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- Nice weather
  • By Richard Pierre <realwedda at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2016 14:29:07 -0400
After the rain yesterday we have a cloudy windy day. Temperatures are bearable. The system that gave us the rain has moved west of us.
- Clear skies and a Super Moon over Marian
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2016 06:38:24 -0400
This morning, just before Sunrise, I took a photo of the Super Moon setting behind Marian. A really clear sky.
Tonight will be a good time to watch a Super Moon rising, just after 6pm, unless an area of cloud and rain, which is associated with a weak wave about 300 miles to our East, moves in.
Sunset this evening is at about 17:39 (5.39pm)**, Moonrise is about 18:04 (6.04pm), if you want to see a Super Moon and if you have a clear view to the horizon.
** another interesting thing about sunset is that we are at about the time of year when the Sun sets at it's earliest, from a few days time it will start to set later. The evenings will stay brighter longer. This is not true for the mornings, they will get darker for another two months! 

Hogan

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- A big blob of rain to our east
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2016 07:50:30 -0400
Good morning,
We had some, well needed, heavy rain during the night. This morning it is cloudy to the East and blue sky to the West, with a wind from the East to North-East.
Looking at satellite and radar images there is a large area of rain which spreads from just east of us to way beyond Barbados, where I believe they are having heavy rain. The size of this blob is pulsating, and we are right on the edge of it. But unlike normal weather (I think I have forgotten what that is) it seems to be almost static, with maybe a slight drift to the north. The Martinique radar shows the rain moving away from us, at the moment.
See http://www.meteofrance.gp/previsions-meteo-antilles-guyane/animation/radar/antilles for the latest radar image.
It was definitely a much cooler night, maybe a slight change in the weather, cooler? 

Have a good weekend

Hogan
- Thunder and a waterspout
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2016 10:50:04 -0400
Has been thundering all morning. Only a little rain. But saw this waterspout. Very short lived (about 4 minutes). 

Hogan

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- Rumbling just off to the West.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2016 07:48:11 -0400
Flooding and landslides to the North yesterday and absolutely no rain down South! 

This morning I woke to find the ground was damp, that is all.
Over the last hour I have heard rumbling off to the West. Looking at the radar there is a blob just a few miles off the West coast. It does seem to be trying to track NE, but struggling. But suggest Stalker, you keep an eye on the Martinique radar - http://www.meteofrance.gp/previsions-meteo-antilles-guyane/animation/radar/antilles to see if it moves in your direction. 

All the best

Hogan
- Island of two halves!
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2016 08:51:20 -0400
I have just received the following from Stalker (Bathway):

Massive rain!  Mother of a thunderstorm...still going on!  Rain drowning the 
plants!
You can have the lot!  Bloody thing not moving on!
All overhead!  Dogs petrified, except the poodle!  Guttering breaking with 
strength of rain...

Now compare that with down here in Westerhall:

Sun is shining, although a bit hazy. No rain all night, although there was 
lightning and distant thunder. A slight breeze from the SSE and the sound of 
thunder north of us (probably coming from the Bathway direction).

For those of you who don't know Grenada, Bathway is only about 16 miles from 
Westerhall (as the crow flies). Yet we have two different weather systems, as 
past posts on Stormcarib have shown.

Sally doesn't want any more rain and we want it.

There is a small "Low" to the NNW of us, which is possibly the source of the 
weather, causing a more southerly element to the wind. I guess this is sucking moist air 
over the mountains and dropping it further north. The radar and satellite images show 
plenty of rain up in the Leewards, and there does appear to be a slight movement south.

Hope the rain stops for you - 'upnorth'.
Just had the closest thunder so far, but no rain, yet!

Have a good day all.

Hogan
- 10:30 pm and it is hot!
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2016 22:45:46 -0400
There has been no rain to speak of for weeks now. There is hardly a breeze. The airport says it is 29C. It feels every bit of it.
I just stood outside so I could cool off before going to bed - it didn't work. I did notice some distant flashes coming from the north, so someone somewhere further up the island chain is getting some rain, but not here. Looking at the radar it seems to have spread down towards St Lucia. Could it come this far, we can only hope.
Good night all, or will it be Good morning to those that have already gone to bed. I doubt if they will sleep well, unless they have AC. 

Hogan
- Tropical wave passing through
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 07:40:33 -0400
Hi all,
a lovely morning here, slight breeze, blue skies with just a few clouds scraping the top of the mountains. Difficult to believe that the tropical wave is moving through the area. The only sign of it on Martinque radar is what appears heavy showers approaching the Barbados area. Barbados radar is still not working so cannot see very far to the east. The satellite image is showing some big convection, also just to the east of Barbados. It NHC are showing a disturbance east of Barbados. I am guessing that any rain will pass through the Grenada area, later today or Friday. 

