Gustav Weakening...Hanna and Ike Threatening

Gustav is now a tropical storm. More than a dozen tornadoes so far and more still possible as it spins northwestward into Texas. Hopefully it won't move too slowly. Model runs showing a slightly better scenario than before.

It was actually kind of nice in Houston today--nice overcast and northerly flow. Enjoyed the poole with daughter and her friend. Got the radish seeds and peas in the ground. Said in a previous post that the radishes would be ready around Halloween...no that would be the peas. The radishes will be ready in about 22 days.

Back to the tropics. Most models track Ike westward this week. Could get into the Gulf. Hanna which is a hurricane now will threaten the east coast late this week. Latest projection has landfall in South Carolina on Friday.

So bottom line--all those supplies you purchased for Gustav...hang onto them. Hurricane season isn't over yet! The latest a hurricane has hit hit Texas was Jerry on October 15, 1989. So, we aren't done yet. Besides, records are made to broken. Usually storms don't get to Texas later in the season (which officially ends November 30th) because of upper troughs and their associated surface cold fronts.

Now that you are relaxing a bit, relax even more by purchasing some Christmas gifts early. BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. We just found out that we won the 2008 Top 100 award designation from Dr. Toy!!! Yay! Press release will go out in a couple days. You can order your copy from www.frankandpaco.com, Bestbuy.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com.

More to come! Have a great week everyone and be safe!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Gustav - Some Good News but Stay Vigilant - Tropical Depression 9 - Yikes, Here comes Ike

First of all, it looks like Gustav weakened to a Category 2 before landfall. But, as we all know from storms like Rita and maybe July's Dolly, a 2 is still a big deal. Interestingly enough, the storm started to form a better eye after landfall at 8:30 am this morning at Cocodrie, Louisiana. That is probably part of this intensity cycle I have discussed in previous blogs. Thank goodness, it wasn't on the upswing before landfall. It remains to be seen how much damage has been done to the levees.

Ongoing business with Gustav includes tornadoes and that will be a threat for at least the next 24 hours. And also look at for torrential rainfall. Depending on where you are, some good news in that the models are showing a more northward movement over the next few days. We will still have to keep an eye on the Trinity and San Jacinto watershed over the next one to two weeks.

The tropics are cooking now. Tropical Depression #9 just formed in the central Atlantic. This will become Ike and intensify to a hurricane as it moves westward. Long range models show it heading toward the Gulf. Hanna will be something the eastern seaboard deals with this week.

Some rain in the Houston area starting as early as late today. Most likely timing will be Tuesday. I'm going to put in my fall garden today and hope for some beneficial drops. I'm definitely putting in some radishes. Should be ready by Halloween.

Speaking of holidays, get those orders in for Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, our award winning educational video for children. You can order it from www.frankandpaco.com, Bestbuy.com, amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Early language learning has been shown to improve cognitivie performance and development, improve math and science performance, increase memory, allow acquisition of proper pronunciation, and stimulate neurological development (remember 80% occurs before age 6). Your favorite little ones will love learning with Frank and Paco the puppets and a bunch of kids their age (featured in the video).

More to come!
Be safe everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Gustav - Worries Now and Later

Gustav will make landfall over southeastern Louisiana this morning. The most immediate concern is the storm surge (10 to 14 feet) and that is happening now and the hurricane force winds. The following is some of the most immediate important information. My blog continues after the information in caps.

AT 530 AM...THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TIDE STATION...NORTHEAST BAY GARDENE NEAR POINT A LA HACHE...HAD RISEN NEARLY 9 FEETSINCE LAST EVENING. HURRICANE GUSTAV HAS NOT MADE LANDFALL AND THETIDE LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORM SURGE MAY INCREASE WATER LEVELSAN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 FEET.A POTENTIAL STORM SURGE OF 10 TO 14 FEET WILL BE POSSIBLE NEARAND TO THE RIGHT OF LOCATION OF LANDFALL. LIFE THREATENINGFLOODING IS POSSIBLE. SECTIONS OF WEST JEFFERSON...AND LOWERLAFOURCHE HURRICANE PROTECTION LEVEES COULD BE OVER TOPPED. AREASOUTSIDE OF HURRICANE PROTECTION LEVEES IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA...WILL BE SEVERELY INUNDATED.MANY RESIDENCES OF AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION IMPACTED BY THE STORMSURGE MAY BE HEAVILY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. NUMEROUS ROADS WILL BESWAMPED. ENTIRE FLOOD PRONE COASTAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE CUTOFF BYSTORM SURGE FLOODING. SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE FLOODING WILL MOVEWELL INLAND ESPECIALLY ALONG BAYS AND BAYOUS. A STORM SURGE OFTHIS MAGNITUDE COULD RESULT IN EXTENSIVE FLOODING AND POSES ASIGNIFICANT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

The storm's eye is almost indistinguishable. Recon reports that the south side is somewhat open. That's a sign that at least as Gustav's eye nears the coast, at least we don't have a tightly wound and super healthy hurricane. Nevertheless, it is still a major hurricane as of 6:37 am central.

Looking ahead, the storm will slow dramatically over the next day or so and that is a huge concern for inland flooding. Remember inland flooding has been a one of the biggest killers in the last few decades. Incredible rainfalls can occur from slow moving, dieing tropical systems. The unofficial 24 hour record rainfall for Texas occurred with Claudette in 1979 when 43 inches fell on Alvin in 24 hours.

So, everyone in central and western Louisiana and east Texas needs to really pay attention over the next 5 to 6 days. And even after that, there will likely be river flooding.

Unlike with a storm surge, you are often safest staying in your home. During Allison in 2001, the majority of the deaths in the Houston area occurred when people ventured outside during the flooding. Many were swept away by the floodwaters.

Also, tornado watches are now in effect in parts of Louisiana. Tornadoes will be of course over the next day or so as the storm moves over land.

More to come! Also, would like to point out that the Atlantic has many developing systems right now. It's September 1st and the tropics show a lot of activity.

It's September and the holidays are going to get here quickly. Buy something fun and educational for the little ones on your list. Order our award winning DVD for teaching Spanish to kids--Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. Go to www.frankandpaco.com or order from BestBuy.com, amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.

Be safe everyone.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman