What's your weather like right now?

[Laura_in_FL]

I never would have thought that after a major hurricane made landfall in Florida that I would be donating to hurricane aid for western NC and TN, but here we are. Nor would have I have ever thought that after a major hurricane the Florida governor would say, "We're good. Let's send some of our rescue teams to North Carolina." But here we are.

My heart breaks for them. Entire towns wiped off the map, people trapped in the mountains with no way out and no way to get supplies except helicopter or pack mule: www.facebook.com/mountainmulepackersranch/ It's really bad in the Big Bend, but honestly folks in parts of the Appalachians have it even worse.

I kinda feel guilty for the beautiful sunny days we've had this week (even though it's kinda hot and humid for early October). But rain returns tomorrow evening though the weekend. Next week hopefully we'll get sun and more seasonable temperatures, with highs in the lower 80s and maybe even a few nights with lows in the low-mid 60s. /fingers crossed

[bestofour]

Laura_in_FL, one of my sisters lives in Asheville but thankfully were in Ireland when this happened. Her son, my nephew, also lives in Asheville, he and his family went to a shelter and somehow made it to his inlaws house in Sylva, NC, where they have a generator. I don't know if either house is still standing because there's no phone as of now. My mother lives in Black Mountain, NC, and food is being helicoptered in because the roads are washed away. I just can't imagine that all of the roads will ever be rebuilt.

[Laura_in_FL]

Wow, prayers for your family, bestofour. They are living through some really tough times.

[brownrexx]

My husband's cousin lives in the Appalachians in VA and although we have not heard from her, her sister posted on FB that she saw a picture of her working in the community center. They must be without power and we saw pictures of the road to the top of the mountain where she lives and it was completely washed away. It's horrible down there.

[Laura_in_FL]

Erm...speaking of hurricanes...

The models are showing that disturbance in the Bay of Campeche/SW Gulf of Mexico developing into a hurricane. Most of the models show landfall somewhere in the vicinity of Tampa on Wednesday. Unfortunately some of the models show it developing into a major hurricane. Most of them show the storm landfalling just north of Tampa Bay. If the storm is as strong as some models predict, and it makes landfall there, that could push an even bigger storm surge into Tampa Bay than the one caused by Hurricane Helene.

And, brownrexx, it's too early to tell yet, but a couple of the models show the storm landfalling well north of Tampa, in the section of coastline just south of you. That would put you on the weak side of the storm, but close enough to get some rough weather. With most of the power-restoration crews already deployed elsewhere, power restoration could be slower than usual. Since you're in a fairly modern house well inland on high ground, your home should be fine. But this would be a good time to be prepared for a long power outage and supply disruptions.

[brownrexx]

Not good news Laura_in_FL, We have gas for the generator and I made a lot of extra ice during Helene to help keep the freezer cold if necessary.

I was at Wal-Mart 2 days ago and it was a madhouse with panic buying. I always have enough food on hand for a couple of weeks and I have a swimming pool full of water for bathing and toilet flushing if necessary so hopefully we will be OK.

I am a little worried about my garden though and I may pull the potted tomatoes into the greenhouse. I guess that the raised bed will have to do the best that it can on its own.

[Laura_in_FL]

Sounds like you are well-prepared, then. I sure hope that this one does not develop into a really nasty storm - wherever it goes.

[pepperhead212]

Tonight is forecast to be the first night in the 40s this fall, after just a little warm today - maybe 75°, 71° avg for this area. A few days ahead are forecast for the 60s, but then it's going back up into the 70s again. And still no rain at all in the 10 day.

[Laura_in_FL]

I am going to feel really guilty on Wednesday when my fellow Floridians to the south are getting slammed by Hurricane Milton:

[mgulfcoastguy]

You already had your turn in the barrel Laura. Last I checked the centerline projection was Tampa Bay through Orlando. The Mouse is really not going to like that.

[brownrexx]

We are about 40 miles east of Ocala and are getting ready for some serious wind and lots of rain. So far today is sunny and 70°

[Laura_in_FL]

Oct 7, 2024 15:33:01 GMT -5 mgulfcoastguy said:

You already had your turn in the barrel Laura. Last I checked the centerline projection was Tampa Bay through Orlando. The Mouse is really not going to like that.

Yeah...one of my sons is in Orlando going to college. Where he is, on the east side of the city, is in the path of the hurricane, but it's ~100 miles inland from the projected landfall point. He's in a brick building and their area didn't flood during the massive rains from Helene, so he should be fine.

