Originally Posted by gldstwmn

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/1...her/index.html

Tropical Depression 18 grows in Atlantic

Sunday, September 18, 2005; Posted: 11:50 a.m. EDT (15:50 GMT)


(CNN) -- A hurricane watch has been issued for the Florida Keys as a tropical depression strengthened in the Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday.

Tropical Depression 18 formed late Saturday near the Bahamas, and the National Hurricane Center forecasts the storm will intensify as it moves west toward the Keys, Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico.

The hurricane watch extends from Ocean Reef southward and westward to Dry Tortugas, which means hurricane conditions and sustained winds of 74 mph or more are possible within 36 hours.

A hurricane watch also is in effect for the northwest Bahamas.

The storm had top sustained winds of 35 mph, but forecasters predicted it would gain intensity and become Tropical Storm Rita by Monday morning and reach hurricane status by Tuesday morning.

At 11 a.m. ET Sunday, the storm was about 390 miles east-southeast of Nassau, Bahamas, and was moving west at near 12 mph, according to the hurricane center.

The storm should move over the eastern and central Bahamas later today. The hurricane center's advisory said up to 8 inches of rain might fall in the Bahamas.

Forecasters said the storm's projected path would take it through the Straits of Florida between South Florida from Cuba. By Wednesday morning, the storm could become a hurricane and move into the Gulf of Mexico.

A tropical storm warning was issued Saturday night for the Turks and Caicos and southeast and central Bahamas, meaning tropical storm conditions and sustained winds of 39-73 mph are expected within 24 hours.

To the east of TD 18, Tropical Storm Philippe became the 16th named storm of the busy 2005 season Saturday night.

As of 11 a.m. ET Sunday, Philippe's top sustained winds had reached 50 mph, and the storm was expected to reach hurricane strength during the next 24 hours. Its center was about 425 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands, and it was moving north-northwest at about 7 mph.

Philippe's three-day forecast showed the storm heading to the northwest, into the Atlantic. However, forecasters warned people in the central and northern Lesser Antilles to keep an eye on the storm.

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Yup. All the Houston TV stations are putting the track directly over my town, as a strong Cat 3 or weak Cat 4. Yeah - big difference. :rolleyes: We spent all day getting our supplies together, and getting ready to board up the house and get the f*ck-outta town.

The kicker? My parents actually had the nerve today to suggest that we were NOT taking my birds with us if we have to evacuate. :laugh: I mean... :laugh:

My reply: "If the birds don't go, I don't go. And you can just come back into town in a week and sponge up our decomposed bodies. That is - if you can find them in the rubble."

The next fight will come tomorrow or Wednesday, as my Dad thinks he's gonna leave the dog here to "guard" the place from looters. (See my reply above, insert "dog" for "birds"... :nod: )

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Gotta go finish boarding up windows and firming up evac plans (still waiting to see...) - will check back later. :xoxo:

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Thanks goldie, suze, & btflchld. Of course, with hurricanes you're never really sure about the path, but they're thinking we'll at least get a good part of it since the storm will be so wide. The track has moved a little to the southwest, so maybe we won't get the worst of the eyewall, but still the dirty side.

Also, Brad is here in TC too. Haven't heard about his situation/plans - can't get PMing to work for some reason. Anyone?

Gotta go finish boarding up windows and firming up evac plans (still waiting to see...) - will check back later. :xoxo:

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

thank you for pulling away to let us know how you are doing...have you been through a storm such as this before? i am sure the animals can sense something is up...how are they doing too? i found out last night that they have flown some 200 animals in from the gulf coast into LA...i am checking today to see about adopting one. pls be safe...

Originally Posted by Livia

Stay safe, Nixxxed! Keep us posted!

Originally Posted by Brad

I'm here! :wavey:

We've got reservations in Waco for Thurs, Fri, and Sat nights. Me, my mom, dad, grandma, and beagle in a car for 4 hours to stay 3 nights in a hotel together. Can we say utter hell?? :eek: I at least thought my sister and brother-in-law were gonna go up too, but he's a cop and they're making him stay, so now they're not going. Good friends of mine are going up to their lakehouse and invited me...but of course my parents are having a ****fit, not wanting me to go because they don't want me to be a burden to my friend's family...also I'm sure it's because they want me there as a buffer with my grandma, otherwise my mom would go nuts!

