This one is for Texas --IKE

texbaylea · Sep 8, 2008

Here we go again. This one looks fairly certain for Texas. Now forecasted for Friday afternoon, anywhere from Port Arthur to Corpus Cristi.

I think I will get serious about clean up outside. I still have some leftover construction material stacked fairly close to the house that I need to move. The pallet forks will come in handy for this.

Vernon

mikim · Sep 9, 2008

Vern -- I'm not going to say publicly what the forecaster told me this a.m. .....but I'm taking off this afternoon to take some stuff to Bastrop from Angleton. The wife and G'son will most likely be leaving for Bastrop Thurs a.m. I think you've got the right idea where you are. Get all those outdoor wind missiles tied down -- and secure your garage doors.

texbaylea · Sep 9, 2008

mikim said:
Vern -- I'm not going to say publicly what the forecaster told me this a.m. .....but I'm taking off this afternoon to take some stuff to Bastrop from Angleton. The wife and G'son will most likely be leaving for Bastrop Thurs a.m. I think you've got the right idea where you are. Get all those outdoor wind missiles tied down -- and secure your garage doors.

Mike
I have been reading Dr. Jeff Master's blog on the Weather Underground for the more extensive discussion of the situation. It is very unsettled right now. I do plan to continue preparations.

Vernon

dmccarty · Sep 9, 2008

For 'Cane information I go right to Welcome to Weather Underground : Weather Underground. I don't even bother with other web pages. All the info I needs is on the underground. Easy to read and find the info. I can read the Dr's blog, the discussions, a few of the charts and I get far more info than I get reading the news pages in far less time.

If I ever get a weather station I'm going to connect it to Weather Underground.

Later,
Dan

texbaylea · Sep 9, 2008

dmccarty said:
For 'Cane information I go right to Welcome to Weather Underground : Weather Underground. I don't even bother with other web pages. All the info I needs is on the underground. Easy to read and find the info. I can read the Dr's blog, the discussions, a few of the charts and I get far more info than I get reading the news pages in far less time.

If I ever get a weather station I'm going to connect it to Weather Underground.

Later,
Dan

I agree with your sentiment.

I have a neighbor not too far from me that has his station on. Saves me from having to buy one. I refer to his station when the airport is way off base for what I am seeing.

Vernon

texasjohn · Sep 9, 2008

Am picking up stuff and preparing for IKE... wind and water .... don't want to play with them... need to get ALL prepared in advance.... also, have MIL in assisted living home in Corpus.. gotta figure out what their plans are and if i need to go pick her up.. may not post again until after we all know how things went.

Best wishes to all you Texas Gulf Coast and Central Texas TBN'ers. I,m gonna fill my tractor tank brim full..just in case it is needed.

texbaylea · Sep 9, 2008

texasjohn said:
Am picking up stuff and preparing for IKE... wind and water .... don't want to play with them... need to get ALL prepared in advance.... also, have MIL in assisted living home in Corpus.. gotta figure out what their plans are and if i need to go pick her up.. may not post again until after we all know how things went.

Best wishes to all you Texas Gulf Coast and Central Texas TBN'ers. I,m gonna fill my tractor tank brim full..just in case it is needed.

Please go here: Wunder Blog : Weather Underground

I think that it will be easier to make your decision after you read it. I think you should hurry.

Vernon

WTA · Sep 10, 2008

I was just about to head out to Corpus with my family on a fishing trip this Thursday, also to look at a couple of big sail boats I was interested in. NOT going to happen now. Both boats are 60 footers too and not coming out of the water and also the current owners are scared to go to sea so they will probably be firewood next week. This sucks!!!!

I've never ridden out a hurricane on anything shorter than 120 feet and I imagine it would be a bit high on the pucker factor. We did a 40 degree roll on an aircraft carrier I was on once and completely capsized on a frigate. Luckily it righted itself but it was a rough ride after the roll with no power. My wife gets sea sick tied to the pier too. We're better off staying home.