I can't help but worry, though.

So I just hope the NHC is right about Hurricane Milton weakening to Cat 3 by landfall for his sake, and everyone else's.

[spike]

Keeping those of you in the path of the hurricane in my prayers. Please stay safe.

[brownrexx]

We are not in an evacuation zone so we have prepared as much as possible and are sitting tight.

Milton has moved a bit to the south so we are expecting heavy rain as well as wind but not as much wind as was previously forecasted before Milton moved south. It is raining pretty heavy right now.

My potted tomatoes were moved inside of the greenhouse 2 days ago where they are dry and happy and looking out the windows at the constant rain.

This is the first time I have used my greenhouse for anything other than storage and I love it.

20241004_182104 by Brownrexx, on Flickr

20240829_165220 by Brownrexx, on Flickr

[september]

brownrexx , I hope your luck holds in escaping the major devastation of the arriving hurricane, I know your tomatoes have to be happy to be in the greenhouse!

[spike]

Sound off peeps!! Let us know you are all safe and sound! In my prayers!

[paulf]

Stay safe Florida. Looks like our place will miss the most of the storm. All this bad weather makes our little dry spell look like a puny excuse to complain. We will be watching for updates.

[Laura_in_FL]

Up here in Pamana City I was even farther away from the storm than brownrexx. It was breezy all day, cloudy in the morning, partly cloudy in the afternoon, and we didn't even get a drop of rain.

My son in Orlando got squirrelly and decided to come home Tuesday night. So he's safe and sound. Since he waited until late (~9pm) to leave and drove into the wee hours of the morning, traffic was light. He had also filled up his car before the panic, so he didn't have to find a gas station open that late that still had gas.

I think his roommates were all staying in Orlando. I don't know if he has talked to them yet to see if their apartment lost power or had any flooding or other problems. Since UCF has cancelled classes for the rest of this week, he's going to wait and go back Sunday night. Hopefully most of the evacuees will have already returned to their homes before then and traffic won't be too bad.

[brownrexx]

Oct 9, 2024 15:46:41 GMT -5 september said:

I know your tomatoes have to be happy to be in the greenhouse!

They are so happy in there that they want to stay inside instead of coming back out! I will just have to watch the temperature to make sure that it does not get too hot inside. I have the doors open today to give them some air. Their soil is saturated.

We came through this major hurricane with no damage to either the house or our trees other than a lot of small branches broken off and littering the yard.

The pool overflowed so we are siphoning some water out now but no damages there either.

Our power flickered on and off a few times last evening and the wind really howled but it never gusted about 35 mph which is a lot better than down in Tampa. We did get 7 inches of rain but in this sandy soil, today there is not even a puddle in my yard.

My raised bed seems to have survived unscathed which really surprised me. I expected to see an empty bed this morning but maybe the greenhouse shielded some of the wind from the garden. I don't know which direction it came from since it was mostly after dark when the wind started.

[brownrexx]

Beautiful sunny weather and 80° without a cloud in the sky HOWEVER most of the gas stations in the entire county are out of gas. There are a few with gas and the lines are blocking main roads. Luckily we filled up before the storm so we don't need gas but fights are actually breaking out at gas stations.

I just received a FedEx package and he said that roads south of us still have trees across them and the Fed Ex plane was unable to land at Tampa because the airport was closed. His truck runs on Diesel which is still available but he said that the gas shortage is everywhere. I guess that the tankers can't get to where they need to go because of all of the blocked roads. It's a mess.

[mgulfcoastguy]

Oct 11, 2024 12:08:53 GMT -5 brownrexx said:

Beautiful sunny weather and 80° without a cloud in the sky HOWEVER most of the gas stations in the entire county are out of gas. There are a few with gas and the lines are blocking main roads. Luckily we filled up before the storm so we don't need gas but fights are actually breaking out at gas stations.

I just received a FedEx package and he said that roads south of us still have trees across them and the Fed Ex plane was unable to land at Tampa because the airport was closed. His truck runs on Diesel which is still available but he said that the gas shortage is everywhere. I guess that the tankers can't get to where they need to go because of all of the blocked roads. It's a mess.

A priority is usually put on importing diesel based on my Katrina experience. Almost all construction machinery used to clear debris and to start on reconstruction, utility work, etc runs on it. Many construction companies have their own storage tanks for diesel and arrange for diesel shipments from out of state before the winds even die down. Got to clear the roads that still have bridges before gasoline can get in.

