Hurricane Frances More Than 300 Miles Wide

[hatrack]

Sept. 1 - "Forecasters are still unable to pinpoint the location where Hurricane Frances will be coming ashore this weekend.

The very powerful storm is taking aim at the southeastern coastline from Florida to the Carolinas.

Wednesday morning, officials are making final plans for a massive evacuation when they know where Hurricane Frances will come ashore. However, earlier evacuations have created huge traffic jams that have virtually shut down the evacuation routes."

EDIT

http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=2244147

I've been posting regular updates on this on the Environment/Energy/Science board. For more detailed reports and tracking updates, please see:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. Could this signal a possible weakening near term?

COuld more energy be expended quicker and result in a shorter lifespan?
I see pressure has stabilized at 937 MB and winds remain sustained at 140 MPH. for the last 8 hours.
Just wondering.

[hatrack]

2. Actually pressure is down (though barely) since last night

Went from 939 to 937. NHC, though, calls for further strengthening in the next 24 hours. Cross your fingers.

[Ripley]

3. I just heard a guy on the Weather Channel

comment something about the inflow/outflow of the feeder bands was very strong and thus it was maintaining it's strength.

I hate this time of year...I have lots of family on the coast of NC/SC and they really don't need another storm. Another big one will probably kill my Dad. He's 73, congestive heart failure and insists on using the chainsaw and hauling crap away from the yard himself.

[Shadder]

4. So much for our trip

We were set to leave Atlanta Friday afternoon to attend a family reunion North of Orlando. Between the regular Labor Day traffic and people trying to get out of harms way, I'm thinking that it might be best to not make the trip.

[hatrack]

5. I wouldn't go if I were you

It looks like one big damn mess down there this weekend, no matter where the storm swerves.

[Shadder]

6. Yeah, your right

I was trying to hold off untill the 5 PM update but the way this storm looks right now, I just do not want to take the chance of putting my family in danger. Trip is off.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

7. This storm is freaking me out.

I'm in Orlando. We already had Charlie go through here less than three weeks ago. It wasn't too bad. The weathermen are forecasting at this point that Frances is going to go right through Orlando. They are predicting that is a very strong storm, comparable to Andrew. They also said that the storm might take 24 hours to sweep across Florida, which means it's going to pound us for a long time. Charlie was pretty fast moving and I guess much weaker. Even though I'm inland, I'm considering going to Georgia for the weekend.

And I just heard them say this storm is about the size of Texas and expect the strong winds to last for 18 hours!

I'm never had to deal with hurricanes until this month... this is making me very nervous.

[1monster]

8. I've lived in Florida for thirty years and have seen hurricanes come and

hurricanes go, always bypassing or just glancing the northeast coast... This is the worst I've ever seen. No matter where Frances hits, it is going to damage the whole state. Where ever it comes in is going to be a mega disaster.

For a while yesterday, the prognostication was for a near direct hit on my town and we were planning to evacuate to a cousin's home in Tampa. But the prognostication has changed with each update and no one can pinpoint where the eye is going to hit and no one knows what to do.

But with sustained winds of 140 mph, the whole state will get at least category 2 storm winds.

With the huge development of Florida in the last twenty years, it is nearly impossible that some town or city will not be flattened completely.

If you are religious, some prayers for the Southeast Coast of the US would not come amiss. If you are not religious, positive thoughts are welcome.

[KayLaw]

9. Worst for me, too

My family has lived here since the 1920's and I've seen lots of storms - the eye of Andrew went right over our house. I remember just a few days before Andrew hit it went through some shear and they were mocking it, calling it Raggedy Andy. This one looks a lot worse. I suppose it's a matter of speed and the strength of the ridge at this point.