As we sit here this evening the north eastern part of the nation prepares and awaits the arrival of Hurricane Sandy. Sandy is a very unique, if not completely unique, hybrid hurricane churning in the Atlantic. It started off as a normal tropical system in the Caribbean last week. But yesterday it started to feel the effects of a strong trough of low pressure bringing the coldest weather of the season to the eastern U.S. Normally this would kick the storm out to sea as we have seen so many times before. However this time the storm is blocked from moving east.
A tropical system is a warm core system. It is a small low pressure that feeds off the warm waters of the ocean. The low pressures we deal with on land are larger areas that feed off moisture feeds from the oceans as well as higher level winds in the jet stream. Only once in recorded history has a truly tropical system merged with a trough and transformed into a hybrid while still strengthening. It was the storm depicted in the movie the "The Perfect Storm". It is now happening again. But the circumstances are still unique even compared to "The Perfect Storm."
The storm is continuing to gain strength as it changes. But instead of the wind speeds going higher, the wind field itself is growing in size. As of 7p.m. tropical storm force winds (39mph+) were in area some 900 miles wide. The coast of North Carolina is feeling tropical storm force winds at the same Bermuda is. From the same storm. It is expected to break all the "lowest pressure" records in its path.
When it comes on shore, it is expected to effect (in some way) the eastern 1/3 of the United States. Along the north east coast they are expecting storm surge that could flood the subways of New York. The Washington D.C. area is bracing for up a foot of rain. And the odd effects of this hybrid storm are that high winds will be felt as far away as perhaps Arkansas. The city of Chicago along the shore is under flood advisories because they expect to see 20-25 foot waves on Lake Michigan. The Appalachian Mountains are bracing for blizzard conditions with the possibility of a foot or more of heavy wet snow. We may even see our first snow flurries of the season from this storm. And the large wind field is expected to tap into the coldest air in Canada drive it south.
While this system will not level any areas like you see with monster hurricanes, it will affect more people than the usual hurricane does. It is possible because of the size of the storm and the area that it is aiming for that by this time Tuesday night that tens of millions of people could be without power. Take some time in the next day or so to have a look at our unique Hurricane Sandy.
Now on to the Wrap Up:
-The biggest story of the week happened on Friday. At least letting us know that Mike Moore knows the old P.R. trick of releasing bad news on Friday afternoons.
Leah Farris, the city's Communication Director was fired by Mike Moore. No reasons have been given and N&T was apparently too busy reporting on a Rotary club award to be bothered to do a story on the weekend. This position has been in the new recently as the council decided starting next year the Com. Director would report the Parks Department and no longer directly to the mayor. Then boom, a week later and the mayor gives her the pink slip.
I have talked and read several people and have heard no one speak an ill word of her so that makes this a sad development.
The position was also in the news early in the year as the mayor initially decided to do away with the position. Then when he decided to have a Com. Director, it ended up being one of his first public clashes with the council.
I will be watching and listening for what the developments will be with this story.
-If your in need of a job, head down to Amazon as they are in the process of hiring seasonal workers for the holidays. And you never know, once you start you've got a foot in the door.
-At the county council's meeting this week protesters lined the bench. haha.
In all seriousness after I snapped my picture of 4 protesters I understand that about 20 ended up showing up. So I will have to retract my statement about it being embarrassing. But still with only 20 people they probably ended up still looking like a small group of kooks.
-Jeffersonville got a new War Memorial this week. Its on Riverside Dr. near Clark St. It is dedicated to all the veterans of our three most recent wars, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. An official ceremony is set for Veteran's Day.
-Jeffersonville will get a new gas station this week. The Marathon and Save-A-Step will open on the first. This is a good thing for convience. As someone who rides this road almost every day I look forward to having a gas station to go to without having to jump over to the pike.
Now lets just not get gas station happy on this stretch. We have one. That's enough. Lets be creative with this space we have.
-The Jeffersonville/Clarksville flood control districts chose a company from for proposals to do a watershed study before work begins on two pumping stations. The study will help determine the scope of the work on these two stations.
Of course Mikey, always one to have his facts straight and know how to talk to other people dropped this line after being given an estimate of between $120,000 to $150,000: “I would make this suggestion before any hours are put into this project: I strongly recommend you re-evaluate those numbers,” said Jeffersonville Mayor and board member Mike Moore. “That number’s quite a bit higher than we were told to anticipate.”
Way to be cool Mikey. You can read the whole News & Tribune story here.
-The Jeffersonville Main Street Revitalization grant was accepted this week. The state is throwing $250,000 at Jeff to use in its remodelling of the area from landing of the new pedestrian bridge to the downtown comerical area. Lets hope its used in efficient ways that are creative. Remember, Mikey's big plans for Hwy 62 are gas stations and fast food resturaunts. Lets aim a little higher.
-Wow, that was a lot. "That's what sh..." Dont do it. I'll be back later in the week. Hope you have a good week. And feel free to comment below and like the Facebook page!
No comments:
Post a Comment