CFHC Talkback For News Story #101:
Newest Talkback: 10:25 PM 09-17 EDT

Hurricane Warnings up
10:55 PM EDT - 16 September 2000

Hurricane Warnings now up Anna Maria Island Northward to Ochlockonee River.

Will Gordon strengthen or will he stay about the same?  At this time the experts feel Gordon will not strengthen much but do not let your guard down yet.  Anything can happen. Folks on the west coast of Florida need to keep a close watch and start getting anything that will blow around on your property secured. Even those inland a bit need to start doing this also, if you have not already.  It's always better to be safe than sorry.  And listen to your local officals for any evacuation orders and stay tuned to official forecasts.

This will be our last news update until I get to Texas or Mike somehow gets on.  

Comments or Questions? Everyone is invited to use it. Use the comment button by the story Headline.

NRL Monterey Marine Meteorology Division Forecast Track of Active Systems (Good Forecast Track Graphic and Satellite Photos)

Map with nearly all model projected tracks plotted for TD#11. From Michael Bryson.

Crown Weather Services Tropical Update (Includes Map with multiple forecast model tracks)
Snonut's Hurricane Reports
Satellite images at: [Visible] (visible -- Daytime Only) [Infrared] (infrared), and [Water Vapor] (water vapor)
Loops: Visible Loop - Infrared Loop - Water Vapor Loop
A nice animated Water Vapor Image
Ocean Surface Winds Derived from the SeaWinds Scatterometer (Experimental)
StormCarib.com has reports from folks in the Caribbean islands themselves and is worth checking out when storms approach the Caribbean.
Ouragans.com Français -- L'information sur des ouragans comprenant beaucoup de liens.
Tormenta.net Español -- Gran información sobre huracanes aquí.

Some Forecast models: (NGM, AVN, MRF, ECMWF, ETA)
DoD weather models (NOGAPS, AVN, MRF)
AVN, ECMWF, GFDL, NOGAPS, UKMET

- [jc]

Show All Comments | Show Next 18 Comments
Displaying Talkbacks #1 - #18 (of 39 total)
in the future... (#1)
Posted by: Alex K
Posted On 11:48PM 16-Sep-2000 with id (VSNTRNQTQNQPS*)

If Gordon tracks even a bit further east would it be possible for it to retain more strength if it tracked closer to if not barely in the Atlantic Ocean?
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS? (#2)
Posted by: Mike Location: Valrico
Posted On 01:27AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RTNYRNRQWNX*)

Long time viewer of this site and I value the different comments from all the contributors ranging from Weather Buffs to Weather Pros. My question is why havn't emergency management officials ordered mandatory evacuations with the posting of Hurricane Warnings at 11:00 P.M. by the NHC. If Gordon comes ashore say, just north of Tampa Bay (i.e. Tarpon Springs, which is in warning area) even as a Cat 1 Storm, a lot of people would be under water in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. So far they have only given voluntary evacuation orders for zone 1 areas and we are less than 24 hours from expected landfall. I know they are expecting actual landfall farther north, but these counties are in warned area. This would seem to be dangerous and can mislead people into a false sense of security that they are not in danger.
citrus county (#3)
Posted by: William Location: Crystal River, Fl.
Posted On 01:46AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RPUNRTUNVQNQQW*)

Mike--I know i live in crystal river & ive heard very little from our eoc officials also.Its like you have to go out & find the info. for youeself. They should be more informative--At least i think so!!
Radar Loop (#4)
Posted by: Kevin Location: Orlando
Posted On 03:42AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RTNRWNRQYNQWV*)

If I am seeing what I think I am seeing.....look out Tampa!!! The Intellicast regional radar loop clearly shows that during the past two hours Gordon's "eye" has moved at a heading closer to 45 or 50 degrees. If this heading persists for much longer the storm's approach to the Tampa Bay area will be much closer and sooner than expected.

The link to the radar loop I am referring to is:

http://www.intellicast.com/LocalWeather/World/UnitedStates/Southeast/Florida/Jacksonville/RadarLoop/

This should prove to be quite an interesting day for us all.

Take care and stay safe....
Kevin


4:55AM RAin is steady no wind -yet (#5)
Posted by: Mary Location: Lakeland
Posted On 04:07AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (QRNWWNQVRNQVV*)

At 4:00 Am in the morning it is difficult to get good updated information. The satellite pictures are not clear as to what is going on and the advisory appears to be from 10:00 pm. As far as madatory evacuations, I don't thin that there has been adequate reason to evacuate -yet. We are in land from Tampa Bay and have not even had gusts of wind, much less tropical force winds. I have a feeling if we get a blow from this storm it will come at day break. It would be better on people to not leave and get stuck on the flooding roads. The water is going to be our biggest problem in this area Polk has a lot of low lying areas, Most of which is swamplands that dried out in the last 40 years. Only time and Daybreak will tell what is really going on.
Getting hammered with rain (#6)
Posted by: mike Location: Clearwater Beach
Posted On 04:57AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RTNQVQNRTPNRPS*)

