As of 5 PM today, 8/30/2019, now Hurricane Dorian continues its west northwest track with a predicted landfall in south Florida early Tuesday morning. However, this latest update shows that the center line of the cone is now over the eastern coastline of Florida rather than up the center of the state. Could it be that this storm will curve back out to sea??
At the moment it is over open warm water and that only adds fuel to the storm's strength. It is now considered a major storm, and they say it will be the same when it comes ashore. Once it reaches land, normally its strength will diminish somewhat as the friction of the land and the lack of warm water saps some of its power, normally. That is not to say it cannot be dangerous. But the more land it has to go over, the more "friction" should slow its winds.
But changes in its trajectory and strength could take place again between now and Tuesday. It could still hit us or avoid us altogether. You just never know and need to prepare for the worst. Below you can download a Hurricane Tracking Map you can use to keep track of Dorian.
Good news for us in our area near Zephyrhills and Pasco County is that the storm looks like it will hit on the east coast and so we will probably not get the worst of it since as it passes over land the friction should weaken it somewhat. And here in Zephyrhills, we do not have to worry about tidal surges from the ocean like they do on the coasts.
That does not mean to take things lightly. We still will get some pretty good winds and lots of rain. And low lying areas can have some flooding, though not the kind they have in areas with big rivers and hills. During the last major storm we had a couple of years ago, the worst problem was that some of us had no electricity for several days. Tree limbs on power lines. My mom's home never lost it. But 1/2 mile away at my home I was without it for 5 days. She lives near the hospital so they get top priority for having their power restored.
So take note of reports on the television, radio, and the internet. And it never hurts to pay attention and follow the paths of any approaching storms. Especially if they happen to be hurricanes.
The letter inside the dot on the track of the storm above indicates the National Hurricane Center's forecast intensity for that point in time:
D: Tropical Depression – wind speed less than 39 MPH
S: Tropical Storm – wind speed between 39 MPH and 73 MPH
H: Hurricane – wind speed between 74 MPH and 110 MPH
M: Major Hurricane – wind speed greater than 110 MPH
Do keep in mind that wind directions have been known to change. I have even seen storms do loop-the-loops and come right back over the same area. So the trajectory of this storm could change. Hopefully it will miss us altogether. You never can tell this far out. But it pays to be alert and take cautious steps to prepare. Just in case!
We surely will be getting some precipitation out of it and windy days are probably in our future. The rain could be a problem since our ground is already saturated. Even though it is sandy here, the ground can still only absorb so much moisture and then it starts to accumulate on the surface. Some areas could see some local flooding if the rains are heavy this week. We will have to wait and see.
If you are in the process of closing on a home sale in the next few days, do be aware that once a storm warning is issued for any part of the state of Florida, it is likely that ALL insurance companies will stop writing new policies until the storm's threat has passed. So if you have not already obtained a binder on your insurance coverage, speak with your real estate agent immediately about what is happening. If you used one of the Florida purchase agreements that most agents here use, there is specific language concerning hurricanes and underwriting moratoriums that is there that might protect you from having to purchase an uninsured home. And if you are financing the purchase, keep in mind that your bank WILL NOT fund your loan if there is no proof of adequate insurance coverage on the home. See your agent for more information concerning this issue.
Much of my information comes from the National Hurricane Center. They follow tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes from birth to death. It can be a useful site to visit. If you would like to try it out, click on the following link: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ I suggest you "bookmark it" or "make it a Favorite" for future reference if you live in an area that can be affected by tropical storms or hurricanes. You will find it interesting and helpful to track the path of each storm. You can also download a Hurricane Tracking Map by clicking on the following link: TRACKING MAP
I will also try to update my weblog with new posts if it appears that a hurricane or another major storm will make landfall in our area. So come back here to check if you want to. But the TV, radio, and internet will have the most up-to-date information available.
You can also find out how to prepare for hurricanes and other disasters at the following state site: http://www.floridadisaster.org/ Do not wait until a storm is upon us to prepare your home and family. Hopefully we will make it through 2011 with no major storms paying us a visit, but you never know. Better safe than sorry!
I invite you to visit my webpage at: http://www.johnelwell.c21.com/ where you will find links to many interesting sites dealing with real estate. You are always welcome there. JOHN ELWELL - REALTOR at CENTURY 21 Bill Nye Realty, Inc. Licensed in Florida
I can also be contacted anytime via e-mail at: jelwell1@tampabay.rr.com or by phone at: 813-783-4444
Image from NOAA
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