2013 Hurricane Season Has Started.

[Sereno]

JUNE 1, 2013.

Ya. I know. Just what you want to here. This year is predicted to be active and down here in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean we have had some unusual whether for the last couple of months. So dry that we can not find any hay and our pastures are/where in bad shape. THEN, It has not stopped raining and thunderstorms for the last week. (We did find 60 bales at private farm and begged, so we set for awhile.)

Just a little reminder. HURRICANE SEASON HAS STARTED. This is what, in small part, we get from our State Department via our Embassy in Santo Domingo.

The Hurricane express is already active off of Cape Verde, Africa. This is where many large Hurricanes come from that effect us and build into BIG ones that hit the U.S.

1. The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the upcoming
Hurricane Season in the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of
Mexico. Hurricane season in the Atlantic begins June 1 and ends
November 30.

2. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA)
Climate Prediction Center (Climate Prediction Center) expects to
see an active or extremely active season in the Atlantic Basin this
year with a 70 percent chance of 13 to 20 named storms, of which
seven to eleven are predicted to strengthen to a hurricane (with top
winds of 74 mph or higher). Of those, three to six are expected to
become major hurricanes (with top winds of 111 mph or higher,
ranking Category 3, 4 or 5). NOAA recommends that those in
hurricane-prone regions begin preparations for the upcoming season
now.

You all know what needs to be done and NOW is the time to get it done.

Kind regards.

Edited June 1, 2013 by Sereno

[Sereno]

HEADS UP PEOPLE IN THE GULF COAST! Tropical Storm Andrea has formed South West of Florida and moving North. Though NOT big at this time, 40 MHP winds, those in the Gulf area should keep and eye on her.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/05/us/tropical-weather-andrea/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/hurricane.tracker/index.html

[Sereno]

July 8. Five day forecast has it in Florida and aimed for the east coast. Lucky wife and self will be in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic as it hits there. WAY to early to know if she will become a Hurricane and her real path. So keep an eye on her.

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MIAMI — Tropical Storm Chantal is racing toward the Lesser Antilles after forming in the Atlantic.

The storm formed southwest of the island chain Sunday night to become the third named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

At 5 a.m., Chantal had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving west at 26 mph. The storm is more than 2,700 miles southeast of Raleigh.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe, and a tropical storm watch was in effect for Saint Vincent.

The center of Chantal was forecast to approach late Monday night or early Tuesday and move into the East Caribbean Sea on Tuesday.

"We'll have to keep monitoring this for the next several days," WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said. "It's not going to be impacting us for quite some time, if at all."

Meanwhile in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Erick is nearing the southern portion of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, where a tropical storm warning is in effect.

Erick's maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 50 mph (85 kph) with gradual weakening expected to continue over the next two days.

[Sereno]

Tropical Storm Chantal has picked up a little more wind this morning, around 52 mph and the projected track is straight for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic arriving just about the same time that we arrive via bus tomorrow afternoon.

What has us a little confused is that the projections are for Chantal not to strengthen much more. Ahhh???? She is still in the cooler waters of the Atlantic Ocean and these things normally pick up into Hurricanes when the enter the warmer Caribbean waters. The projected path is strange to us also. The Island of Hispaniola has a long and very high mountain range that normally would push the T.S. or H. to the west a lot more before going north.

So those on the east coast might want to keep and eye on her. I'll be on a bus most of tomorrow..... or maybe not.

Edit: Had to go do something. Even though we are on the North Coast of the Island and don't expect a lot of wind, we take these things very seriously and the rain alone can cause havoc and flooding is normal in areas around us and we can be stuck at home for a day or two. Electric goes out for 8 hours a day anyway, but can be off for several days even with a small T.S. We are use to these things and are prepared for the worse.

Today we will bring in all the outdoor furniture and secure outside stuff. Check that all the windows are closed and latched. Move some hay to a dryer spot and put up the storm boards on the side shed and prepare an area to move old donkey into. Check the solar panels to make sure they are bolted down, check batteries and "boil" them with a high charge; check generator and fuel. Fill the car and a couple of containers with gas. Tie down the horse trailer. Anything else?

Edited July 9, 2013 by Sereno