Tropical Storm Laura

At 0900 UTC the centre of sub-tropical storm Laura was located about 1015 miles west of Fayal Island in the western Azores.



Laura is not forecast to affect any land and is only a threat to shipping interests in the north Atlantic Ocean.



The storm is moving west-northwest at close to 8 mph. A gradual turn towards northwest, then north, will an increase in forward speed is expected tomorrow.



Maximum sustained winds are near to 60 mph, with higher gusts, but strengthening is expected and Laura could make the transition to a tropical cyclone today and become a hurricane by tomorrow.



Winds of 40 mph extend outwards to 310 miles from the centre. Minimum central pressure is estimated to be 993 mb.



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Subtropical storm Laura forms over the north central Atlantic...



at 500 am AST...0900z...the center of subtropical storm Laura was located near latitude 37.2 north...longitude 47.3 west or about 1015 miles...1635 km...west of Fayal island in the western Azores.



The storm is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph. A gradual turn toward the northwest and north accompanied by an increase in forward speed is expected on Tuesday. Laura is not forecast to affect any land areas...and the system is only a threat to shipping interests over the far North Atlantic ocean.



Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph...95 km/hr...with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours... and Laura could transition into a tropical cyclone later today and possibly become a hurricane by Tuesday.



Winds of 40 mph extend outward up to 310 miles...500 km from the center.



The estimated minimum central pressure is 993 mb...29.32 inches.



Repeating the 500 am AST position...37.2 N...47.3 W. Movement toward...west-northwest near 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds...60 mph. Minimum central pressure...993 mb.



The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 1100 am AST.



See All NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ADVISORIES Below



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2008 Tropical Storms and Hurricanes - Atlantic

1. Tropical Storm Arthur formed quickly on May 31 off Belize, lost tropical storm strength in fewer than 24 hours, and brought punishing rains of 10-15 inches to parts of the Yucatán Peninsula, including Mexico and Guatemala.

2. Hurricane Bertha formed as a tropical storm July 3 in the far eastern Atlantic, then debuted as the Atlantic's first hurricane July 7 and quickly grew to major hurricane status. By the time it affected land, July 14 in Bermuda, it was a strong tropical storm, causing rough surf and 3-5 inches of rain. It broke the record for longest-lived July storm and on July 18 reformed into a hurricane.

3. Tropical Storm Cristobal formed on July 19 off the coast of the Carolinas. The first named storm to threaten the U.S. coast, Cristobal threatened 3-5 inches of rain and strong storm surges across South and North Carolina.

4. Hurricane Dolly reached Category 2 strength in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall near the Texas-Mexico border July 23, 2008. Heavy rains and wind led to at least one death, flooding and damage in Texas and in neighboring states that may exceed $1 billion.

5. Tropical Storm Edouard formed August 3 in the Gulf of Mexico and though forecasters predicted strengthening and it passed by critical oil infrastructure, it was largely welcomed for relieving drought conditions in some parts of Texas and Louisiana.

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6. Tropical Storm Fay formed August 15 off the coast of the Dominican Republic and killed 35 people there and in Haiti before making a record five landfalls in Florida, where it killed 11 before moving on as a tropical depression, killing at least one in Georgia.

7. Hurricane Gustav formed August 25 off the coast of Haiti and reached hurricane strength Aug. 26 before making landfall there. It has been blamed for dozens of deaths in the Caribbean, making it the deadliest tropical storm of 2008 in the Atlantic to date, even before it reached the Gulf Coast, where 2 million evacuated in preparation.

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8. Hurricane Hanna formed August 28 in the Central Atlantic and briefly attained hurricane strength Sept. 1. The storm was blamed for at least 163 deaths, and possibly more than 500, in Haiti. As a tropical storm, Hanna drenched the U.S. East Coast.

9. Hurricane Ike formed September 1 and reached major Category 4 hurricane status Sept. 3. After losing some strength, Ike regained Category 4 hurricane status as it made landfall in the Bahamas Sept. 7. It has been blamed for dozens of deaths in Haiti. It devastated homes and infrastructure in Cuba, and led to more than two dozen deaths in the U.S., after it hit Texas as a Category 2 hurricane and continued through the Midwest as a large tropical depression.

10. Tropical Storm Josephine formed Sept. 2, with both Hanna and Ike also active in the Atlantic, but dissipated before affecting land.

11. Hurricane Kyle formed Sept. 25 and hit the Canadian Maritime provinces Sept. 28.

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12. Subtropical Storm Laura formed Sept. 29 and forecasters said it could reach hurricane strength in the Northern Atlantic.

Remaining 2008 Tropical Storm and Hurricane Names - Atlantic

Laura - Marco - Nana - Omar - Paloma - Rene - Sally - Teddy - Vicky - Wilfred

Hurricane Kyle hits Canadian East Coast with a Bang

Emergency and power crews in parts of Atlantic Canada were at work Sunday evening trying to restore electricity as tropical storm Kyle swirled into the Maritimes, its high winds toppling power lines.

Kyle went ashore just north of Yarmouth, N.S. at around 9 p.m. AT as a marginal Category 1 hurricane, according to the Canadian Hurricane Centre, based in Dartmouth, N.S., downing trees and causing power outages.

As it moved north toward New Brunswick and was downgraded to a tropical storm, winds with gusts up to 110 km/h over exposed areas could still cause damage, the Hurricane Centre warned.

Nova Scotia Power said as of 11 p.m. ET some 24,000 customers were without power while another 10,000 has seen their power restored.

"We're seeing trees bringing down lines, whole trees topple over, we're seeing high winds," said Glennie Langille of Nova Scotia Power.

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"We are doing as much work as we can within the conditions that we have," she said, mentioning that work had to stop whenever winds topped 90 km/h. "We've been working throughout the storm when it is safe to do so."

Dennis Kelly of Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office said damage from the storm was not as widespread as had been feared.

