We will start our review from NOAA. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is the parent agency of the National Weather Service, represented by the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade County, Florida. NOAA’s primary missions: predict environmental changes to protect life and property, and provide industry and government with a reliable base of scientific information. In conjunction with the hurricane center, NOAA operates the Hurricane Research Division on Virginia Key in Miami, which is considered a vital part of the effort to improve hurricane forecasts and provide more advanced warnings.
And the reason of this sharp interest to the hurricane related issues has been triggered by Tropical Storm Fay. It moved over the western end of Cuba on Monday morning on its march toward the eastern Gulf of Mexico and Florida Keys. Traffic out of the Florida Keys was brutal at times on Sunday as officials urged the evacuation of thousands from the path of the storm, a Florida official said.
At 5 a.m. ET, the storm, with maximum sustained winds of near 50 mph (80 km/hr) with higher gusts, was heading north-northwest at about 12 mph (19 km/hr), forecasters said.
Fay was centered about 105 miles (170 km) east-southeast of Havana, Cuba and about 155 miles (250 km) south-southeast of Key West, the hurricane center reported.
The projected path current versions from CNN and NOAA:
The storm has caused several closings in the area. Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola and Polk County schools are closed on Tuesday, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have declared a state of emergency. Key West International Airport closed at 10 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. However, Tampa International Airport, Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale International Airport have yet to cancel flights. However, several airlines have canceled flights entering these airports. Customers are asked to call the airlines to receive an update on their flights and their possible cancellations.
It is still unclear how bad it can come to the certain Florida areas, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood, be prepared. Hurricane hazards might come in many forms: storm surge, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding. This means it is important for you and your family to have a plan that includes possibility of activation of all or some of these hazards. Visit Hurricane preparedness Website to get some ideas on how to survive and save your family in case of disaster: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml
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