National Hurricane Center- Matthew Strengthening

a reply to: FightingBuddha

OMG. You are gonna get hit full force with it. So worried for you. 140 mph winds. Most structures wont stand with that force.
If you and your neighbors have an evacuation place u really need to go. Please keep us updated. Scary!

A weird weird update, went out to check on the storm and saw a very very strange thing. There is a (as good as I can describe it) shadow in the sky. It is a large straight black line an unkown distance away. No bright lights around could cause something like this.

Any ideas?

a reply to: FightingBuddha

Light scatter from moisture in the air (aka fog, light drizzle).

There is a bright light shining on a large object that is casting a shadow. With lots of moisture in the air in the form of fog or water droplets, it can cause shadows like this to appear.

a reply to: FightingBuddha

IMO, It's a vertical shadow caused by some tall object, whose image is superimposed upon the ultra moist air ahead of the Hurricane. Or it could be a compact mini tornado. But those two bright lights are the reason you're seeing whatever that is.

Hoping everyone is riding it out from a safe place. 'Been through a few hurricanes (Hugo, Opal, et. al) and I'd take this one seriously. Stay safe, and don't forget the beasties.

a reply to: EchoesInTime

Yeah, they, and myself, are pretty hard headed. Personally, I have a lot of animals (parrots, reptiles, fish tanks, cat) that I have to take care of. I feel it's my responsibility as an animal parent that I should take care of them as much as I do myself, and that if I weren't there for them in a time of crisis I'd never be able to look at myself again. Another thing is that a few of my neighbors are frail and old and alone, too stubborn to leave all their earthly possessions to a storm. If there is anything I can do to help them I have to be here to do that. We have no emergency services while wind is over 40mph and I can't stand the thought of somebody being injured and alone in a storm like this.

a reply to: carewemust

Nice! Thanks!

a reply to: eriktheawful

Nice! Thanks for that educational tidbit. Was weird to go outside and see the sky split in half.

originally posted by: eriktheawful
a reply to: ketsuko

But that might make it to where someone who desperately needs those batteries being sold at 30 and 40 dollars a pop, not able to get them.

There is a simple solution to rationing out, and stores do it all the time, even in non-emergency situations:

Limit the amount a customer can buy.

It's that simple. No need to price gouge.

I didn't say it was all good, but I pointed out that it isn't all bad, either. Economically speaking, gouging that keeps things from selling at all is as counter-productive as drastically under pricing things would be.

Now Paul Goodloe of TWC
is evacuating inland.
"If the Weather Channel leaves,
you should leave!"

Some quotes from today that I wrote down:

This is like no storm in the record books!
There no doubt will be heartbreaking loss of life!
Nothing like this since at least 1850.
We want to cover the story, not be the story.
Biggest evacuation ever.
Leave now, or you'll be dead!
It will turn, they usually do. (Person staying!)
I was born & raised here, never evacuated.
This storm will kill you!
A hurricane has never taken this track before.
It's a very complex thing we're looking at.
Do you have body bags? (GA)



WOQ

To those here who cannot or will not leave for various reasons -- Godspeed. Our thoughts are with you and those who are around you. I know there are those who are staying for noble reasons, and I pray you ALL come through this, you and your neighbors.

a reply to: roadgravel

I live just inland from Galveston and recall Ike well. My sister lives in San Leon, right near the water, her house had around 2-3 feet of water in it but stood, her landlords house was up on stilts but got knocked over by a boat that had gotten torn loose from somewhere and battered their house to pieces.

I don't like thinking about what this storm might do especially since my son and his fiancee are living there. They're well inland, but this looks to be a beast and it could devastate quite a good way inland if the winds remain high.

when is it due to hit?

a reply to: wasobservingquietly

This is my sons response to my tears, pleading and worry...



Just not worried at all..


Needless to say I am pissed, tired and stressed!

a reply to: jadedANDcynical

I wonder about the storm surge. Barrier islands aren't usually much above sea level.

The 1900 hurricane in Galveston is why there is now a sea wall.

Owing to contradictory forecasts, the people of Galveston felt no alarm until the official hurricane warning of September 7. Next morning a storm surge of 15 ft (4.6 m) washed over the long, flat island-city which was only 8 ft (2.4 m) above sea level, knocking buildings off their foundations and destroying over 3,600 homes.

The disaster ended the Golden Era of Galveston, as the hurricane alarmed potential investors, who turned to Houston instead. The whole island of Galveston was presently raised by 17 ft (5.2 m) and a 10 sq mi (26 km2) seawall erected.

from Wiki

a reply to: roadgravel

Oh, I know all about the 1900 Storm and the seawall. I'm a bit of a local history buff and so I've read up on that one.

My family (Grandpa and great uncle) helped rebuild the local church and one room schoolhouse that were damaged or destroyed in that one.

I've been through Alicia and all of them since; this one is a monster of such proportions as we haven't seen before. Andrew did a lot of damage in Florida, so I hope this one doesn't top that.



My avatar is the statue on the seawall commemorating the 1900 storm, in point of fact.

Not sure how life goes in Fl but... seems like I have been listening to reports of fires, gas leaks and many many powerlines down yet no reports of weather being very bad at this point in Brower county...

www.broadcastify.com...

originally posted by: autopat51
when is it due to hit?

Really late tonight, around Melbourne, Florida. The track looks like a coast-hugger, right up to South Carolina. This will enable Matthew to stay stronger, longer than it would if the entire eye-wall was to traverse the state over land. But on the positive side, inland Florida cities (like Orlando) won't get hammered as badly.

Source: www.accuweather.com... 4

SPAM removed by admin

a reply to: jadedANDcynical

This is not the biggest ever. Camille, Katrina, the 1935 Labor day. But it getting up there.

I've been through several in the Houston area. Carla, west of the Houston area, was a 5.

I really hope it tends to stay offshore.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

I've live in Florida for 33 years. Hurricane season is by far my favorite thing here but this kind of hurricane is no joke. I'm even freaked out. I won't know if my home will be there when I return or what. I am in Brevard county (Space Coast) and I live in the county north, Volusia. I've never seen anything like this. So many people evacuated. It's just crazy. We haven't had storm like this in forever!

The rain and wind are picking up. It's dark. I don't like a storm in the dark but it will be worse in the morning. Stay safe if you're in the path!