Have a good day

Hogan
- The tropical wave.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 09:34:42 -0400
The activity in the tropical wave has subsided a bit, for the time. What there is seems to have moved further north. NHC are still giving it a 10% chance in next 48 hours.
The Martinique radar is showing very little rain in the area and the Barbados radar which would show weather further East is still showing data which is 4 days old.
Pleasant day today. Hope there is no rain when my friend arrives on the BA plane today, currently running a few minutes late. 

All the best.

Hogan
- The NHC are now giving the tropical wave some possible development/
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2016 18:22:18 -0400
I have been watching this wave for some time and thought it seemed to be having big showers associated with it. The NHC has now given it a 10% chance of developing in the next 48 hours, with 20% in 5 days. The path seems to be similar to Matthew, at least until mid Caribbean.
So the chance of rain showers here in Grenada and the other Windward islands,looks like increasing over the next 48 hours.
Matthew is now over Easter tip of Cuba. Jamaica seems to have come off lightly. Can't say the same for Haiti which still seems to be getting rain dumped on it. 

Hogan
- A large area of what looks like heavy rain approaching?
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2016 06:13:39 -0400
Good morning Grenada.

Hurricane Matthew is battering Haiti (the eye is just approaching the SW
tip of it) and Jamaica seems to be coming off not too bad as far as I
can see.

But now I am looking out to our east. I can see a very large area of
what to me looks like heavy rain. It is embedded in a tropical wave with
the leading edge of rain about 350 miles away. Apart from the following
statement from NHC, it does not appear to be a tropical depression risk
as yet:

Wave is moving through an area
between two upper ridges enhancing clusters of scattered
moderate to isolated strong convection covers the area from
7N-16N between 40W-56W.

A look at the latest satellite images shows the area clearly: 
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/tatl/flash-avn.html

If this continues it looks like a some wet weather tomorrow? But I am waiting 
to hear what the experts say.

Have a nice day.

Hogan
- Our thoughts and prayers are with you...
  • By Sally Stalker <stalker at spiceisle.com>
  • Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2016 22:22:13 -0400
What is there to say?  We in Grenada know what is bearing down on Jamaica and 
Haiti.  How much more can the people of Haiti take?  It is heartbreaking!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all...

Sent from my iPad
- Well where did that come from?
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2016 16:02:04 -0400
Well, we have just had some heavy rain, and we are still getting thunder. The strange thing is this has come up from the South - very unusual. It didn't help that I was watching Barbados radar and hadn't noticed that it has not updated since yesterday!!!
The first I noticed something strange was a line or street of dark clouds stretching from SE to NW, then the first rumble of thunder. The street of cloud appeared to move towards us from the West, not our usual direction for weather. I have just found that we are in a weak tropical wave, probably linked to 98L NE of the Lesser Antilles. Also spotted that the next tropical wave at 40W has a 'Low' marked at 10N on the Synopsis chart. With a movement due West. I can't see any significant convection associated with it yet, but I will monitor it.
As for Matthew, well it seems to be doing what it says on the box - It looks as if it will be nearer to Haiti than Jamaica, but looks like they will get some 'weather' in Jamaica, but Haiti looks like it will get a battering. 

Well at least my tank is full again!

Hogan
- Matthew aiming near Haiti
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2016 07:26:25 -0400
Matthew which left our shores as a TS is now heading for the area of Haiti/Jamaica as a Cat 3/4 having been briefly been a cat 5 for a while. Our best hopes and prayers go out to the people of Eastern Jamaica and Haiti.
There is a small low pressure system (98L) which is of no threat to us, but could affect Bermuda.
Here in Grenada we have a lovely morning, with a hazy blue sky with just a few clouds. A nice breeze from the East-South-East. The radar shows just a few fast moving small showers between us and Barbados. The satellite images don't show any significant clouds this side of the Atlantic. The synopsis chart shows a weak tropical wave in mid Atlantic, but that does not appear to be a threat at this stage. 

Have a nice Sunday. We have prepare for visitors later in the week.

Hogan
- Te Sun is out at last -
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2016 10:31:51 -0400
It is a lovely day here at last.
Hurricane Matthew is travelling West through the Caribbean, but by the models show a sharp turn North, with Jamaica in it's path, and it is picking up strength. We wish all our friends in Jamaica and then Cuba all the best for Monday (expected arrival).
A special personal best wishes to two friends Karen & Carmen (plus her mum) in Jamaica. 

Hogan
- Matthew not leaving the area without a last minute fight
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2016 13:27:52 -0400
Grenada is having very heavy rain and thunder. It all seems to be courtesy of a trailing arm of the Matthew spiral. It is being dragged in all the way from Trinidad & Tobago.
I just had to paddle to my car at Scotia Bank. I parked it high and dry only 5 minutes earlier! 

But the wind is decreasing.

Hogan
- Matthew moves off into the Caribbean
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2016 05:53:41 -0400
The Centre of Matthew has now moved out into the Caribbean leaving us with a strong South-Easterly wind. Too dark to see if my tomato plants are surviving. I expect the winds to slowly die down (back to normal) as the day goes on.
We had some heavy rain last night, but it that now seems to have gone. The weather radar shows only a few fast moving showers out to our SE.
The Atlantic has a few tropical waves in it, but no threats, at the moment. We have had the water that we needed, now let us get back to normal. 

Have a nice day. All the best wishes to those in the path of Matthew.

Hogan
- Persistent rain here.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2016 21:47:03 -0400
Well having had a quiet but overcast day, The evening has had persistent rain. Very little wind.
Met the crew of the BA flight which was diverted to Grenada. The weather was just too bad to go into SLU. Still they had an unexpected stay in the Spice Island, along with all the SLU bound passengers. 

Apparently another BA flight was diverted from BGI to ANU as well.
Matthew was not very powerful, but has caused a lot of disruption. Now Jamaica is in it's path. 

Have a nice night, hope the wind doesn't pick up too much over night.

Hogan
- Matthew
  • By Sally Stalker <stalker at spiceisle.com>
  • Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2016 21:35:02 -0400
After great uncertainty Matthew decided to give us a miss and move further along the island chain.  We had a quiet afternoon with overcast skies and intermittent rain. This evening is another story here in the North of the island. Strangely but thankfully no wind but incessant aggressive thunderstorms and heavy rain.  I believe the northern islands must be having a bad time, certainly my thoughts are with you and hope that damage is minimal and there is no loss of life.
Keep safe!

Sent from my iPad
- Looks like Martinique is getting the worst of the wind and rain.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2016 16:28:38 -0400
Here just a pleasant breeze (18mph) from the WSW. Swinging round to the South later this evening and probably strengthening a bit. 

It is not stopping us doing our regular trip to the Beach Bar.
I have heard that the BA flight which bypassed St Lucia, is night stopping here. I hope all the St Lucia bound passengers have a pleasant and unexpected evening in Grenada. And may I wish you will come back sometime, but next time intentionally! Hope you have good onward journey tomorrow. 

Just starting to rain and can hear some thunder.

Hogan
- BA2159 diverted from St Lucia direct to Grenada! Matthew casualty!
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2016 14:08:16 -0400
And it did land from the East, but 90 minutes early. Anyone who was going to meet people should get there fast! Not sure what they will do with the St Lucia passengers or when the flight will do with the plane & crew? 

Weather OK here so far.  Just a westerly breeze.

Hogan
- It is Matthew! Seemed to bypass Tropical Depression!
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:14:58 -0400

Hi all, just a brief update to say that 97L has been named  Tropical Storm Matthew.  The centre is just West of Barbados. I see that Grantley Adams airport is showing the pressure is now rising and the winds are picking up from the South. Here, in Grenada, we still have a slight breeze from the North. Still the worst of the weather is to the East through North of the 'Tropical Storm'.

It appears that the centre of 'Matthew' will pass through about the St Vincent area. It looks like the worst weather will be to the North of the storm. In my opinion, based on information I am gathering, the breeze will come from the West later this afternoon. And based on the fact that aircraft prefer to land into the wind, I am guessing the BA flight will approach the airport from the East, although they may prefer the normal approach if it is a light westerly. It is ahead of schedule to land at St Lucia about 13:32 and then in Grenada around 15:30 (15 minutes early).

I have heard that people are preparing for the worst. It is better to be safe than sorry. It is not too late to check that everything is secured, as best as possible.

The current weather here in the South is: completely overcast, but bright. We are just starting to get a nice breeze from the NW. My weathervane is about 8 boats at anchor in the bay below us, all pointing NW.

All the best.

Hogan


- Whatever it's called....!
  • By Sally Stalker <stalker at spiceisle.com>
  • Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2016 08:46:33 -0400
Woke at 2am with big gusts battering the shutters, heavy rain and a mild thunder roll. So naturally I thought 'this is it'  and hunkered down.  To my intense surprise it all stopped...went away, died.  Nothing! 
Now I hear 'it' has dropped down and is now on track for Grenada!  Source 105.5 FM radio ..
It is very overcast in the north east of Grenada with the odd roll of thunder and the birds have not taken to the skies which is not a good sign.  The garden is covered in leaves but nothing is damaged.
Thank you Diana in the U.K. For advice on the bird nest problem.  Unfortunately the little bird was at the egg stage which meant I couldn't move the nest.  I did my best to protect it without interference from me. The palm had to remain on the veranda.
So we wait for further news. I admit I was very apprehensive when the gusts of wind hit, I fear total disintegration should I have to face another hurricane ..the mere thought!
Keep safe islanders!

Sent from my iPad
- Woke up to lightning and thunder, in the distance.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2016 06:12:07 -0400
97L has still not developed into a named storm.
The centre is now just east of Barbados. The storm we are hearing, about 6am, is just off to our east, about 8 miles off the east coast and travelling from North to South. It looks like this local storm will pass us, but there are others behind it!
The centre of 97L looks as if it will pass about St Vincent/St Lucia mid afternoon. We being on the south of this will get lower winds than further north.
The wind is currently from the NNW, the airport says 15knots, but here it is almost calm. Completely overcast, no rain as yet. As I said there is thunder to the East of us. The Barbados radar shows the circulation of 97L near Barbados.
So it looks like Grenada should be spared the worst of this storm, but we can expect some heavy showers and gusts of strong wind.
I have noticed that the BA2159 has just departed London Gatwick on time destination St Lucia and Grenada. 

I will update later.

Hogan
- My attempt at trying to work out what will happen tomorrow!
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:24:59 -0400
Hi all,

I have been studying the various web sites.
It seems that 97L (yes it still has not developed into a tropical depression/storm) has not developed as fast as was predicted a few days ago. Also it seems to have taken a slightly more northern route, although there does seem to be some confusion (or is it me?). Earlier today most models had it passing between St Vincent and St Lucia. Wherever it passes through the island chain it will be about 14:00 (2pm) local time Wednesday. At this time it looks as if it could be a tropical storm (Matthew?). If this is the case then we should be picking up a nice breeze from the West. If I am right, this should give anyone in Lance-aux-Epines and True Blue a nice view of British Airways flight from London, landing from the 'wrong' direction at about 16:35. This is assuming it isn't delayed due to the weather in St Lucia.
So far the worst of the weather has been to the North of 97L. If this is the case then Grenada will not receive as much rain as some of our northerly neighbours.
Over night Wednesday/Thursday the wind will turn from the west to South-Easterly direction and pick up a bit, possibly to a roof rattling level, but hopefully no more than that?
We have had a few showers this evening, it does appear that they are loosely connected to 97L, they look like they are outer arms of the swirl. The Barbados radar shows another band of rain approaching Grenada and more showers in the vicinity of Barbados moving in our general direction. Some rain will be welcomed, but not too much and not with strong winds! 

More in the morning.

Hogan
- 97L still not named!
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2016 07:09:26 -0400
Good morning,

A lovely sunrise this morning.
The first thing I did this morning is to check the various weather prediction sites. It is now looking as if 97L has taken a slight move further north, and the model predictions are now showing that it will pass slightly further north of us (as I hoped yesterday). But what appears, at the moment, to be better news for us is not so good news for the St Lucia/Martinique area, also Barbados who will receive our unwelcome guest earlier than the rest of us. The other good thing is, as at time of writing, 97L still has not been named, and as far as I can see, is not even a officially a tropical depression. so with only just over 24 hours to run, it (hope) may not be as bad as was expected earlier?
It is fairly cloudy and a small shower has just passed by about a mile out to sea. 

I also see that many boats have come into the 'hurricane shelters'.

Have a great day. I will report again later today.

Hogan
- Here we go again..
  • By Sally Stalker <stalker at spiceisle.com>
  • Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2016 23:49:47 -0400
Grenada is going to get a blast from soon to be named Matthew.  We are a bit edgy and someone who shall be nameless is actually quite dithery!  That someone has to pull herself together for the morning to organise the installation of storm shutters..  I'm on the top of a hill facing up the Grenadines so rather exposed. Tropical storms can do a lot of damage but not everyone believes me.
Sadly a little bird has just hatched her chicks in an ornamental palm on my veranda..I am desperate to save the nest but don't know how.  I think the little bird will abandon the nest if I touch it.  Anyone got an idea?
There is an incredible stillness and there have been some stunning sunsets. My garden looks lovely or perhaps I am seeing it so as I know in a few days it will be a horrible mess. Well it could be worse!
Would you kind folk through the islands keep an eye out for two young men who are kayaking from Grenada to Miami.  They are recently ex Durham University in U.K. and are a sponsored expedition raising money for a trust to help young people get exploring.  Their website is WWW. getexploringtrust.com .  They are heading up to Carriacou Tuesday morning where they will weather the storm.  They are well organised and equipped and competent sailors.  I know they would love a little TLC on the way!
In the meantime I hope we all remain safe with minimal damage! Good luck!


Sent from my iPad
- 97L update.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2016 15:47:41 -0400
Hi,
Well the showers I mentioned this morning mostly fizzled out before landfall.
As for 97L the central pressure has dropped from 1010mb to 1008mb. The satellite images are now showing a definite swirl. It does look to be a matter of time before it becomes a Tropical Depression. And soon after become a named storm, this one will become Matthew. But I am hoping it's official naming ceremony will be after it has passed through the island chain. But most of the intensity forecasts have it as a Tropical Storm by this time tomorrow and possibly reaching a Cat 1 by Wednesday. The models are still spread between Grenada and ST Lucia with a couple oddball ones further adrift. It does seem that the centre of the storm will pass between Grenada and St Vincent. This will probably generate stronger winds and more rain to the north of the centre? I see other reporters in the islands are all wishing it to pass further North or South of their position. For us, the further North the better, but at the same time do not wish it on our friends. 