NB Power meanwhile was reporting some 700 customers without power across New Brunswick as the storm moved toward the province.

The storm was expected to bring significant rainfall to most of New Brunswick where rainfall advisories have been posted, warning of 50 to 100 millimetres of rain falling in a short period of time, threatening to cause some flooding.

As of 11 p.m. AT the Hurricane Centre said tropical storm warnings were in effect for several southern New Brunswick and Nova Scotia regions, including Moncton, Saint John, Lunenburg, Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby counties and the Bay of Fundy area.

Nova Scotia Power had put its crews on alert "right across the province" and had enlisted extra contract crews to help out in the event of widespread outages, said spokeswoman Margaret Murphy.

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"The forecast shows a large severe weather system headed our way," she said. "Certainly experience shows it's best to be prepared, so we prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

Murphy said the company had been putting particular emphasis on beefing up crews in the southwestern shores of Nova Scotia, where Kyle was forecast to hit land, with wind speeds roaring at up to 130 kilometres an hour.

New Brunswick power authorities were making similar preparations.

Kyle reached hurricane strength late Saturday as it swept through and soaked New England.

As the storm reached the Maritimes, it was expected be either a "strong tropical storm or a marginal Category 1 hurricane," according to Canadian weather bulletins.

Aside from the high winds, "dangerously high" water levels and waves are expected, particularly in the coastal regions under warning.

New Brunswick residents were warned to expect heavy rain of up to 100 millimetres and localized flash flooding. Water levels in various Nova Scotia counties, such as Yarmouth, were expected to exceed a metre above normal levels.

Combined with "dangerous rough tides," this is all expected to lead to shoreline erosion and damage to coastal roads, docks and buildings.

The Canadian Red Cross issued a warning earlier for people to be prepared in the event of a major storm. Bill Lawlor, director of disaster management for the Red Cross in Atlantic Canada, said in a statement the Red Cross is placing its 650 disaster volunteers and 15 emergency response teams throughout the Maritimes on standby.

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In anticipation of flooding and power outages, the Emergency Measures Organization in New Brunswick told the public to stock up on enough food, water and batteries to last three days. But Andy Morton, deputy director of the organization, says it's hard to tell how seriously the warnings were being taken.

"Well it's Sunday," he said. "I hope they are listening, and we hope they are heeding (the warnings) and time will tell."

"If you don't prepare and you get flooded, or your power is out, you will be disadvantaged," he added.


The spokesman said the impact of the storm could be similar to the devastation wrought by the ice storm of 1998. _Kyle is the 11th named storm this season in the Atlantic.

The hurricane already drenched Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Caribbean island of Hispaniola Saturday. Authorities in Puerto Rico said at least four people were killed and scores of homes were flooded.

Kyle is expected to hit Canada five years to the day after Hurricane Juan cut a swath of damage along Nova Scotia's East Coast. Between Sept. 28-29, Juan caused $100 million in damage as it unleashed winds of up to 176 km/h through Halifax Harbour, across Nova Scotia, and throughout Prince Edward Island.

The hurricane killed two people and nearly flattened Halifax's historic Point Pleasant Park, felling 70 per cent of the park's trees.

HURRICANE KYLE Continues to Blow Towards New Brunswick

Southern New Brunswick and southwestern Nova Scotia were battening down Sunday in anticipation of Kyle, the 11th named storm of the current hurricane season.

Kyle's track was expected to bring it ashore near Point Lepreau, N.B., just west of the city of Saint John late Sunday or early Monday.

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"Our forecasts have the storm reaching new Brunswick at sub-hurricane strength," said Peter Bowyer of the Canadian Hurricane Centre.

He said current data suggests it will be post tropical when it hits but there was still the possibility Kyle could be a marginal category 1 storm with winds gusting to 120 kilometres an hour.

"The point we really want to stress is that the difference in strength between a category 1 hurricane and something a little bit less than that isn't really a lot," said Bowyer in commenting on the system's potential for causing damage.

Emergency Measures officials in New Brunswick were concerned that those living inland and away from the Bay of Fundy coast were not taking the storm warnings seriously enough.

"We're talking to people on the street and they're shrugging this off," said spokesman Ernie MacGillvray, noting the system is hundreds of kilometres wide.

"They need to understand there's going to be a whole bunch of impact and it could be a few days before phones and power is restored. So they need to be self-sufficient for two or three days."

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All of New Brunswick is under a rain warning while wind warnings have been issued for new Brunswick's Bay of Fundy coastline and most of Nova Scotia.

Heather-Anne McLean of NB Power said repair crews were on standby and neighbouring utilities have been called to assist if needed.

"Essentially we're in a wait and see stage right now but we are prepared," said McLean.

"We have to keep in mind with all the trees still having their leaves the wind could cause some issues around power lines."

Bill Lawlor of the New Brunswick Red Cross said they were checking equipment and supplies to meet any need that might arise.

He was urging area residents to do the same.

"For instance do you have pets? Do you have enough pet food? Do you have someone on medication? Do you have enough medication to get by for the next few days?"

Lawlor said households should have enough food and other supplies to carry a family through 72-hours.

That includes making sure there's cash on hand because any extended power outages would leave automated banking machines off line.

A hurricane watch was posted for Yarmouth, Shelburne and Digby Counties in southwestern Nova Scotia where there are storm surge concerns.

"For the Yarmouth area we're concerned that as the storm is passing when the tide is at its highest things could line up and give some potential grief along the coastline," said Bowyer.

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Wave heights coming in ahead of Kyle were not alarmingly high at only six to nine metres, he said.

"But if they combine with the tide they could give an effective increase at the coastline of about one metre."

Yarmouth Mayor Charles Crosby said his community was ready for Kyle and by sheer co-incidence the local emergency measures organization had scheduled a planning exercise for Sunday.

"It's been in the works for months so the EMO forces are out there today anyway so if anything does come they're prepared to go.

