restrictions like the folks on main island.  In the NYT they reported about people coming up with creative ideas to conserve water.  I never thought about using the toilet tank water to wash my hands.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Patronales starts tonight!!!!  It should be great fun.  One good thing about all of this dry weather is that the festivities won’t be rained out.  I remember one year huddling under a tent with 50 other people when a deluge hit.  Three of us held a stroller with a sleeping little one up above the river that flowed under the tent.  It was raining so hard everyone just laughed.  I sure wish we had that rain now. 

Have a good one,

K


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