Credit: WESH.com

 

 

Charley Strengthens, Prompts Tampa-Area Evacuations

 

UPDATED: 2:02 PM EDT August 12, 2004

 

 

MIAMI -- The threat of Hurricane Charley is prompting more evacuations in Florida -- this time, in the Tampa Bay area.

 

Maximum sustained winds recently reported are near 105 mph, with higher gusts. This makes Charley a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Charley could become a Category 3, or major, hurricane before it makes landfall along the south coast of Cuba.

 

The evacuation in the Tampa area is being called the largest in the history of Pinellas County.

 

Authorities will be asking about 380,000 people living in coastal or low-lying areas to move to higher ground. They won't be forcibly removing people who refuse to leave.

 

The development comes even as Florida's other storm threat, Tropical Storm Bonnie, comes ashore at the Florida Panhandle city of Apalachicola. It's bringing lighter rain and weaker winds than had been expected.

 

Hurricane Charley is due to cross the Florida Keys early Friday.

 

Shelters will open at 6 p.m. EDT, but demand is expected to exceed the spaces available.

 

Authorities earlier Thursday ordered an evacuation of mobile homes in the lower Florida Keys. Wednesday, they ordered all tourists to leave the Keys.

 

Charlie is expected to pass over western Cuba on its path toward Florida.

 

At 2 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Charley was located near latitude 20.4 north, longitude 81.5 west or about 190 miles south-southeast of Havana, Cuba.

 

Charley is moving toward the northwest near 17 mph. A turn to the north-northwest is expected later Thursday. On this forecast track, Charley is expected to pass over or just east of the Isle of Youth tonight.

 

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical-storm force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

 

Above normal tides, accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves, are expected in the Cayman Islands later Thursday. Storm-surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet can be expected in the Florida Keys. Storm-surge flooding of 6 to 10 feet are possible along the southwest Florida coast.

 

Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are likely in association with Charley. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.

 

Gov. Jeb Bush Wednesday declared a state of emergency for the entire state, and activated the National Guard.

 

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida Keys from the Dry Tortugas to the Seven Mile Bridge, and for the southwest Florida coast from East Cape Sable to Bonita Beach. A tropical storm warning is in effect from the Seven Mile Bridge to Ocean Reef, and along the south Florida mainland from Ocean Reef to East Cape Sable, including all of Florida Bay.

 

A hurricane watch has been issued from north of Bonita Beach to the Suwannee River.

 

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cayman Islands and portions of western Cuba.

Im in MIami-dade.....

 

I dont see it on the list that miri put up.

CURRENT STORM STATUS

 

 

Name: Hurricane Charley

Location: About 190 miles, 305 km, South-Southeast of Havana Cuba.

Lat/Long: 20.4N, 81.5W

Max Winds: 105 mph

Category: 2

Heading: Northwest

Speed: 17 mph

Pressure: 28.94 inches

visible sat images show an eye and the pressure keeps dropping so intensifying seems inevitable. could be a 3 when it hits florida.

Video News Feeds:

 

Tampa Bay: WTSP-TV 10

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/live.asp

 

Fort Myers: WBBH-TV 20

http://www.nbc-2.com

I am going to get a pounding tomorrow. Good thing I don't have to leave home. Many who live in houseboats are sailing up the river.

be safe cape.

be safe cape.

507997[/snapback]

Not my first, and not my last, but when it comes to nature, I am a coward. If I need to leave I will leave, but I have been told I do not need to leave. Pine Islanders about 2 miles away do need to leave.

i remember being in my mom's room with my grandparents, my lil sis and my mom while my dad had to work during andrew. luckily i live in Palm Springs North so i didn't get the worst of the storm.

visible sat images show an eye and the pressure keeps dropping so intensifying seems inevitable. could be a 3 when it hits florida.

507913[/snapback]

Charley can reach 4 if it continues to slow down... like it is doing... :plain

visible sat images show an eye and the pressure keeps dropping so intensifying seems inevitable. could be a 3 when it hits florida.

