Fay Watch

While we are enjoying a long spell of air-conditioner-free weather: low humidity and daytime highs a little above 80, the weather report last night made me aware of trouble brewing in the Caribbean. So for the last 24 hours I've been tracking Tropical Storm Fay on various online sites from NOAA and The Weather Channel. Fay has caused misery and loss of life in the Domincan, Haiti and Cuba and the next stop is projected to be the Florida Keys and then the West Coast of Florida.

Not long after Doug moved to Fort Myers, we became dedicated watchers of the tropical updates. The first year there was a brief skirmish with tropical storm Ernesto but it resembled nothing more than a heavy downpour here in the heartland. But Fay seems to be the most serious potential storm to threaten this area since Hurricane Charley in 2004. Tonight's Weather Service update says that Fay may strengthen to "near hurricane strength" as it approaches the Keys tomorrow and the SW Florida coast on Tuesday. All areas on the east side of the storm, its strongest side, may be at risk of strong winds and tornadoes. If Fay stays over the Gulf and eventually makes landfall farther north, it might be even more destructive. Short of an outright fizzle, there is not a lot of good news here for a lot of people, including our boys and granddog.

Our prayers are for everyone in harm's way: those who have already been slammed by wind and rain in Cuba and Hispaniola; those who are debating whether to evacuate or wait; those who are racing to put up storm shutters or wondering if they really need to; those who have work and school and everyday life to try to carry on this week despite any dire forecasts on TV. I've found useful information on the NBC television station in Ft. Myers at this spot, and also at this blog by the station's meteorologist--who has already widened my storm vocabulary by a nautical mile or two. The National Hurricane Center site is also helpful, and issues updates at 5, 11, 5 and 11 EDT every day. We will stay tuned.