Hurricane Ernesto expected to hit Florida (Now it's a hurricane!)

[krispos42]

(CNN) -- Ernesto grew into a hurricane Sunday morning as forecasters predicted it would hit central or northern Florida by Thursday morning.

Hurricane Ernesto's top winds were measured at 75 mph at 5 a.m. ET, according to Lt. Jennifer Pralgo, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center.

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Earlier fears that Ernesto might barrel toward New Orleans, near the anniversary of Katrina's landfall, were eased with the latest advisory, but it was bad news for residents of central and northern Florida.

Ernesto is now forecast to make landfall as a major category 3 storm on the coast of Florida, move northeastward and still be a category 1 storm well inland.

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http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/08/27/ernesto/index.html

Well, I guess better Florida than NOLA, but it still sucks

[ixion]

1. here's tracking map from weather underground

They're calling it a CAT 1 when it's in the gulf.

http://www.weatherunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200605.html

[teach1st]

2. Another Map

The roofers dumped tons of roofing material on top of my house on Friday. Now Ernesto is aiming for it.

[Lochloosa]

5. 2 AM Friday....that's my house

And I'm "supposed" to leave Friday night for 4 days in the mountains in NC.

[durrrty libby]

8. Let's hope it breaks up after crossing Cuba

It is too early to tell where it will go

The weather guys haven't had anything to scare us with in a long time,

so they love this

[1monster]

10. I'm right there beside you to the south. Let's hope that the magic

that has deflected storms from this area in the past continues on...

[Lorien]

14. I'm to the southwest of you, and still haven't fixed everything from

the three hurricanes that hit my home in 2004. Let's hope this thing weakens.

[geomon666]

3. Time to batten down.

Sigh...Tired of this already.

[Ghost Dog]

4. Yeah, I guessed he'd turn like that.

So, it's going to be mostly Santiago, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Cardenas, Matanzas, again.

Then, La Florida.

ed. ¿Or maybe even further east - Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Ávila?

[robcon]

6. Looks like it'll go right across Cuba

Nasty. Although the winds aren't yet "monster" level.

Will it reinvigorate after going across Cuba?

[Zynx]

7. Probably. They usually survive going across Cuba.

[gorbal]

11. I still can't get over the name

If it hits Miami then we know it is Che.

[Ghost Dog]

9. The Atlantic/Gulf water between Cuba and the Keys is warm,

last chart I saw.

Can someone post that water temp. image, please?

[GOPNotForMe]

12. I am so over hurricanes.

Went through THREE in 2004 (combined power loss time of over 2 weeks). I have plans this weekend for the holiday. HURRICANES ARE RUINING MY LIFE.

[Lorien]

15. You and me both. It was close to three weeks without power for me

still nothing compared to what Katrina survivors suffered, but three in a row was absurd. Charley's eye went right over my home, then we were hit by a spin off tornado. My street and 2-3 on either side of it were far more wreaked than the rest of the city. Sometimes it's not the hurricane itself that clobbers you!

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. Thanks

I happen to live under one of those dots. (actually it's under one of the dashes)

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT05/refresh/AL0506W5_sm2+gif/144732W_sm.gif

[liberal N proud]

27. Our daughter lives under one of the dots

She moved to Florida in January.

[onehandle]

16. This would be less of a concern if we had a better President.

That may sound cold, but it's true.

Americans just don't get how incapable this guy is. Dangers to America are even greater while he sits behind FDR's desk.

A Democratic Congress in the Fall means a safer America.

Especially after investigation and inevitable Impeachment.

[hedgehog]

20. We've had hurricanes for years, disasters recently

It isn't all Bush's fault because people built a lot of homes near the shore during a lull in the hurricane cycle. He does have responsibly for casually gutting and ignoring FEMA. The irony is that his father started building FEMA up (too late) after Hurricane Andrew

[onehandle]

24. That's what I'm talking about.

Hurricanes are going to happen. People will live in danger zones.

This President makes things worse by simply being our President.

He weakens our preparedness and response with his legislation.

Florida and the Gulf regions need to figure this out before they go to the polls.

[truthisfreedom]

28. This would be less of a concern if we HAD a President.

Instead, we have this thing... a sort of growth in the White House that takes all of our hard-earned tax dollars and dumps it into the deep pockets of the military industrial complex and the energy companies.

[RebelOne]

17. I hope it continues going northeast and doesn't take

a turn to the north, which will bring it to Georgia. We have had the remnants of hurricanes in the Atlanta area and they are no fun.

[uppityperson]

18. Interesting comparison with Katrina predictions

They started in different place, different conditions, but still interesting comparison. Predictions are good guesses. Good luck to any within several hundred miles.

Here is Katrina (changes as time goes along and predictions were updated. True track is in black)



Here is Ernesto

[goclark]

19. Thank you for the excellent graphics nt

[hedgehog]

21. This explains why evacuations are last minute affairs.

Last night Ernesto was predicted to hit New Orleans. This morning people who were completely out of the target path are in the bull's eye. Five more days until landfall (maybe), we'll know better the closer it gets.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

22. Yes, very interesting, thanks!

Kind of spooky to watch old Katrina heading into Miami scheduled to go right across the southern tip of the state and instead drop to come over the Keys and sit next to me in my boat all night long. That was a memorable night. I remember getting an email from Merh sending me prayers and good thoughts, and then a few hours later she lost her home as well as her entire town. :cry:

[BadgerKid]

23. Evacuation of Visitors: Monroe Co./Fla. Keys

Hurricane Local Statement
HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
FLZ076-077-078-GMZ031-032-033-052-053-054-072-073-074-075-271830-

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
110 PM EDT SUN AUG 27 2006

...MANDATORY EVACUATION OF ALL VISITORS AND NON-RESIDENTS BEGINNING
100 PM TODAY...
...NO HURRICANE WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT AT THIS TIME...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT IS SPECIFIC TO THE FLORIDA KEYS OF MONROE COUNTY...
INCLUDING THE DRY TORTUGAS.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
THERE ARE NO HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN
EFFECT FOR ANY PORTION OF THE KEYS AT THIS TIME...SINCE TROPICAL
STORM AND HURRICANE WATCHES ARE ISSUED WHEN TROPICAL STORM OR
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN GENERALLY WITHIN 36
HOURS.

[allisonthegreat]

25. bad news for Florida however it could

swing up by us..we will get a lot of rain from it probably...

the hurricane season sucks especially if you live in the southeast.

[Bluzmann57]

26. Well, I hope that all you people in the path of this hurricane

will be safe and sound. Please keep in touch with DU as you have people here who are concerned for your safety. Good luck to you all.

[AnnieBW]

29. West Coast of FLA

The west coast of Florida is predominantly Republican. FEMA will be Johnny-on-the-spot there, just so it will make the Repugs (including Cruella) look good.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

30. yep

the chimp will be down here in a day, hand out a bag of ice and then go back on vacation.

[Ragin_mad]

31. Actually here on the west coast we've got a pretty good evacuation plan

with people that know how to use it.