When Mother Nature Has Other Plans

click to enlarge images

What a gorgeous afternoon as we sailed away from Akaroa after a fabulous day on and around the harbor.    These clouds uniquely framed the coastline.

Next day our plans called for a stop in Dunedin with an shore excursion to Otago Peninsula Yellow-eyed Penguin Reserve.  Mother Nature had other plans for us, however.

The captain made an announcement that due to heavy winds and rough seas, we would not be making our planned stop in Dunedin the next day.   Instead, they had been scrambling to arrange alternate excursions in Picton, New Zealand.

Picton is a town on the north coast of the South Island, in New Zealand. It’s known as a gateway to the islands and inlets of the Marlborough Sounds. Departing Picton, we would sail thru the sounds and make our way back to Sydney, instead of scenic cruising through Fiordland National Park.

Additional photos can be found on our Australia & New Zealand Shutterfly page

Akaroa Wharf


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Hurricane Ingrid in Gulf of Mexico

Interactive Map

Hurricane INGRID

(Sep 12) Tropical Depression Ten formed in the Gulf of Mexico prompting warnings for heavy rain and life threatening conditions in Eastern Mexico.

(Sep 14) The storm continued to strengthen with Tropical Storm Ingrid becoming the second hurricane of the Atlantic season Saturday afternoon.

Tropical Storm INGRID	700 AM CDT MON SEP 16 2013 ...INGRID WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL STORM  AS IT MAKES LANDFALL NEAR LA PESCA... ...HEAVY RAINS SPREADING INLAND...
WIND:	DECREASED TO NEAR 65 MPH...100 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:	A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... * CABO ROJO NORTHWARD TO RIO SAN FERNANDO
SHIP IMPACT:	NONE

Storm Archive     Graphics Archive

This is the second storm of the Atlantic season to form in the Gulf of Mexico, and once again a powerful one, becoming the second Hurricane as well.   The same part of Mexico that is just recovering from Humberto is once again under heavy rainfall and winds.

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

  
SUMMARY OF 700 AM CDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...23.8N 97.8W
ABOUT 0 MI...0 KM N OF LA PESCA MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...991 MB...29.26 INCHES

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 65 MPH...100
KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST AS
INGRID MOVES INLAND TODAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES...165
KM...MAINLY NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER. 

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL...INGRID IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE 10 TO 15 INCHES OF RAIN
OVER A LARGE PART OF EASTERN MEXICO...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 25
INCHES POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN AREAS OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THESE
RAINS ARE LIKELY TO RESULT IN LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD
SLIDES.

WIND...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE SPREADING OVER THE COAST WITHIN
THE WARNING AREA. 

STORM SURGE...A DANGEROUS STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS
MUCH AS 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE
COAST NEAR AND TO THE NORTH OF WHERE THE CENTER OF INGRID MAKES
LANDFALL.  NEAR THE COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE

AND DESTRUCTIVE WAVES.

HISTORICAL DATA:

400 PM CDT THU SEP 12 2013
 
...TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS IN THE SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO...
...EXTREME RAINFALL EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS OF EASTERN MEXICO...

1000 AM CDT FRI SEP 13 2013
 
...THE NINTH TROPICAL STORM OF THE SEASON FORMS IN THE GULF OF
MEXICO...

100 PM CDT SAT SEP 14 2013
 
...INGRID EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE THIS AFTERNOON...

400 PM CDT SAT SEP 14 2013
 
...INGRID BECOMES THE SECOND HURRICANE OF THE 2013 SEASON...
  

THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ADJUSTED THE PREVIOUS WATCHES AND
WARNINGS FOR THE GULF COAST. A HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED
FROM CABO ROJO TO LA PESCA. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN
ISSUED FROM NORTH OF LA PESCA TO BAHIA ALGODONES...AND FROM SOUTH
OF CABO ROJO TO TUXPAN. THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FROM
COATZACOALCOS TO SOUTH OF TUXPAN HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.

700 AM CDT MON SEP 16 2013

...INGRID WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL STORM AS IT MAKES LANDFALL 
NEAR LA PESCA...
...HEAVY RAINS SPREADING INLAND... 

THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS DISCONTINUED THE HURRICANE WARNING 
AND HURRICANE WATCH.  THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING SOUTH OF CABO ROJO
HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. 

100 PM CDT MON SEP 16 2013
 
...INGRID MOVING INLAND OVER MEXICO WITH HEAVY RAINFALL... 

400 PM CDT MON SEP 16 2013
 
...INGRID WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION...
...HEAVY RAIN THREAT CONTINUES...

1000 PM CDT MON SEP 16 2013
 
...SLOW-MOVING INGRID PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINS AND FLOODS 
OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN MEXICO...

Tropical Storm Jose Forms Near Bermuda

Tropical Storm Jose

Formed August 28th

Near Bermuda

Atlantic Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

1100 AM AST MON AUG 29 2011
 
...JOSE DISSIPATES SOUTH OF NOVA SCOTIA...REMNANTS ACCELERATING
NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD...

 
While Hurricane Irene was pounding the East Coast of the United States early Sunday morning, another tropical cyclone formed in the Atlantic near Bermuda.  There have not been any cruise itinerary changes posted due to Tropical Storm Jose.
 

