Ft. Myers is under the gun now from CHARLEY

[ringmastery]

there has been a change. Hurricanes have a mind of their own. Batten down the hatches.

[trumad]

1. what's the change?

[fishnfla]

2. bad news for you brother

the storm shifted more to the east, looks like it will come right thru O-town

They were talking about it coming in to the North of Tampa even

[madfloridian]

8. What is O-town?

Yeh, it shifted.

[Misunderestimator]

9. Orlando

[spinbaby]

17. Not the mouse!

Aaack!

[trumad]

12. Yep... Here it comes....

Winds at 50 miles plus... It will clear out some old trees and it's hanging brush..Plus...Here comes the floods.

I moved a year ago from a street in Oviedo called Live Oak lane... I'm sure glad I did. I have just one Oak on my property now and it's far away from the house to make it safe.

[Lorien]

18. My home is surrounded by live oaks

and I sure as hell hope they aren't "cleared out".

My beautiful trees were a big selling point when I bought this property.

[Misunderestimator]

6. Well damn... look at this:

Fort Myers is getting soaked. Thank god I sold my house there last winter... I was 8 feet below the flood plain. Poor guy that bought it is going to have some trouble.

[freetobegay]

10. It turned East!

Thats the change. I went to bed last night feeling fairly safe. Now I'm not so sure!

[Misunderestimator]

3. I heard that they are thinking of shutting off the electricity there...

[demnan]

4. Yeah I noticed the satellite image showed this

My brother and sister in law live in Naples. I hope they are alright.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

15. I'm in Naples - it's not bad here at all (I'm about 5 miles from the Gulf)

If they're closer - it's probably a bit worse though.

[NewJeffCT]

22. good luck - my folks have property in Naples

But, could not afford flood insurance...

[Worst Username Ever]

5. So, the hurricane is coming from the GULF??

My dad has a winter condo on the beach in Naples. No one is there, but that could be serious!

[madfloridian]

7. BayNews 9 has been saying that for several hours now.

That it would come in more south than Tampa.

[treefrogjohn]

11. My brother lives aboard his sailboat in North Ft. Myers

I just talked to him a few minutes ago. He has spent the last day tying lines to various pilings in hopes of keeping his boat from hitting any soon-to-be submerged docks. Of course there is no defense against other boats being driven by the surge. He has weathered other hurricanes but never a direct hit. He will shortly be leaving his boat for a hotel room he rented for the day and will call when the storm passes and he can get back to the marina. Wish him luck!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

13. So far this is a pretty wimpy storm - in Naples anyways.

It's not as bad as the usual summer storms that we get during monsoon season.

My porch isn't even flooded - my little tree hasn't been blown down - like it usually is during the bad storms.

[Jacobin]

33. It's a Category 4 now

Whoever gets near the eyes is gonna have some problems.

Good luck to everyone in its path.

[madfloridian]

14. We are getting a huge feeder band now. Tornado warning. Lightning.

Heavy rain. This is one big storm. We are inland from Tampa.

[soothsayer]

16. hang in there!

Ride it out as safely as you can (no surfing)

[kerry-is-my-prez]

19. Uh-oh. It's now a category 4.

n/t

[madfloridian]

20. Where did you hear that? I just heard Category 2?

Wondering.

[Bluebear]

21. Weather channel. Winds 145 mph

Ready to make a special statement and upgrade to Cat 4, rapid intensification.

on edit:

000
WTNT61 KNHC 131716
TCUAT
BULLETIN
HURRICANE CHARLEY UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
115 PM EDT FRI AUG 13 2004

AT 115 PM EDT...1715Z...A U.S. AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT MEASURED 10000 FT FLIGHT LEVEL WINDS OF 162 MPH AT A
DISTANCE OF 8 MILES FROM THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE. THIS GIVES
AN ESTIMATED SURFACE WIND OF 145 MPH...CATEGORY FOUR ON THE SAFFIR
SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. A SPECIAL ADVISORY WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY.

[mike1963]

26. Just upgraded a bit ago, here's the weather chan link

http://www.weather.com/newscenter/tropical/

[bluedog]

23. cat 4

just changed the up grade.........we are just getting some light rain 9St.Petersburg)......I wish you all luck down in the southern area.....take care.

[alfredo]

24. I have an Army buddie in Treasure Island

He is staying As far as I know. I hope he gets out of there before it is too late.

[bluedog]

28. Treasure Island Brigdes CLOSED

no way out now........they are turning the electric off..in order to have power elsewhere..........I hope he got out.or that he has a way of keeping his food from thawing.they said it may be days before it comes back on......

[alfredo]

38. He's tough

he can make it OK. His power was back on last I heard.

[Bluebear]

25. Kick, be safe Ft. Myers!

[madfloridian]

27. Pasco County spokeswoman just said official track is still Tampa.

Yep, it is 4 now. They are not saying it will go in further south.
Of course they are evacuated, so I guess they have to say that.

[madfloridian]

29. Local TV just said entrance at Sanibel Island, exit around Cocoa Beach.

Said it was from the center. Anyone else hear that?

[KayLaw]

30. In Tampa Bay

They're saying we'll miss most and that it will hit south of here, Sarasota, maybe Sanibel, Charlotte Harbor, but as a Category 4. I was okay when it was coming here but now I'm really freaking out. I have an uncle in Cape Coral and they were under optional evacuation and are just now being told to leave, also I feel awful about Sanibel, Captiva, Pine Island, Boca Grande, etcetera, beause they are so naturally beautiful - lots of trees instead of cheek-by-jowl condos.

:cry:

[Bluebear]

31. Captiva, Sanibel, Port Charlotte, Ft Myers under the gun

Landfall estimated 4pm, 18 foot storm surge locally, get to higher ground...Orlando, tornado warnings...145 surface winds, 165 mph winds aloft. Considering closing I-10 and I-75, be safe everyone.

weather channel 242pm

[madfloridian]

32. Landfall in about an hour. It will be devastating. I am so sad for them.

We are still under tornado watch/warning in Polk,and they say we will get heavy winds tonight.

That is just about as bad as having Andrew hit you head on, but it is not as compact and not quite as powerful.

I feel for the people there.

[Jacobin]

34. Man, this one looks really bad.....hang on folks

[Bluebear]

35. Me too, all the focus was on Tampa

They must be scrambling. Hey you're in the path too, yes? Be safe.

[fishnfla]

36. Scrambling is right. Good luck everyone. see ya on the other side

The change at the 1:00 advisory has got everyone scrambling. Tornados on the outer bands

[greekspeak]

37. Watching The Weather Channel in the Panhandle

You folks down in this monster's path are in my thoughts. My heartfelt wishes for the best outcome for you guys!!