But now my parents are saying that they're probably not going to leave. So, who knows...if they don't leave, that increases my chances of going to the lake...not that the weather will be any good for water activities, but at least there's people there my age to booze it up with for a few days. :nod:

So if you're leaving Chuck, be safe...and take the damn animals with you! My mom would rather leave me behind than our dog! My last day of work was supposed to be Friday, but I managed to change it to noon today, so I'm off the rest of the week. :D

Brad

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

:laugh: Climbing up and down ladders with big metal window covers, electric drills, etc. is no fun. And Texas is HOT right now with the high pressure that's supposed to steer the storm. And then there are the mosquitoes...

And yeah, the animals know something's up. Makita (the Rottweiler) has dug several huge holes in the back yard, trying to find a good place to hide. And Rocky - oh the screaming. :eek: We have new neighbors next door, and they just don't know what to think. :laugh: I had to explain (in my best broken Spanish) what was making the noise.

:xoxo: If we stay, I'll post up until we lose power. My own version of the concert night play-by-plays. Maybe I'll even go outside and take pics of me doing my best impression of one of those idiot-weather-reporters-in-a-hurricane.

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

"And the rain, and the wind, and the WATER!!!!!!!!!!"

We're outta here. Woke up this morning to a Category 4 storm heading our way. Not taking any chances.

Anyway - guess I'm outie for a while. What ever will I do without The Ledge for who knows how long?

Thanks EVERYONE for your well-wishes. And my well-wishes to those of you in Rita's path - Brad, lbelle, and the other Houston area Ledgies. PLEASE get out if you're able, and please be safe.

:xoxo: :xoxo: :xoxo:

(Yes, it's a duplicate post from the "Hurricane Watch" thread. I'm feeling very needy. :lol: )

Originally Posted by DavidMn

Hey I was so tired when I posted this, I guess I was too lazy to look through the threads. :sorry: But good luck to you. :angel:

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Puh-leez - no problem. I'm the one who shifted the topic of the other thread anyway, cuz I was too lazy to start a new one. :laugh:

And thank you very much. :xoxo: We're trying to look at it as a "vacation". Hope we're able to maintain that attitude, but it will be hard not knowing if we have any place to come home to.

Originally Posted by lbelle1214

Cat 5, 165 mph winds, gusts to 180.....now I'm scared. We have to stay home due to work commitments (hospitals can't close, husband works for Time Warner communications), 5 dogs. Hopefully this 50 year old wood frame house I live in will withstand one more hurricane. God Bless everyone close to Galveston, Texas City, etc....hope you get out quickly and safely..and have somewhere to go. We've called and almost all lodging is booked clear up to Oklahoma. If any of you are also having to stay, please try and be as prepared as you can....water, fill your tubs, food, as much as you can now. My prayers are for all of us to get thru this alive and safe....to meet again here later on a much happier note!

Originally Posted by lbelle1214

Cat 5, 165 mph winds, gusts to 180.....now I'm scared. We have to stay home due to work commitments (hospitals can't close, husband works for Time Warner communications), 5 dogs. Hopefully this 50 year old wood frame house I live in will withstand one more hurricane. God Bless everyone close to Galveston, Texas City, etc....hope you get out quickly and safely..and have somewhere to go. We've called and almost all lodging is booked clear up to Oklahoma. If any of you are also having to stay, please try and be as prepared as you can....water, fill your tubs, food, as much as you can now. My prayers are for all of us to get thru this alive and safe....to meet again here later on a much happier note!

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Please stay safe all Texas Ledgies. :angel:

Originally Posted by estranged4life

just saw a projected track of Rita, She is now turning North a bit....Taking a direct track towards Houston/Galveston with 165MPH substained winds.

Originally Posted by dissention

This is going to be brutal. On CNN last night, they were saying that if the refineries are hit, be prepared for possibly paying $5 a gallon.

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Fortunately, the Weather Channel guy was saying that because this became a Cat. 5 so quickly, there is a good chance it will burn out and be a Cat. 3 when it hits land. let's hope he is correct.

Originally Posted by David

What's the surface temperature of the water between the storm & the coast? That's the kicker.

Originally Posted by David

What's the surface temperature of the water between the storm & the coast? That's the kicker.