Major Hurricane Emily again strengthens to category 4

[arcos]

National Hurrican Center advisory:

...Major Hurricane Emily again strengthens to category 4...

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Jamaica and for all of the
Cayman Islands.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to
protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

<snip>

Emily is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph
...30 km/hr...and this motion is expected to continue during the
next 24 hours. On this track... the center of Emily will be
passing not far to the south of Jamaica on Saturday.


Data from a United States Air Force reconnaissance aircraft indicate
that maximum sustained winds have increased and are now near 135
mph...215 km/hr...with higher gusts. Emily is now a dangerous
category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some
fluctuations in strength are common in major hurricanes and can be
expected during the next 24 hours.

<snip>

http://www.weatherunderground.com/tropical/at200505.public.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. Good Grief another one already?? n/t

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[gaia_gardener]

13. Yeah, well, that tip of TX went blue

Well, maybe not Cameron Co, but it was close (Cameron is the furthest south and east county).

[Endangered Specie]

17. That had better the hell be sarcasm.

[arcos]

19. Did Jamaica and Cancún vote for Bush? nt

[Zorra]

36. Cancun? That's debatable. Jamaica is a definite no. n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

24. That's a pretty ignorant post on a number of levels.

[QC]

27. Consider the source, as they say. n/t

[Ian David]

28. Hey, I wasn't being serious. Cut me some slack. n/t

[skids]

3. TEXAS?

When was the last time THAT happened?

[VegasWolf]

4. Directly on track for Crawford, Texas. nt

[BrightKnight]

11. No, Crawford is blue. - n/t

[SidDithers]

5. Cancun is gonna get whacked...

I guess this is why summer and fall vacations are so cheap.

Sid

[truthisfreedom]

21. poor little Isla Mujeres! and South Padre, too!

i hope they don't lose their lovely beaches.

[anotherdrew]

6. is it normal for them to stay and hit so far south?

[gkhouston]

7. yes. A little early in the summer

but this is not that unusual. Labor Day weekend would be more typical.

[Justyce]

32. Yes, we usually get the worst of it

toward the end of summer -- I'm near Beaumont. Looks like we're going to get out of this one, but you never can really tell until the last few hours where it's going to hit...

(and our county went blue too -- can't lump all texans in together on that one...)

[DanCa]

8. Question for DU meterologist

With all the bombs that were dropping in the mid east is it possible that the air is so super charged that all stored up energy is being released as huricanes? I was wondering if this theory was plausable.

[BrightKnight]

9. Warmer oceans case more and stronger hurricanes.

I'm not a meteorologist but that would be my guess.

[Pretty_in_CodePink]

33. That's what I heard last summer when we had 3 hurricanes

here in Central Florida. I heard a bit of speculation that global warming was creating conditions for more frequent hurricanes. But I also heard people blow-off that idea. Of course, many of those folks were repubs who are more likely to follow their leaders recommendations than dems. At least that is what some research I saw referenced said. Don't ask me for a link. It was a discussion about Katharine Harris running for Senate.

[Zynx]

14. Um, no, that's total crackpot land.

The energy involved in a hurricane is enormous, even by nuclear arsenal standards.

Nevermind that the mechanism of bombs = hurricanes is wholly rediculious.

[DanCa]

15. yeah i had an inklin i was way off

sorry to be a bother. :D) Thanks for the info

[Ian David]

29. The bombs, no. Global warming, yes.

Will global warming make hurricanes stronger?
Scientists debate potential impact on future storm patterns

By Michael Schirber
Updated: 3:19 p.m. ET June 16, 2005

Climate change could make future hurricanes stronger, but whether the effect is measurable is still a matter of debate. It is also unknown whether it will change the total number of storms.

Kevin Trenberth from the National Center for Atmospheric Research claims that warmer oceans and increased moisture could intensify the showers and thunderstorms that fuel hurricanes.

"Trends in human-influenced environmental changes are now evident in hurricane regions," Trenberth said. "These changes are expected to affect hurricane intensity and rainfall, but the effect on hurricane numbers remains unclear. The key scientific question is how hurricanes are changing."