I will do an update later today or in the morning.

Hogan
- The tropical wave moves nearer.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2016 07:25:42 -0400
Hi all,
This morning brings the 97L tropical wave nearer. The latest predictions are for the centre of, what will be a Tropical storm or low cat hurricane, to pass between Grenada and St Vincent just before midnight local time on Wednesday. It's current position is just a little further south than where Emily started as a Tropical Depression. Keep watching these blogs.
Closer to home, there are some showers visible just off to our east and the radar shows them heading in our direction. So we may get some rain in the next couple of hours, if we are lucky. 

So now to start checking to see if we are prepared for strong winds.

Hogan
- Weather system progress, morning update.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2016 06:58:43 -0400
Hi all,
I have woke up to another lovely day in paradise, but that all looks like changing in the next 3 days! 97L is making fast progress across the Atlantic. It is now approaching 40degs West and only about 8degs North of the equator, this is further South than anything I have seen before. The few models show it continuing on a westward path, with a slight move north, then west again. Sorry to say Grenada is in this path. The question is what will it bring? The only thing slowing down it's spin up is is proximity to the equator. North of the equator low pressure system spin anti-clockwise, South they spin clockwise. So it (97L) is a bit confused. But the satellite images are showing it is getting it's act together. Let us hope that it's low latitude slows down it's development. NHC say that it's westward speed has reduced to between 15 and 20mph, it that remains the case then we can expect the visitor to arrive in our area Wed/Thursday.
I will update tomorrow morning. But time to start looking around the garden for things that could fly around in high winds. But not before our monthly beach picnic with friends! 

All the best

Hogan
- Something South of Capo Verdes
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2016 17:42:49 -0400
Hi all,
I have just noticed on the NHC website that there is a system a few hundred miles South of the Capo Verdes. The only predicted path I can find at the moment shows it coming straight across the Atlantic and moving fast, it not swinging north as they usually do. It shows a 50% chance of developing in the next 5 days. I will keep an eye on this and see what the models say about it tomorrow. 

Hogan
- Karl (TD12)
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2016 07:40:22 -0400
Good morning
Karl is the next storm to come across the Atlantic. Although it is reasonably far north 18.2 degs north, it is predicted to move further south before turning north again, just in time to miss the Lesser Antilles. Let us hope they are correct! I will monitor it over the next few days.
Nearer to home, there are no showers showing, on the radar, between us and Barbados (at the moment), although I think a small shower may have just gone through Carriacou. There is a larger area of rain up near Martinique, which does seem to be moving slowly south.
There is another weather system just leaving the West coast of Africa which NHC give a 20%/50% chance of developing over the next 2/5 days. The models show this will travel NW towards the Capo Verdes.
Not mentioned is a weak tropical wave 600 mile east of Barbados. Just visible as a swirl on satellite images.
Looking out, it is a bit cloudy, especially over the mountains. Only a slight breeze from the East. 

Looks like another fine day in paradise?

Hogan
- The next weather system is 94L - mid Atlantic
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2016 08:11:51 -0400
The next system is 94L it has a high probability of developing into a storm. The images show a large swirl. The good news (at the moment) is that it is predicted to turn North and go up through the Atlantic. It is still worth watching though.
My wife has decided to paint something outside So, despite there being hardly any showers on the radar, it is bound to rain! 

Hogan
- New system coming off the West African coast
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2016 09:48:18 -0400
This new system's early predicted path is West for a while, then a slight turn to the North-West. 60% chance of developing in the next 5 days.
Nearer here, there is a band of showers moving towards us. Maybe some rain in the next couple of hours? 

Hogan.
- Ahhhhg where is the breeze?
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2016 18:48:22 -0400
Looks like a sticky night, but hopefully the promised breeze will be here by the morning.
92L is just east of Martinique, with what looks like plenty of rain to the north of it. Guadalupe and Dominica look as if they could get some of the rain, maybe Antigua. 

So now we wait for the breeze. Have a good night.
Can I wish the Italian friends, we met, a good flight back to Italy. Nice meeting you all! 

Hogan
- 92L - latest - plus
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2016 08:43:08 -0400
Hi all, Absolutely no breeze at all, even up here on the ridge. The sea is calm. Have had a shower or two, but at the moment the sky is mostly blue. 92L is about about 100 miles to the NE of Barbados, but the showeractivity seems to have reduced. Currently there are very few showers south of a line from St Vincent through Barbados and beyond. It's predicted path, what there is of it, is through the islands near Martinique/Dominica. As the day goes on I expect a slight breeze to pick up from the South (as 92L passes North of us), and then over night, increasing a bit (back to normal) as it comes from a more South-easterly, then later Easterly direction.
I would like to add and this is just a guess on my part, that with such a slight breeze, there could be large clouds build up over the island as the day warms up, these could lead to heavy showers. I have just looked out and there is a very slight breeze from the SW and there are some nice clouds building up over the mountains.
The next tropical wave is just west of the Capo Verdes. It looks weak and is not being mentioned by the NHC, yet. Have a nice day. 