This thing is a rainmaker. We've been getting harf rain for the last hour. Winds appear to be gusting around 20-3- mph's so far. Why no update since 11. Has it been downgraded?
Blown forecast (#7)
Posted by: mike Location: Clearwater Beach
Posted On 05:11AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RTNQVQNRTPNRPS*)

Just heard pressure dropped to around 980 with reported gust of 80 to 90 mph with the 2:am advisory. Someone blew this. Pinellas County didn't order evacuations for level A flood zone. I have a feeling there will be soom extensive flooding.
Mandatory Evacuations (#8)
Posted by: Pat Location: Sarasota
Posted On 05:55AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RTNTNRURNQVQ*)

I can't be sure that I'm right, but I don't believe that Emergency Mangement orders mandatory evacuations when you are in a Tropical Storm Warning mode. I know that my TV stations have been telling watchers about possible flooding if you are in a low-lying area and to get out if you think you will be flooded. People should be monitoring their TV sets.
Mandatory Evacuations (#9)
Posted by: Pat Location: Sarasota
Posted On 06:01AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RTNTNRURNQVQ*)

Whoops! My mistake. You people north of Anna Maria Island ARE in a Hurricane Warning mode.
Something is happening (#10)
Posted by: David (http://†)
Posted On 06:18AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RTNRWNRRUNTV*)

It looks like the storm is trying to move Eastward.

http://sgihss3f.wwb.noaa.gov/data4/images/TROPICAL/atl/gmex-wv-loop.html
The Eye (#11)
Posted by: David (http://†)
Posted On 06:22AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RTNRWNRRUNTV*)

Is it me or does it look like the eye of Gorgon has taken a jog to the East.

http://sgihss3f.wwb.noaa.gov/data4/images/TROPICAL/float/float-ir4-loop.html
Did shift East overnight (#12)
Posted by: mike Location: Clearwater Beach
Posted On 06:43AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RTNQVQNRTPNRPS*)

iit definitely has. Storm woke me up around 4:30 and when I went to bed it was suppose to go to aPpalachacola but did shift east overnight with landfall around Cedar Key.
Gordon (#13)
Posted by: Bruce Location: Palm Bay Florida
Posted On 06:44AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (QURNQVSNRPTNSU*)

I dont think he has made a jog to the east. Central Florida is in for alot of rain
East Jog? (#14)
Posted by: Mike Location: Valrico
Posted On 06:44AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RTNYRNRQWNX*)

It's more noticable on intellicast.com radar loop. Looks like little wobble to the east on the last frames.
It has (#15)
Posted by: Jim F. (http://flhurricane.com/jfaul/) Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Posted On 06:48AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RPXNVQNQQUNY*)

That thing is sitting right offshore of Tampa. I can tell you here in Ft. Lauderdale we have winds sustained at 20 with gusts to 30 and it is amazing to look overhead and once again see the circulation of a trop system wrapping towards the center..the clouds are driving hard to the Northwest towards the center and although humidity is 77 and temp is 83 it feels like a dry wind. We have been under the influence of many circulations the last three years but I haven't felt conditions quite like this before. I just hope the water isn't piling up too bad in Tampa as it sounds like they didn't prepare too much.
East Of tampa Bay (#16)
Posted by: Mary Location: Lakeland
Posted On 07:11AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (QRNWWNQVRNQPQ*)

I am to the east of Tampa Bay and so far the winds are not too bad here. The trees are moving constantly but it is high in the air.
Weather Report (#17)
Posted by: Richie Location: Boynton Beach, FL
Posted On 08:15AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RPUNQXXNQYSNQWW*)

Step Outside and you can feel the tropical air mass here in SE Florida. Currently 82 degrees, Dew Point 76 Winds SE 22 gusting to 34 mph.
Gordon (#18)
Posted by: Rob Location: Melrose
Posted On 08:37AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RPYNRQRNQSRNXX*)

Here in Melrose we will be to the right of the storm's track. I expect we may be in for some heavy rain, but I don't expect sustained winds over 40 mph. with gusts to maybe 55. I will keep you central Floridians posted, especially if it gets interesting.
SEVERE WEATHER IN SOUTH FLORIDA (#19)
Posted by: Richie Location: Boynton Beach, FL
Posted On 08:51AM 17-Sep-2000 with id (RPUNQXXNQYSNQWW*)

Those of you in SW and SE Florida don't let your guard down. Just look at the long tail of possible severe weather that extends from Gordon all the way down to the Yucatan still. This tail will influence your weather later today with possible severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. A special local statement mentions severe thunderstorm winds up to 70 mph!!!!!!!
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