Central Florida Thread {West and East Coast}

[tronbunny]

Check out the Graphical hazards for E Cfl from NWS Melbourne:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/ghls/hls_main.html

Great Inland Hurricane Watch Statement:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
539 PM EDT SAT OCT 22 2005

...DAMAGING WINDS FROM HURRICANE WILMA EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA ON MONDAY...

THE CENTER OF HURRICANE WILMA IS EMERGING NORTHWARD OFF THE
YUCATAN PENINSULA EARLY THIS EVENING. THE HURRICANE IS FORECAST
TO TURN NORTHEAST AND HEAD TOWARD FLORIDA ON SUNDAY...AND THEN
ACCELERATE WHILE MOVING ACROSS THE PENINSULA MONDAY.

FLZ045-053-058-231000-
/X.NEW.KMLB.HI.A.0001.051022T2139Z-051025T0000Z/
ORANGE-OSCEOLA-OKEECHOBEE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ORLANDO...KISSIMMEE...ST CLOUD...
OKEECHOBEE
539 PM EDT SAT OCT 22 2005

...INLAND HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MELBOURNE HAS ISSUED AN INLAND
HURRICANE WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

BASED UPON THE CURRENT OFFICIAL FORECAST FROM THE NATIONAL
HURRICANE CENTER...STRONG WINDS FROM WILMA WILL BEGIN ARRIVING
INTO EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA EARLY MONDAY MORNING...PERHAPS AS EARLY
AS PRIOR TO SUNRISE. WINDS WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY AS THE
SYSTEM ACCELERATES ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PENINSULA MONDAY MORNING...
AT A FORWARD SPEED OF 20 TO 30 MPH.

ALTHOUGH THE GREATEST THREAT FOR THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE NEAR
LAKE OKEECHOBEE...THE THREAT FOR HURRICANE FORCE WINDS OR GUSTS
WILL EXIST AS FAR NORTH AS ORLANDO AND THE KISSIMMEE SAINT CLOUD
AREAS.

AN INLAND HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN A LANDFALLING HURRICANE
IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD HURRICANE FORCE WINDS...74 MPH OR GREATER...
WELL INLAND DURING THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. IF YOU LIVE IN A
MOBILE HOME...BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SECURE BUILDING. HAVE
CLOTHES...IMPORTANT PAPERS...MEDICINES AND SMALL VALUABLES
GATHERED AND READY TO GO ON SHORT NOTICE.

School still hasn't officially posted closing, but Duh! Read the above statement.
I'm sure that there's no school....
The Inland Hurricane watch goes up into Orange County, too.

I'm not considering boarding up, at this time...
Gonna hafta see more northward track evidence.
(I'll decide by noon tomorrow.. only takes about 1.5-2hrs now.)

[Josephine96]

I didn't read that part about "Hurricane Force Winds or Gusts could be expected in Orlando and Kissimmee/St Cloud areas" sounds like it's gonna be windy.

I'm almost assured they'd cancel school too. and possibly disboard the Lynx bus fleet for Monday. If there's no Lynx bus Monday.. then I will probably have to end my perfect attendance at Wal Mart and call in sick because there's no way in h-e double L that I'd ride a bike or even walk 2 1/2 miles to work in possible hurricane force winds. {assuming the store is even open}

[tronbunny]

Ouch, John...
Stinks that Wilma could do that to your perfect record.

I have an assistant that lives way out on the west side of Orlando, and our office is near Universal...
I may just close the office, too.
I hate to cut into her pay

I guess if local officials want to impose some sort of a travel ban, then I'm off the hook.

[tronbunny]

Oh and as for whether we'll be going thru a hurricane "officially"...

We are located just under 100 miles from Lake Okeechobee...
according to the latest couple of NHC tracks, if Wilma's hurricane windfield radius is 85 miles, we'll be "officially" in a hurricane...
Hence the inland hurrricane watch...

So, yes, we could have #4, "officially", here in Kissimmee in 2 seasons.
(I think Erin in '95 was an official hurricane, here too)
<edited for braindeadedness due to lack of food >

[CharleySurvivor]

tronbunny, why don't you show good business ethic and pay for her day off, il you close. It's not her fault if the office is closed.

You would be surprised at how many businesses paid employees for Friday when Charley came ashore.

[FlaNativeMom]

Hello central Fla. Have been monitoring the forums for 24 hrs straight now. My husband and daughter think I've lost it. But I'm absolutely fascinated watching this storm develop. Feel like I’ve learned SO much!

That being said, easily outweighing the fascination is the concern for everyone in Mexico being subjected to that torturous beating by Wilma. I couldn't sleep last night knowing what was happening there.

Now that Wilma seems to have decided to start moving along, I'm beginning to grow more concerned for our part of the state. Needless to say, NO ONE in Fla needs the trauma after the past year! Since I mostly lurk & learn, and am basically a quiet observer, it's been interesting watching emotions rise to the surface more each hour as everyone watches and waits...and waits...and waits...