Hogan
- 92L - latest
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2016 08:30:55 -0400
Hi all,
Absolutely no breeze at all, even up here on the ridge. The sea is calm. Have had a shower or two, but at the moment the sky is mostly blue.
92L is about about 100 miles to the NE of Barbados, but the shower activity seems to have reduced. Currently there are very few showers south of a line from St Vincent through Barbados and beyond. It's predicted path, what there is of it, is through the islands near Martinique/Dominica.
As the day goes on I expect a slight breeze to pick up from the South (as 92L passes North of us), and then over night, increasing a bit (back to normal) as it comes from a more South-easterly, then later Easterly direction.
The next tropical wave is just west of the Capo Verdes. It looks weak and is not being mentioned by the NHC, yet. 

Have a nice day.
- 92L still about 500 miles out in Atlantic
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2016 19:09:51 -0400
Hi all,
Despite the centre of 92L being almost 500 miles away, the Lesser Antilles are still receiving weather from it. Well that is what appears to me. Looking at the satellite images, 92L is an elongated weather system, with clouds and showers stretching from The the Lesser Antilles for well over 600 miles into the Atlantic. Most of the thicker clouds and showers seem to be further north than Grenada, but we do seem to be getting some of the rain. We have had a fairly heavy shower in the last hour. Still it has brought the tree frogs out, hopefully eating all those horrible mosquitoes.
If 92L continues on it's present path, then the islands further up the chain will get most of the weather. Most of the predictions are for it to pass through about St Lucia, Martinique. Probably not as a real Tropical Storm, but maybe with some longer showers. Down in our neck of the woods it is difficult to predict how much it will affect us. Tomorrow morning will give us more of a clue. Most models have it (92L) passing through about Sunday afternoon.
AT the moment there is hardly any breeze. Apart from when showers are nearby, my guess is we won't pick up any real breeze until after 92L has passed to our north.
It has just started raining again. The radar shows the showers coming from an almost Northerly direction. 

Let see what tomorrow morning brings.

Hogan
- 92L on our doorstep
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2016 07:06:22 -0400
Good morning Grenada.
92L is a disturbance which has spun up from the tropical wave that has struggled across the Atlantic for about a week now. It has been held back by sahara dust. It is still struggling to develop. The satellite images and weather radar show some leading showers approaching Barbados. The predicted tracks of this disturbance are due west, which takes it through the middle of the island chain. My guess is we could get some showers, possibly heavy with thunder over the weekend. It does not look as if we will get strong winds, except where associated with showers.
The next tropical wave in the Atlantic is just leaving the Capo Verde islands but is on a more northerly course and has started further north than 92L, so hopefully it will not cause us any problem (hope). 

Have a nice day.

Hogan
- All looks OK for the near future
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2016 09:54:31 +0100
Hi,
With Gaston going north in the mid Atlantic, we don't appear to have anything heading our way in the near future. There is a tropical wave just SE of the Verdes. 

Starting our journey to Grenada later today. Back with you all tomorrow.

Hogan
- Gaston's progress
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2016 08:32:03 +0100
Just a brief update to say Gaston is moving safely north through the central Atlantic.
We have to look all the way back to the West African coast to see more tropical waves. 

Hogan
- Gaston and 99L
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2016 08:31:29 +0100
The centre of the 99L disturbance is over the top of Guadalupe as I write this. Gaston continues on it's course WNW. Hopefully it will continue following the predictions. 

Here in the UK we hit 31C similar to Grenada temps. Another hot day today.

Looking forward to getting back to Grenada later this week.

Hogan
- 90L now Gaston
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2016 14:59:31 +0100
Predictions for Gaston are for it to pass safely north of the Lesser Antilles (at the moment), well out in the Atlantic. 99L is still close to the northern islands just East of Antigua. It did a little turn to the west for a while. Predictions are for it to pass just north of Antigua. Looks like they could get a bit of weather, but hope not much. 

Hogan
- 90L and now 99L
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2016 17:44:27 +0100
With 90L looking a bit weak and with it's predicted path moving a bit further north. We now have 90L which has just come off of Africa. Although it looks as if it could develop quite soon, it is predicted to move north earlier. 

Watch this space.

Hogan
- 99L progress.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2016 11:38:37 +0100
Good morning Grenada.
The latest I can find regarding 99L is it is approximately 11N and 35W. Still not very organised. But having looked at some of the websites the current predictions are for it to possibly develop by Tuesday/Wednesday in the coming week. By this time it will be approaching the Lesser Antilles. The majority of the predictions currently seem to have it passing somewhere between St Lucia and Antigua, about next Thursday-Friday. But really it is much too early to say. Remember hurricanes seem to have a mind of their own.
Just in case 99L decides to take a more southerly course it is a good time to start looking around the gardens for anything that could be picked up by strong winds. Also time to ensure you have your hurricane supplies stocked up. 

