Stormy Weather

Hurricane Season officially starts tomorrow.


Also, know how to
get the hell out of town, if necessary.


Normally, opening day is noted by the newspapers and weather reporters and we all continue on about our business as usual only now with the reminder to stock up on canned goods, bottled water and batteries* rattling around in the back of our minds. The season doesn't usually peak until August and there are often many incipient storms that just remain low pressure systems off Africa before then.

This year may be different. Although the prognosticators are prognosticating a low-to-normal season, we've had two named storms already even before the starting gun was fired. Neither hit us (Alberto stayed out to sea and Beryl landed up north along the Florida/Georgia border) but based on the low-end forecasts we've used up 25% of our named storm quota before the season opener.

In the meantime, we're getting patchy rain and scattered thunderstorms forcing me either to close my car windows or bail in the morning.

*We have both a hand-cranked radio and a hand-cranked flashlight so batteries are optional in our house.