Updated Wednesday, June 19, 2024
It’s been 20 years since the hubby and I came home to Texas, deciding to leave South Florida in part because in 2004 we were in the landfall area of two hurricanes, Frances and Jeanne, just three weeks apart.
It’s true. Time does fly when you’re not preparing for a hurricane. I do, however, still follow tropical systems.
So, of course, I’ve spent most of the last couple of days watching the Weather Channel and surfing the National Hurricane Center site to see where this Gulf of Mexico system, officially known as Potential Tropical Cyclone One designated as Tropical Storm Alberto on Wednesday, June 19 , morning might go.
Landfall of Alberto, the first named tropical storm of 2024, will be in Mexico. But all tropical systems, even those like Alberto (shown above) that isn't classically rotating around a well-formed eye, typically affect areas far from their at-sea cores or where they come ashore.
That’s why I’m taking this hurricane focused day to remind everyone that the 2024 tropical season is forecast to be the most active ever. That means everyone needs to be prepared.
Getting storm ready: That link in the previous paragraph to my post on how crazy hurricane season 2024 might be also has information on how we all can stay informed during disasters. Just scroll down to the “Make sure you get the word” section.
And here are some of my earlier disaster prep posts that offer additional advice:
- With hurricane season heating up, it's time to prepare physically and financially
- Take a pre-disaster property inventory
- 7 tips to ensure your pets' safety during a disaster
- Hurricane preparation tips for those who are older, have special needs
- Storm Warnings page of all my posts on preparing for natural disasters.
Some of the rain from Tropical Storm Alberto is forecast to make up here to the Austin area. With the drought we’ve been experiencing, we’ll definitely take some showers. But that's enough, thank you.
But even if you’re on the fringe of a storm’s effects, don’t ignore it. And remember that tropical depressions, storms, and relatively minor category hurricanes can do damage. Be ready for the possibility.
Hurricane trains: Also be aware that sometime storms sometimes come sequentially once the atmosphere is favorable to their creation.
While Tropical Storm Alberto continues its movement toward the Mexican Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) also is assessing a broad area of low pressure that is forecast to form over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico this coming weekend. It’s in roughly the same Bay of Campeche area where Alberto developed.
“Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for gradual development of this system early next week while it moves slowly northward or northwestward,” the NHC said. The NHC gives it a 20 percent chance to form in the next seven days.
This is not unusual. Back in September 2017, Hurricanes Katia, Irma, and Jose lined up across the Atlantic. Irma ultimately did extensive damage to Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
And the reason for our return to our native Lone Star State was the one-two punch we endured 20 years ago.
Frances, a category 2 when she landed in the southern part of the Sunshine State on Sept. 5, was what the locals call a vegetarian storm because they tend to mostly damage landscapes. But then the literally loopy Jeanne arrived on Sept. 25 as a category 3, taking advantage of the already weakened area to finish the job.
Those memories linger. So please, everyone in the tropical storm watch and warning areas, get ready now. And stay safe!
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