Tropical Storm Ivan *Now Hurricane Ivan*

[Tink78]

Hi

We were supposed to be at AKL in a Savannah Room however because our original honeymoon got cancelled we had to re-book and couldn't get in there, so had to down grade to Coronado Springs.

We will get money back though as it's a cheaper holiday, as long as we actually get to go this time.

I checked this morning, and I have to say it's not looking very good.
Ivan is due to hit the south coast of Florida Monday/Tuesday next week, so will prob get to Orlando by Wednesday so even if we do get there we will probably have to go through the hurricane.

I feel really, really down this morning.
I know it's just a honeymoon but this is supposed to be the happiest few weeks of our lives and all we have done is bicker and get upset as we don't have a clue what's going to happen.

I just have to keep praying that it doesn't hit.

The poor people of Florida aren't going to cope very well with another hurricane!

Good luck with your holiday at AKL.
Hope it goes smoothly for you.
xx

 

[AlanUK]

Hurricane Ivan is back up to a category 4 storm with 135mph sustained winds. It smashed through the island of Grenada yesterday and initial reports are not good from there.

The weather models have now shifted the track back to the east with Jamaica looking like it might take a direct hit.

The thing that strikes me at the moment with the forcast runs is that once past Cuba Ivan looks to be taking a very similar path to Charley. This is certainly not good, as Florida is really going to struggle to take another hit in this area from a powerful storm.

It is still quite a long way off and as always there is a lot of room for error in these models outside of 2-3 days. It definitely looks like Ivan is headed for the Gulf of Mexico on a northwesterly track though

Here are the latest tracks for information

 

[MizzPrincezz]

here is the latest map from the weather channel.com

 

[Tink78]

It certainly looks like it's going to turn and hit Florida then doesn't it?!

This is awful, awful news.

 

[MizzPrincezz]

Yeah however it is still early days they can give a more precise forecast over the next two or three days. Just hope it misses Florida

Such a shame for all those people there they have suffered enough.

 

[Feralpeg]

Tink78, I don't know if this will help. I stayed at AKL during hurricane Frances. Even though I live in the Orlando area, we thought it would be safer and more comfortable to stay at Disney. We felt very safe during the entire storm. The Disney staff went to great lengths to make sure the guests were comfortable. They provided entertainment as long as possible once the storm began. There was more than enought food available. I know that being cooped up in a hotel doesn't sound like fun. If you have to do so, at least you will be in a great place. Frances was a very slow moving storm. It started Friday night and did not let up until Monday morning. It doesn't appear that will be the case with Ivan. That storm is really moving. If it hits here, it will be like Charley. It will come and go in a matter of a few hours. That's not to say it won't cause damage, but Disney is really great at getting things up and running very fast. For your sake and for those of us in Florida, I'm really praying that Ivan goes another direction.

 

[Tink78]

Thank you for that.
It made me feel better (or is that the bag of candy I am eating!!).

I hope that your home wasn't badly damaged or anything.

We are no longer staying at AKL as our honeymoon got postponed and then we couldn't get a room there, so we are now staying at CS.

We are due to fly Tues at noon UK time (so 7am US time).

We are keeping our fingers crossed.

I hope for your sakes that Ivan doesn't go to Florida.
You guys have suffered enough already.
xx

 

[lucy_love_]

eeeeeeeeeeeeeks

 

[AlanUK]

Hurricane Ivan has now intesified again and has made it to Category 5 status with 160mph sustained winds. Not very many hurricanes reach this status and it will probably be difficult for Ivan to maintain this strength for long. Ivan is likely to remain a very strong hurricane though of at least Category 4 status even when he undergoes some weakening.

The models are still shifting him about as well but are again as of this morning in agreement that he will pass directly over Jamaica on Friday. After that they diverge slightly but the agreement seems to be at the moment that Ivan will make landfall in SW Florida around the Naples area.

This one really needs to change direction before then. Two hurricanes in close succession was bad enough but three is going to be a potential catastrophy.

There is a chance that going over Jamaica and Cuba could weaken Ivan slightly but looking at what happened with Charley there is always time for a re-intesification before landfall anyway.

The best hope is that like Frances, Ivan will encounter some wind shear causing him to weaken significantly. This is difficult to predict though and it unlikely we will know much about it until/if it start to happen.

I would expect the authorities in Florida to start putting their evacuation and emergency plans back in action again soon.