<snip>

Computer models show that these climate changes will push hurricane intensities toward extreme hurricanes, Trenberth said. Moreover, the added moisture in the air will produce heavier rains and increased flooding when the hurricanes make landfall.

More:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8245668/

[BrightKnight]

37. NOAA: Warmest global surface temp. on record for June.

"Also, the global land surface temperature was warmest on record for the month. June 2005 also became the most active early period on record for the Atlantic hurricane season, with four named storms (Arlene, Bret, Cindy and Dennis) forming by July 5."

http://www.noaa.gov/

[ewagner]

38. A meteorologist gave me a simple explanation

or, should I say tried to simplify it for me...

It works like this...

The heat of the sun centers on the equator and, seasonally, the tropic of capricorn and the tropic of cancer.....that heat is distributed over the surface of the earth by ocean currents and the atmosphere....if the ocean currents aren't carrying the heat efficiently (like the Gulf Stream slowing down and another report about a number of "conveyors" like the Gulf Stream either slowing down or stopping that was posted here on DU)then the atmosphere has to pick up the deficit...like in storms.....

I was warned that this was a highly over-simplified explanation but the principal was sound....

[hack89]

34. No..

Compared to the energy released by the Sun it is extremely small.

[cliss]

10. I see Crawford.....

in my binoculars.

[borlis]

12. Someone I know just had to cancel her honeymoon.

She was going to the Dominican Republic. :cry:

[magellan]

16. Dominican Republic isn't in any danger from Emily

She's going west to Mexico/TX. But better safe than sorry. These beasts are unforgiving, and this year is shaping up to be a very busy one for hurricanes transiting through the Caribbean.

I hope your friend gets to enjoy a lovely honeymoon in any case! :)

[Endangered Specie]

18. Unlike some people, I dont wish massive hurricanes on any

geographical area.

[magellan]

20. Who's wishing hurricanes on others? (nt)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

22. How about this one just a couple of lines up?.....

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1631617&mesg_id=1631675>

[Media_Lies_Daily]

23. And how about this one near the top of the thread?.....

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1631617&mesg_id=1631624>

It's a real winner.

[magellan]

25. I read those. That's not what I'd call wishing hurricanes on others.

I live in a red state. I went through three hurricanes last year and am still traumatized by it. If anyone was going to see malevolence in such postings, I would.

Seriously wishing hurricanes on others would be more like, "I hope Emily punches straight through Texas and rips Crawford apart" or "Hope she wipes all the red states off the map, they deserve it." Then you'd have a case.

Has it gotten so bad with you that you've lost your sense of humor?

[Ian David]

30. I agree.

Although there's a certain ranch in Crawford...

[Maddy McCall]

40. So true.

I've had enough of people wishing disaster on "red states."

[Catherine Vincent]

26. "Emily, get out of the way!"--Colin Powell

[arcos]

31. NEW ADVISORY! Emily continues to strengthen

...Dangerous Hurricane Emily continues to strengthen...


a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Jamaica and for all of the
Cayman Islands.

<snip>

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the entire southwestern
peninsula of Haiti from the Dominican Republic/Haiti border to
Port-au-Prince.


Interests elsewhere in the central and western Caribbean should
monitor the progress of Emily.

<snip>

Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph...220 km/hr...with higher
gusts. This makes Emily is a category four hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Some fluctuations in strength are
possible during the next 24 hours.


Hurricane force winds now extend outward up to 70 miles...110 km...
from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up
to 150 miles...240 km. For Jamaica...hurricane force winds may
occur in gusts later today along the coasts...with possible
sustained hurricane force winds at higher elevations...especially
above 3000 feet.

<snip>

http://www.weatherunderground.com/tropical/at200505.public.html

[watercolors]

35. Looks like three of our favorite dive places

are in trouble, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac and possibly Cozumel. I'll keep all in my prayers and hope for the safety of all our friends in these areas. We went thru two hurricanes in Cozumel, it was an experience to say the least. Not as bad as the three we went thru here in Fla last year tho. I feel like a seasoned veteran now, and fully prepared for any that come our way this season! We just can;t mess with mother nature!

[Maddy McCall]

39. More info and graphics here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=3662992&mesg_id=3662992