I have offered my full analysis of the tropics over the last few days here and I'll tell you it just keeps getting more and more complicated. As Hurricane Ike continues moving through the the Atlantic and Hanna nears the coast... it throws my mind into a whirl! OH YEAH.... don't forget Josephine! So today I'll try to be brief, yet, share a lot of information again!
Before I start the Tropical Chatter I'll explain the local forecast to you guys. IT appears that a cold front will swing into Kentucky on on Friday. That front will reach us by late Friday night or early Saturday morning. I am throwing at least a 20% chance of showers into the forecast for this time frame. I actually think the chances could go up on Saturday. The probability of precipitation could be up to 40% by that point! This will also open to the door for some cooler temperatures to return to Kentucky. It shouldn't be a huge drop in temps... just the arrival of some refreshing air to the region.
I'd love to see some real rain arrive, but it keeps running away from Kentucky. New drought information is out and here is where we stand!
| West Liberty | 29.91 - Since Jan. 1st, 2008 | -1.68 Behind Normal |
| Jackson | 28.48 - Since Jan. 1st 2008 | -5.48 Behind Normal |
| Somerset | 29.68 - Since Jan. 1st, 2008 | -5.45 Behind Normal |
| London | 26.31 - Since Jan. 1st, 2008 | -5.85 Behind Norma |
On to the Smoking Hot Tropics!!!!
This map shows all of the current storms and even areas highlighted for potential development. One of these has the actual name of each storm while the other shows the satellite images with each storm highlighted.
Hanna is looking a little weak here lately and isn't expected to come ashore as a Hurricane. It looks like this storm will remain a Tropical storm. My significant other's brother is currently at Parris Island for training and I know the whole family has been worried about what this storm will do. I think if it does remain a tropical storm and keeps the pace high... it shouldn't be a major problem. Storm surge and high winds won't be a huge factor. Don't read my words wrong and think that I mean it will be a walk in the park... it will still be nasty. I am just saying I hope it remains a TS! So honey... tell your mother & father that I think all shall be safe over there.
Ike is where my concern really begins to grow... Hurricane Ike has made it up the Saffir-Simpson Scale to the Category 4 level. Some weakening will likely happen over the next 24-48 hours. That weakening may not be enough though... if it stays on the westward track it could roll right into Florida as a major hurricane. However, it could also get a push to turn north and then northeast over the next few days. If that happens it could skirt the east coast or be pushed back out into the Atlantic. Here's the track from the NHC...
![[Image of 5-day forecast of predicted track, and coastal areas under a warning or a watch]](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT09/refresh/AL0908W5+gif/203113W_sm.gif)
Watch this one very closely my friends... very closely!
C-Ya Bye
12 mins ago - Madison County is mourning the death of Sheriff Jerry Combs. He was working in his parents' garden Monday evening when he collapsed and suffered an apparent heart attack. Combs' father, Elvin, says he was always helping out.
16 mins ago - The Fayette County School District changes its tornado preparedness plan following the devastation at an Oklahoma school.
21 mins ago - Eastern Kentucky University says it's giving buyout packages to 127 employees who applied for them and were accepted.
23 mins ago - Former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer's sister has resigned as assistant executive director of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.
Posted: 5:48 PM - More than a year after a tornado outbreak destroyed hundreds of homes in Laurel County, the survivors say stories from Oklahoma hit close to home.
9 mins ago - The lines are a dozen cars deep outside some Kentucky banks in the middle of the night. Police in a handful of cities say when those crowds gather on the first of the month, crime rates go up.
Posted: 4:22 PM - The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Moore, Okla., was a top-of-the-scale EF-5 twister with winds of at least 200 mph.
Posted: 4:20 PM - The Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross along with local media outlets are joining together to raise money for Oklahoma tornado relief.
Posted: 4:17 PM - The father of an 8-year-old Oklahoma boy says a teacher saved his son's life as a tornado tore into their school yesterday.
Posted: 4:09 PM - The U.S. House has passed legislation that would put a two-year moratorium on an Army Corps of Engineers plan to erect barriers to prevent people from fishing below dams on the Cumberland River.