I will try to update you tomorrow.

Hogan
- Watching 99L closely
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 10:47:31 +0100
Hi all,
Having watched Fiona move up safely (for us) towards the North. My eyes are now firmly fixed on a tropical wave (99L) 350 miles SW of the Cape Verdes. Currently at 10.7N 28.4W. The predictions for this one are not looking too good, with a westerly motion predicted. There is a 50% chance of it developing into a cyclone in the next 5 days. 

Having been quiet for some time, things are spinning up.

Hogan
- Hotting up
  • By Sally Stalker <stalkergrenada at googlemail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2016 19:52:39 -0400
We have had three almost clear carefree months and now we are going into our 
most dangerous time!
Here in Grenada we have had the expected hot weather with intermittent heavy 
rain showers which cooled things down and saved the gardens.  
Carnival was a huge and happy success and top that with our tiny island gaining 
silver in the Olympics and fielding great athletes.  I believe we may have 
become a teensy bit complacent!  You think?
Time to come out of our euphoria and prepare ourselves.  Fiona is a wake up 
call, we need to look around our homes and assess our preparedness!
I am totally unprepared!  No candles, no tinned stuff except cat food, no 
batteries.  So practice what you preach ...once a teacher always a teacher, 
what a cliche!
Well as they say in fencing circles..en gard!

Sent from my iPad
- Oh what a night..
  • By Sally Stalker <stalker at spiceisle.com>
  • Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2016 19:15:53 -0400
What a beautiful Caribbean night!  Soft breezes , a clear sky with an almost 
full moon way up and surrounded by stars.   Pity there's a smell of decaying  
rat wafting through the house.  Yes, the poor young rat who didn't know better 
than to eat the blue corn is decomposing somewhere below stairs.  It affects me 
twofold.  I hate killing anything and the smell is more than unpleasant. Oh and 
I haven't the nerve to go looking for it!  
We are getting lovely showers in the early morning and the whole of my area is 
looking a beautiful shade of green...I know we are getting showers early in the 
morning because some of them are in the bucket downstairs!   I have dug up 
tiles to no avail so now have reluctantly called in the big guns.   If we get 
more tropical waves I will be awash!
I am enjoying peace and keeping my fingers crossed.
I am sure it is a lovely night for you all!

Sent from my iPad
- The sun is shining....sort of.
  • By Sally Stalker <stalker at spiceisle.com>
  • Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2016 10:41:00 -0400
Left home at 6.30 am to get to the bank before the rest of the population.  Our 
branch in Grenville has been closed down and we lost not only the facility but 
our lovely, lovely bank manager.  She always greeted you with an open door and 
a beaming smile!  Sigh!
It was gloomy and grey but the rain had moved on leaving me with a bucket of 
rainwater..in the living room downstairs.  I suppose I could wash my hair with 
it...
I was third in line at the bank...yay!  And guess what, the sun was beaming and 
the sea is looking blue again.  
Rang home to ask if our sun had come out also and it has.  How easy it is to be 
cheerful when the sun shines....
Hopefully we will have a few rain free days so Kendrick can tear up the tiles 
on the veranda and stop that leak...I'll be watching Chris' forecasts and 
anyone else' for that matter!  Fingers crossed.

Sent from my iPad
- Much better today.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2016 08:06:54 -0400
There is some high cloud, but still the Sun is trying to shine. Much brighter than yesterday. Most of the rain appears to have gone up near Antigua. The are a few showers SW of Barbados, but they seem to be fizzling out.
"Colin" is scraping up the East Coast of the USA as a tropical storm, It is expected to move out into the Atlantic, on a NE course,after scraping the extreme SE of Virginia. 

Hope you are drying out Sally!

Hogan
- Really heavy rain falling now!
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2016 11:14:44 -0400
I said I thought there was more rain on the way, but for a while I thought I would be proved wrong (who said 'again'?). For once I have been proved correct, we did have a break from the rain(it even brightened up for a while) then more rain. Sorry Sally, but I think there is more to come, get the buckets out! 

The next para can be ignored as it is just me rambling.
I have looked at Jeff Masters Blog where he says Colin is the earliest third named storm on record. If he reads this, please compare Apples with Apples. Alex, this year's first named storm was an anomaly and should not be included (in my opinion, for what it is worth), but there again I am one of those dinosaurs who thinks Pluto should still be a planet, even more so since we have seen it close up. As for Alex, I feel storms out of hurricane season, especially that far out should have another naming sequence, maybe animals, so in my book Alex becomes Aardvark, leaving Bill to be Alex, Colin to be Bill, etc. Or Alex should have been Larry as it was nearer to the end of the 2015 season than the beginning of the 2016 season. Whatever, Jeff, I know it is not your decision, but please take one off the counter for the rest of this year. Colin should be the 2nd named storm of the hurricane season.
Whatever, even if "Colin" should be "Bill" , it is early. Also Alex and Bonnie were the two first named storms of 2004, and we all know the "I" who came later! 2010 which also had Alex & Bonnie had Igor (which replaced he whose name must not be mentioned) wandered around the Atlantic for two weeks, starting in the Cape Verdes area and ending up near Greenland. 

