This is not hype. This is real and please check in to just chat if you want to. The east coast has a major forecast of a hit from West Palm northwards. The West Coast is dealing with Tropical Storm conditions. The latest on the West and central part of Florida as of 6AM this morning is as such…..
If you are on the East side of I-95.. Just leave please…. We are expecting millions of people without power. Please be safe and if it turns out not to be as bad...then good but projections are not good.
Please take shelter...prepare.. Stay tuned in to weather alerts and know this is a major hurricane.
Be safe and check in here or terrypender’s blog. www.dailykos.com/… also terrypender’s new thread….www.dailykos.com/...
Better safe than sorry.
BREAKING WEATHER: AIRPORT DELAYSHOME PAGEYour CURRENT Local Weather Forecast Here Weather Alert Hurricane Local Statement issued October 06 at 5:55AM EDT until further notice by NWS Tampa Bay THIS PRODUCT COVERS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA **RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT FINDS MATTHEW STRENGTHENING NEAR THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - NONE * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SUMTER...POLK...HARDEE AND HIGHLANDS - A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PINELLAS...DESOTO...COASTAL LEVY...COASTAL CITRUS...COASTAL HERNANDO...COASTAL PASCO...COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH...COASTAL MANATEE...COASTAL SARASOTA...COASTAL CHARLOTTE...COASTAL LEE...INLAND LEVY...INLAND CITRUS...INLAND HERNANDO...INLAND PASCO...INLAND HILLSBOROUGH...INLAND MANATEE...INLAND SARASOTA...INLAND CHARLOTTE AND INLAND LEE * STORM INFORMATION: - ABOUT 500 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CEDAR KEY FL OR ABOUT 420 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF MOUTH OF TAMPA BAY FL OR ABOUT 340 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF FORT MYERS FL - 24.2N 77.1W - STORM INTENSITY 125 MPH - MOVEMENT NORTHWEST OR 320 DEGREES AT 12 MPH SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ HURRICANE MATTHEW HAS STRENGTHENED EARLY THIS MORNING AND REMAINS A DANGEROUS MAJOR HURRICANE AS IT CONTINUES TRACKING NORTHWEST ACROSS THE BAHAMAS. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED AS MATTHEW APPROACHES THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THIS WILL BRING TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE CONDITIONS TO PORTIONS OF THE STATE...WITH TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXTENDING OVER PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR PENINSULA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * WIND: PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING WIND HAVING POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE: - CONSIDERABLE ROOF DAMAGE TO STURDY BUILDINGS, WITH SOME HAVING WINDOW, DOOR, AND GARAGE DOOR FAILURES LEADING TO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. MOBILE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED, WITH SOME DESTROYED. DAMAGE ACCENTUATED BY AIRBORNE PROJECTILES. LOCATIONS MAY BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS. - MANY LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ALONG WITH FENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER. - SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. SEVERAL BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND ACCESS ROUTES IMPASSABLE. - LARGE AREAS WITH POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES. * FLOODING RAIN: PROTECT AGAINST LOCALLY HAZARDOUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS POLK...HIGHLANDS...HARDEE...AND DESOTO COUNTIES. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE: - LOCALIZED RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT A FEW EVACUATIONS. - RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY RISE WITH SWIFTER CURRENTS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, AND DITCHES MAY BECOME SWOLLEN AND OVERFLOW IN SPOTS. - FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER A FEW STRUCTURES, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS. A FEW PLACES WHERE RAPID PONDING OF WATER OCCURS AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. SEVERAL STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS BECOME NEAR-FULL AND BEGIN TO OVERFLOW. SOME BRIEF ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES. ELSEWHERE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED. * TORNADOES: PROTECT AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS POLK AND HIGHLANDS COUNTIES. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE: - THE OCCURRENCE OF ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS. - A FEW PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS. - LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS PEELED OFF BUILDINGS, CHIMNEYS TOPPLED, MOBILE HOMES PUSHED OFF FOUNDATIONS OR OVERTURNED, LARGE TREE TOPS AND BRANCHES SNAPPED OFF, SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES KNOCKED OVER, MOVING VEHICLES BLOWN OFF ROADS, AND SMALL BOATS PULLED FROM MOORINGS. ELSEWHERE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: NOW IS THE TIME TO BRING TO COMPLETION ALL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN. OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE WRAPPED UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE WEATHER CONDITIONS COMPLETELY DETERIORATE. ANY REMAINING EVACUATIONS AND RELOCATIONS SHOULD BE EXPEDITED BEFORE THE ONSET OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND. IF YOU ARE RELOCATING TO SAFE SHELTER, LEAVE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. IF HEADING TO A COMMUNITY SHELTER, BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE SHELTER RULES BEFORE ARRIVAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS OR OWN A PET. TAKE ESSENTIAL ITEMS WITH YOU FROM YOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLIES KIT. CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST BEFORE DEPARTING. FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SHELTER MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMPLY WITH ANY ORDERS THAT ARE ISSUED. REMEMBER, DURING THE STORM 9 1 1 EMERGENCY SERVICES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESPOND IF CONDITIONS ARE UNSAFE. THIS SHOULD BE A BIG FACTOR IN YOUR DECISION MAKING. CHECK-IN WITH YOUR EMERGENCY POINTS OF CONTACT AMONG FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND WORKMATES. INFORM THEM OF YOUR STATUS AND WELL-BEING. LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU INTEND TO RIDE OUT THE STORM AND WHEN YOU PLAN TO CHECK-IN AGAIN. KEEP CELL PHONES WELL CHARGED AND HANDY. ALSO, CELL PHONE CHARGERS FOR AUTOMOBILES CAN BE HELPFUL AFTER THE STORM. LOCATE YOUR CHARGERS AND KEEP THEM WITH YOUR CELL PHONE. IN EMERGENCIES IT IS BEST TO REMAIN CALM. STAY INFORMED AND FOCUSED ON THE SITUATION AT HAND. EXERCISE PATIENCE WITH THOSE YOU ENCOUNTER. BE A GOOD SAMARITAN AND HELPFUL TO OTHERS. IF RELOCATING TO A NEARBY SHELTER OR TO THE HOME OF A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND, DRIVE WITH EXTRA CAUTION, ESPECIALLY ON SECONDARY ROADS. REMEMBER, MANY BRIDGES AND CAUSEWAYS WILL BE CLOSED ONCE HIGHER WINDS ARRIVE. ALSO, IF YOU ENCOUNTER WATER COVERING THE ROAD, SEEK AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. ALWAYS OBEY OFFICIAL ROAD SIGNS FOR CLOSURES AND DETOURS. IF YOU ARE A VISITOR AND STILL IN THE AREA, LISTEN FOR THE NAME OF THE CITY OR TOWN IN WHICH YOU ARE STAYING WITHIN LOCAL NEWS UPDATES. BE SURE YOU KNOW THE NAME OF THE COUNTY OR PARISH IN WHICH IT RESIDES. PAY ATTENTION FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES. CLOSELY MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. BE READY TO ADAPT TO POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE FORECAST. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV - FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG - FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG NEXT UPDATE ----------- THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL AROUND 12 PM, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT