It’s there now. I’ve been watching how the track moves over Lake Okeechobee. It looks like it’s a bit more north now.
We’ve been told to assume business as usual at work on Monday. There’s a tiny sick part of me that really wishes we could get some of the storm. After all, we busted our ass for three days straight to get ahead and prepare. I’d hate for it to go to waste.
But, it would be for a lazy few days at work next week…
Okay, I’m getting bored with all this waiting around. Now it’s not going to hit until Monday afternoon? Yeesh.
This seems interminable. It’s almost a week since we started watching this thing, and a couple more days yet before we feel the effects and get a better picture of where it’s headed. I was a little surprised to see some stores had boarded up when we went shopping this evening… most projections have Wilma clearly south of us. We got a couple of rain showers this afternoon, but I think that they’re a lot more related to the cold front coming down than Wilma yet.
Went by Michaels tonight and they had boarded up. I thought it was strange too. But it was even funnier because so many people were walking by and watching them board up the windows that they weren’t going inside, so they had to spray paint “open” on the boards.
-foxy
For those of you still playing along at home, as of the 4 am NOAA advisory they show the hurrican warning from the Keys up north to the Bradenton/Sarasota area on the west coast. Looks as if Key West will take a fairly direct hit. I’m anxious to see the 11 am update.
Schools are closed for most of the counties in our area tomorrow. I was surprised to learn that Publix supermarkets will also be closed. Right now we’re just looking at tropical storm (40 mph with gusts to 75) winds and of course some rain. Should be out by Tuesday and then very cool. First cool weather of the season.
So, where’s Alpha headed?
Well, I officially have the day off tomorrow. The current track puts Wilma over my office tomorrow afternoon. It’s possible that we could be longer if we lose power (we lost a full week in Sept. 2004 because of Frances).
I’ve stocked up on water and nonperishable food and cleaned off my balcony. The one problem is that almost all of the parking spaces in my apartment complex are next to trees. Right now I’m trying to figure out which trees will fall, and in which direction.
Nowhere near the east coast of the States. It’s going to hit the Turk and Caicos islands and head NE from there.
It’s been overcast here all day. I’ve been told not to show up to work until 10am at the earliest. We have a hotline set up for people to call in, so I’ll check in the morning because Wilma is supposed to hit around 7am Monday.
Hey, ShibbOleth, where did you hear that Publix will be closed? Do you know what counties? I’m trying hard to get out of working tomorrow. I have a conference call at 8:30 am, I need to build my case.
There were signs on the registers when I stopped in this evening. I imagine they’ll be closed in the counties with closed schools. I think a lot of businesses will be closed tomorrow, but I think we’ll be open.
Aside: Bouv has apparently made it safely into the land of the hurricane today and is having dinner with Foxy somewhere off of 66th street. I just finished cleaning up our garage enough to fit two cars in there, which was quite a feat. Hopefully it’s a relatively quiet evening from here on out.
Publix locations in all of central and south Florida are opening and closing at the discretion of the store managers tonight and tomorrow. If there are sustained winds in excess of 39+ miles an hour, they will not open until they subside and the managers have time to go in and assess the readiness of the store for business. In any instance, as a rule, if the store has power to the registers and the winds are not too high, the store will open.
Basically, most locations will be open tomorrow, even if not on time.
Watch out for those tornadoes! I’m hearing there’s been one spotted near Titusville. Yikes! A friend of mine lives there.
Speaking of hurricanes, I went to New Orleans today to survey the damage. What a mess! There are plenty of people partying in the French Quarter, like nothing ever happened. But we went by the yacht club (the one that was on fire in the news) and it was amazing! I’ve never seen such complete devastation!
Well, I’ll be thinking of you all in Florida over the next day or so, especially after what I saw today. I know the Keys are about as vulnerable to hurricanes as New Orleans was (and I’m hearing only ~80% of residents evacuated?!). Keep safe!
I was about to post on how it’s been quiet here. Got some mild winds earlier, breezes even, then a decent rain about 7 pm. But then I heard some more rain just start. Looking for the late evening update, and maybe have just one beer for good luck.
Just one beer for good luck? bouv and I are looking to polish off a 12-pack for GREAT luck.
Stay safe Shibb.
-foxy
Well, Dennis Phillips says that we in the Tampa Bay area will only get some Tropical Storm force winds and heavy rain but because the storm is now moving quickly it won’t last long (from 6am to noon). There is the tornado factor to worry about but we can get those anytime.
I refuse to use the “H” word but you guys down south, in the path of Wilma, stay safe.
Oops, I just realized I have some loose stuff on the front porch that could blow around. Better go move it.
It’s all I had in the fridge. I could go with some wine or some of the hard stuff, but AFAIK I still have to work tomorrow.
Sorry about the fact dump, but I just wanted to clarify the closures of the Publixes.
I’m off work tomorrow, which is fantastic; I’ve worked the past 5 days in Lakeland, an hour drive on a good day. If I had to work tomorrow, I wouldn’t even want to guess how long it would take. Others on my team are up from Miami and Naples, so they have been checking in with their families every hourish to make sure they’re OK. No problems for them so far, but I am keeping them in my thoughts, along with the rest of you.
I’m going to spend my day off wrapped up in bed and enjoy the rain. I like tropical storms when they blow through, though I don’t know why. Best of luck to everyone else – those who have to drive somewhere, take care please, and those who don’t have to drive anywhere, stay home, at least until it passes.
Bambi, I was watching a severe storm roll through the Lakeland area about an hour ago, accompanied by tornado warnings. Hope all is well in your neck!
I like tropical storms too. A lot of it is the excitement about having the normal daily routine interrupted. I’m a sucker for severe weather, and it’s much more exciting to be in the middle of it instead of just looking at numbers and reading about it online. I have to admit, I’m a little jealous of you folks in Tampa. But it’s gotten very chilly here in Baton Rouge today, so at least we’ve got that workin for us!
Looks like we in north Central Florida are goning to dodge this one with only some rains and a bit of wind. It’s been raining here on and off all evening but nothing to speak of. Our thoughts will be with all you southern Floridopers.
Check back in as soon as conditions permit.
Bah, school is closed so I’ve got nothing to do. Hope the power doesn’t go out or I’ll really be bored.
Everybody south of here stay dry.