For more useless facts - watch this space.
And still the rain falls. AND I JUST HEARD THUNDER! I think from just off St George. 

Hogan
- Very wet, inside and out!
  • By Sally Stalker <stalker at spiceisle.com>
  • Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2016 08:14:05 -0400
A very heavy rainstorm passed across the north of Grenada and from what Hogan 
says across the south as well.....our planets meet at last!   It was the 
heaviest rain this year, washing down the house thoroughly and doing its best 
to wash out the inside as well.  I think the tiles on the veranda above have 
given up the ghost at last after years of abuse.  A tricky one this as there is 
now no telling when repairs could be carried out.  
The garden looks terrible,  like an old man needing a shave and hair cut....but 
it is lovely and cool!   Look for the silver lining !
It is now drizzling away and the world is very white and grey.
- Extremely wet this morning the inlets are brown.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2016 06:53:22 -0400
The tropical wave is passing through. The radar shows plenty more wet and cloudy weather still to come. If there is any hope for improvement it will come from the South as the tropical wave breaks free and moves further towards the NW. Currently we are getting that higher cloud heavy drizzle which seems to often follow the heavier rain. Completely overcast but slightly brighter to the South.
"Colin" has developed in the Gulf of Mexico and is heading for Northern Florida landfall this afternoon as a Tropical storm, then scraping the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas. This has developed 10 days before "Bill" last year. I will continue to compare with the preceding letter as "Alex" was a January Storm and I don't feel should be included for this storm year 

Hogan.
- Plenty of showers this morning.
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2016 08:03:00 -0400
Hi all,
Sorry if I have been quiet recently. Most of the time I have had mixed feelings about the weather. I have enjoyed the overcast sent up from Venezuela, giving us cooler working conditions in the garden, but the same conditions have caused a big drop in my solar(PV) production, not to mention cooler showers.
All I can say about the rain today is it is coming from the East (where it should come from), but cannot find any real reason for it (there isn't a tropical wave marked on the charts), I will leave that to the experts to explain. But there is a tropical wave out in the Atlantic, about 700 miles away, causing a distinct northerly bulge in the ITCZ. This is clearly seen on satellite imagery. The bulge is showing heavy convection upto about our latitude and it is moving westward (towards us). So i will keep an eye on this and see where it is tomorrow.
I see that TS Bonnie briefly hit the Carolinas, then bounced back into the Atlantic. Despite being a B, it really should have been the first named storm of the year, but for Alex who popped up unexpectedly in January, near the Azores, reached Hurricane force 1, then fizzled out.
Last year Ana was earlier in May, so in my book earlier than what I feel is the first of 2016. The second one (Bill) in 2015 was 16th-20th June, but NHC is looking to the Western Caribbean where the next one is looking like developing over the next couple of days.
All the best to everyone, if you haven't done so already, get those supplies in, just in case. 

Hogan
- Day one of official opening of hurricane season..
  • By Sally Stalker <stalker at spiceisle.com>
  • Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2016 19:08:31 -0400
And what a day we have had here in Grenada.  Leaving a rather overcast north of 
the island I drove into what foreigners might call "a cloudburst" over St 
George's.   It made driving even more hazardous.  Our kamikaze drivers saw it 
as a challenge, intimidating the meek among us.....one of which I was soon 
identified!  That sentence doesn't seem right, but it sounds good.  Nose close 
to the windscreen, clutching the wheel with white knuckled hands and screaming 
invective at all and sundry....and that was  just me!
I rang home, "any rain up there?" None.   Chris will no doubt tell us where the 
rain came from and where it was going.  I know where it was going...up north.  
By the time I reached home in the late afternoon it was bucketing down, 
straight through the veranda tiles and into the room below!   Major problem 
here!
So tonight it is bordering on stormy, very wet and remarkably cool.  After 
weeks of enervating heat and humidity it is a blessed relief and there's a 
bucket under the leak. Easy solution!

Sent from my iPad
- Rain over next 24 hours - maybe!
  • By Christopher Bolt <gommier at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 4 May 2016 07:35:20 -0400
Hi, below is a snippet from the NHC. The high overcast cloud we have had for the last few days is still with us, and is the source of the heavy rain we have just had. Still coming from the SW (Not the East as normal). 

NHC:

BROKEN TO OVERCAST HIGH CLOUDS ARE OVER THE WINDWARD
ISLANDS. EXPECT OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS TO
BE OVER THE E CARIBBEAN E OF 70W.

Hogan

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