The OAO 2006 Hurricane Season Thread

[Guest Vitamin X]

This was about 10 days late, but yeah. I felt this was necessary now that we've got our first tropical storm of the year. Woohoo!

 

Tropical depression headed toward US

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - The first tropical depression of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season was dumping heavy rain on western Cuba on Saturday and could become a tropical storm as it moves toward the United States, U.S. forecasters said.

 

The depression, which will be given the name Alberto if its maximum sustained winds reach 39 mph (63 kph), was located around 45 miles west of Cabo San Antonio on the western tip of Cuba at 2 p.m.

 

As expected, the storm is bringing heavy rain to the Caribbean island and is the season's first wake-up call to coastal U.S. residents battered by eight hurricanes in the last two years, including Hurricane Katrina -- the most costly and one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

 

With sustained winds of 35 mph (56 kph), the depression's trek had slowed from 12 mph (19 kph) earlier Saturday and was moving north-northwest at 6 mph (10 kph), a factor that forecasters predict will intensify the storm as it gains strength from the relative warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Forecasters predict the storm to make a turn toward the northeast on Sunday, with an expected landfall on Monday somewhere along Florida's central or northern Gulf Coast, the U.S.

National Hurricane Center said.

 

In response, Florida emergency management officials put responders on heightened alert by activating the state's emergency operations center to more closely monitor the coming storm.

 

Tropical storms can cause deadly floods in low-lying areas and destroy ramshackle buildings in poor countries. They do not present a significant threat to developed nations.

 

When their maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph (119 kph),they become hurricanes and the possibility of death and destruction increases.

 

Forecasters have predicted that 2006 will see more storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic than an average season.

 

Last year, a record 28 tropical cyclones spawned 15 hurricanes, including monster storms like Katrina, which flooded New Orleans, killed more than 1,300 people and caused $80 billion in damage.

[the max]

GET YOUR WATER, NON-PERISHABLE FOOD AND BATTERIES!!!!!

 

HUNKER DOWN!!!

 

I'm pissed that almost all of the Winn Dixie's have closed. I used to get my supplies there...nobody else went there.

[Hawk 34]

Tornados need to step up and kick a little ass this summer, Hurricanes can't get all the attention.

[snuffbox]

I can do without the tornados.

[Vampiro69]

Well we had the tornadoes earlier this year in Tennessee and Indiana.

[Conspiracy_Victim]

Newly licensed insurance adjuster (wind damage) so bring on the tornados, hurricanes, tropical storms, and everything else! The more the merrier. As a matter of fact, I DARE Mother Nature to try to kick our ass!

[Open the Muggy Gate]

Be careful what you wish for.

[Guest Felonies!]

Great, we're gonna get one here now

[Art Sandusky]

Whatever, dude. How do you think I feel?

[Guest Vitamin X]

The Carolinas didn't get nearly enough action last year.

 

That should change this year, I think. Just leave the Gulf Coast alone, damn it.

[Guest LiveFastDieNever]

Unfortunately, Kotz, I've more or less permanently moved to Columbia. Or rather, that would be fortunate.

[Guest Vitamin X]

The tropical storm warning issued for Alberto has been upgraded to a hurricane!

 

Florida under hurricane warning as Alberto lurks

 

ST PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - U.S. forecasters warned on Monday that Tropical Storm Alberto could become the first hurricane of 2006 as it strengthened ominously over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and barreled toward northwest Florida.

 

The storm was about 190 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, in Florida's panhandle, at 11 a.m. EDT, according to the U.S.

National Hurricane Center (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov).

 

"Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion," the U.S. forecasters in Miami said.

 

"Alberto has the potential to become a hurricane within the next 24 hours," the forecasters added, fueling a sense of foreboding in a state hit by eight hurricanes in the last two years, including Katrina, which went on to devastate New Orleans.

 

"This is a serious storm and we are taking it seriously," Florida Gov.

Jeb Bush told reporters in Tallahassee as the state government declared a state of emergency and activated its emergency response system.

 

Energy traders said the path of the storm should take it too far east to cause any major disruptions or damage to offshore oil and gas production, and the most likely area of landfall was not densely populated.

 

Alberto's maximum sustained winds had increased to near 70 miles per hour (110 km per hour), and further strengthening was possible, the hurricane center said. Tropical storms become hurricanes once their maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph (119 kph).

