Potential Tropical Storm for the 4th

[circus4u]

From the weather channel.

A tropical depression may form in the next couple of days off the Florida coast.
This system may track near parts of the Eastern Seaboard, particularly from Florida to North Carolina, this Fourth of July holiday week.
All residents from eastern Florida to the Mid-Atlantic coast and far southeast New England should monitor the progress of this system.

An area of low pressure continues to swirl about 150 miles east of Cape Canaveral, Florida, making an attempt to become the Atlantic hurricane season's first tropical depression. The first named storm of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season is Arthur.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you are going to Florida anytime soon, especially by air, or if you have a cruise scheduled out of Canaveral, then you need to keep an eye on this one.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

NOAA is not showing tracks for it because it is not yet a tropical storm...but it's right in position.

 

[disnut8]

The current tracker shows it still out at sea on the 4th. I'll be at Disney World for the 4th and will track this but I'm not concerned.

 

[Josh Hendy]

Here is a site that has the current estimated storm track, the so-called "spaghetti model". Plus satellite photos, weather radar, etc.

http://spaghettimodels.com/

At the moment all of the estimated storm tracks show this depression traveling up the eastern seaboard which could (I suppose) dump rain and thunderstorms on the coast or on Orlando, even if it isn't a hurricane.

Sometimes these storms take an unexpected turn and either veer inland or turn out to sea ... so if you think you might be affected by this weather then I recommend that you check at least once every day.

In 2006 Hurricane Charly was predicted to hit Tampa so half of that city (it seemed) was evacuated to Orlando. But overnight it turned east and hit Orlando dead-center. Doh!

WDW is amazing at handling storms though ... parks only closed for 1/2 day on the day of the storm's arrival. It struck around 8pm and was all over by midnight. The next day (only 12 hours after the storm center passed through Orlando) all of the major parks opened on schedule. 2 days later we visited Blizzard Beach but Typhoon Lagoon was still closed, presumably because of the number of trees that had to be cleaned up.

If this tropical depression/storm is only going to graze Orlando then the worst that you might see is patches of rain and thunder, in other words a typical summer day in Florida!

 

[andyman8]

Supposedly, the latest forecasts indicate that this will graze the South Florida/Orlando area tomorrow and Wednesday and then move back out and up the coast a bit leading to a drier Thurs and Fri with typical FL summer weather patterns (i.e. pm storms) returning on Saturday.

So, tomorrow and Wednesday will probably be washouts but good news for those traveling on the Fourth.

 

[JanaDee]

I wanted to bump this back up, in case someone hasn't seen it yet. Forecast is going to be VERY rainy for Orlando the next few days, as a TS is supposed to develop today.

It is forecast to become a weak hurricane off the coast of NC by the 4th.

 

[circus4u]

Problem will be mostly rain, 3 to 5 inches forecast for today.

 

[ilovecoasters]

Problem will be mostly rain, 3 to 5 inches forecast for today.

News is reporting 40% chance of storms. Unlikely to get this much rain. Check wesh,com.

 

[tjevans]

Ah, hurricane season. That time of year when those of us from the gulf states wonder why people on the boards are all concerned about tropical depressions and tropical storms.

As a "public service," most tropical storms are mostly rain, so it's not that much different from a day of solid thunderstorms (which is also not unusual in the south). Now, I'll be the first to admit that I don't like walking around in a heavy rain, especially at WDW, where that can shut down outdoor rides. But at least you'll be wet at Disney World. Just think of it as combining a water park with the theme parks.

This isn't a jab at OP. Really, if you want to see unneeded worry, you need to watch the run on groceries in the South when there's supposed to be a dusting of snow.

 

[JanaDee]

Ah, hurricane season. That time of year when those of us from the gulf states wonder why people on the boards are all concerned about tropical depressions and tropical storms.

As a "public service," most tropical storms are mostly rain, so it's not that much different from a day of solid thunderstorms (which is also not unusual in the south). Now, I'll be the first to admit that I don't like walking around in a heavy rain, especially at WDW, where that can shut down outdoor rides. But at least you'll be wet at Disney World. Just think of it as combining a water park with the theme parks.

This isn't a jab at OP. Really, if you want to see unneeded worry, you need to watch the run on groceries in the South when there's supposed to be a dusting of snow.