Frankly I'm feeling a little frustrated myself. With the NHC maintaining their focus on the Naples area, I'm wondering if the general population in our neck of the woods is taking the possible threat to our area - regardless of whether Wilma shifts north or not - seriously enough. And lately, many attempts to discuss this or ask questions seem to really irritate some people in other parts of the state.

I’m not trying to hype things up, but after last year, well, let’s just say I don’t want this thing sneaking up on me and my family. Anyway, just wanted to say hello and thanks for the cfl thread.

One last thing: Have heard varying theories on whether the cold front will increase our threat of tornadic activity. I know the real pivotal factor with this storm, and the most difficult for the experts to pin down, has been timing. Any thoughts / info? And if so, when should we expect that to start factoring in – Sunday or Monday? Thanks again for everyone’s input.

Chelle in Lakeland

[tronbunny]

tronbunny, why don't you show good business ethic and pay for her day off, il you close. It's not her fault if the office is closed.

You would be surprised at how many businesses paid employees for Friday when Charley came ashore.

I don't have control of her pay.. I'm a tiny 1.5 person branch office of a corporation (only 10 other employees) based in Burbank, CA.
The VP, in Burbank decides that. (my assistant only works about 20hrs per week, and has only been with me since mid-May.)
She's part time hourly...
Disney did not pay any of their hourly people for missed work days last year.

I got paid last year through it all... but I'm salary and regularly work 50+ hrs per week.

[tronbunny]

Hi Chelle!
Welcome to the discussion...

Here's your local NWS statement for Inland Tropical Storm Watch:

Inland Tropical Storm Watch

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
750 PM EDT SAT OCT 22 2005

...DAMAGING WINDS FROM HURRICANE WILMA IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO WEST
CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY...

HURRICANE WILMA IS MOVING OFF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA THIS EVENING.
BASED ON THE LATEST TRACK FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER WILMA
IS EXPECTED TO TURN AND ACCELERATE NORTHEAST TOWARD SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA LATER TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...MOVING ACROSS THE PENINSULA
DURING MONDAY MORNING.

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055-231000-
/X.NEW.KTBW.TI.A.0002.051024T0000Z-051025T0000Z/
LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-
MANATEE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CEDAR KEY...CHIEFLAND...CRYSTAL RIVER...
INVERNESS...BUSHNELL...THE VILLAGES...BROOKSVILLE...SPRING HILL...
NEW PORT RICHEY...ZEPHYRHILLS...CLEARWATER...ST. PETERSBURG...
BRANDON...TAMPA...LAKELAND...WINTER HAVEN...BRADENTON
750 PM EDT SAT OCT 22 2005

...INLAND TROPICAL STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL HAS
ISSUED AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

AS HURRICANE WILMA APPROACHES THE PENINSULA SUNDAY NIGHT WINDS
WILL BE ON THE INCREASE...AND STRONG WINDS TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE
WILL BEGIN TO IMPACT INLAND SECTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA BY
MIDNIGHT AROUND THE TAMPA BAY AREA. THESE WINDS WILL THEN OVERSPREAD
THE NATURE COAST TOWARDS SUNRISE ON MONDAY MORNING AS WILMA MOVES
ACROSS THE PENINSULA.

AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS
NEAR TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE
TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH...ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN 24 TO 36 HOURS.

MOVE LIGHT AND MODERATE WEIGHT ITEMS INDOORS BEFORE THE WINDS
INCREASE. HIGH PROFILE OR LIGHT WEIGHT VEHICLES WILL BECOME VERY
DIFFICULT...IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE...TO DRIVE WHEN THE WINDS INCREASE.

$$


MCMICHAEL

If you want to be better informed about the storm's possible effects... great for you! Your neighbors have access to NWS news, too. Don't let the information you may find just on the discussion boards either alarm, or calm you too much.
But I bet you could put all the pieces of the data puzzle together to make a sound decision for yourself.

Currently, it is just my opinion, you should be concerned about some risk of tornadoes and some minor flood potential.
Possible minor wind damages and short power outages.

Just monitor the NWS, and keep your eyes open. We'll know even more, I hope, by noon tomorrow.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tbw/html/tbw/

[FlaNativeMom]

Thank you for that, Tronbunny. Sounds like good advice. I can see how newbies like me could easily get sucked into a false train of thought - one way or the other - if you take everything posted in the forums to heart.

Think I'll stay my present course; i.e. continue to monitor the official experts, weigh everything gathered from enthusiastic posters with good ole' fashioned common sense, and check in with my new CFL friends as needed for support. Thanks again for the advice, and best of luck to everyone.

[Josephine96]

Sounds like this could then become my 5th hurricane btw.. the name in 95 was Erin not Emily and yes she was a minimal hurricane when passing over..

I remember because me {12 yrs old} and my then 10 yr old sister were watching then Ch. 6 met Pamela Brady discussing the eyewall going over Kissimmee, at 3 in the morning lol and she {my sis} asked me what an eyewall was..

[cjrciadt]

Sounds like this could then become my 5th hurricane btw.. the name in 95 was Erin not Emily and yes she was a minimal hurricane when passing over..

I remember because me {12 yrs old} and my then 10 yr old sister were watching then Ch. 6 met Pamela Brady discussing the eyewall going over Kissimmee, at 3 in the morning lol and she {my sis} asked me what an eyewall was..

Erin too was my first cane experience as well. Cat1 winds in Osceola seem very possible now. We lost our entire roof here in the Reef Club from than an hour of Cat1 winds last year.

[Josephine96]

CJ- with you living probably within a stones' throw from me.. I have to ask you this..

I know it's completely off topic but..

Have you had a chance to go by what used to be the 99 cent store on Vine and Dyer today.. I just got back from there. I went and peeked at it. The place was completely destroyed by a fire last night.

If curiosity interests you.. It's the former Kash and Karry store if you're clueless to what I'm talking about

lol ok.. end off topic speech now..

[cjrciadt]

CJ- with you living probably within a stones' throw from me.. I have to ask you this..

I know it's completely off topic but..

Have you had a chance to go by what used to be the 99 cent store on Vine and Dyer today.. I just got back from there. I went and peeked at it. The place was completely destroyed by a fire last night.

If curiosity interests you.. It's the former Kash and Karry store if you're clueless to what I'm talking about

lol ok.. end off topic speech now..

Yesterday it was there today, gone. Went to wedding at the Wedding Chapel yesterday and it was there. Anyway went to Publix at 8pm very busy now.

[UCFGoldenKnight]

I haven't seen any sort of frenzied pre-Hurricane activity here in North Orange Co./Seminole Co. I was at Publix tonight and they still have plenty of water and there's no run on non-perishable items either.

It remains to be seen how bad it's going to be here, but the local news have definitely downplayed the storm as not being a big deal for us, aside from getting rain on Monday.

[Josephine96]

I heard about it on Wesh news at 6.. so I decided to go peek at it..

If you look outside your house.. you may see it still smoldering in the distance..

The place looks like someone dropped a bomb on it..

[Josephine96]

My Wal Mart was probably borderline chaotic today. Lots of shoppers, Water and canned goods were flying off the shelves at times. Even my produce area seemed busier than normal..

[SeaBrz_FL]

Conditions in Cape Canaveral: I knew earlier today that it was now or forget-it if we wanted to go to the annual Our Saviours Annual Fall Carnival, so we went around 3pm for a couple hours and just after we left the "bottom fell out". Clouds had been building the whole time we were there, but we had timed it right. We made it home and then went through an hour long torrential downpour with a little lightening, but all is quiet now -- very quiet.

I shopped at my local Cape Canaveral Publix around 3 pm and it was a normal Saturday as far as crowds. There were loads of water, batteries, bread, and milk on the shelves, although the beer and wine aisles were a little sparse. At the checkout lines, everyone was talking about Wilma. After Frances and Jeanne, most locals understand the potential for problems even if a storm "eye" is a 100+ miles away.

What is wierd over here, as far as traffic, is I expected a lot of tags from south and southwest counties, but even though the roads are busier, there were many, many tags from out-of-staters, kind of like winter. I even saw a car with an Alaska tag! Lots of cars from North Carolina, New York, and Georgia in the area.

Count on me being here, and posting with anxiety, until Wilma clears the east coast.

Thanks, John, for starting the thread

[Josephine96]

Your welcome.. After further review.. it looks like a Central Fla thread was a good idea.. Especially if people like myself see hurricane force winds on Monday..

[SeaBrz_FL]

Thirteen shelters opening tomorrow morning in Brevard County in case anyone is looking.

Including these:

Bayside High School, 1901 DeGroodt, Palm Bay
Eau Gallie High School, 1400 Commodore Blvd, Melbourne
Manatee Elementary School, 3425 Solerno Blvd, Viera
Imperial Estates Elementary School, 5525 Kathy Drive, Titusville
South Mainland Community Center, 3700 Allen Avenue, Micco

[Ixolib]

tronbunny, why don't you show good business ethic and pay for her day off, il you close. It's not her fault if the office is closed.

You would be surprised at how many businesses paid employees for Friday when Charley came ashore.

Thankfully, my company is STILL paying me full salary and benefits here, and my last day of work was Friday, August 26. Unfortunately, that will come to a screeching halt at the 90-day point, post-Katrina. Then, I guess, it's back to beenie-weenies and spam (we've collected quite a lot of both in the last 7 weeks from the Salvation Army and Red Cross!!)

But, in the meantime, I'm VERY thankful Harrah's Entertainment had the foresight to purchase "closure insurance" for payroll - although I doubt any of the corporate folks had any idea what "closure" would really mean in the aftermath of Katrina...