Storm Brewing in Atlantic

It’s now crunch time in the hurricane season as the next 6 weeks are notorious for the most powerful hurricanes in our part of the hemisphere. Hugo (Charleston SC 1989), Andrew (Miami 1992) and the tempestuous trio of Katrina-Rita-Wilma (of 2005 fame) were all legendary hurricanes that came calling to American shores in this hyper-active storm period.

This mariners saying dates back to the days when Columbus sailed the seven seas and holds true some 6 centuries later. As far as hurricanes go….

“August be on your guard for a September you will remember”.

I use that as a backdrop to say that my trusty European weather model has been joined by the Canadian model in predicting a Florida Tropical Storm or Hurricane early next week.

The key word is of course “PREDICTING” since as of press time, there is no such storm out in the distant South Atlantic, just a cluster of clouds and thundershowers still a few days east of Puerto Rico.

Try this link out from the National Hurricane Center and you will get all sorts of neat data and pictures of the storm to come.

www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Dolly and Eduard are now long gone. Now it’s time for all ladies named Fay to bask in the spotlight since a storm will be named after you in the next few days.

Things like track and intensity are matters for speculation right now, but I cotton to the early idea of a South Florida storm risk by late weekend and early next week as described by the Euro model.

One thing you will notice on our 7 day forecast is the trend for increasing temperature and humidity levels next week. This is based on a storm named Fay sending a surge of hot, tropical air our way, call it an indirect effect from the storm.

Vacationers to the Grand Strand stay informed as we try to nail down where this storm will be heading. My gut says you will have a hot and humid week at the beach next week.

By the way as gas prices drop below 3.80 per gallon this weekend, my suggestion is to fill up. If this storm Fay does develop and makes it into the Gulf, there would be fear on the energy commodity markets which would send the price of gas back above $4 per gallon.

Remember the golden rule, buy on rumor and sell on fact. The fact of Fay's existence is still to be determined but the rumor of a Gulf storm could lead to a run on gas futures and hence a spike in prices next week.