Interesting little "dance" between a couple of weather systems the next few days involving our weather.
#1: A cool front will move into Central Georgia Fri. increasing our south wind & the depth of moisture in our atmosphere. Usually this is a good set-up for thunderstorms for the First Coast. But not so fast.....
#2: A large & quite strong upper level low over the Bahamas will be moving west then southwest. On the west side (where Florida will be located through Fri.) of these types of systems, the air sinks (subsidence) *** see the water vapor loop *** & few showers -- or clouds for that matter -- usually occur. The stronger lift &, therefore, more shower activity occurs on the east side.
So here's how this plays out the next few days:
The weak cool front will settle into Southern Georgia by Sat. then pretty much dissipate in place. The upper level low will move west -- fairly slowly at first -- but then accelerate as it becomes influenced & directed by the stronger upper level ridge over the Southern U.S. So for Fri. -- despite the front nearing -- just widely scattered showers & storms should occur because the positive effects of the front will have a tendency to be offset by the upper low. The best chance for storms with much coverage at all will be in Southeast Ga. -- closer to the front yet farther from the upper low. The upper low will turn more southwest across Fl.
Fri. night into Sat. then move west across the Gulf. This should give us a little better opportunity for showers & storms Sat., Sun. & Mon. though the rain will still be scattered. By the middle of next week back to only isolated showers & storms.
Now that we're approaching the peak of the hurricane season & systems are indeed developing...a reminder was sent from the Coast Guard to all media to disseminate:
Hurricane Preparedness Saves Lives, Property
MIAMI - The peak of hurricane season begins this week and the Seventh Coast Guard District wants citizens of the hurricane-prone district to prepare now to ensure they'll know what to do when the next storm comes.
Hurricane preparedness is a shared responsibility. Government agencies have a responsibility to alert citizens and respond to those in distress. Those in the path of an approaching storm have an individual responsibility to stay alert, heed warnings and ensure the safety of themselves and their families.
"Just as we have made sure our personnel and equipment are ready for this hurricane season, we need citizens to make sure they are ready as well," said Rear Adm. David W. Kunkel, commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District. "According to a NOAA report, more than half of the nation's population lives in the coastal fringe of the United States. The coastal population within the Seventh Coast Guard District has been growing since 2003 and by 2008 is expected to have grown by 1.1 million people or eight percent. This means a large number of people, in this district and throughout the U.S., are at risk for serious injury or death, property loss or damage, and other perils stemming from hurricanes and tropical storms."
To prepare for hurricanes people need to:
Have emergency supplies on hand - enough for 72 hours after the storm.
Know hurricane evacuation routes and evacuate when directed.
Remove small boats from the water, secure boats to trailers, and secure the trailer and boat above likely flood areas.
Take boats too large to be removed from the water to a safe haven well in advance of the storm.
Never go to sea in a recreational boat to ride out a hurricane.
Monitor news and weather radio for information.
The Coast Guard re-established the Coastal Warning Display program June 1, to provide the public and the maritime community another visual cue that severe weather is anticipated and that they need to take personal action to ensure individual safety. The Coast Guard also announced the commissioning of the Deployable Operations Group in July, which, according to Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad W. Allen, brings together a number of specially trained and equipped units that further enhances the Coast Guard's ability to rapidly deploy an adaptive force package in response to a natural disaster.
The Coast Guard has rescued, evacuated or otherwise assisted more than 297,000 people in response to hurricanes and other natural disasters.
For more information on hurricane preparedness visit http://www.uscg.mil/news/stormcenter/.
.....And this from the Insurance Information Institute:
IF A TREE FALLS ON YOUR HOUSE, WILL YOUR INSURER HEAR IT?
The I.I.I. Provides Information about Filing Insurance Claims for Trees and Shrubs
NEW YORK, August 15, 2007 — With homeowners spending billions of dollars a year on landscaping, it is important to have a firm understanding of the insurance implications of owning trees and shrubs, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
Americans spent $14 billion on do-it-yourself landscaping projects and tree and shrub care in 2006, according to the latest study by the National Gardening Association; total spending on landscape contracting and construction was over $13 billion.
“If a tree hits a home or other insured structure such as a detached garage, standard home insurance policies provide coverage for the damage the tree does to the structure and the contents within it,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. “Coverage is generally limited to trees felled by a windstorm, hail, weight of ice, snow or sleet.”
If a tree hits an insured structure, there will also be coverage for the cost of removing the tree, generally up to about $500 to $1,000—depending on the insurer and the policy purchased. Some insurance companies may also pay for the cost of removing a tree if the felled tree blocks a driveway or a ramp designed to assist the handicapped.
“In a situation where the felled tree was located on a neighbor’s property, the homeowner should file a claim with his or her own insurance company,” said Ms. Salvatore. “If the tree was in poor health or not properly maintained the policyholder’s insurer may try to collect from the neighbor’s insurer in a process called subrogation. If the insurer is successful, the homeowner may be reimbursed for the deductible.”
Cars damaged or destroyed by falling trees are covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.
Standard home insurance polices also provide coverage for damage to trees and shrubs due to fire, lightning, explosion, theft, aircraft, vehicles not owned by the resident, vandalism and malicious mischief.
“Coverage for these disasters is generally limited to up to 5 percent of the amount of insurance on the structure of the house. Generally, most insurers will limit the coverage to about $500 for any one tree, shrub or plant. Vegetation grown for business purposes requires a separate business insurance policy,” noted Ms. Salvatore.
Additional insurance coverage for expensive landscaping is available from specialty insurers in the form of an endorsement to the homeowners policy.
Stacy Stewart is a senior forecast specialist at the National Hurricane Center & a very skilled tropical forecaster. I've had the opportunity to interview him on a couple of occasions. He's "missing in action" this season but chances are he's still seeing plenty of action...but with the Navy. The story was in the Sun-Sentinel.
