- - Anguilla - -

Winds (???) are clocking to the NNW, so guess that means that Fiona is close/passing.  Only problem is the winds are 0 – 3 MPH, with a gust to 12.  Not even cooling it off.  Light, misty rain (0.03 in) which is great for the foliage.  Fiona is going to pass 90+ miles to our NE in a few hours, but looks to be a major non-event.  But now we can start watching just formed TD 9 850 miles out east.  Be a few days before we know what’s happening.

Locally – ice is getting very hard to find.  Banks, gov’t and schools closed, no ATM’s or credit cards.  Went to 4 stations this AM – 3 closed, one had only 2 pumps working – 45 min. for 10 gals. for my generator.  No boats, ferries in The Cove.  Looks like all guests gone from Cap Juluca (backup generator went off this AM), but guests still at Viceroy – not accepting new reservations for a few days, but honoring all existing. Think both be fully operational weekend/next week.  Still hard to get to/from SXM – hit or miss.  Some reports of power back on in central AXA, but assume close to power station.  Last night, could see only few house lights on western half of island – no street lights.  Saw only 1 ANGLEC truck this morning, on coffee break.  No ANGLEC crews on West End.  I’m assuming (hoping) they are just waiting for Fiona passage.  Lots of LIME, cable work crews out.  LIME phone land line and internet has been 24/7 through everything- pretty amazing.  Lots of cell phone problems – pretty much down, but sporadic.

Probably nothing more unless TD develops.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

So winds have now increased to 60 MPH, but hope it goes where it’s supposed to and we’ll miss most of it.  Hot, hazy sunshine, light winds (4 mph, gusts to 9) this AM.  Should pass CPA 60 miles to our NE.  Yard pretty much cleaned up, furniture out of the pool and on the deck, hurricane shutters all down – AND THAT’S THE WAY IT’S STAYING!  Gonna just ride this one out.  So bring it on!  More later.  Steve

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

Finally managed to get some pictures posted that I took last night.  Can be seen at http://www.anguilla-weather.com/earl.html

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

Earl finally left us last night – up until then, we had gusty winds from the south and light rain.  The high winds from the SE quadrant that passed through late morning were gone by late afternoon.  Lots of branches down, few big old trees. Only saw 2 electric poles knocked down, but grocery, hardware stores packed.  Lot of people out.  Of the 10 or so commercial boats in Road Bay, all except 2 went on the beach – one sank on its mooring.  House on the side of the hill above Sandy Ground had most of the roof torn off, as well as Road School roof (partial).  Lots of beach erosion, but still plenty of good beach left – just some shifting around.  SXM airport is open and American flying in.  Saw Funtime Charters launching boats this AM, so might be ferry service today.  Gov’t offices, banks, stores all open as usual, but no credit card transactions.  Maybe get some welcome rain from Fiona to wash salt off trees.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

2:15 PM – Monday

Back on line with gen power – battery pack &  laptop both went down.  So Earl was supposed to have gone by early morning and tht was it.  Didn’t happen.  Was a lot of wind during the night and especially this morning when my wind meter broke at 88 mph. with the wind from the west. Wind started to clock around to the SW and when it got south, it started REALLY blowing – I guess because of the SE quadrant.  I recall what 88 mph was like and these winds had to be over 100 mph.  They started about 11:30 or 12:00, and are just dying now – a little.  I know they were stronger because up until then, we just lost branches – at noon, we started losing trees and electric lines. It’s been raining for a good 3 – 4 hours now, about 1.5 in. so far.  The seas are unbelievable - the south shore will definitely get the worst of it.  Starting to die a little, but the past 3 hours were the worst.  Cheers, Steve

10:40 AM – Monday

The wind is pretty much out of the southwest now, and Earl has found some “new life”!  Winds are as strong as they have been – in fact, a little stronger.  Since the salt pond is not supposed to have breakers in it, I assume the sea has broken through to the salt pond between Cap Juluca and Altemar.  Battery pack keeps beeping, so assume it won’t last lng.  Still moderate rain, but no downpours.  Lots of broken limbs, no trees down I cab see,  Ooops – the rain just started in sheets – coming through all the cracks on the south side.  Towel time!  Later! - Steve

9:40 AM - Monday

Just walked out on front (east) deck, stuck my head around corner and was literally blown over.  Saw my kyack flying across the yard.  No poles down, lots of cable tv wires.  Caught a quick glimpse of the sea between Cap Juluca/Altamer – roughest I’ve seen.  Probably get worse with south wind.  Raining harder but now no rain gauge – except for wind speed/rain, others work.  Laptop battery dead, running modem/laptop off battery pack – see how long it holds. – Stay safe - Steve