Crosby said some floating docks had already been taken up in advance of the storm and the usual warnings about stocking up on water and batteries had been issued to residents.

"I think people here are ready and they know what they should be doing," said Crosby.

"People here are going to ride it out. We're lucky here. The storms always seem to bypass us left or right but they know they have to be prepared."

The world will be watching as HURRICANE KYLE heads towards land in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. For LIVE WEB CAMERA VIEWS of the New Brunswick Coastline

HURRICANE KYLE Blows through MAINE as it Heads for CANADA

Heavy rain drenched Maine on Sunday and fishermen moved boats to shelter as Hurricane Kyle plowed northward across the Atlantic, triggering the state's first hurricane watch in 17 years.

Hurricane Kyle could make landfall in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia or New Brunswick sometime during the night or early Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

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A hurricane watch was posted along the coast of Maine from Stonington, at the mouth of Penobscot Bay, to Eastport on the Canadian border, and for southwestern Nova Scotia, the center said. Tropical storm warnings were in effect from Stonington to the coasts of southern New Brunswick and southwest Nova Scotia.

There were no immediate plans for evacuations in Maine.

Near the Canadian border, residents along the rugged coast are accustomed to rough weather, but that usually comes in snowstorms rather than tropical systems, said Washington County Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Hineman.

"Down East we get storms with 50 to 60 mph winds every winter. Those storms can become ferocious," he said. Down East is the rugged, sparsely populated area from about Bar Harbor to the Canadian border.

Many lobstermen moved their boats to sheltered coves, said Dwight Carver, a lobsterman on Beals Island. Some also moved lobster traps from shallow water, but most were caught off-guard by the storm's short notice.

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"I'm sure we'll have a lot of snarls, a lot of mess, to take care of when it's done," Carver said. "It'll take us a few days to straighten things out."

In Lubec, the easternmost town in the U.S., town workers pulled up docks on the waterfront and fishermen moved boats across the harbor into Campobello Island, New Brunswick, which has coves and wharves that offer shelter.

"We're getting prepared," said Lubec Town Administrator Maureen Glidden.

Heavy rain lashed the state Sunday for a third straight day. As much as 5.5 inches had already fallen along coastal areas. Flood watches were in effect for the southern two-thirds of New Hampshire and southern Maine through Sunday evening.

Authorities expect wind gusts in Maine to reach up to 60 mph and waves up to 20 feet, said Robert McAleer, Maine Emergency Management Agency director.

Residents of coastal islands were advised to evacuate if they depend on electricity for medical reasons, because ferry service was expected to be shut down Sunday, McAleer said. Power failures also were likely over the north coastal region of the state, he said.

At 11 a.m. EDT Sunday, Kyle was centered about 140 miles east-southeast of Nantucket, or about 355 miles southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving toward the north-northeast at roughly 24 mph and expected to continue that track for the next day or so.

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Kyle's maximum sustained wind was blowing at nearly 80 mph, with hurricane-force wind of at least 74 mph extending up to 70 miles out from the center.

However, it was expected to weaken as it moved over colder water and was expected to lose tropical characteristics on Monday, the hurricane center said.

Maine hasn't had a hurricane, or even a hurricane watch, since Bob was downgraded as it moved into the state in 1991 after causing problems in southern New England.

The deadliest storm to hit the region was in 1938 when a hurricane killed 700 people and destroyed 63,000 homes on New York's Long Island and throughout New England. Other hurricanes that have hit Maine were Carol and Edna in 1954, Donna in 1960 and Gloria in 1985.

A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions, with wind of at least 74 mph, are possible within 36 hours. A tropical storm warning means conditions for that type of storm, with wind of 39 to 73 mph, are expected within the next 24 hours.

Hurricane Kyle veered away from New England Sunday and sped its ripping winds and pounding rains straight toward southeastern Canada, the US National Hurricane Center said.

At 1500 GMT Kyle was moving north-northeast at 24 miles (39 kilometers) per hour with sustained winds of 80 miles an hour (130 kilometers an hour) with higher gusts, making it a category one storm on the five level Saffir-Simpson scale.

"The center of Kyle should pass east of the coast of Maine later today and tonight and move near or over Nova Scotia and New Brunswick tonight and early Monday," the center said in a statement.

The storm is expected to weaken as it passes over colder Canadian waters.

"The system should lose tropical characteristics on Monday," the center said.

Kyle was centered some 355 miles (575 kilometers) southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Canada posted a hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick provinces.

The Maine Yacht Center in Portland, Maine, which is likely to take a beating from the storm if not a direct hit, said it had turned off the electricity and fuel lines at the marina, just in case.

"We've turned all the vessels toward the wind and right now there's no panic," dockmaster Alexandre Hofmann told AFP. "Boat owners keep calling to check on the marine forecaster reports," he said, adding "We're OK for now."

HURRICANE KYLE UPDATE - Sept 27th 2008

Residents in Atlantic Canada are bracing for what could be a direct hit from Tropical Storm Kyle this weekend.

The storm could reach hurricane levels later today and emergency officials are telling residents in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to take all necessary precautions in the hours before Kyle's arrival. It's expected to make landfall in Atlantic Canada as soon as Sunday morning.

Environment Canada's National Hurricane Centre reported that as of 5 a.m. ET on Saturday the storm was about 515 kilometres southwest of Bermuda and had maximum sustained winds of about 110 kilometres per hour.

Environment Canada is predicting that Kyle will pass directly over Saint John, N.B., and drop up to 100 millimetres of rain.

U.S. officials also warned that Kyle could grow into a hurricane by the time it reaches Canada's east coast on Sunday.

A system moving in advance of Kyle into the Maritimes is already in the region and may drop as much as 40 millimetres of rain, even before the worst of Kyle arrives.

While the fall months traditionally bring big storms to Canada's east coast, the Maritimes were ravaged in 2003 by Hurricane Juan's destructive winds and heavy rain.

