Flooding Concern with TX Gulf Coast System

HURRICANES AND WEATHER

Even though Fred is turning in a direction toward the US, it is weakening. The big stories are the disturbed area along the eastern seaboard (New Jersey/MD/NY vicinity) and the area off the Texas coast. For the first system, there is potential for severe weather, coastal flooding and lots of rain. It is a non-tropical system which probably won't become tropical.

For the Texas system, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) says less than a 30% chance for development. I say let's be prepared for heavy rain Friday/Saturday. This reminds me in some ways of Allison in 2001, because it is a non-tropical mid level system off the coast. As you may recall, Allison suddenly (and this is controversial) became designated as tropical about 6 hours before landfall along the upper Texas coast. The really bad part was when it stalled over land and meandered about, dropping 3 more rounds of heavy rain after landfall. In the current case, the storm should move inland and away from Texas on Sunday. It should be steered away from Texas because of the upper low over the central US. So bottom line is be ready for rainy Friday and Saturday in Texas (especially the coast) and also southwest Louisiana. There could be flooding. Then, things should get much better on Sunday. Whether this system becomes Grace remains to be seen.

100+ desert southwest today. Slight risk severe storms NJ/NY/MD/DE area. Thunderstorms over much of south and southeast. Most areas highs in the 60s to 80s. Those 80s will be humid anywhere in south.

Houston, look for some heavy rain Friday and Saturday with much improved weather on Sunday. Watch out for flooding and remember, Turn Around, Don't Drown.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY

Let's do new or nueva, pronounced new-A-vah. It's a nueva school year and a nueva school for the kids at McAuliffe Middle School. See article in the AND MORE section.

Our nueva DVD, Volume 2, of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, is on order. I'll let you know when it arrives. We have the first thousand copies coming. Meanwhile, our ESL version, is being well received by the ESL training efforts through St. Laurence Catholic Church which helps many parishes in the area. We are donating free copies for the families who are trying to learn English. For those of you wanting to learn Spanish, you can order Volume 1, our award winning DVD Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE

New TX License Plates
My car turned 7 years old recently and I was surprised to learn that I had to get new plates. The good news was that it didn't cost extra (beyone the annual registration renewal) and I was able to mail in the application and not stand in line at the DMV...yay!!! The plates arrived within a week and I really like the more colorful version. So, you'll see these either on cars that are at least 7 years old or on brand new cars.

McAuliffe Middle School on the Mend and Improving After Ike

The following article was sent to me by my good friend Leslie Williams--Houston Chronicle Reporter. The kids at McAuliffe Middle School had to go to school at another campus after Hurricane Ike--because their school sustained so much damage. The school reopened last year and now as the new school year begins, everyone is seeing a change in the attitude of the kids. Check out this very positive story:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6606682.html

Help the Weather Museum While Getting Great Deals at Macy's!

Macy's is holding a special Shop for a Cause event on Sat, October 17th that can benefit the Weather Museum. Anyone can donate $5 to the Museum between now and the event in exchange for a shopping pass that gives the following great savings on October 17th:

- 10-20% off all purchases all day including regular, sale and clearance merchandise
- 25% off a single purchase on that day including regular, sale and clearance merchandise
- And, the donor can enter for a chance to win $500!
(Note that there are a few items excluded from the sale)

This is a great deal for $5! Please let us know if you or someone you know would like to buy a shopping pass.

Thanks,
Bridget Day
The John C. Freeman Weather Museum at Weather Research Center5104 Caroline StreetHouston, TX 77004Phone: 713-529-3076

Special Event Benefits the Elissa

The following comes from my buddies, Lew and Meresa Fincher, who are supporters of the historical ship, the Elissa.

On Saturday, September 19, the Lakewood Yacht Club will be honored as theninth recipient of the Spirit of ELISSA Award. The award, presented byGalveston Historical Foundation and the Texas Seaport Museum, will be givenat a gala evening event to be held at Lakewood Yacht Club beginning at 6:30p.m. featuring dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions. Big band musicwill be provided by the 16-piece Billie Ledbetter Orchestra. Individualtickets, at $100 each, are available online at www.galvestonhistory.org/soeor by calling the Texas Seaport Museum at 409-763-1877. Table purchases andother sponsorship opportunities are enumerated online. Proceeds benefit the1877 ELISSA. http://www.galvestonhistory.org/2009press/soe.jpg

Have a wonderful and safe weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman