TD Sixteen

The last photograph I posted of the "bad cloud" actually was a bad cloud, the precursor to what has become Tropical Depression 16. For the past two days, we've experience torrential rains, higher than average winds and eerily cool temperatures. As of this morning the winds have subsided but the skies remain grey, the winds up and the temps down.
I receive email alerts from the National Hurricane Center and learned via email that this odd weather was a storm in formation. Since passing St Croix, the now dubbed TD 16 is forecast to dump up to 15 inches of rain over parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. It is a very odd feeling to have experienced the birth of potential hurricane and had no idea what was happening. All I can say is, get set Atlantic Florida. The hurricane center projects TD 16 crossing over the land mass of Cuba to the east, up north through the Bahamas, the straight for you.

Post Dean exhale (a few days late)

Dean brushed past us, thank goodness, bringing some rain, stronger than average winds and high surf. Considering the Caribbean tide heights vary so little that high and low tide reports do not exist here, Dean certainly affected the ocean landscape. Typically tranquil Fredericksted harbor (pictured in typical state) lurched and rolled and swelled over the sea wall and splashed on to the Strand Street park walking path.

The very next day; however, gorgeous, sunny serenity returned. Undisturbed by Dean, St Croix is ready and waiting for visitors.

Calm before the Storm

My apologies for the break in communication, but recent trips to the states and a house guest put the blog on the back burner. Tropical Storm Dean, predicted to become Hurricane Dean, prompts a long over due post.

As a child I resided about an hour from the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricanes brought high winds, often tornadoes, rain, power outages and relief from the oppressive heat. I am not under the delusion that this experience will at all prepare me for “riding out” a hurricane on an island.

Now, I own two emergency preparedness tubs inspired by a former employer’s SIP (shelter in place) tubs. One tub contains food stuffs and the other contains batteries, toiletries, utensils, flashlights and baby wipes. I purchased a weather radio with buttons for area specific U.S. government and NOAA reports.

I took a crack at installing our hurricane shutters (steel panels) and learned the hard way via a gashed ring finger that installation requires gloves. My first storm-related boo boo. I hope my last.

I plot Dean’s progression towards the Lesser Antilles on my hurricane tracking map taking some comfort that I am at least prepared.