As I said before though I really hope this one takes a turn east or west from the predicted track.

Latest weather model predictions....

 

[florry]

Feralpeg - we were also in AKL for Frances ! They were very good at keeping us updated with the situation and kept a very calm athmosphere throughout.

We heard some dreadfull stories at the airport yesterday, from people who were not so fortunate,

We can confirm that the hotel that our son is staying at now - Travelodge Maingate on th US 192 - were awfull during Frances, not laying on any food or making provision for loss of power. The staff did not appear to know what to do in the event of frances hitting really hard.

Florry

 

[Feralpeg]

Well, the bad news just keeps coming. They are now telling us that we could very well be hit by Ivan. They are currently evacuating the keys. They are still saying Ivan could turn, but the current model has it coming ashore in south Florida and moving up through central Forida. They say that by the time it would reach central Florida, the winds should only be 90 mph. ONLY!! I can't complain. My damage has been minimal. I feel so bad for the other people here whose homes are a mess. We are now having flooding problems as well. Since the storm, the snakes and alligators are in areas where you wouldn't normally find them. I was walking down our street with my sister and DD the other night. My sister almost stepped on a big black snake. It was just wiggling up the sidewalk.

Let's all think very positive thoughts. Maybe it will turn.

 

[Tink78]

Hi,

I am so sorry.
I just saw the updated chart too, and it doesn't look good at all does it?!

I will keep my fingers crossed for you all.

In the mean time, we are now currently due to fly to Sanford on Tues 14th, so if you hear anything about airport closures please let us know asap, as we will need to re-schedule our honeymoon asap if our flight gets cancelled again.

We want to re-schedule it as early as possible, as there will be 100's of people trying to do the same thing.

I will PM you my home email address too in case you hear anything over the weekend, as I can't check my work emails from home.

Thank you for the updates, and I hope everything is going to be ok.
My cousin is travelling to Orlando by plane as we type, so I hope he doesn't get too badly affected by Ivan.

What a total nightmare this is becoming, but even after all this you won't keep me away from Florida.
I love it there, and although I am starting to feel bitter towards hurricanes for trying to spoil my honeymoon, today I feel more positive and am not going to let it ruin it!
Once we finally get to Orlando I am going to enjoy myself so much, and I am going to appreciate the fact that I actually got there much more than if we hadn't been cancelled twice!!

I hope everyone who is living out there is going to be ok, and lets all hope that this is the last one!!

 

[KayleeUK]

Since the storm, the snakes and alligators are in areas where you wouldn't normally find them

 

[MizzPrincezz]

Originally posted by Feralpeg
Since the storm, the snakes and alligators are in areas where you wouldn't normally find them. I was walking down our street with my sister and DD the other night. My sister almost stepped on a big black snake. It was just wiggling up the sidewalk.

Let's all think very positive thoughts. Maybe it will turn.

GEEZ.......that would be it for me

Im terrified of snakes...PLeeeease go away IVAN

I need a group hug all this stressing about these hurricanes is really getting me down

 

[Tink78]

I know how you feel!

This is mad.
I think that by Sunday we will have our honeymoon cancelled and re-booked again!!

I just wish that I knew when we were going, and then even when we do get there, is there going to be another one!!
I hope not!

I don't think Florida can take much more of this, and I know my stress levels are up.

It's so hard packing and planning for a holiday that might not even happen yet.

Oh well, there is still time for Ivan to bugger off somewhere else.

Fingers crossed everyone!!

 

[lucy_love_]

omg i am getting stress wrinkles.

its not going to hit its not going to hit its not going to hit its not going to hit its not going to hit its not going to hit.

repeat with me. its not going to hit.

everybody chant

ITS NOT GOING TO HIT.

ok thats all i can say at the mo.

love

lucy

 

[flutterby]

plenty prayers for all honeymooners, holidayers and most importantly all floridians xxx
May God smile down on us and the sun shine

 

[Miffy2003]

My thoughts are with everyone affected by this. I have heard tonight on the radio there has been devastation and loss of life in the Carribean

Thinking of you all

 

[lucy_love_]

thats awful. hopefully it will weaken soon. its killed some people in grenada too hasnt it. what with this and russia and bombs and other hurricanes and stuff it makes me just want to cry.

 

[florry]

Just been watching Fox news channel on Sky TV

Florida Keys are being advised to evacuate. Its not looking good !