Keep My Ocean Calm

Attention Dean Watchers:

So far they are predicting that Dean will continue to travel westward, affecting the Lesser Antilles and then moving toward the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

If you are good at geography, you will note that this is, in fact, south of Louisiana. However, hurricane forecasters are still suggesting that the gulf states keep an eye out.

You can tell that there's something going on in the gulf. The temp has dropped a bit, but more so the winds have kicked up. Nothing major, obviously, but it is quite a bit breezier here than it has been in the past couple weeks. Reminds me of when we were in Guatemala and everything was blamed on "el hurrican". People are getting a bit antsy here. We watch the forecasts. Click on the title of the blog and you'll get my #1 monitoring site. Mom, if I catch you over-monitoring I will stop discussing all hurricane related activities with you.

But family, I want you not to worry too much about me. It says that things will develop over the weekend and into early next week. I'll be in Boston over the weekend, visiting a friend, and then on to Providence for a three-day work conference. I've never been to either place so I'm very very excited.

And if Dean makes a turn and we evacuate NOLA, I'll just jump on a different plane and head off for a vacation!

(I swear I'm not heartless...I don't want any hurricanes to come near us this year...I'm just trying to keep the mood as light as the breeze outside)

But The Wind Went and Pulled Me Into the Hurricane

How should we do this? Brackets? Simple pool? Other than fantasy baseball, I've never participated in gambling...

Although I knew that people predict the strength of hurricane season, I was unaware that people place wagers on the number of named storms that will occur.

Here's what the experts are saying:

WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - The 2007 Atlantic hurricane season will be more active than normal with 13 to 17 tropical storms, and as many as ten of them could become hurricanes, the U.S. government's top climate agency predicted on Tuesday.

Of the seven to 10 hurricanes forecast, three to five will be major ones of Category 3 or higher with winds over 110 mph (177 kmh), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in its annual forecast. (rest of article linked in title)

So here are my questions for my devoted ten or so readers...how many named storms will there be this year? When will the first tropical storm touch the US? And how many times will I need to evacuate my city of New Orleans?

Yes, yes I know that y'all don't like hearing this talk. But for now, I need to joke about it. Severe weather is not a phenomenon with which I am familiar. Give me an earthquake, I'm set--get into a doorway or cower under the bed. But hurricanes? I remember August 2005, watching the coverage in the Lewis' living room, feeling a connection to a city I'd yet to visit. Now I live here, and the realities are starting to hit. NOLA can't face another damaging storm, not so quickly after Katrina. It will more or less be the end of the city. So say your prayers and cross your fingers that we only receive some good dousings of rain.

And just an FYI--we have plenty of places we can go in Baton Rouge if an evacuation is issued for New Orleans. But mom, I promise we'll go to Alabama. Really.