The hurricane killed at least two people and cost about $100 million worth of damage in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

HURRICANE KYLE - NEW BRUNSWICK LIVE WEB CAMERA'S

 

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	A few weeks ago Texas and New Orleans were hit hard by Hurricane Gustav and Ike. This week, the Atlantic Ocean Storm season is looking at battering the East Coast of Canada Your Ad Here
HURRICANE KYLE is on a direct bearing for SAINT JOHN NEW BRUNSWICK, not to be confused with SAINT JOHNS NEWFOUNDLAND, which may also suffer a bit of HURRICANE KYLE's effect. Environment Canada predicted Friday that tropical storm Kyle will pass directly over Saint John, N.B., bringing up to 100 millimetres of rain and sustained winds of 90 kilometres an hour. The forecast says there's a possibility of coastal gusts reaching 120 kilometres an hour in southwestern New Brunswick.
	The Canadian Red Cross issued a news release saying it was putting its volunteers on standby, as the storm is forecast to make landfall on the fifth anniversary of hurricane Juan. "Being on standby essentially means being prepared, checking equipment and supplies . . . especially since Kyle could pack some hurricane-force wind gusts," said Bill Lawlor, Red Cross director of disaster management for Atlantic Canada. "The Red Cross is placing on standby about 650 disaster management volunteers." NOTE: These camera's are updated snapshots. To see the latest Camera View, refresh your Browser Page
	Hurricane Juan was a significant hurricane that struck the southern part of Atlantic Canada in late September 2003. It was the tenth named storm and the sixth hurricane of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season.   Your Ad Here
Juan formed southeast of Bermuda on September 24, 2003 out of a tropical wave that tracked into the subtropical Atlantic Ocean. It strengthened gradually in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, reaching Category 2 strength on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale on September 27 while continuing to track northward. NOTE: These camera's are updated snapshots. To see the latest Camera View, refresh your Browser Page
	It peaked at 105 mph (165 km/h) as it rapidly approached the coast of Nova Scotia, losing little intensity over the cooler waters. Juan made landfall between Shad Bay and Prospect in the Halifax Regional Municipality early on September 29 while still a Category 2 hurricane. Juan retained hurricane strength as it crossed Nova Scotia from south to north before weakening to a tropical storm as it crossed Prince Edward Island. It was absorbed by another extratropical low later on September 29 near Anticosti Island in the northern Gulf of Saint Lawrence. NOTE: These camera's are updated snapshots. To see the latest Camera View, refresh your Browser Page
	Your Ad Here NOTE: These camera's are updated snapshots. To see the latest Camera View, refresh your Browser Page
	Kyle, a tropical storm expected to hit New Brunswick with near hurricane strength, will likely fizzle into a wind event for Cape Breton late Sunday. “The farther east you go in Nova Scotia the better the scenario is looking, because you’re getting farther away from that storm track,” said Peter Bowyer of the Canadian Hurricane Centre. “If there is rain, it’s not going to be a lot with this track.” Wind gusts of around 40 to 60 kilometres per hour are expected to begin in Cape Breton late Sunday and continuing overnight.

HURRICANE KYLE Heading towards NEW BRUNSWICK

New Brunswick appears set to bear the brunt of a tropical storm that will be "just before hurricane force" when it hits the Maritime provinces late Sunday.

Environment Canada predicted Friday that tropical storm Kyle will pass directly over Saint John, N.B., bringing up to 100 millimetres of rain and sustained winds of 90 kilometres an hour.

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The forecast says there's a possibility of coastal gusts reaching 120 kilometres an hour in southwestern New Brunswick.

Forecaster Peter Bowyer of the Canadian Hurricane Centre said that Kyle is difficult to predict because its strength may be boosted by weather in the upper atmosphere.

He said it's also possible the force of the winds and rain will be muted by the cool waters Kyle is expected to encounter over the Gulf of Maine.

"The details still elude us because it's all about what's happening in the higher part of the atmosphere as the storm gets a lot closer," said Bowyer, adding the centre has decided to take "the pessimistic scenario."

A system moving into the Maritimes ahead of Kyle will bring rain beginning late Friday and persisting through Saturday, with amounts between 10 and 40 millimetres.

Kyle is expected to enter the region on late Sunday, and add to the deluge in New Brunswick, southwestern Nova Scotia and western portions of Prince Edward Island.

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The storm diminishes further to the east, meaning Halifax and Charlottetown will likely see lighter winds and rain, said Bowyer.

All together, weekend rainfall totals for the Maritimes could be somewhere between 80 and 140 millimetres in some locations - depending on Kyle's ultimate path.

On Friday afternoon, the tropical storm was located about 500 kilometres southwest of Bermuda, tracking north toward the Maritime provinces.

The Canadian Red Cross issued a news release saying it was putting its volunteers on standby, as the storm is forecast to make landfall on the fifth anniversary of hurricane Juan.

"Being on standby essentially means being prepared, checking equipment and supplies . . . especially since Kyle could pack some hurricane-force wind gusts," said Bill Lawlor, Red Cross director of disaster management for Atlantic Canada.

"The Red Cross is placing on standby about 650 disaster management volunteers."

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The storm is expected to have passed through the Maritimes by Monday afternoon, with its remnants bringing rain and winds to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Bowyer said that Kyle is a fundamentally different storm from hurricane Juan, which started east of Bermuda and sustained its strength when it moved over unusually warm North Atlantic waters.

"Other than the fact they're five years apart, that's the only similarity. They're completely different entities," he said.

He said this time, the storm will move over cooler water, which should reduce its strength.

Nonetheless, Bowyer said "all of New Brunswick needs to be prepared for this storm."

He said the storm isn't expected to bring tidal surges that will threaten the coast.

