What's the Weather Like Near You? Fall 2022 Edition

[David Falkayn]

11 AM Update: They've moved the track closer to where I live. Right now still talking about 45 mph sustained winds, will probably gust up to hurricane speed. I'm not worried so much about water--I'm on pretty high ground with good drainage and two storm dreams on either side of the house. My big concern is wind. Continuing to monitor the situation and if it begins to look grim, will pack up computer, important docs, and other valuables and head off to my sisters. Hurricane warning just got issued so we're looking at 75 mph winds.

[campy]

I managed to get out and bask in the sunshine today, since we had 70° and no clouds. However, I doubt I'll even try again this year given how low in the sky the sun was, even at local solar noon.

[David Falkayn]

2 PM update: Ian's strengthened to 120 mph and expected landfall between Tampa Bay and Fort Myers. We're looking at tropical force winds with hurricane gusts. This storm's going to be a rainmaker too, but wind is still the primary concern. Once power goes out, I'll probably be offline for quite a while--could easily be a week or longer. I'll keep ya'll updated as long as I can.

[campy]

Sorry you're having to endure this, David Falkayn. Luckily, in a few weeks you'll have a chance to take action that will help over the long term, according to one of the great intellects of our time:

Voting Democrat Will Stop Hurricanes

Here in New England it's still sunny and 71°.

[David Falkayn]

Sorry you're having to endure this, David Falkayn. Luckily, in a few weeks you'll have a chance to take action that will help over the long term, according to one of the great intellects of our time:

Voting Democrat Will Stop Hurricanes

Here in New England it's still sunny and 71°.

She must be related to King Cnut

5PM update just came in. This is going to be an ugly one. They're talking two to three days of rain and wind. When Charley came through in '05, we were out of power for at least a week. This storm reminds me more of Jeanne though--it's going to be a rainmaker and we've already had a lot of rain over the summer. I could well be out of power for a week, maybe two or more so, if you don't hear from me--that's what happened. Cooked all my perishable meats and have put gallon jugs of water in the freezer to act as a cooler. I'm also keeping an eye on expected wind speeds. The previous owner said that the house I'm in made it through the last hurricane with only minor damage, but Irma came and went pretty quick. Anyway, I got my KP dvds and important dvds and papers ready to load into the car and if it begins to look bad, I'll load up the computer and head over to my sister's.

8 PM: No change in track. It's still Cat 3, but expected to strengthen. Right now, we're in a waiting mode here. Tomorrow will probably be the last day I have power for a while.

5 AM: They moved the track a little to the south of where I live, but this is such a big storm that it doesn't really matter. Getting constant rain now and it still hasn't made landfall yet. Right now its a Cat 4 storm with 140 mph winds and will probably be Cat 1/Tropical Storm force when the eye gets near my area. Expecting power outage later on today/tonight. If I still have power tomorrow morning, I'll be very happy. I really feel for the people living in the Fort Myers area, they're going to get hit hard. Next update, power permitting, 8 AM.

[campy]

It's 49° and clear now.

[David Falkayn]

6:45 AM--They just released an interim update. Winds have gone up to 155 mph and the storm will almost definitely hit Cat 5 status. This is not good--not good at all.
8 AM update. Had to relocate computer to first fallback position when it started leaking in the Florida room and the leak started getting too close where I was working. They've moved the center of the track to the east and south. It's now running just south of Lake Wales, but with a storm like this, that doesn't matter. It's Cat 4-Cat 5 now--bad news either way. I'll keep ya'll updated as long as I have power.

11 AM: Looks like it's beelining towards Ft. Myers now. Track is still south of Lake Wales, but like I said, this thing is so big it doesn't matter. So far no more leaks. Looks like a bit of a lull between bands so I'm going to do a quick survey outside. Next update power permitting 2 PM.

Just got back from my survey. So far everything's looking intact, but the winds are beginning to pick up.

12 PM: Ian's eyewall hit land at about Cape Coral. Wind speed has really picked up and we're under a tornado watch. Had a brief power glitch as they transferred transformers or whatever. Bleep's getting real. I'll keep you updated as long as I can.

12:45 PM This thing doesn't want to hit land--which is actually very bad because it keeps getting stronger over water. Had a couple of quick power blips where they had to switch so I've stopped doing anymore work on my stories until this ends and I get power back--which could be a while. Rain doesn't worry me as much as wind right now. Tonight/early morning tomorrow's supposed to be the worst of it. I'll try to keep you updated as long as I can.

2 PM: This storm's so big and so bad that the track is meaningless. No matter where you are it's going to hurt. Getting some winds now, but I'm expecting hurricane force winds by tonight. Raining heavy now, but so far its draining. Like I said, my big worry is the wind. Next official update is 5 PM, but I'll keep watch and keep you updated as long as I can.
3PM: From Fox13 Tampa (Paul Delegado is probably the best meteorologist in the area) Waiting official confirmation of landfall at Captiva Island. Still projected to go north to my backyard. Wind's picked up so has rain. Going to be a long night tonight.

[campy]

We all hope you stay safe, David Falkayn.

Sunny and 68° here this afternoon.

[David Falkayn]

Thanks, campy. I'm hunkered down and hoping for the best. Sister lost power, I've still got it, but probably not for much longer. Right now we're in Ian's bullseye. Hoping by the time he gets here he'll be down to a Cat 1 or Tropical Storm. Depending how things go, it could be a while--maybe a few weeks before I get back to ya'll or update my story. But--to whet your appetite, things are starting to get tense between Kim and her dad, Jessica and Steve are enjoying a quiet day in vegging on movies, Brick and Sue play miniature golf, and maybe a few other things. If I can post again I will, but like I said, I'm literally playing it minute by minute now. Hope to be back soon!

8PM and the wind and rain are pounding. So far everything's holding together, but the worst of the storm is supposed to be between 11 and 2. Still playing it minute by minute.

9:15 and still here. Winds are about 50 sustained gusting to 60 plus. Sealing around a couple of the windows is failing, but so far not serious. Still waiting for the worst of the storm.

11 PM and still here. Had a one or two minute outage and power was back. Lots of noise from the winds. Cat 1 storm now with 90 mph winds so its high end cat one. Next update 2 AM if power holds and I'm up.

[campy]

Clear and 49° this morning.