Here comes Fay

[CarlS]

Fay is ashore. She came in south of Naples and spared Naples and Ft Myers the worst of it. The rain is now half way up the state. We are on the very fringe of the weather - but it is definitely coming. the worst of the weather has been across the unpopulated Everglades. That will change as she moves northeast up and across the state.

As storms go, Fay is not a big deal; with sustained winds of only 60 mph (96.6 kph) sustained with gusts to 75 mph (hurricane strength), she is only a tropical storm, not a hurricane. She is dumping four to eight inches (10.2 - 20.3 centimeters) in her path. We have thunderstorms with 60+ mph winds. The real danger is the tornadoes these storms spawn. These tornadoes are small and short lived; but they are darn sure damaging where they hit. There have been several tornadoes in Collier and Palm Beach Counties. No damage reports yet. We will all see trees and limbs down and these will take out power lines. I hope the structure damage is minimal.

Schools are closed all the way from the southern tip of the state up the to north Florida (Jacksonville). Fuzzy and Shyguy are getting some rough weather right now. Shyguy is in the area where tornadoes are popping.

 

[CarlS]

Just heard that 30,00 people in Lee and Collier Counties are without electricity. That number will grow all up the state as the day goes on.

 

[DaveM]

Well glad to hear it is not that bad and I hope the rest in the path are also not affected to badly by it

 

[dazco]

Heck, it sounds like it's so much better than 1st thought it's almost riding weather. But with a name like Fay i suppose it should be expected to be wimpy. Now if it had been named brutus, then you best get down in the cellar immediately. Any similarity to names used in the popeye cartoon are purely coincidental.

 

[Gromit]

[quote author=CarlS link=topic=1107.msg8039#msg8039 date=1219149170]
As storms go, Fay is not a big deal; with sustained winds of only 60 mph (96.6 kph) sustained with gusts to 75 mph (hurricane strength), she is only a tropical storm, not a hurricane. She is dumping four to eight inches (10.2 - 20.3 centimeters) in her path. We have thunderstorms with 60+ mph winds. The real danger is the tornadoes these storms spawn. These tornadoes are small and short lived; but they are darn sure damaging where they hit.[/quote]
ONLY 60mph! Are you crazy? That would scare the bejeebers out of me. Stay safe!

 

[CarlS]

Gromit, really bad ones are 150 mph+ (241.4 kph) and sometimes in excess of 200 mph (321.9 kph). I have been in them from 100 mph to 150 mph - never been in and don't want to be in one of the really bad ones.

 

[fuzzy]

[quote author=CarlS link=topic=1107.msg8039#msg8039 date=1219149170] Fuzzy and Shyguy are getting some rough weather right now. Shyguy is in the area where tornadoes are popping.
[/quote]

I'm fixin' to make another pot of coffee and cook up a pot of red beans. Got some really good bacon to go with that. Too windy and rainy to enjoy anything outdoors.

 

[Gromit]

Carl, remind me to plan my holiday outside of tornado, hurrican season!

 

[CarlS]

Look at the adventure you would miss!!!

Fuzzy, Mae Lyne just called me. She is in Hastings and locked her keys on her truck. The truck has a security system and it is cheaper for me to ride the 90 miles up there and back than call a locksmith. So I will get some storm riding in. I'm out of here. Se y'all later.

 

[DaveM]

Ride safe

 

[fuzzy]

[quote author=DaveM link=topic=1107.msg8118#msg8118 date=1219157870]
Ride safe
[/quote]

Had a hard time getting on the site. Took about 30 minutes.

....and he is riding. His truck has a bad wheel bearing. No worries, though. He has his foul weather gear and he is on a Triumph Bonneville. He called a while ago. He had unlocked Mae's truck and was gassing up for the trip home. I gave him the radar summary. He will make it back home before it gets too bad.

Wind is starting to pound here. Howling around the eaves and whistling through the porch screens.Yard is not flooded, but septic tank drain field must be saturated as the last flush was a little slow.

If you can get a radar pic and if it matters, My house is at the top of that big lake in South Florida, Lake Okeechobee.

 

[DaveM]

Fuzzy, thanks for giving us this feedback I must admit I am concerned that Carl is out riding in such bad weather :y18:

 

[fuzzy]

He called me at 12:52 ET) and it is now 2:35. He was 89 miles from home and should be there or getting close by now. I will call him soon and make sure he is OK. This bad weather will take at least 4 hours to get to him. I am sure he will have a "weather" story to tell.

Remember, Dave: He's on a Triumph.

 

[DaveM]

Yeah but it is the other idiots that are not that worry me more, I have faith in the Triumph :y114:

 

[dazco]

Whoa !!! I can't believe this. I guess it's not much of a storm, but i hope it doesn't get worse while he's out there ! I would think she could have had a auto shop break into it or something. 180 miles round trip is a long ways in a storm. h:

 

[CarlS]

I'm back safe and sound. It is about 40 miles from my house to Daytona Beach. Just north of Daytona beach, I broke out into blue skies and sunshine for the remaining 50 miles. Coming back I stopped in Daytona and donned my rain gear. I ran through a pretty good squall and battled winds of 40 -- 45 mph.

 

[CarlS]

Dale, Mae Lyne was about 20 miles from the nearest anything on a farm. I cost me about $14.00 to go up there. It would have cost a minimum of $75.00 to call locksmith or a mechanic. A friend in St Augustine went out to get her and take her to her doctor's appointment. She is now on the road heading to Mariana in the panhandle. She had two doctors appointments on Monday and one today - all in St Augustine. So she spent the night with a friend of ours. She will visit her daughter and grandson for ten days.

 

[dazco]

I see. Well, at least you got a ride in. :wink: Glad to hear the weather was cooperative. I have a hard time convincing myself to ride when it's too cold out.......say, maybe 50 degrees.

 

[CarlS]

The temperature was fine - mid 80's in the sun upper 70's under the clouds.

 

[shyguy344]

Hey Carl,
Glad to hear you made it back safely. This kind of weather is NOT fun to ride in. We got lots of rain and a good amount of wind, but nothing too drastic. More aggravation than anything.
The little drainage "ditch" in front of my house that is about 6-8 inches across became a 25-30 foot river for the better part of the day, but, other than that, and the grief of waiting for the city inspector who insisted he was coming, but never did, all is well here.

Take care, pal, and stay dry. You still have more of this thing to deal with tonight and tomorrow, from what they are saying.....