This week, I want to talk a little about tropical systems. Locally, we do not get these forming in our area, but some tropical systems make an impact on our local weather. A great example of this is the current hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.
When this entry it posted, it will have made landfall already. But this is having a pretty good impact on our weather. Even under the sun, what is happening is Isaac (as with most hurricanes and tropical systems) vents out winds from the top of the storm. What is happening here is that venting forces the air northward and sinks and compresses over us. That heats us up under a big dome of hot air. So the next couple days will see an increase in heat and humidity. These systems all slow down the weather cycle in the United States.
The main impact as it looks right now is the remnants of the storm. According to models right now, they show this system as it weakens, to push northward towards our area. By the time it gets here, if it pans out, it would be no stronger than a tropical depression. Impacts this weekend could be heavy rain and some gusty winds. We would not expect the same amounts as in the south but we could still rack up a few inches or rain. Which would actually be a blessing as it would make a huge dent in our drought. The last remnants I remember was Tropical Storm Lee last year. That system dropped some nice rains for us.
For safety precautions here, we should take the same safety measures as we would with floods. Stay on higher ground and never drive through flooded roadways. Also never play in flood waters as the bacterias and chemicals picked up along the way. Not to mention that just a couple of inches of deep water can sweep people away, especially children. Along with some gusty winds because this is a tropical system, it would be a good idea to take in patio furniture and anything that may blow away. Debris flying through the air just adds to the dangers.More information on flooding safety tips can be found on my website at www.stormchaser1.net
On a personal note, these tropical systems affect a lot of people we know along the coasts. We need to just pray for our friends as well as keep an eye on our changing weather here as well.