HURRICANE KYLE Gathering Strength in Atlantic Ocean - Projected Path

The hurricane season still has a few punches left, it would appear. After the likes of Gustav, Hanna and Ike, Kyle is now on track to be a meaningful storm or hurricane. Currently, Tropical Storm Kyle is making itself different from Hanna and Ike in that it could hit the East Coast primarily. As the possible eleventh major storm to hit the United States this hurricane season, Tropical Storm or Hurricane Kyle could cause major storms for the East Coast this weekend. But Tropical Storm Kyle comes at the worst time for baseball, in particular.

Tropical Storm Kyle was spotted earlier this week forming 600 miles south-southwest of Bermuda. At the time, it had has progress of 8 mph and maximum winds of 45 mph. The potential Hurricane Kyle could arrive at the coastline this weekend, as it approaches the Atlantic with progress speed of 13 mph.

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As of 8 a.m., Tropical Storm Kyle was 500 miles south-southwest of Bermuda. Maximum winds were closer to 60 mph, as it is approaching Bermuda. The island could get up to three inches of rain, as the west of Bermuda could get the strongest winds.

The National Weather Service warns that Tropical Storm Kyle is building in force as it comes closer to landfall. Once it does, heavy rain could fall in the East Coast. By Saturday, Kyle could actually become a hurricane.

However, the much more dangerous hurricanes of Gustav, Hanna and Ike eventually decreased in power by the time they actually reached land. The hope is that a Hurricane or Tropical Storm Kyle would do the same thing.

Even if rain storms aren't so bad over the weekend, they may do enough to damage a heated baseball playoff race. Heavy storms are expected over New York and Philadelphia as the Mets and Phillies finish their battle for the NL East division title. Rainfall already arrived in Washington and canceled a game between the Marlins and Nationals. The rains could force the Mets and Phillies to play doubleheaders at some point and cause a delay of the baseball postseason schedule.

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HURRICANE KYLE AND CANADA
Some thoughts on Kyle as of Friday afternoon.......

1. Thunderstorms are still being pushed east of the storm center by westerly shearing winds, but I have looked at the satellite derived upper-level winds and it looks like Kyle will be moving into an area of much less wind shear starting tonight and into Saturday. If this is the case, the thunderstorms will be able to wrap around the center and the storm should intensify, probably to a category one hurricane. Kyle will also be moving over 80+ degree water through Saturday.

2. The storm is moving slightly west of due north and this should continue into Saturday before a gradual turn toward the right as the high pressure ridge to the northeast of Kyle begins to weaken.

3. Computer models are in pretty good agreement with the track, taking the center about 100 to 150 miles east of Cape Cod Sunday morning then racing it up into the Bay of Fundy Sunday afternoon.

4. Since Kyle remained buried down near the eastern Bahamas over the past couple of days the storm will no doubt be delayed up across the Maritimes. Yesterday I was thinking more of Saturday night and early Sunday, now it looks like the worst of the storm will be Sunday, but there will be plenty of rain well out ahead of it on Saturday as tropical air is lifted up over the cooler, maritime airmass.

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5. The strongest winds with Kyle will be on the right side (eastern side) of the storm as the wind flow will be lined up from the surface to high in the atmosphere, so this puts the south coast of Nova Scotia in the region of highest winds.

6. Water temperatures north of 40 north are actually below normal, so Kyle should begin to slowly lose its tropical characteristics starting Sunday morning, but due to the fast movement of the storm by then it will only have a short window for weakening, so I think Kyle will be a strong tropical storm when it moves into the Bay of Fundy, but I think there will be hurricane force wind gusts along the south coast of Nova Scotia for a few hours on Sunday.

7. Heaviest rainfall will be right along and just west of the track and probably up through southern and eastern New Brunswick, including northwestern Nova Scotia and western PEI with amounts of 50-100 mm.

8. Power outages are certainly a concern over Nova Scotia and PEI on Sunday, so be prepared for that.

Remnants of HURRICANE IKE Hit OHIO and Move Across Great Lakes

Hurricane-like winds left about 1 million households and businesses without electricity Monday as schools closed and rush-hour commuters faced obstacle courses of fallen trees and intersections without working traffic signals.

Sunday's wind storm caused by remnants of Hurricane Ike killed at least three people who were hit by toppled trees, authorities said. It could take a week for power to be restored in some areas.

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Winds gusting up to 78 mph ripped roofs from buildings and blocked roadways across the state, with southwest and central Ohio bearing the brunt of the storm's force, according to the National Weather Service.

"What we experienced was a hurricane-force wind gust," said meteorologist Myron Padgett at the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

A falling tree killed two motorcyclists in Hueston Woods State Park in southwest Ohio, and a woman died in the Cincinnati suburb of Mt. Healthy when a tree fell through the roof of her home.

As of 8 a.m. Monday, 575,000 Duke Energy customers in southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky still had no power, out of 867,000 who had lost service since the storm began to hit the region late Sunday morning. It was the biggest outage in the company's history, said Duke Energy spokeswoman Kathy Meinke.

American Electric Power said on its Web site Monday that about 539,000 of its Ohio customers, or 37 percent, were out, including 273,000 in Franklin County, which includes Columbus.

"This is an unprecedented event for this time of year," AEP spokesman Jeff Rennie said. "We've never seen anything like this in early fall."

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Both Duke and AEP said it could take more than a week to restore power to some hard-hit areas. AEP is recalling crews that had been dispatched to southern states hit by the hurricane.

About 310,000 Ohio Edison customers were in the dark in northeast Ohio, said spokeswoman Robin Patton.

South Central Power Co. reported Monday morning that more than 28,000 customers were out in central, southern and eastern Ohio.

The damage was widespread. High winds tore off part of the roof at Blacklick Elementary School in Gahanna, a Columbus suburb, Gahanna Superintendent Gregg Morris said.

Airport officials evacuated the control tower and canceled about 40 flights at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport before resuming air traffic Sunday evening, said airport spokesman Ted Bushelman. He said winds gusted up to 74 mph, ripping off part of the roof from a Delta Airlines hangar and damaging another airport building.