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 30 MPH...45
KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF
JOSE WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY DECREASE DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...39.5N 63.1W
ABOUT 355 MI...570 KM S OF HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...30 MPH...45 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 30 DEGREES AT 29 MPH...46 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1009 MB...29.80 INCHES

Watches and Warnings  
 

THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN 12 HOURS.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
NONE

 

Historical Data:         Storm Archive            Graphics Archive                           

800 AM AST SUN AUG 28 2011
...TROPICAL STORM JOSE FORMS NEAR BERMUDA...TROPICAL STORM WARNING
ISSUED... 
 200 PM AST SUN AUG 28 2011
...JOSE MOVING FASTER...MAKING ITS CLOSEST APPROACH TO BERMUDA... 

Be Prepared for Hurricanes

Washington, DC, May 27, 2010 -- NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D. and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate address reporters at a news conference releasing NOAA's outlook for the 2010 Hurricane Season. FEMA/Bill Koplitz 

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Above Normal: Atlantic      

Below Normal: Central & Eastern Pacific

An “active to extremely active” hurricane season is expected for the Atlantic Basin this year according to the seasonal outlook issued today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. See Related Blog Posts section below for links to NOAA outlooks for each region as well as hurricane preparedness information.

“If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on record,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared.”

The president recently designated May 23-29, 2010, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. NOAA and FEMA encourage those living in hurricane-prone states to use this time to review their overall preparedness. More information on individual and family preparedness can be found at www.Ready.gov and www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.

"Preventing the loss of life and minimizing the damage to property from hurricanes are responsibilities that are shared by all"

"FEMA is working across the administration and with our state and local partners to ensure we're prepared for hurricane season," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "But we can only be as prepared as the public, so it's important that families and businesses in coastal communities take steps now to be ready. These include developing a communications plan, putting together a kit, and staying informed of the latest forecasts and local emergency plans. You can't control when a hurricane or other emergency may happen, but you can make sure you're ready."

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on the importance of personal preparedness and new ways to follow FEMA during the 2010 hurricane season that begins on June 1.

Disaster Prevention should include:

•  Developing a Family Plan
•  Creating a Disaster Supply Kit
•  Having a Place to Go
•  Securing your Home
•  Having a Pet Plan

"How To" guides for protecting your property from flooding & high winds. (FEMA)


Related Links

NOAA Predicts Below Normal Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season
2010 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Outlook
Colorado State University
Climate Prediction Center (CPC)
NOAA/ National Weather Service
WMO Severe Weather Info Centre
National Hurricane Center (NHC)
NWS Regional Offices and Centers
Hurricane Preparedness
Realtime monitoring of tropical East Pacific conditions

More links and information about tropical storms and other weather conditions can be found in the Weather tab above.

Related Blog Posts

Above Average 2010 Hurricane Forecast
NOAA 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook
NOAA 2010 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook
NOAA 2010 Central Pacific Hurricane Prediction
Hurricane Hazards - Inland Flooding
Huricane Hazards - High Winds
Hurricane Hazards - Storm Surge
Hurricane Preparedness Week 2010
Travel With Protection Against Unexpected
Weather



Hurricane Preparedness Week  - May 23 - 29, 2010

Hurricane Bill Passes Bermuda

Still time for Golf ... As Hurricane Bill approached Bermuda

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

As a service to my clients and readers, I continue to monitor Hurricane Bill. If you are looking for updates on the hurricane and impact to your cruise, click the following link.

Keeping an Eye on Hurricane Bill / Cruise Ship Impact

That post has updates several times a day, including information about any changes to cruise itineraries as a result of the tropical storm.

BERMUDA UPDATE

Credit: NASAOES Project

The islands of Bermuda were spared a direct hit as Hurricane Bill passed between Bermuda and the East Coast of the United States as predicted. Since Hurricane Bill's closest point is now northeast of the islands, the hurricane watch has ended. That doesn't mean that danger doesn't remain. A tropical storm watch is still in effect and should remain so as winds continue until around midday Saturday. High swells, dangerous surf and deadly rip-currents will continue well into the weekend, especially along South Shore. Hurricane force gusts are still possible early today in association with squally showers and thunderstorms. According to a source on the islands, it has been a windy night with numerous power outages caused by the tropical storm gusts. Bermuda's electric company has worked through the night but there are approximately 3800 customers still without power. Rain and thnderstorms rolled through Bermuda starting around 9 PM Friday accompanied by heavy winds in excess of 50 or 60 MPH. The forecast for today is cloudy with occasional light rain or showers and strong to gale force gusts. Tomorrow will see some sun and occasional showers and thunder. <Bermuda Weather Service> Fortunately for the residents and tourists of Bermuda, Hurricane Bill will soon only be a memory as it continues its path northward towards the Atlantic Canada region and beyond. As power is restored, and the tropical storm continues to move away, services (such as ferry operations) will resume. For cruise passengers arriving Monday, on the Grandeur of the Seas, they should expect sun with some morning showers and temperatures in the upper 80s. The return home should be much smoother than the trip across to Bermuda. Happy cruising in calmer seas !!