 

Alberto was predicted to make landfall north of Florida's heavily populated Tampa-St. Petersburg area on Tuesday, cross the state, and then enter the Atlantic.

 

Tides were rising and rain was starting to fall on Florida's west coast. Forecasters said 4-8 inches of rain were possible through Tuesday across parts of Florida and Georgia.

 

Storm surge flooding up to 10 feet above normal tide levels was expected across much of the Gulf Coast, including what Gov. Bush said were "a lot of low lying areas."

They see me rollin'... they hatin'...

[Art Sandusky]

Oops, double post

[Art Sandusky]

I hope its theme song is "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon for all YTMND intents and purposes.

[SuperJerk]

I can do without the tornados.

[CBright7831]

Tornados need to step up and kick a little ass this summer, Hurricanes can't get all the attention.

The tornadoes will kick my area's ass, so let's hope that they don't.

[Longdogger_Pete]

That storm sure was fun.

 

My Winn-Dixie's still open. I work there. It sucks.

 

They're closing the Albertsons down the street - it's across the street from a Wal-Mart and deserved to go ages ago.

 

Off topic? Yeah, I know.

[Guest Vitamin X]

And, the bad news of the day. Tropical Storm Chris!

 

 

It's cone of death points straight at South Florida. Wonderful.

 

 

Although, at this point, there's speculation in that it may veer off completely northward.

[Guest Princess Leena]

Feh, it's just a tropical storm.

 

This has been a weak tropical season. I thought OMG global warming we didn't listen was gonna continue last year's trend.

[KingPK]

Yeah, where's the hurricane hitting New York City that will rip the Empire State Building off its foundation?

 

Make with the death already, Mother Nature; I ain't got all day.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

They should really name these storms better.

 

Hurricane Motherfucker.

 

Hurricane Duck.

[the max]

Yeah, where's the hurricane hitting New York City that will rip the Empire State Building off its foundation?

 

Make with the death already, Mother Nature; I ain't got all day.

 

That's easy for you to say, Mr. New England.

[Vampiro69]

They should just call the next big one Hurricane Superman.

[the max]

Soon it'll be:

 

"This Hurricane Whopper coverage sponsered by Burger King! Stop in before your local Burger King is blown away and try our new 6 patty burger! If the hurricane doesn't kill you, this will!"

[KingPK]

Yeah, where's the hurricane hitting New York City that will rip the Empire State Building off its foundation?

 

Make with the death already, Mother Nature; I ain't got all day.

 

That's easy for you to say, Mr. New England.

 

All the "experts" are saying NE is overdue for a big hurricane. Obviously Nature likes us more than everyone else.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Except for all those blizzards or the floods from earlier this year, apparently.

 

Feh, it's just a tropical storm.

 

This has been a weak tropical season. I thought OMG global warming we didn't listen was gonna continue last year's trend.

 

It's just a tropical storm now, but Katrina didn't turn into a tropical storm until it was around the Bahamas or so. If it continues strengthening all the way to the mainland, it could hit with much more force. It's just in its infancy now.

 

Also, I think it's right on schedule with last year, except that the D storm (Dennis) hit earlier last year), but the major hurricanes (Katrina, Rita, Wilma) hit from late August-late October.

[MrRant]

Soon it'll be:

 

"This Hurricane Whopper coverage sponsered by Burger King! Stop in before your local Burger King is blown away and try our new 6 patty burger! If the hurricane doesn't kill you, this will!"

 

Clearly you don't understand the greatness of a burger with just meat, cheese, bacon and a bit of bread to hold it together.

 

Are you gay?

[Guest Vitamin X]

yeah but a 6 patty one? Come on now.

[Art Sandusky]

Hey, people who are pooh-poohing all the hurricane talk: New Orleans got fucking destroyed because of people like you. Do some reading before spouting off dumb shit. The statistical peak of the season isn't even until the second week of September.

[MrRant]

yeah but a 6 patty one? Come on now.

 

That's man food there. Something that will make you clutch your heart with each bite. Like when I used to order that 5 item special from Papa Johns and get three layers of cheese and two of pepperoni. That shit was so cheesey and greasy you had to hold it just right or the toppings would slide right off it son. But then, they stopped allowing that to be ordered.

 

Bitches.