The Findlay Market in Cincinnati — the state's oldest public marketplace — and several adjacent buildings caught on fire. Maintenance crews on Monday cleared garbage, branches, parking signs and other windblown debris from the city's downtown sidewalks. People on their way to work helped out, moving cardboard, construction materials and even a chunk of siding out of the way.

The winds sparked at least eight fires in southwest Ohio's Warren County, including one at a power substation in Hamilton Township that was later extinguished, said Frank Young, the county's director of emergency services. About half of the county's residents were without power.

In Cincinnati, Findlay Market — the state's oldest public marketplace — and several adjacent buildings caught on fire.

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Downed trees and branches covered the roads in Columbus' downtown German Village neighborhood on Sunday night. Residents who had lost electricity gathered in the streets to assess the damage. Others congregated at local restaurants and bars like High Beck Tavern, where the bartender, Wayne Lewis, said business was three times busier than a typical Sunday.

Jeff Reznor, 63, made his way over to High Beck after his four-unit apartment building lost power and shingles were blown off the roof.

"We've had some pretty good soaking rain from storms, but not wind damage," said Reznor, who has lived in Columbus since 1965.

STORM IKE EFFECTS CINCINNATI

The remnants of Hurricane Ike brought wind, not rain to the Tri-State Sunday, causing widespread damage and power outages.

At one point about 90 percent of Duke Energy Corp.’s 800,000 local customers were without power, according to WCPO-TV. Duke said it might take a week to get everyone’s lights back on. Power is on in downtown Cincinnati, however.

Winds of 55 miles per hour – reportedly gusting over 70 mph – toppled trees, tore siding from houses and spread debris widely over a three-to-four-hour period Sunday afternoon. Most schools closed on Monday.

Three people – two in Oxford and one in Mount Healthy – were killed by falling trees. Damage ranged from blown-off roofs and toppled chimneys, to fallen trees and snapped power lines.

IKE MOVES ON TO DAYTON OHIO

Hundreds of thousands are without power after high winds blow across the Miami Valley. More than 100000 Dayton Power and Light. As of 2 pm Sunday afternoon, nearly 20000 people in the Dayton Metro Area were without power according to Dayton Power & Light.

HURRICANE IKE DAMAGE - IKE KILLED Several STRANDED THOUSANDS Full DAMAGE not determined

Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early Sunday morning, racing against time to save those who spent a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power lines.

One team of paramedics, rescue dogs and structural engineers fanned out under a nearly full moon on a finger of land in Galveston Bay. To the northeast, Coast Guard crews also worked into early Sunday morning, pulling a half dozen people out of Bridge City before rescue missions were suspended for the night.

Authorities hoped to spare thousands of Texans — 140,000 by some estimates who ignored orders to flee ahead of Hurricane Ike — from another night among the destruction. Some had been rescued, but unknown thousands remained stranded.

HURRICANE IKE DEATH TOLL at 4

Only four deaths had been blamed on Ike so far: two in Texas and two in Louisiana.

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HURRICANE IKE CAUSES MASSIVE FLOODING

Along the southeast Texas coast Sunday, the weather wasn't cooperating. Showers dropped heavy rain on areas already flooded by Ike, and forecasters said there was a chance thunderstorms could continue into the evening.

In Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city, a weeklong curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. was announced because most of the city was still without power.

"In the interest of safety, we're asking people to not be out in the streets in their vehicles or on foot," Chief Harold Hurtt said.

President Bush planned to travel to Texas on Tuesday to express sympathy and lend support to the storm's victims. He asked people who evacuated before the hurricane to listen to local authorities before trying to return home.

Roads blocked by waist-deep water and downed trees kept many rescuers at bay as they struggled through the largest search-and-rescue effort in state history, just a day after the Category 2 storm crashed into Texas with 110 mph winds.

Five-year-old Jack King escaped serious injury when storm surge sent a rush of water that washed out the first floor of his family's Galveston home just two blocks from the bay.

"I falled in the attic," Jack told paramedic Stanley Hempstead of his 10-foot tumble through the attic and onto the garage floor. Jack and his family had taken refuge in the room, loaded with blankets and other supplies. As the Texas Task Force 1 Search and Rescue crew arrived, Jack gazed at a TV aglow with "The Simpsons." as Homer said "Why do things that happen to stupid people happen to me?" The only evidence of his fall was a Band-Aid plastered to his closely-cropped hair, covering a gash.

THOSE WHO REFUSED TO FOLLOW EVACUATION ORDERS GET HIT BY IKE

"We just didn't think it was going to come up like this," said the boy's father, Lee King. "I'm from New Orleans, I know better. I just didn't think it was going to happen."

The Kings had hoped that a family member would pick them up, but a paramedic told him the road inland wouldn't be open for days. Lee King thought they could survive another night, but then their generator died. He ultimately decided the family was ready to leave.

Hempstead and other team members sailed through flooded streets Saturday, evoking thoughts of another disastrous storm that kept him working for 31 days.

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"This brings back memories of Katrina — a lot of torn up homes and flooded stuff," he said of the hurricane that struck New Orleans three years ago.

On one side of the Galveston peninsula, a couple of barges had broken loose and smashed into homes. Everything from red vinyl barstools to clay roof tiles littered the landscape. Some homes were "pancaked," the second floor sitting where the first had been before Ike's surge washed it out. Only the stud frames remained below the roofs of many houses, opening a clear view from front yard to back.

Gov. Rick Perry's office said 940 people had been saved by nightfall Saturday, but that thousands had made distress calls the night before. Another 600 were rescued from flooding in neighboring Louisiana.

"What's really frustrating is that we can't get to them," Galveston police officer Tommie Mafrei said. "It's jeopardizing our safety when we try to tell them eight hours before to leave. They are naive about it, thinking it's not going to be that bad."

Some coastal residents waded through chest-deep water with their belongings and children in their arms to get to safety Saturday. Military helicopters loaded others carrying plastic bags and pets in their arms and brought them to dry ground.

