Hurricane Watch is Issued for Ike

AT 4 PM CDT...A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM CAMERONWESTWARD TO PORT MANSFIELD TEXAS. HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLEWITHIN THE WATCH AREA BY FRIDAY. This is all of us along the upper Texas Coast!

I am very uncomfortable with the latest model runs. That combined with the fact that Ike is a very large hurricane. Hurricane force winds now extend outward 90 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward 205 miles.

Latest GFDL run places the landfall very close to us.

As an aside...there are some interesting parallels to Rita. It was a Wed. evening that the GFDL was showing us in the line of fire. Remember how the storm hit far enough to the east that only eastern portions of southeast Texas were slammed hard late Friday/early Saturday?

Unfortunately, looking at the steering pattern, it just doesn't quite look strong enough to come up with that kind of push to the east. I hope I'm wrong. The Hurricane Center has adjusted landfall slightly to the north (just north of Matagorda). Only 25 miles shift eastward (the local NWS states) and this is going to be a worst case impact on the Houston/Galveston area.

Evacuation orders have been issued. Please check http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/ (the Houston National Weather Service) for an updated hurricane local statement. This will have more specific information for your area.

What you should do now...
Finish stocking supplies of non-perishable foods...you need 14 gallons of water per person...2 weeks prescriptions...full gas tank...extra cash (as banks will be possibly be closed a while). Pick up loose objects in your yard and bring them inside. Everyone should have plain bleach on hand to make their water supply potable in an emergency. Start making extra ice and putting it in coolers (thanks Peyton Casgarelli) to keep milk and cold cuts chilled. Crank freezer as cold as it will go...if you leave it closed for a day, most foods will not spoil. Fill containers with water and freeze for large blocks of ice. Fill large containers with extra water. Make pictures of valuables. If you have a digital camera...upload and possibly order a copy to send to relatives out of harm's way as a record for insurance. You can also do a video tape (keep the tape in a dry place!). Make important documents water proof by putting them in sealed containers. Don't forget extra formula and special diet items and diapers for babies, special needs and elderly.

For those of you leaving, take water, food, changes of clothes, medicine.

More to come!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

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