Hurricane Sandy





Mornin'!  It's 61° in Wildwood.  Skies are clouded over before this ominous daybreak.  The winds are howling already at 25mph with gusting from the N-NE.  And, so it begins.  After a decent night sleep, I woke to the sounds of the winds.  No rains yet.  This will be my last blog for awhile.  www.weather.com or http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ is the place to go for now.  Today will be the beginning of the barrier island's mandated evacuation as 4p.m. is the deadline. My plan is to leave for Philly later this morning.  We're hunkered down now after working non-stop all day yesterday addressing the tasks at hand.  That includes outdoors as well as indoors.  And, even though the day was a back breaker, it's nothing compared to the mental anquish being forced away from it all and wondering how our home and the island will stand up to Sandy's forces.  It's all in Mother Nature's hands now.  Today will be the beginning.  Rains will begin later today as temps remain in the mid-upper 60's.  Winds prevail and continually increase in speed as the storm hits landfall late tomorrow evening.  It will pack a punch of 70+ mph winds as rainfall of 6-10" are predicted depending where you are.  The Full Moon is also tomorrow and will increase the tides.  My main tide chart reference is posting 15'-17' ocean waves during this time.  All those formulas combined for a sustained period of a couple days will do alot of havoc wreaking on the ol' island and I pray Wildwood will prevail.  Lord have mercy.  See ya back here mid-week!

High tide:7:53p.m.

Low tide:1:35p.m.

Ocean temp:63°
Sunset:6:03

A Literal "Calm before the Storm"

Mornin'!  It's 62° under cloudy skies and some breezy conditions out of the East (10-mph).  What do I say?  I was arrogant enough in August 2011 to say, "We actually did the evacuation of our lifetime."  But not so...as we're evacuating again tomorrow.  It's hard to explain your feelings when you look around your humble abode and think I may not see it this way again.  Today is hunker down day but hunkering is no match for Mother Nature as the ocean is 6 blocks away and the bay that's ½ block away.  Prayers and Xanax are what may see us through.  Today will literally be the calm before the storm as WW will be mild (upper 60's) with breezes staying 10-15mph from the East.  Tomorrow...the winds and rain will begin...Strong offshore winds at 30-40mph turning into galeforce winds Monday and continuing even stronger Tuesday.  My trusty surfing website posts that by Sunday night the wave heights will be 14-16' high which doesn't include the rain, full moon or high tide happening simultaneously.  There's nothing good to write about Hurricane Sandy or what folks are saying "Frankenstorm" I'm sorry to say.  It's in Mother Nature's hands.  Thankfully today will be an OK day to get 'er done.  And, that's what I'm about to do that's after I color my hair.  God Bless the Wildwoods.
High tide: 7:10p.m.
Low tide:12:51p.m.
Ocean temp: 63°
Sunset:6:05p.m.

Calm

Mornin'!  It's 61° in the Woods.  It's cloudy and quiet except for the roar of the ocean 6 blocks away.  We've begun the calm before the storm.  There's some apprehension and readiness in the sea air as the island's facing yet another major storm.  Whether we'll take a direct hit is still uncertain but we're going to take a hit.  Today will be mild with temps reaching the high 60's/low 70's.  We'll have a mix of sun and some clouds today.  Breezes from the East at 10mph.  As the end of today nears, so does the thicker clouds.  Tomorrow...a day of emergency management as it'll be much like today but with canvas awnings being removed as well as anything that can move outside will become removed, hunkered down and secured.  Sunday, Monday and Tuesday...no one seems to know exactly what's going to happen, but something will...as this rare, complex, atmospheric setup involving Hurricane Sandy and a huge, intense coldfront coming from the West will converge over the mid-atlantic states with a Full Harvest Moon thrown in the mix for good measure.  Wildwood's in for some intense sandblasting and flooding beginning Sunday.  For today...the calm before the "Perfect Storm"...their words; not mine.

High tide:6:20p.m.

Low tide:12noon

Ocean temp:63°

Sunset:6:06p.m.

Mostly dreary and gray

Mornin'!  It's 62° under thick, cloudy skies.  It's been like that since last evening.  It'll be mostly overcast with minimal peeks of sun throughout the day.  No rain is predicted yet.  It's coming; it's coming.  But today WW will have patchy fog, cloudiness and mild temps as they go up into the high 60s/low70s.  Breezes will be minimal at 5-10mph out of the East.  Tonight...pretty much the same with temps dropping into the 50s.  Looking like a washout for the weekend as Sandy's heading right for the east coast.  Now, where do I find waterproof halloween makeup?

High tide:5:32p.m.

Low tide:11:15a.m.

Ocean temp:63°

Sunset:6:07p.m.

Full Moon: Monday (not good with a Nor'easter heading here then)

End of Daylight Savings Time: Next Weekend

Indian Summer at the Shore Continues

Mornin'!  It's 63° under clear, starlit skies.  No breezes.  When I went outside first thing to check the ol' porch thermometer and the weather conditions, I saw that the sky was divided into two different sections.  One part was completely cloud covered and the other was clear and starry.  I just watched and waited and saw the massive, thick section of clouds was moving north and slowly clearing out.  I think the bright moon was taking part in the show as the clouds albeit thick and massive were bright white in the darkness as they slowly moved out.  Pretty cool.  Anyway, my bets are on a lovely, colorful sunrise in just over an hour from now.  It'll be another Indian Summer day at the shore.  It's been a gorgeous week in WW for anyone taking an Autumn vacation this year.  It'll be mostly sunny with temps will once again reach the high 60's/low 70's.  Breezes will be very light beginning from the West and shifting from the South later by mid-afternoon all at 8-10mph. 
High tide:4:36p.m.
Low tide:10:20a.m.
Ocean temp:63°
Sunset:6:08p.m.
Full Moon: 5 more days

Happy Birthday Jim!

Cape May Ferry Terminal Wine Festival 2012

Mornin'!  It's 54° under clear starry skies this early morn.  Breezes are nothing to write about.  It's going to be yet another lovely Autumn day at the Shore.  A perfect weather day for Jim's birthday!  Temps will get up into the upper 60's-lower 70's with mostly sunny conditions.  Just a pinch of clouds are thrown in the mix today too.  Breezes will be out of the West at 10mph and by this afternoon shift from the South.  Tonight...clear and down back into the 50's. 
High tide:3:36p.m.

Low tide:9:15a.m.

Ocean temp:64°

Sunset:6:10p.m.

Happy Birthday Jim.  Here's to you!  Hope it's a good one!

Lovely Start to the Week

Mornin'!  It's 55° in WW.  The sky is dark, clear and starlit.  (I had the good fortune to see a meteor fall from the sky Saturday night). The sunrise is 7:15a.m. this morning as we'll get to see a beauty today.  It'll be mostly sunny with temps reaching the high 60's and may tap the 70° mark.  Breezes will be out of the W at 5-10mph.  Tonight...clear, starlit, moonlit as temps head back into the 50's.  What's not to like about this perfect lovely Fall weather? 

High tide:2:36p.m.

Low tide:8:05a.m.

Ocean temp:64°

Sunset:6:11p.m.

End of Daylight Savings:11/4/12