Big-wheeled dump trucks, boats and helicopters were at the ready to continue searching hard-hit Galveston and Orange County at daybreak Sunday.

The water had reached 3 feet deep in Jeffrey Jordan's Galveston living room by the time police arrived to save him and his family. Like many who were rescued in the hours after the storm, he was escorted to a shelter.

"They sent a dump truck to get us," Jordan said. "We shouldn't have been there because the water was rising something like a foot every five minutes."

Orange Mayor Brown Claybar estimated about a third of the city of 19,000 people was flooded, anywhere from six inches to six feet. He said about 375 people who stayed behind during the storm began to emerge, some needing food, water and medical care.

"These people got out with the wet shirts on their back," said Claybar, who had no idea of how many people were still stranded. Claybar was optimistic that the foot-and-a-half of water over the levee had receded overnight. If so, the city could begin pumping the water out, Claybar said. He didn't know exactly how long it would take to drain the city.

"I would say at least a couple of days," Claybar said.

In downtown Houston, winds shattered the windows of gleaming skyscrapers, sleeting glass onto the streets below. Police used bullhorns to order people back into their homes. Furniture littered the streets, and business documents stamped "classified" had been carried by the wind through shattered office windows.

The storm weakened to a tropical depression early Sunday morning, but was still packing winds up to 35 mph as it dumped rain over Arkansas and traveled across Missouri. Tornado warning sirens sounded Saturday in parts of Arkansas, and the still-potent storm downed trees and knocked out power to thousands there.

Ike was the first major storm to directly hit a major U.S. metropolitan area since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.

More than 3 million were without power in Texas at the height of the storm, and it could be weeks before it is fully restored. Utilities made some progress by late Saturday, and lights returned to parts of Houston. In Louisiana, battered by both Ike and Labor Day's Hurricane Gustav, 180,000 homes and businesses were without power.

HURRICANE IKE KNOCKS OUT POWER TO THOUSANDS OF HOME IN TEXAS AND LOUISIANA

Storm surge that crawled some 30 miles inland in Louisiana flooded tens of thousands of homes. A levee broke and some 13,000 buildings flooded in Terrebonne Parish, 200 miles from Texas. More than 160 people had to be saved from floodwaters near Lake Charles.
Though emergency crews were frustrated by those who stayed behind, weary residents of East Texas' swamplands and Big Piney Woods were beginning to feel that whatever decision they make about a Gulf hurricane is wrong.

In 2005, they were battered by Hurricane Rita, a powerful September storm that ripped pine trees from their roots, smashed trailer- and wood-frame homes and left them in what has become a perpetual state of disrepair with the trademark FEMA blue tarps still visible over some.

Wary of another such disaster, they listened when authorities told them to get out of Gustav's way last week. They spent days in north Texas shelters or doled out precious dollars on hotels and gas while their homes received nothing more than a mild shower.

HURRICANE IKE STORM SURGES BURST THROUGH LOUISIANA LEVEE's

This time around, thousands ignored the mandatory evacuation order and were sucker-punched by the stronger side of Ike.

Those who did leave were glad they heeded orders, despite the inconvenience. Retired nurse Ida Mayfield said that because Gustav hit Louisiana and not Beaumont two weeks ago, many decided not to evacuate ahead of Ike. She was warm and dry at a church-turned shelter in Tyler, along with thousands of her neighbors.

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"Two o'clock this morning made a believer out of all of them," said the 52-year-old Mayfield, adding that she spoke to a friend Saturday who was on a roof waiting for help after calling 911. "They're scared now."

HURRICANE IKE UPDATE - MORE TO COME

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE IKE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1128 AM CDT SAT SEP 13 2008

...IKE MOVING INLAND AND SLOWLY WEAKENING...

.AT 1000 AM CDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 31.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 95.3 WEST OR NEAR TRINITY
TEXAS. THIS POSITION IS ALSO ABOUT 20 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF
HUNTSVILLE TEXAS...AND ABOUT 35 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF LUFKIN
TEXAS.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 16 MPH. A TURN TOWARD THE
NORTH-NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY...WITH A TURN TOWARD THE
NORTHEAST AND AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED EXPECTED TONIGHT AND
SUNDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF IKE IS FORECAST TO
MOVE THROUGH EASTERN AND NORTHEASTERN TEXAS TODAY...AND INTO
WESTERN ARKANSAS TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 80 MPH...WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. IKE IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-
SIMPSON SCALE. ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AS THE CENTER
MOVES FARTHER INLAND. HOWEVER...IKE COULD REMAIN A HURRICANE INTO
THIS AFTERNOON.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES FROM THE
CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 230
MILES...370 KM. A WIND GUST TO 56 MPH WAS REPORTED DURING THE PAST
HOUR IN LUFKIN TEXAS.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 964 MB...28.47 INCHES.
DURING THE PAST HOUR...A PRESSURE VALUE OF 968.5 MB...
28.60 INCHES...WAS REPORTED AT HUNTSVILLE TEXAS TO THE WEST OF
THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE.

Remaining LIVE WEB CAMS show Damage in HURRICANE IKE Ravaged HOUSTON TEXAS

With Most of the HOUSTON and GALVESTON TEXAS Region without power, surveying 
the DAMAGE with WEB CAMS is rater difficult as without POWER, one cannot see WEB
CAMERA's Even if the WEB CAMERA's have Back up power, the issiue lies in the
internet service to the area. With poles down everywhere due to the high winds,
active WEB CAMERA's in the HOUSTON TEXAS and GALVESTON TEXAS area a pretty much
dead. Particularly when you get closer to the GULF OF MEXICO Coastline.

