Hi everyone.

It’s hard to watch the news right now, isn’t it?  I don’t really know what to write when it comes to the tragedy at Fort Hood.  It’s inexplicable why things like this happen.  I feel like I’m walking around with dark clouds over my head when I see updates about this horrifying event.  Even though I work in the 24 hour news business,  I think I might just have to turn off the tv set this weekend to focus on spending time with my family.  God Bless those in uniform whose job is to protect us and try to make this world a better place.  On days like today it’s hard to be optimistic…I can’t imagine what those families are going through in Texas today.  My heart weeps for them. 

In weather news (I know that’s a horrible transition – I just don’t know how to move on gently…so forgive me)  I’m still keeping a close watch on Tropical Depression Ida that is now going to move into warmer waters of the Southwest Caribbean, and over the weekend is forecast to strengthen back to a tropical storm.  From there, it looks like the path will lead the storm through the Yucatan Channel and into the Gulf of Mexico.  Where it goes from there, we’re not very certain of.    I don’t think we’ll be dealing with a hurricane, but maybe a strong tropical storm.   At this point, Florida looks like it could be the landfall location next week.    If you live along the Gulf Coast, probably a good idea to keep an eye on Ida.

If you’d like to keep track of the tropical updates, you can head HERE , and I will keep track of things on the blog as well.

I hope everyone has a good weekend.  We’re going to head out to the USS New York at some point either Saturday or Sunday.   I can’t wait to see the ship in person, and Sean is really excited to bring Matthew on board.  I’ll make sure we take more pictures to share with all of you!

Take care everyone,

JD

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*** worth noting: in 2008 we had Hurricane Paloma,  which was a late season hurricane.  Paloma formed November 5th, and set several records for intensity and formation.  Paloma was the second most powerful November hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin.

Courtesy of  Dr. Jeff Masters of www.wunderground.com:

Historically, only about 5% of all Atlantic tropical storm activity occurs after November 1. Between 1871 and 2007, 60 tropical storms formed in November. Of these, 29 became hurricanes, and four of these, major hurricanes. There have also been two major hurricanes that formed in October and continued on into November. On average, one tropical storm forms in November every other year, and we can expect a November hurricane about one year in five.

The six major November hurricanes were Hurricane Michelle of 2001 (Cat 4, 140 mph); Hurricane Lenny of 1999 (Cat 4, 150 mph); Hurricane Kate of 1985 (Cat 3, 120 mph); Hurricane Greta of 1956 (Cat 4, 140 mph); Hurricane 10 of 1932 (Cat 4, 135 mph); and Hurricane 7 of 1912 (Cat 3, 115 mph). There have been no major hurricanes in the months December through April.

Major hurricanes in the Atlantic by month, 1851-2008
———————————————————————-
May 1
June 3
July 9
August 80
September 149
October 60
November 6

In the list above, if a hurricane was at major hurricane strength in two separate months, it is counted as a major hurricane for both months.

November hurricanes of note

The most extraordinary November hurricane was “Wrong-Way Lenny”, which hit the northern Leeward Islands as a strong Category 4 hurricane with 155 mph winds on November 17-18, 1999. Lenny was the first storm to have an extended west-to-east track across the central and eastern Caribbean Sea in the 135-year Atlantic tropical cyclone record, and was the strongest November hurricane on record. Hurricane Gordon was the deadliest November hurricane. It claimed 1122 lives in Haiti when it passed just west of the country as a tropical storm on November 13, 1994. Lenny claimed six lives in Costa Rica, five in the Dominican Republic, two in Jamaica, two in Cuba, and eight in Florida. Property damage to the United States was estimated at $400 million (1994 dollars), and was severe in Haiti and Cuba as well.

Three November hurricanes have hit the U.S.–an unnamed 1916 Category 1 hurricane that hit the Florida Keys, an unnamed 1925 Category 1 hurricane that struck Sarasota, Florida, and Hurricane Kate, which struck the Florida Panhandle on November 22, 1985.

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Hi everyone!  A few months ago, we put together a hurricane preparedness package for foxnews.com that seems relevant to show again just incase Ida decides to pay a visit to the Gulf of Mexico!

 http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,546303,00.html

(I know, I know–another shameless plug…but there’s lots of great info on there as well!)

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Hi guys.  There’s a lot of pictures here, but all worthy of posting!   If you’d like to see the USS New York’s official website, you can go HERE.  There’s lots of  cool info to take a peak at – not to mention a great gift shop to buy some commemorative souvenirs! (Thanks to my hubby for being such a good photographer!)

Pictures courtesy of Sean!

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Good morning everyone!

We’re keeping an eye on Hurricane Ida which made landfall this morning across Nicaragua.  The storm’s legacy will be extreme flooding since the center of circulation is moving so slowly across land.  Storm totals could top two feet in rainfall over Nicaragua and Honduras.  This could be a deadly devastating storm with flash floods and mudslides over the next 48 hours.  And the U.S. could actually be in line for some of Ida’s wrath if what remains of Ida gets into the Caribbean again.  Computer models are showing the storm regenerating into a tropical storm and moving into the Yucatan Channel this weekend…which means a trip into the Gulf of Mexico.  Here’s a look at Ida’s path (and by the way, the fact that this storm went from a tropical depression into a Hurricane in just 24 hours makes it one of the fastest intensification on record)

Don’t forget to check out our link on hurricane preparedness HERE

In other weather news, the U.S. is very quiet right now with really just the Northeast seeing some precipitation moving in.  A coastal storm will remain offshore, but will bring howling winds tomorrow over the region.   A strong storm moving into the Northwest will bring rain, wind and snow over the next few days and will be our next weather maker into next week as the pattern shifts, and the Gulf of Mexico opens up bringing more moisture into the central U.S. 

