Woodstock & Camille

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The Weather Channel’s Dr. Stu Ostro writes: “Did you know that Hurricane Camille made landfall on the same night as the final night of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair?” I sure didn’t. And that night was 40 years ago this week. Ostro even has the New York Times front page to prove it:

NYTimes_Camille_Woodstock

Heh. Love the story placement. Three columns and a photo for the end of a rock festival (okay, a very culturally significant one, and located in the newspaper’s state — but still); one column for the second-strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States, a Category Five monster that killed 259 people, caused $1.42 billion in damages, and produced 200+ mph wind gusts. Damn NYT hippies. 🙂

Hurricane Bill now a Category 4

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Hurricane Bill strengthened further overnight, and its top sustained winds are now estimated at 135 mph as of 5:00 AM EDT, making it a Category Four hurricane. It could be even stronger; data from a recon plane later today will give us a better idea of the storm’s strength. Here’s a visible satellite view this morning:

Hurricane Bill, Aug. 19, 5:45 AM EDT

Further strengthening is expected. The forecast brings Bill up to 145 mph in 24 hours. Conditions will remain favorable for intensification for about the next 48 hours — though eyewall replacement cycles, which are inherently unpredictable, are likely to cause intermittent disruptions. Then, around 48-72 hours out, according to the discussion, Bill will begin interacting with the trough of low pressure currently off the Carolinas, so some weakening is expected. More rapid weakening will commence as Bill recurves in earnest and begins accelerating northward and northeastward.

Speaking of which… after the jump is a map showing the current “guidance envelope” of computer model forecast tracks.

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Our stimulative couch

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Over the weekend, we made a pilgrimage to American Furniture Warehouse to check out the sectional couches they had on sale. We promptly fell in love with a beautiful sectional at a great price, and so, using a portion of our first-time homebuyers stimulus check, we bought it. Today, it was delivered. And it is awesome.

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Since our purchase of the couch was made possible by stimulus funds, you can consider this blog post our thank-you note to our fellow taxpayers. 🙂 As for our decision to use that cash, or some of it anyway, to stimulate the economy by buying a couch, instead of stashing it all in savings: you’re welcome. Take that, paradox of thrift!

Oh, and if you’re wondering about the stuffed animal in the photo… it’s a gift to Loyette from David K., whom the girls & I met up with at the airport this evening during his layover at DIA. Technically it’s a lemur, but Loyette for some reason decided to call it a “mouse.” So, mouse it is. 🙂

After the jump, another view of the couch, showing its proximity to the TV.

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Almost major

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As of 5:00 PM EDT, Hurricane Bill is almost a major hurricane, with top sustained winds of 110 mph. One more upgrade, and he’ll be a Category 3. He certainly looks the part:

Hurricane Bill, 4:15 PM EDT

The discussion notes that the forecast track has been nudged slightly to the left. This trend would seem to decrease the threat to Bermuda, while increasing the likelihood of an eventual swipe at Nova Scotia and/or Newfoundland. I suppose it also keeps New England in play, but I have a very hard time believing that scenario will come to pass from the expected angle of approach. Once storms start recurving, they generally don’t stop.

P.S. Mashable has a handy guide to online resources for tracking Bill (or any hurricane, for that matter). Some of these may need to be added to my blogroll…