I think they’ve gotten better at predicting hurricane paths. Of course, it could take a last minute jog and turn left, but even then, it will take a couple of days to hit the Gulf states.
They do seem to be getting better at it, but all statistical models are not very accurate too far out. And there are some significant factors that take place as it crosses land in Cuba. After that I’ll be more confident in the model.
Well it’s a tropical storm so I’m not freaking out. But then my parents have been afflicted with hurricane paranoia for years, with the result that their house is a full-on weather fortress complete with generator…and they’ll be in the Carolinas!
At this point I need some days off so badly I’m hoping for an off-center hit on Fort Lauderdale.
I’m with Shibb (well, no not literally, I’m north of him)…not ready to panic, hoping for rain.
Me, too!!! When’s yours, Ivy? Mine’s on the second.
My anniversary (16th) is on the 31st of August.
That was mine, too, when I was married to the Klingon.
Looks like the current track is swinging more to the east.
Sept 5th.
It looks like it’s going straight up from Cuba into Florida, so we’ll get some rain, but that’s about it.
Of course, that could change in six hours. 
Checking in from Key Largo, FL- it looks as though Ernesto is headed right this way by tomorrow. We’ve got our supplies in order, plenty of food, water, gas for the generator, etc. Cross your fingers for us!
Still just a tropical storm.
Lots of wind and rain, hopefully nothing too bad.
Enjoy the show, folks!
weatherunderground.com is showing it as remaining a tropical storm all the way up until the Carolinas.
The latest out of Miami is that it’s lost strength over the mountains in Cuba, but is expected to leave there and pick up speed as it heads either directly at the Keys or the eastern part of the state. Still scary down here and everyone is preparing for a nasty storm. I hope it’s disappated by the time it gets north of here for everyone in the north of the state or other eastern states.
Hey - that’s my baby’s birthday!
And speaking of my baby, I called her today to make sure she knew about the storm. She kinda doesn’t follow news and stuff. Plus I had to tell her to rush out and buy bread and milk and toilet paper. 'Cause that’s what you do for hurricanes and blizzards, right?
I see by the latest predicted track that we may actually get some rain from this storm this weekend! I sure hope so - it’s sooooooo dry here. I wouldn’t mind a long, damp holiday weekend.
Shhhh! We’re flying out of BWI Friday morning for Houston (via Atlanta). I’m just hoping the whole shebang makes an abrupt right turn and heads out to sea just as it’s passing over Jacksonville…Katrina destroyed this same trip for us last year.
The latest forecasts show Ernesto passing by me early Wednesday morning as a tropical storm. We’ve officially gone into hurricane prep mode at work – all of the publication deadlines have been moved up. The schools here will be closed for the next two days. I’m hoping to get a day off on Wednesday, but I’m not counting on it. As one of my coworkers once observed, our office wouldn’t close if Jim Cantore were broadcasting live from the parking lot.
Oh piffle - by the time it hits Merrylande, it’ll probably just be a big ol’ rainstorm. You can fly out in a rain storm. Don’t be a wuss! 
We need the rain, dagnabbit!!! Lawns shouldn’t be crunchy when you walk on them!
If you say so. I’m a little paranoid after last year…
Well, the Miami-Dade library system is closed tomorrow so I’ve got the day off – which will be no fun at all if there’s a power blackout. I tried to stock up on ice but there’s none left in the supermarket. At least I’ve got five gallons of bottled water.
I can’t believe I wasn’t invited to this thread!
Oh well, this time Wednesday I’ll have no power and I won’t be able to post to this thread anyway…
I thought it was beer and Doritos. Plus ice cream. You’ll have an excuse to eat it up when the power goes out.
Really, Really. Don’t stand on ceremony! Pull up a chair and join us around the TV. No one’s started saying “hunker down” yet, but it’s still early.