Congrats to the Yankees!  There are a lot of New York Jerseys wandering the Fox News Channel building this morning!  Fun stuff.  I am a little tired hearing about A-Rod and Kate Hudson though…haha.

And, as promised I’ve got some pictures to share of the USS New York later on this morning.  Stay tuned!

JD

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Hi everyone!

I did an interview the other day for a wonderful website that focuses on women and careers!  Thought you might want to take a peak and let me know what you think!

http://newsonwomen.typepad.com/news_on_women/

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Hey everyone.  Well, a bit of a November surprise – a tropical depression has formed in the SW Caribbean that will probably become Tropical Storm Ida this afternoon once the hurricane hunters go out and investigate.  Ida’s path is a little uncertain, but there will be heavy rain in the forecast for Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras.  Here’s the official track and some of the computer models courtesy of www.wunderground.com:

There’s a chance that some of soon-to-be-named Ida’s remains will move into the Gulf of Mexico this weekend…we’ll have to wait and see.  Hurricane season officially ends at the end of November, and this has been one of the quietest years in decades (which is great news for those who live in hurricane-prone zones!)

In other weather news, the northeast will feel the results of two storms – one moving across the great lakes today and a coastal low that will bring rain, wind and snow starting tomorrow into Friday.  If there is a game 7, this could cause some problems if the Yankees don’t win tonight.  (Tonight’s weather looks great – some clouds and temperatures in the low 50s with light winds)

A storm moving into the Pacific Northwest will bring an end to above average temperatures across the west and also push in some impressive rain totals in the next 48 hours.  Some spots could get several inches of rain and quite a bit of snow for the Cascades.

In other news, my husband had the honor of taking a tour of the USS New York yesterday with some of his Firefighter brothers.  I’m sure you’ve heard about this fantastic vessel that contains  7.5 tons of steel that was saved from the  Twin Towers after 9-11.  He couldn’t believe how beautifully crafted the ship was, and took many pictures which I will post tomorrow.  I know Fox and Friends will be broadcasting live tomorrow morning on the USS New York as well with Gretchen, Steve and Brian.  It’s a fitting way to remember those we lost on that day, and in some ways keep their memories alive.

If you’re in the New York city area  this weekend or early next week, you can try to take a tour of the Ship located at  Pier 88 at 12th Avenue and West 48 Street at the following times:

Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m.

Sunday, 9 a.m. to noon

Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Here’s a picture courtesy of the AP, and I’ll post an inside view tomorrow on the blog.

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Hi everyone!

We have a very easy weather day across the country which means if you have elections going on in your town, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be casting your ballot!  A couple of very weak clipper systems pushing across the midwest, great lakes and interior northeast should bring just light precipitation throughout the day, and the temperatures are pretty comfortable for the 2nd day of November.   Believe it or not, we’re still watching the tropics as well this morning as there’s a good possibility we’ll see a depression forming sometime today or tomorrow in the southwest Caribbean east of Costa Rica.   It will bring heavy rain to this region as the system is nearly stationary, but won’t affect the U.S.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

I got my flu shot yesterday here at Fox, and thankfully didn’t feel much at the time, but now I’ve got a pretty sore left arm!    Hopefully that will help keep me healthy this winter.  Did any of you get your flu shot this year?  I used to never get the vaccine, but for obvious health reasons and little Matthew, our whole family is getting it this year.

Speaking of little Matt, as promised, here are some Halloween pictures from the weekend!  Matthew’s little buddy is dressed up as a bat, and they’ve known each other since they were about 3 months old!    I decided to go with the Wonderbread costume since it was easy, and he looked so darn cute in it!

Talk to you later!

JD

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Good morning everyone!

Hope you all had a great weekend!   Matthew had his first Halloween which we spent over at a friend’s house with her son.    I decided to put Matt into his Wonderbread outfit since the reindeer costume was pretty hot.  It was a very mild Halloween here in New York, and the boys didn’t last too long in their outfits.  Just enough time to get a few pictures for the memory books!  I will post some pictures later on today for you to take a peak…

In weather-land, a very quiet pattern has set up across the U.S.  Just a couple of weak systems that will move across the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast.  These are fast-moving ”clipper” storms that don’t have a lot of moisture to work with.  The south and the west are very quiet while parts of the southwest will flirt with record-breaking heat in the next few days as high pressure control the weather out in that region.

Game 5 of the world series is in Philly, and weather should co-operate with just cloudy skies and temperature in the mid 50s.  Winds will be out of the north-northeast at 8 mph.  We’ve got a nice full moon as well!

And you might’ve seen this story over the weekend:   Beijing’s first snow of the season was planned in advance…I’m not a big fan of ideas that “mess” with mother nature!

(Photo courtesy of AFP)

I forgot to remind everyone about “falling back” this weekend!  Remember the good old days when we used to have to refer back to the VCR manual twice a year to try and turn the clocks back?   I’m so thankful that the new electronics automatically get programmed for daylight savings time!

Ok – that’s about it for now.  Must go eat lunch.  I’ve been eating too many little Halloween chocolates at work.   I can’t resist!

JD

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Halloween wouldn’t be the same without a few doggie costumes, right?  Here’s a cute one of some flower-pugs!

AP Photo

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