I really dislike these type of posts. It most certainly is a jab. I can walk around in the rain and be soaked at home for free.

 

[nancipants]

Two years ago I learned that the best time to be at a theme park was during a tropical storm. We went to Islands of Adventure in August during TS Isaac. The winds weren't strong enough for any of the rides to close, and NOBODY was there. We had a 10 minute wait for Forbidden Journey and that was just to walk through the queue. If it wasn't for sitting in the front row (not smart) and getting drenched on Dragon Challenge and being miserable afterwards, we would've stayed longer. It was great!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Most of the time, the only thing you really have to worry about is delays and cancelled travel (and rain, because inland they are mostly rain.) It is rare to have a hurricane that shuts the parks. It's only happened about 5 or 6 times (4 of those in 2004)

 

[tjevans]

I really dislike these type of posts. It most certainly is a jab. I can walk around in the rain and be soaked at home for free.

Sorry you see it as a jab. I don't, and I had no animosity toward OP.

As I alluded to, it is tiring every year seeing posts about tropical storms, hurricanes, etc. But I can put myself in the shoes of someone who has not lived through this kind of weather every year of their life to understand the concern.

And regarding walking around in the rain, I can stand around in 97 degree heat with 100% humidity for free at home, but I'd much rather do that at Disney World! Sorry I tried to put a positive spin on it.

It's a theme park. It's outdoors. I know it's not ideal, but until Disney finally builds that dome over the property, you run the risk of bad weather any time of the year.

 

[HM]

Two years ago I learned that the best time to be at a theme park was during a tropical storm.

I totally agree. One of our best days ever at WDW was during a TS (Oct 1999).

I've also visited Busch Gardens Williamburg during one....we ended up having to leave mid-afternoon when a tornado warning was posted for an area nearby, so that was a bit of a bummer, but we'd done most of what we'd wanted due to low crowds.

I live in NC, the storm is supposed be along our coast by Thursday night/Friday, so well away from FL on the 4th.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Tropical Storm Arthur - NOAA track

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT01/refresh/AL0114W5_NL_sm2+gif/145625W5_NL_sm.gif

 

[Josh Hendy]

I wonder if there is a clothing strategy that would work on days of heavy rain. Ponchos are uncomfortable and clammy if you wear them for more than a few minutes. Cotton clothing is good for feeling (relatively) cool in very hot and humid conditions and dries out eventually when the sun comes out after a rain, but it's like walking around in heavy, wet bed sheets when it's completely soaked.

What about artificial materials instead of cotton, for days of heavy rain? I'm thinking of the kind of athletic gear that joggers or other outdoor athletes might wear. Something that gets wet but either sheds the rain, or at least doesn't hold large quantities of it. A long time ago I would do x-country skiing and there were types of underwear and shirts that would pass all the perspiration (which was extremely heavy even on the coldest days) away from my skin.

I'm sure I wouldn't bring that kind of specialized clothing on any old trip. But if you were virtually guaranteed a full day of heavy rain and wanted to take advantage of the empty parks I wonder if it would be more comfortable than wearing cotton undies, cotton shorts and cotton T-shirt.

 

[North of Mouse]

I'm in the south and am used to TS's and hurricanes, but that doesn't mean I enjoy being out in them.

For those of you that don't mind slogging around Disney in the rain - more power to you. We don't, and would much rather be at home, as pp said, it's free to do it at home!!

We've hit very few times in all the times we've been at Disney that rain has really settled in, and that's the times we are 'done' with the parks - to each their own - low crowds or not!

 

[disnut8]

I really dislike these type of posts. It most certainly is a jab. I can walk around in the rain and be soaked at home for free.

Don't really want to poke this issue but have you ever vacationed anywhere else and had it rain? Would you have asked for your money back then as well? AS far as I understand, Disney World doesn't control the weather. Neither does any other vacation destination in the entire world.

 

[tinkerhon]

Some flights to mco from here in ny have already been delayed

We have a 932am out tmw--- keeping fingers crossed!!!!

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

Don't let a tropical storm ruin your fun at Disneyworld, my family and I were there in 2008 when Fay was going full force. We did not allow it to be Captain Buzzkill and ruin our time there. Yes, it may cause temporary closures of outdoor attractions, but Disney has plenty to do indoors.