If I am lucky, this will turn into a hurricane.Wah called me this morning because he wanted to make sure I knew about the storm currently threatening the Wedge Antillles, I mean the Lesser Antilles. Maximum Sustained winds of 40mph and moving 9mph WNW, straight for Grand Bahama. If in continues on the B-line it seems to be moving, it will run straight to Miami, which, I figure, is an apt place for a storm named Chris. Currently modeling indicates that the storm will weaken after 72 hours but, my man, Forecaster Stewart of the NHC is actually calling for a strengthening.
More on all this as it developes, right now I have to get ready to teach.
So, Forecaster Stewart was on target with his call for strengthening. Chris, as of the 11pm update, had max winds of 60mph with a forward speed of 10mph. He is expected to become a hurricane sometime Thursday.
The current NHC predicted track takes the storm just along the northen edge of Cuba through Sunday. Its been a while, so let me reiterate the vagaries of predicting such a dynamic system 5 days in advance; lots can change before Sunday. Several Models have the storm running right across Hispaniola and then south of Cuba.
Not much change in the track of Chris; it looks like he might run past Key West. You know, if a video game I recently played is accurate, Key West was a Dutch settlement. I never knew that.
i didn’t either.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West#History
Are you messing with me? I didn’t see anything on that page that mentioned Bone Island as a dutch settlement.
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/flt/t1/loop-vis.html
check out the area of circulation in the upper left corner; its cyclonic. I guess the conditions aren’t right for that to develope into anything menacing though.
Cool. I was wondering about your take on it. And I just read that it’s up around 65 mph right now…pretty close to hurricane strength.
Tropical Storm Chris seems to be fairly indecisive. The most recent prediction has him nevr reaching hurricane strength and running across Cuba’s North coast. It looks like we will ahve to wait a little lonegr to see what he has in store.
They are saying that Chris can’t make it, that he’ll never cut it as a hurricane. Well, I’m not accepting that. I believe in Chris. Sure, things look tough now, a mid-level ridge may provide the most substantial steering elements. But I have faith that the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico will prove fertile ground for Chris’ winds to find their strength again. Key West, Chris is just going to cruise on by, maybe through a little party at Sloppy Joes. But Texas, Chris is coming for you. South Padre its on. Don’t beleive the hype! Chris will survive.
Chris Hates Cuba
and the NHC will be stopping advisories no him since he is a no account depression with no hope or dream of advancement. Slacker.