Ericka's Powerboating Blog

I don't know about other Gulf Coast and Southeastern Coast residents, but this hurricane season has had me on the edge of my seat, most often peering at the National Hurricane Center's forecasts on my computer screen. Other people may have their favorite TV show they just can't miss, but I have become addicted to checking the hurricane forecasts every morning and several times throughout the day.

I have lived in Florida only for a few years, and each year one or two hurricanes spawned, but I can't remember ever being concerned. This year, I find myself alarmed each time the NHC reports a tropical disturbance. Maybe that is because at the beginning of the year, predictions called for an above normal hurricane season - which is proving to be true so far.

I live in an area of Florida where people can't remember the last time it was struck by a hurricane. For that reason, many people are complacent, even going so far as to say, "Everyone knows we can't be hit by a hurricane here. It would have to travel into the Gulf and make a hard right." Well, hurricanes have been known to do stranger things than making hard rights and surprising residents who say it could never happen.

As for me, all bets are off with Hurricane Ike. Forecasters can't agree where it will make landfall, and so as far as I am concerned, that could just as easily be my neck of the woods as anywhere else along the Gulf Coast.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Ike, now a Category 4 storm, is "extremely dangerous." As the hurricane treks across the Bahamas today and continues on to Cuba, forecasters are warning all south Florida residents to monitor the progress of Hurricane Ike - particularly the Florida Keys.

Current forecast models show Ike striking the entire length of Cuba and then exiting north of the Florida Keys where eventual landfall is still anyone's guess. Other models show Ike continuing on to make landfall near the Texas-Mexico border. Ike's final path won't become more clear until next week Tuesday or Wednesday.

Boaters in south Florida should be aware that Hurricane Ike is likely to cause large offshore swells and dangerous rip currents along the coast.

Tropical Storm Hanna has finally turned and become steady on a north-northwest track. Although her intentions won't be clear until Friday, forecast models show Tropical Storm Hanna making landfall near the North and South Carolina border. Georgia is still solidly in the cone of uncertainty, however new models show that Florida should escape Hanna.

Because of the instability of atmoshperic conditions, forecast models differ in the strength predictions for Tropical Storm Hanna. None predict her to strengthen beyond a Category 1 Hurricane, while others seem to believe she will remain a Tropical Storm. Regardless, a Hurricane Watch has been issued for Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. A watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours.

All east coast residents will experience some sort of stormy weather with Tropical Storm Hanna as she makes her way up the coast. Begin preparations now to protect your home and your boat.

Hurricanes and the Saffir-Simpson Scale

Hurricane Boat Preparation

Hurricane Boat Preparation Kit

A major hurricane is a Category 3 or higher, and Hurricane Ike, is now a Category 4 storm, a large and dangerous Cape Verdes-type hurricane. Ike's path remains uncertain with one model showing a curve to the north by Tuesday, and another showing Ike striking south Florida, the Keys and continuing into the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Ike's eventual path will be influenced somewhat by Tropical Storm Hanna, but it should become clearer in the days to come.

Jeff Masters at the Weather Underground reports that "Hurricane Gustav is making landfall on the Louisiana coast just southwest of New Orleans as a powerful Category 2 hurricane." Gustave continues to weaken, but the collapse of the eyewall has caused Gustav to spread out strong winds over a wider area. "Gustav remains a huge and powerful storm whose winds and storm surge will cause a tremendous amount of damage as the storm blasts through Louisiana today."

As Louisiana is pounded by Gustav, East Coast residents face a hurricane watch as Tropical Storm Hanna turns and heads northwest. As you make hurricane preparation plans, don't forget to make a hurricane boat preparation plan to help your boat survive the storm.

With the fun of summer nearing an end, now is the time to turn to getting our boats ready for the winter season. The first step is to repair or maintain the gelcoat of the boat. I've written a series of articles on gelcoats to get you started:

Maintaining or Restoring Your Boat's Gelcoat

If Tropical Storm (soon to be a hurricane again) Gustav wasn't enough, Tropical Storm Hanna has formed north of the Bahamas. Boaters along the Gulf Coast and the East Coast now should all be on high alert for these two storms, and the other three tropical disturbances the National Hurricane Center is currently watching.

Jeff Masters at the Weather Underground says, "The final landfall location of Gustav depends on the strength and speed of the trough. This trough may not be strong enough to pull Gustav to a landfall in the central Gulf Coast. Instead, a blocking ridge of high pressure may build in over the southern U.S. by Monday, forcing Gustav to move slowly westward towards Texas. The ridge will at least slow Gustav down, and the long term fate of Gustav remains highly uncertain." Masters goes on to say that Gustav will likely be a Category Four Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall as a Category TWo or Three storm. Remember that when Hurricane Katrina made landfall, it was a Category Three storm.

As for Tropical Storm Hanna, it's also too early to tell, but forecasters predict the storm will strengthen into a hurricane and will most likely affect the Bahamas and possibly Cuba and Florida. Again, that prediction can change within hours depending upon atmospheric conditions.

Hurricane Gustav downgraded to a tropical storm, however the National Hurricane Center says it will likely strengthen over the warm Caribbean waters over the next 48 hours, regaining hurricane strength by tomorrow.

Gustav's current 5-day track shows it making landfall just south of New Orleans, something that Hurricane Katrina survivors say has them on high alert. Hurricane Gustav killed 23 people in Haiti and is not a storm to take lightly, especially since it's final destination is still unknown.

Hurricane experts are warning all Gulf Coast residents that by Labor Day, Gustav could make landfall anywhere from south Texas to Florida.

"We know it's going to head into the gulf. After that, we're not sure," said meteorologist Rebecca Waddington at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. "For that reason, everyone in the gulf needs to be monitoring the storm."

One thing is certain, Hurricane Gustav will make landfall in the coming days, so let's start hurricane preparations now.

Just as we breathe a sigh of relief about Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Gustav pops onto the scene almost instantly.

A tropical depression 260 miles south of Port Au Prince quickly formed into Hurricane Gustav, a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, which is now sweeping across Haiti. The National Hurricane Center predicts Gustav to strengthen again over open water on its way from Haiti toward southeastern Cuba.

The five day warning cone of Hurricane Gustav continues to show Florida in the clear, but Gulf Coast states like Texas and Louisiana are not. But before Floridians get giddy with relief, consider what Jeff Masters of Weather Underground says: "The final landfall location of Gustav depends on the strength and speed of a trough of low pressure forecast to move across the Midwest U.S. late this week. At present, there is no way to guess which location in the Gulf of Mexico is the most likely.''

So once again, I am going through my hurricane preparation checklist and mentally taking note of supplies needed and making a plan, as should all Gulf Coast residents. Especially since three more tropical disturbances are being tracked by the National Hurricane Center, two of which have good probability of forming into a tropical depression.

Regardless of where Hurricane Gustav makes landfall, we may have three storms to contend with in the near future, so gather the supplies now for a hurricane boat preparation kit, and make a hurricane boat preparation plan.

Hurricane Boat Preparation - If you haven't formulated a plan already, read this for the basics of hurricane boat prep plan.

Hurricane Boat Prep for Trailered Boats

Hurricane Boat Prep for Moored Boats

Hurricane Boat Prep for Anchored Boats

Hurricane Preparation Kit - Items you will need to prepare your boat for the storm.

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