MORE TEXAS COAST WEB CAMERA'S BELOW

	Not to worry though, HTBW Has once again scoured the internet to find a few live web camera's in the HOUSTON TEXAS region. Although these camera's are in the less damaged area's you can definately see the damage of hanging traffic lights and fallen poles. Your Ad Here
The eye of the hurricane missed the center of Houston, as well as the largest concentrations of oil and gas refineries, Johnson said. The storm surge and rainfall in Galveston, Texas, were also weaker than predicted. Galveston, however, remains flooded and refineries as far east as Louisiana have been affected. While preliminary estimates put the damage at $8 billion or more, the storm isn't over.
	Retail gasoline prices jumped Saturday based on Ike's collision with refinery rich regions of Texas and Louisiana, threatening to shut down a variety of energy complexes in the Gulf of Mexico for days. Some refineries may remain shut-in for days, even if there was no serious wind damage or flooding. Gas prices nationwide rose nearly 6 cents a gallon to $3.733, according to industry data. Service stations around Texas and elsewhere raised prices sharply even before the storm hit, and lines to fill up could be seen as far away as Dallas. NOTE: Except for the top live player, these camera's are updated snapshots. To see the latest Camera View, refresh your Browser Page
	MORE HOUSTON WEB CAM's show the DAMAGE of HURRICANE IKE  Your Ad Here
Ike was about twice the size of Hurrcane Gustav, which rammed into the Louisiana shore two weeks ago. While the storm surge was less severe than what had been predicted, National Weather Service officials said a the highest — a surge of about 13.5 feet — was seen at Sabine Pass in Texas. NOTE: Except for the top live player, these camera's are updated snapshots. To see the latest Camera View, refresh your Browser Page
	NOTE: Except for the top live player, these camera's are updated snapshots. To see the latest Camera View, refresh your Browser Page
	Your Ad Here NOTE: Except for the top live player, these camera's are updated snapshots. To see the latest Camera View, refresh your Browser Page
	Windows were ripped out of office buildings in downtown Houston. At the 75-story JPMorganChase tower, the tallest building in Texas, curtains could be seen flapping in the breeze and glass shards littered the streets below. Power was out in much of Houston, although the lights stayed on in the city's huge medical center, a sprawling complex with about a dozen hospitals that attract patients from around the world.

HURRICANE IKE UPDATE - HOUSTON and GALVESTON Officials search through the DAMAGE of HURRICANE IKE

Since the POWER IN HOUSTON TEXAS is pretty much out, here is a HOUSTON TRAFFIC WEB CAM view of the Flooding in the HOUSTON AREA

Search and rescue teams are standing by, and plan to move into the affected parts of southeast Texas later today to search for storm victims. At one point, there had been fears that as many as 40,000 people may have to be rescued...but now that figures appears to be far too high, as the storm has passed metro Houston and there are no widespread reports of casualties, officials say. "We expected a major storm, and our expectations, unfortunately, came true," said Mike Miner, a spokesman for Governor Perry. "It is too early to send search and rescue teams into the devastated areas. They are on stand by. They’re ready to go. The weather needs to clear up a little bite before they can actually go in, take a look around, and see what the actual devastation was."

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The biggest problems facing most residents of metro Houston this morning is a lack of electric power, according to Centerpoint Energy Corp, the region's electric utility. 'It has been a really bad night and early Saturday morning on our electrical system," a spokesman said. "We've got trees knocking power lines down all across the system. At this point, nearly two million customers who receive electricity via power lines are out of service." He says the effort to restore that electricity will be slow. "We can't wait for Ike to keep moving, we can't wait for Ike to pick up steam and move on. We need to get our assessors and our helicopters to do aerial surveys, we need to get out foot patrol people down."


"Power is almost 100 percent out," Houston Mayor Bill White said this morning. "We have gotten 4700 emergency calls into the 9-1-1 center. The good news is, as the winds are diminishing, we plan to have some of our emergency crews bacdk on the streets by 10 this morning." White said it is far too early to determine the extend of damage in the city. "We're going to have to take this day by day, look at the good and not the bad, and look into teh future. There will be some tragedies that occur, there are people struggling right now. If we Houstonians keep our heads up and plow through this in a competent way, it will be a credit to the city of Houston."

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White also urged people to stay off the street, because shattered glass is still falling out of windows of downtown high rise buildings. "Obviously, we have some high rise buildings throughout the city. We do know there has been damage to roofs and structures throughout the city, but we don't want anybody to think downtown Houston is wiped out." White promised a 'very strong emergency surge' by 9 to 10 this morning.

GALVESTON TEXAS Was the firt in Texas to be hit by the DAMAGE of HURRICANE IKE. Here is a web cam view of some of the FLOODING and DAMAGE HURRICANE IKE left behind.

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett is rquesting that all residents conserve water. "We do want to focus on the water supply, to make sure that it remains safe," Emmett said. "On the west side of the hurricane, the surge seems to have peaked at 11 to 12 feet and is expected to recede," he said. "But that surge is moving to the east and is expected to continue." He says the inlets, bays, and bayous east of Houston continue to be subject to flood warnings. "The Medical Center right now is not experiencing blackouts because their power lines are underground," Emmett said.


"The Houston Fire Department suspended response activities about 4:45 AM, and they will resume as soon as it is possible. The Red Cross and the Salvation Army reports preparations are underway for shelter operations which will be necessary after the storm." Emmett said a ship is currently being held by tugs in the Houston Ship channel, so residents are being asked to stay off the Loop 610 bridge 'just in case.' "Nobody really ought to be out driving right now anyway."

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Some parts of the Houston area say they did not get the devastation they had feared. "It looks like we dodged a bullet," a city councilman in Baytown, at the north end of Galveston Bay said. "Of course, that could change." There are reports of high water across the metro Houston area, as well as windows blown out of numerous buildings. There was also a devastating fire at Brennan's of Houston, a landmark restaurant. Several people had taken shelter at the restaurant and three people, including two children, were hurt.


THERE ARE SEVERAL WEB CAMS available on this site
HOUSTON LIVE WEB CAMS
GALVISTON WEBCAMS