I will sure take the rain though if it comes this far inland.

dmccarty · Sep 10, 2008

texbaylea said:
...
I have a neighbor not too far from me that has his station on. Saves me from having to buy one. I refer to his station when the airport is way off base for what I am seeing.
...

Since there are about 6 stations near me I read what they are reporting. But its interesting how different their reports can be even though they might be 10 miles apart. Big differences in wind speed and rain amounts.

I really want to log what rain we get, the rate as well as wind speed. We don't have the bestest place to put the wind gauge but it really what I want to measure. Just have to deal with it if we can ever get the money to buy the station.

So for now I'll check other peoples stations.

Later,
Dan

txdon · Sep 10, 2008

Wow, they are forecasting 110 mph winds for Lee County. If that does happen I might be out of touch for a while while I try to find my satellite dish!

Mike keep us posted it looks like this is going to be a big mess.

Western · Sep 10, 2008

Tx Don,
go put your address on it so us folk up north Texas way can mail it back to ya.

Good thing you guy's are "sinching" up the saddle, may be a he"" of a ride

EastTexFrank · Sep 11, 2008

When I worked offsore in the Gulf, I've run from quite a few and rode one out ... not a lot of fun.

It's strange but when I worked in the North Sea, we regularly rode out storms with 100 mph winds and 60' to 100' waves but the equipment you were on was designed to handle it although it often got torn up in the process. When I came to the States and saw how the equipment was constructed, I'd run from any large storm too. It's better to err on the side of caution. Being caught in one of those things isn't a whole lot of fun but the sense of relief when it's passed is overwhelming.

For all of you in harms way, you are in out thoughts and prayers.

mikim · Sep 11, 2008

It's a monster and it's headed for Brazoria county (where I live) Brazoria county started mandatory evacuations yesterday a.m. and went in to full swing with them this a.m. at 8. I came to the office at midnight and will be here for the duration. Family is in Bastrop county - but that old 12 x 60 mobile isn't tied down so they'll probably end up at the barn. This is Rita all over again except it isn't going to turn north as soon as Rita - which is why you'll get hit in Lee county as well Don. Everybody in the path - keep your heads down - this one is bad. Keep checking the websites of your choice - the track will be updated at 9 this a.m. by NHC.

dmccarty · Sep 11, 2008

The weatherunderground has a storm surge map that is for a Cat 4 storm hitting Texas that shows tides up to 34 feet. Yes 34. They are worse case number but even half of 34 is alot of water. The map is here, Wunder Blog : Weather Underground

Not sure if ya'll have better maps out in Texas for your area but you might want to check if you are close to the coast.

Good Luck Texas.
Dan

nate_m · Sep 11, 2008

Looks like you guys in SE Texas are in for one heck of a ride.

Keep your head down and God bless...

See ya on the other side.

mikim · Sep 11, 2008

Don -- 100mph winds for Lee county is BS ... according to my guys - you might see half that -- which is strong enuff anyway.

mikim · Sep 11, 2008

Dan -- 34 feet is like the worst case scenario forever and ever and a cat 6 (if there was such a thing) I don't know where underground is getting their data -- but the boss just ran a model for me and worst case for this storm is around 20 feet.

tallyho8 · Sep 11, 2008

I hope it lightens up for you all a little before it hits like Gustav did for us. Even though Gustav was not immensely destructive in our area, it took me a solid week to clean up the trees and branches in my yard. Don't know when I will get to cleaning the pasture up.

The winds and rain bands from Ike are just starting to hit the New Orleans area now.

Good luck guys.

Bird · Sep 11, 2008

mikim said:
Don -- 100mph winds for Lee county is BS ... according to my guys - you might see half that -- which is strong enuff anyway.

Mike, I think most of the time the forecasts are for worse weather than actually happens, but I think that's understandable. A forecaster will really get criticized if a disaster happens that he/she didn't forecast.

Earlier this morning, I was reading newspapers and saw one forecast of 40 to 60 mph winds for us, north of Dallas. But I see the website I use the most (the NWS one you told us about long ago) is forecasting the highest winds to be Saturday night; 30-35 mph with gusts to 45.