507913[/snapback]

Charley can reach 4 if it continues to slow down... like it is doing... :plain

508047[/snapback]

 

it's slowing down to make the turn, after that acceleration will happen because of the front. but your point is true it could intensify in that 92 degree water before it hits cuba. it's like a car you don't make a turn full spped you need to slow down first. with the pressure dropping it will be a 3 when it hits cuba and stay around that intensity when it hits central florida because after it makes the turn it should speed up again.

This storm is going to be a monster if it stops. I am already starting to feel the wind and water starting to kick up.

hurricane watch from bonita beach to swanee river. cape from the wind field images i saw you might just get some tropical storm force winds.

This storm is going to be a monster if it stops. I am already starting to feel the wind and water starting to kick up.

508127[/snapback]

 

keep us informed tomorrow of conditions by your crib.

hurricane watch from bonita beach to swanee river. cape from the wind field images i saw you might just get some tropical storm force winds.

508134[/snapback]

right now, we are not sure where this thing will land. Tampa is back on top as the point, but that means everybody along the way still gets hit. Either way I will have bad weather. I am turning the house into a fort, luckily I don't need to put up shutters because the windows are made to resist high winds without them. My house is not even a year old yet and is up to Post-Andrew Dade County Codes.

This storm is going to be a monster if it stops. I am already starting to feel the wind and water starting to kick up.

508127[/snapback]

 

keep us informed tomorrow of conditions by your crib.

508142[/snapback]

Hope that the power and phone don't go. Not much hope for power since it is on wires, but I could still dialup if needed on the laptop to get info. 10 hours with Earthlink. I need to get a backup, too bad there aren't those Free Internet ISPs anymore so I could surf without trouble of time.

hurricane watch from bonita beach to swanee river. cape from the wind field images i saw you might just get some tropical storm force winds.

508134[/snapback]

right now, we are not sure where this thing will land. Tampa is back on top as the point, but that means everybody along the way still gets hit. Either way I will have bad weather. I am turning the house into a fort, luckily I don't need to put up shutters because the windows are made to resist high winds without them. My house is not even a year old yet and is up to Post-Andrew Dade County Codes.

508151[/snapback]

 

flooding and 6-10 foot storm surge could be your biggest problem.

and to think...some said this thing would never reach 100 mph winds.

and to think...some said this thing would never reach 100 mph winds.

508169[/snapback]

 

COUGHSHAQMANJUANKYHEATGIRLCOUGH

 

this isn't a p***y storm anymore.

hurricane watch from bonita beach to swanee river. cape from the wind field images i saw you might just get some tropical storm force winds.

508134[/snapback]

right now, we are not sure where this thing will land. Tampa is back on top as the point, but that means everybody along the way still gets hit. Either way I will have bad weather. I am turning the house into a fort, luckily I don't need to put up shutters because the windows are made to resist high winds without them. My house is not even a year old yet and is up to Post-Andrew Dade County Codes.

508151[/snapback]

 

flooding and 6-10 foot storm surge could be your biggest problem.

508160[/snapback]

House's floor elevation is 15 feet above mean sea level. I also have a very good drainage system and ditches all over the place.

5pm advisory should be coming out soon. i predict it becomes a cat 3 in the 5pm advisory.

5pm advisory should be coming out soon. i predict it becomes a cat 3 in the 5pm advisory.

508179[/snapback]

Bit hasty, I say 8 or 11 PM.

5pm advisory should be coming out soon. i predict it becomes a cat 3 in the 5pm advisory.

508179[/snapback]

Bit hasty, I say 8 or 11 PM.

508183[/snapback]

 

probably true.

All Boats to Fort Lauderdale, Key West, and Tampa Bay from Fort Myers have left.

 

Lee County, Charlotte County, Hendry County schools close...Collier County will not have staff report.

 

All Coastal Counties from Collier to Pinellas Counties have started mass evacuations.

5pm advisory should be coming out soon. i predict it becomes a cat 3 in the 5pm advisory.

508179[/snapback]

Bit hasty, I say 8 or 11 PM.

508183[/snapback]

 

probably true.

508187[/snapback]

Well it only needs 6 more mph to become a Catergory 3 hurricane...