It might be possible that a government agency allegedly commandeered fuel trucks after Katrina and delivered them straight to people clearing the roads. I wonder what the statute of limitations was?

[Laura_in_FL]

Yes, like mgulfcoastguy said, diesel deliveries are prioritized over gasoline in the days immediately following a storm for many good reasons. In addition to all of the reasons he mentioned, the trucks that deliver relief supplies, as well as the trucks that supply grocery stores, Walmart, and just about every other store all run on diesel.

Knowing from hard experience that getting gas is often a problem after a hurricane, I try to always keep at least a half-tank of gas in the car during hurricane season, and I try to get my boys to do the same. Also like you did, brownrexx, I fill up at the first hint that a storm is coming, and limit driving to necessities until the gas stations are mostly back up and running. It doesn't hurt to keep a couple of filled 5 gallon gas cans around during hurricane season, too. (The idea being that 10 gallons of gas is enough to far drive away from the hard hit area to get to where there are supplies - and more gas - if you need to.)

Having said that, the gas shortages should resolve fairly soon from this point. Probably within a week except in areas that have severe damage. Once the roads are clear and the power is back on, most of the gas stations will be back in business pretty quickly. Florida's state Emergency Management folks are actually pretty good about working with private industry to fix critical supply issues and services (power, water, sewer, gas, cell service, food, medicine, and sanitation) ASAP.

Of course in those areas where the gas stations themselves have taken serious damage, getting gas stations up and running can take weeks or months. But from what I understand that is not the case in your (inland) area.

[brownrexx]

Laura_in_FL, mgulfcoastguy, we were able to fill both of our vehicles yesterday and although the gas stations were still busy yesterday afternoon, the long lines were gone and I believe that the gas shortage is over.

Even when there was no regular gas, diesel was available, but we do not use that.

Before the storm we filled three 5 gallon cans with gas for the generator but did not need it.

[Laura_in_FL]

Glad to hear that your gas shortage is over.

It was sunny and kind of hot today. This late in the fall there probably will be few to no more days that are genuinely hot until next spring. Today's actual high was 86 with a heat index in the mid-90s. Since there was a breeze it was not too bad.

Tomorrow will be cooler, with a high of 81. Wednesday's high is forecast to be only 70, with a low Wednesday night of 46. Thursday morning everyone will be wearing a jacket for the first time! But of course the first cold fronts of fall don't keep the weather cool for long - the daytime highs will be back up to the low 80s and morning lows around 60 again by the weekend.

Have I mentioned how much I love, love, love October and November weather?

[pepperhead212]

Today's high was just 66°, after that 82° yesterday, and forecast for 56-57° the next two days, and maybe down to 42° overnight. We are in a "frost advisory zone", but with the wind, and extremely low humidity lately, this probably won't be our first frost, before it goes back up into the 70s for the weekend. But it's coming sometime in the near future.

[rdback]

Weatherman says it's 28F this morning. Not in any hurry to go down and check on the garden.

[brownrexx]

Oct 14, 2024 15:36:57 GMT -5 Laura_in_FL said:

Have I mentioned how much I love, love, love October and November weather?

I think that I am loving this weather too! It goes down to the 60's at night but up to at least 80° during the day. Long pants in the morning and shorts in the afternoon. I am even opening windows for the first time since we moved here. I really am not missing those PA frost advisory's

[pepperhead212]

3 days in a row here forecast for highs in the 80s - tomorrow a bunch of record highs broken, they are predicting. Lows in the mid 50s, after those below average highs and lows last week. Still, I pulled all the eggplants and okras, as they did not do well in that cold, and weren't recovering well (and I got 5 trash cans for the lawn trash today); tomatoes, OTOH, just can't be stopped, though I did pull a couple of those. I was going to pull all those green tomatoes, to pickle, but these warmer days have triggered more ripening, and more fruiting! Still, however, no sign of rain...

[brownrexx]

I miss those tomatoes from my PA garden BUT I don't miss the frost warnings and the upcoming gray days and cold weather.

[Laura_in_FL]

It's pretty hot for late October - yesterday's high was 89. It's not terribly humid, though, so a lot more tolerable than the midsummer sauna even though the high temperatures are nearly as high. Also the mornings and evenings are comfortable, so that also makes things a lot nicer than midsummer.

But ever since Milton passed we've not had a drop of rain, and there's none in the forecast as far as the eye can see. October is normally a dry month, but this is dryer than usual. Combined with the heat, that means we have to do lots of watering, including hauling many buckets of water to the property to water trees and plants there.