Hurricane

The GFS storm model for Monday morning shows the potential of a major hurricane impacting the Big Bend area late on Thursday. GRAPHIC/TROPICAL TIDBITS

The GFS storm model for Monday morning shows the potential of a major hurricane impacting the Big Bend area late on Thursday. GRAPHIC/TROPICAL TIDBITS

Watching the Gulf—VERY CLOSELY—for a potential major hurricane just to our west

Ken Jackson
Monday, September 23, 2024
Stay weather and hurricane ready, Osceola.The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical disturbance currently in the western Caribbean approaching the Yucatan peninsula, and computer forecasting models are coming into agreement that it will form into a hurricane and affect parts of Florida.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring this part of the western Caribbean for potential development that could eventually affect Florida. GRAPHIC/NHC

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring this part of the western Caribbean for potential development that could eventually affect Florida. GRAPHIC/NHC

Tropical trouble to come? NHC looking at Caribbean spot

Ken Jackson
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
So first, let's get to what we know right now ...The National Hurricane Center is closely watching a broad area of low pressure in the northwest Caribbean that could develop into the season's next named storm.
The GFS hurricane model for Sept. 21, with a potential tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida and a major hurricane out in the Atlantic. GRAPHIC/TROPICAL TIDBITS

The GFS hurricane model for Sept. 21, with a potential tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida and a major hurricane out in the Atlantic. GRAPHIC/TROPICAL TIDBITS

Tropics on uptick: Francine, Gordon may soon form -- any impacts for us?

Ken Jackson
Monday, September 9, 2024
MONDAY UPDATE — At 11 a.m. the National Weather Service began issuing advisories on #TropicalStormFrancine with 50 mph winds in the Gulf of Mexico. It's expected to arrive on the western to central Louisiana coast Wednesday evening as a Category 1 hurricane.
The marquee on the Arcade Theater in downtown Kissimmee brought a bit of levity on Monday, Aug. 16 as cleanup from Charley continued. FILE PHOTO

The marquee on the Arcade Theater in downtown Kissimmee brought a bit of levity on Monday, Aug. 16 as cleanup from Charley continued. FILE PHOTO

20 YEARS LATER — Hurricane Charley memories lead to experience, preparedness

Ken Jackson
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
This night 20 years ago, you may have needed a flashlight or candle to read this, and you certainly wouldn’t have been reading it online.Aug. 13, 2004 wasn’t just Friday the 13th — but it sure felt like it.
Soon-to-be Ernesto is expected to affect the northern Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico and potentially Bermuda -- but not the Bahamas or U.S. Coast. GRAPHIC/NHC

Soon-to-be Ernesto is expected to affect the northern Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico and potentially Bermuda -- but not the Bahamas or U.S. Coast. GRAPHIC/NHC

Tropical Storm warnings up for Puerto Rico, islands ahead of soon-to-be Ernesto

Ken Jackson
Monday, August 12, 2024
The National Hurricane Center has been watching a tropical wave for days in the Atlantic. While the fast-moving storm has not formed a "well-defined center", forecasters believe it will, and strengthen into a tropical storm by Wednesday, when its expected to reach Puerto Rico with 50 mph winds.
Rain bands from Hurricane Debby will continue to pass through Osceola County Monday, and maybe into Tuesday, even though the storm center is about 200 miles away. RADAR IMAGE/NWS MELBOURNE

Rain bands from Hurricane Debby will continue to pass through Osceola County Monday, and maybe into Tuesday, even though the storm center is about 200 miles away. RADAR IMAGE/NWS MELBOURNE

Osceola remains under tornado watch

Ken Jackson
Monday, August 5, 2024
A Tornado watch remains in effect for Central Florida, including Osceola, until 4 p.m. Monday as the feeder rain bands from Hurricane Debby continue to roll into the area from the south during the day.
The area in yellow shows the Tornado Watch in effect for Osceola County and Central Florida through 8 p.m. Sunday. GRAPHIC/NWS MELBOURNE

The area in yellow shows the Tornado Watch in effect for Osceola County and Central Florida through 8 p.m. Sunday. GRAPHIC/NWS MELBOURNE

What to expect from Debby -- and when

Ken Jackson
Sunday, August 4, 2024
While Osceola County won't feel the full force of soon-to-be Hurricane Debby, we will feel the expected effects of being to the east, or on the "right side" of the tropical system.Osceola County is included in a tornado watch in effect until 8 p.m.
The National Hurricane Center projects Osceola County to receive 3-7 inches of rain through Monday, on the current path of projected movement. GRAPHIC/|NHC

The National Hurricane Center projects Osceola County to receive 3-7 inches of rain through Monday, on the current path of projected movement. GRAPHIC/|NHC

Call it Tropical Depression Four now -- by Saturday it should be Debby

Ken Jackson
Friday, August 2, 2024
A bit of change at 11 p.m.to the tropical system the National Hurricane Center has been watching now for nearly a week: it's become Tropical Depression Four, and the path of projected movement has edged to the west.
The National Hurricane Center has begun advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone 4, which it says will become Tropical Storm Debby. GRAPHIC/NHC

The National Hurricane Center has begun advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone 4, which it says will become Tropical Storm Debby. GRAPHIC/NHC

She's got Potential — NHC starts advisories; get sand bags at OHP starting at 3 p.m.

Ken Jackson
Friday, August 2, 2024
In a sign that the tropical wave over Cuba this Friday is getting its act together, the National Hurricane Center has started issuing advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone 4 — what it expects to become Tropical Storm Debby — and has issued tropical storm watches and warnings for the west coast...
The "squashed bug" look of the earliest GFS ensemble model runs Thursday for Invest 97L. GRAPHJC/TROPICAL TIDBITS

The "squashed bug" look of the earliest GFS ensemble model runs Thursday for Invest 97L. GRAPHJC/TROPICAL TIDBITS

UPDATE — Governor includes Osceola in emergency declaration ahead of Invest 97L

Ken Jackson
Thursday, August 1, 2024
THURSDAY 6 P.M. UPDATE — With the threat of a storm and computer models showing Invest 97L may grow into a named storm and make landfall in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order placing a number of Florida counties, including Osceola, under a a state of emergency.
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