Gustav is weakening and steering to the west of the Big Easy.
The Air Force regularly sends in its “hurricane hunter” aircraft, and the last observation of about a hour ago showed central winds “generously described” at 100 knots, and those probably falling. The National Hurricane Center reports that the AF plane didn’t even find an eye wall, though radar reports an open (therefore weaker one) over the south.
The forecasters also report “WATER VAPOR IMAGERY ALSO SUGGESTS A DRY INTRUSION AND A RESTRICTION OF THE UPPER-LEVEL OUTFLOW OVER THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE HURRICANE.” What that means in English is that the storm will very probably get weaker. (We—I used to be a National Weather Service forecaster—always had to type forecasts in all upper case. This is a throwback to teletypewriter days.)
“ALSO THE CLOUD PATTERN HAS BECOME A BIT MORE RAGGED ON GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITE PICTURES. BASED ON CURRENT TRENDS AND THE PROXIMITY TO THE COAST…NO SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN STRENGTH APPEARS LIKELY PRIOR TO LANDFALL.” That one doesn’t need any translation.
Make no mistake, however. Gustav is still a big storm and those in his path should get out of his way. It will absolutely cause damage and cost a lot of people a lot of money.
But the wide-spread death and destruction so avidly hoped for by the radical left (see two posts ago) Michael Moore, Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Don Fowler, inter alia now seems unlikely.
What a sad day!
The weather also spoils the media’s fun. You could almost feel the anticipation and eagerness in the news rooms yesterday. Reporters irresponsibly echoed New Orleans’ mayor’s foolish statement calling Gustav the “storm of the century.” This kind of idiotic hyperbole, while typical, is easy to spot, so why does the media regularly give it so much play?
I just turned on the news and they showed a reporter, ridiculously overdressed in rain gear that would hold back a flood, giving his best effort. He shouted in the microphone, held his hat as the breeze and drizzle assaulted him. What a trooper.
Guess they’re all trying to look like a young Dan Rather during Hurricane Camille. It’s iconic, so the look has to be worshipped, I guess.
As an alternative, they could try to look like Old Dan Rather and present forged documents that nearly anyone with desktop publishing experience could debunk in seconds. It has the advantage of being drier.
Come on, it was just a bad joke. He didn’t mean he wanted anyone to be hurt. He even said “I hope nobody gets hurt”. Far indeed from wishing widespread death and destruction. And you rail against the hyperbole of others!
Moore’s “joke” was in poor taste at best. He should have kept it to himself, as should have Don Fowler.
I also suspect that they were not joking and would indeed be glad for a truly destructive storm (though I admit I might be wrong about this).
The guy deserves a punch in the nose for some ungentlemanly behavior.
Well, his alter-ego gets roundly pimp-slapped by Patton, George Washington and Bill O’Reilly in “An American Carol”, coming to theaters near you.
It’s as close as we’re going to get until the right wing develops a secret Ninja Pie brigade.
Talking of the secret Ninja pie brigade, it’s a global problem. Although this article”cornered by the green lynch mob” is from 2005 it’s very funny.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/jeremy_clarkson/article757025.ece
Briggs:
tried to send a comment three times which didn’t appear. Reluctant to try a fourth in case they all appear together. Am I in the sin bin?
Talking of secret Ninja pie brigade,this article,although old now is very funny.
Shows it’s a global problem. The link didn’t work but google “cornered by the green lynch mob”and it’s the first item.
I think the whole jumping up and down on him for a remark is silly. Although opportunistic. I make black humor all the time. Hate PC speech codes or stifling of good fun. Let’s not use the namby pampby tactics of our opponents. It justifies them and makes us ball-less like them.
Capisce?