9/16/2003: Isabel threatens

Undertoad · 09-16-2003, 12:04 PM

It's today's Astronomy pic of the Day, and Fark has also chosen it, and we have a separate Cellar thread discussing it, but this is such an amazing image that I had to include it here too.

If you go to the Apod site, and click on the photo, you can see a brilliant 1700 x 2200 version which shows enormous detail.

The entire east coast is concerned about this one, but it may turn out to be nothing. As I write this, Isabel's winds have calmed to 105 MPH (170 km/h), down from a high of about 160 (260).

It may be that the reason there's all this urgency this time is that the people who predict hurricanes have changed their approach. They are starting to forecast further out in time - partly, I think, because they are getting better at it, and partly because they want to give people more time to prepare.

In this case, it means that the urgency started on Saturday (five days out) instead of Monday (three days out), and the weekend gave everyone the chance to worry about it.

Not that there shouldn't be this kind of urgency; a little more prep time for hurricane Andrew would have helped back then and Isabel may gain power again before it hits.

Jacque Strapp · 09-16-2003, 01:36 PM

Just to give everyone some idea of scale, the land mass at the bottom of the pic is Haiti, the one at lower-left is the eastern half of Cuba. From the left side of the pic to the right is probably around 800 miles.

LUVBUGZ · 09-16-2003, 02:13 PM

If I may say so, Isabel looks like quite the BITCH. Beautiful to look at, but I wouldn't want to get in her way. Hope all who are in her possible path are hunkering down. One reason I'm glad to be on the west coast, even if I'm gettin' screwed at the gas pumps

09-16-2003, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LUVBUGZ
One reason I'm glad to be on the west coast, even if I'm gettin' screwed at the gas pumps

That's what I call "full service".

Leah · 09-16-2003, 05:30 PM

Great picture, but I'm glad we don't get those here in Australia. Wouldn't mind a bit of rain, send some over.

xoxoxoBruce · 09-16-2003, 06:41 PM

Are you too far south for the typhoons, Leah?

Leah · 09-16-2003, 06:47 PM

I don't know Bruce, we just never get them. Lucky hey.

OnyxCougar · 09-16-2003, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LUVBUGZ
If I may say so, Isabel looks like quite the BITCH. Beautiful to look at, but I wouldn't want to get in her way. Hope all who are in her possible path are hunkering down.

We are, Luv. Check the other thread UT mentioned for the latest.

jaguar · 09-16-2003, 09:37 PM

leah - what city?

Leah · 09-16-2003, 09:56 PM

I live in Sydney Jaguar.
What country are you in.

jaguar · 09-16-2003, 10:04 PM

Melbourne - Australia
Good to see a fellow aussie around here (I think there was another at some point but i lost track). Used to post here far too much(postcount to prove it), now I mostly lurk.

Stonan · 09-16-2003, 10:29 PM

I hope it burns out. My namesake (Andrew) is the current recordholder for most costly hurricane...

In a perverse sorta way, I'm not ready to give up the crown yet!!:p

Leah · 09-16-2003, 10:34 PM

Yes Jaguar it is good to have another Aussie on board. I must say it's great chatting with our friendly Yankee neighbours.

Whit · 09-17-2003, 12:30 AM

      Of course it's great chatting with us Leah. We're just as cute and cuddly as we can be, never a cross thing to say to anyone. Just a big bunch of sweethearts around here. Yep, that's us.

jaguar · 09-17-2003, 02:14 AM

Whit beat me to it.
Just don't mention Isreal, palastine, Iraq, suicide bombers, terrorists, bush, clinton, anything associated with neocons in general and this place is a world of love and kindness. Except for dave who insists on telling people how he washes his ass.

09-16-2003, 12:04 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	9/16/2003: Isabel threatens It's today's Astronomy pic of the Day, and Fark has also chosen it, and we have a separate Cellar thread discussing it, but this is such an amazing image that I had to include it here too. If you go to the Apod site, and click on the photo, you can see a brilliant 1700 x 2200 version which shows enormous detail. The entire east coast is concerned about this one, but it may turn out to be nothing. As I write this, Isabel's winds have calmed to 105 MPH (170 km/h), down from a high of about 160 (260). It may be that the reason there's all this urgency this time is that the people who predict hurricanes have changed their approach. They are starting to forecast further out in time - partly, I think, because they are getting better at it, and partly because they want to give people more time to prepare. In this case, it means that the urgency started on Saturday (five days out) instead of Monday (three days out), and the weekend gave everyone the chance to worry about it. Not that there shouldn't be this kind of urgency; a little more prep time for hurricane Andrew would have helped back then and Isabel may gain power again before it hits.

09-16-2003, 01:36 PM	#2
Jacque Strapp Romantic Necromancer Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 29	Just to give everyone some idea of scale, the land mass at the bottom of the pic is Haiti, the one at lower-left is the eastern half of Cuba. From the left side of the pic to the right is probably around 800 miles. __________________ \|End of Line\|

09-16-2003, 02:13 PM	#3
LUVBUGZ Not aging gracefully. Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 530	If I may say so, Isabel looks like quite the BITCH. Beautiful to look at, but I wouldn't want to get in her way. Hope all who are in her possible path are hunkering down. One reason I'm glad to be on the west coast, even if I'm gettin' screwed at the gas pumps __________________ You can't catch me...don't even try...go do something else...see ya next year. Mama Loves You Baby Girl ~ May You Rest In Peace

09-16-2003, 06:41 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Are you too far south for the typhoons, Leah? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-16-2003, 09:37 PM	#9
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	leah - what city? __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

09-16-2003, 05:30 PM	#5
Leah Love my Heffalumps Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia (best place in the world) Posts: 346	Great picture, but I'm glad we don't get those here in Australia. Wouldn't mind a bit of rain, send some over.

09-16-2003, 06:47 PM	#7
Leah Love my Heffalumps Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia (best place in the world) Posts: 346	I don't know Bruce, we just never get them. Lucky hey.

09-16-2003, 09:56 PM	#10
Leah Love my Heffalumps Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia (best place in the world) Posts: 346	I live in Sydney Jaguar. What country are you in.

09-16-2003, 10:04 PM	#11
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Melbourne - Australia Good to see a fellow aussie around here (I think there was another at some point but i lost track). Used to post here far too much(postcount to prove it), now I mostly lurk. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

09-16-2003, 10:29 PM	#12
Stonan Do-er of Deeds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada, Earth, Universe #42 Posts: 41	I hope it burns out. My namesake (Andrew) is the current recordholder for most costly hurricane... In a perverse sorta way, I'm not ready to give up the crown yet!!:p __________________ Jesus got it wrong by one letter: The Geek shall inherit the earth...

09-16-2003, 10:34 PM	#13
Leah Love my Heffalumps Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia (best place in the world) Posts: 346	Yes Jaguar it is good to have another Aussie on board. I must say it's great chatting with our friendly Yankee neighbours.

09-17-2003, 12:30 AM	#14
Whit Umm ... yeah. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 949	Of course it's great chatting with us Leah. We're just as cute and cuddly as we can be, never a cross thing to say to anyone. Just a big bunch of sweethearts around here. Yep, that's us. __________________ A friend will help you move. A true friend will help you move a body.

09-17-2003, 02:14 AM	#15
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Whit beat me to it. Just don't mention Isreal, palastine, Iraq, suicide bombers, terrorists, bush, clinton, anything associated with neocons in general and this place is a world of love and kindness. Except for dave who insists on telling people how he washes his ass. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

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