Well, possibly a bit of good news for you, Laura, if the latest track shift holds. It may go a bit north of Tampa, and some dry air will weaken it, so, maybe it won't be quite as bad as it was looking like. Still, your area could get some gusty damaging winds, heavy rain squalls, some thunderstorms on that east side of the storm. It's got 45 mph winds now. Not getting very strong at this point. Stay tuned.
The "dirty side" I believe is that east side of the storm where the southerly winds blow; usually the strongest winds are on the east side, especially if a storm is moving say, northwest or north or northeast. The western side is the "clean" side. Since you are on the "dirty" side for THIS one, you need to be prepared for those strong, damaging winds. In the event of one of these "tropical tornadoes" during the rainbands, if you get a tornado warning, get to a safe place till the warning is lifted. Tropical tornadoes are usually with the "dirty" side of the storms. These tornadoes are the short-lived spinups that are not like the "ordinary" EF-3, EF-4 or 5 big behemoths commonly seen in the Plains states. Regardless, do not go out to see the tornadoes. They may be rain-wrapped, hard to see. They can come upon you, and they do cause damage, compounding what the hurricane already is doing damage-wise. Tornadoes are rare on the "clean" side of tropical storms and hurricanes.
So far since I have lived here I have been on the dirty side each time as they go up the Gulf. Well Irma hit far south and did some damage here but I wasn't around to notice, went to my brother's farther north. I plan to stay well sheltered during any storm as I was out one day up north coming back from a friend's and was stopped at a light when I heard a tremendous noise and couldn't figure out what it was until I looked up and saw a funnel cloud overhead a few hundred feet. Scared the hell out of me as there was nowhere to go but it passed without touching down there. I'm careful about storms since.
Well, that's why I say, watch out for these quick spin-ups or tropical tornadoes; at least. the funnel didn't touch ground. If you are between rain bands, the sun may pop out, and it may be dry for awhile; then it suddenly gets dark and a gusty wind comes, maybe a funnel drops from the dark cloud. The noise you heard that day might have been something being flipped by a sudden gust from the funnel cloud. That's why you should stay sheltered till the weather is MUCH, much better.
Well, possibly a bit of good news for you, Laura, if the latest track shift holds. It may go a bit north of Tampa, and some dry air will weaken it, so, maybe it won't be quite as bad as it was looking like. Still, your area could get some gusty damaging winds, heavy rain squalls, some thunderstorms on that east side of the storm. It's got 45 mph winds now. Not getting very strong at this point. Stay tuned.
I would feel sorry for them but quite happy for myself. I always seem to be on the dirty side of these things.
The "dirty side" I believe is that east side of the storm where the southerly winds blow; usually the strongest winds are on the east side, especially if a storm is moving say, northwest or north or northeast. The western side is the "clean" side. Since you are on the "dirty" side for THIS one, you need to be prepared for those strong, damaging winds. In the event of one of these "tropical tornadoes" during the rainbands, if you get a tornado warning, get to a safe place till the warning is lifted. Tropical tornadoes are usually with the "dirty" side of the storms. These tornadoes are the short-lived spinups that are not like the "ordinary" EF-3, EF-4 or 5 big behemoths commonly seen in the Plains states. Regardless, do not go out to see the tornadoes. They may be rain-wrapped, hard to see. They can come upon you, and they do cause damage, compounding what the hurricane already is doing damage-wise. Tornadoes are rare on the "clean" side of tropical storms and hurricanes.
So far since I have lived here I have been on the dirty side each time as they go up the Gulf. Well Irma hit far south and did some damage here but I wasn't around to notice, went to my brother's farther north. I plan to stay well sheltered during any storm as I was out one day up north coming back from a friend's and was stopped at a light when I heard a tremendous noise and couldn't figure out what it was until I looked up and saw a funnel cloud overhead a few hundred feet. Scared the hell out of me as there was nowhere to go but it passed without touching down there. I'm careful about storms since.
Well, that's why I say, watch out for these quick spin-ups or tropical tornadoes; at least. the funnel didn't touch ground. If you are between rain bands, the sun may pop out, and it may be dry for awhile; then it suddenly gets dark and a gusty wind comes, maybe a funnel drops from the dark cloud. The noise you heard that day might have been something being flipped by a sudden gust from the funnel cloud. That's why you should stay sheltered till the weather is MUCH, much better.