9:00 AM Monday

No power since 3:30, on laptop/battery/backup.  Wind clocked around from north to west and is now starting to SW.  Windmeter broke at 88 mph.  Very little rain, lots of wind – I’m sure around 100.  Lots of smll tress down, wires all over road.  Goy a call from Barbados early am, are supposed to send chopper as soon as wind dies.  Hot inside, feels like tomb, DAMN noisy!  Less that 0.3 in rain.  More later.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

10:40 AM – Monday

The wind is pretty much out of the southwest now, and Earl has found some “new life”!  Winds are as strong as they have been – in fact, a little stronger.  Since the salt pond is not supposed to have breakers in it, I assume the sea has broken through to the salt pond between Cap Juluca and Altemar.  Battery pack keeps beeping, so assume it won’t last lng.  Still moderate rain, but no downpours.  Lots of broken limbs, no trees down I cab see,  Ooops – the rain just started in sheets – coming through all the cracks on the south side.  Towel time!  Later! - Steve

9:40 AM - Monday

Just walked out on front (east) deck, stuck my head around corner and was literally blown over.  Saw my kyack flying across the yard.  No poles down, lots of cable tv wires.  Caught a quick glimpse of the sea between Cap Juluca/Altamer – roughest I’ve seen.  Probably get worse with south wind.  Raining harder but now no rain gauge – except for wind speed/rain, others work.  Laptop battery dead, running modem/laptop off battery pack – see how long it holds. – Stay safe - Steve

9:00 AM Monday

No power since 3:30, on laptop/battery/backup.  Wind clocked around from north to west and is now starting to SW.  Windmeter broke at 88 mph.  Very little rain, lots of wind – I’m sure around 100.  Lots of smll tress down, wires all over road.  Goy a call from Barbados early am, are supposed to send chopper as soon as wind dies.  Hot inside, feels like tomb, DAMN noisy!  Less that 0.3 in rain.  More later.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

9:40 AM - Monday

Just walked out on front (east) deck, stuck my head around corner and was literally blown over.  Saw my kyack flying across the yard.  No poles down, lots of cable tv wires.  Caught a quick glimpse of the sea between Cap Juluca/Altamer – roughest I’ve seen.  Probably get worse with south wind.  Raining harder but now no rain gauge – except for wind speed/rain, others work.  Laptop battery dead, running modem/laptop off battery pack – see how long it holds. – Stay safe - Steve

9:00 AM Monday

No power since 3:30, on laptop/battery/backup.  Wind clocked around from north to west and is now starting to SW.  Windmeter broke at 88 mph.  Very little rain, lots of wind – I’m sure around 100.  Lots of smll tress down, wires all over road.  Goy a call from Barbados early am, are supposed to send chopper as soon as wind dies.  Hot inside, feels like tomb, DAMN noisy!  Less that 0.3 in rain.  More later.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

No power since 3:30, on laptop/battery/backup.  Wind clocked around from north to west and is now starting to SW.  Windmeter broke at 88 mph.  Very little rain, lots of wind – I’m sure around 100.  Lots of smll tress down, wires all over road.  Goy a call from Barbados early am, are supposed to send chopper as soon as wind dies.  Hot inside, feels like tomb, DAMN noisy!  Less that 0.3 in rain.  More later.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

Sort of a quite night, very little rain (0.14 since midnight), wind is DRAMATICALLY picking up – avg. 38, high gust, 54 MPH.  Still going to pass 30 miles north, but in just a few hours, not noon.  Wind is 105 when it passes.  Already trees down in the yard.  As soon as the winds clock around to the W, watch out – it’s then just to our north.  Running the gen set to get the fridge cold, but time to turn off.  Web site is updated with latest data. Stay safe.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

Is now a cat 2 – 100mph, and has “jogged” closer to Anguilla – 30 miles, within the sector of hurricane force winds.  Should pass to our north late morning, at which time there will probably be strongest winds from the SW – S.  Got a wind gust of 34 mph at 10:15, but mostly in low 20’s out of the N-NE.  Band of rain came through about 10:00 (less than 0.1 inch), but nothing else.  Time to try to grab a little sleep.  Hunker down!

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

At least a little good news for us – Earl will arrive and depart in daylight hours.  Looking like cat 1 right now, but our north shore will really get battered with waves.  Right now, calm before the storm – hazy sun, very little breeze.  Hoping for normal flights in/out of St. Martin – wife comes in from MIA at 1:50.  Most boats are hauled but Funtime Charters is supposed to operate for afternoon flights.  Assume will be last flights for a while.  Stay safe!

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

Boats have either mostly been hauled out or are hightailing it south!  The sea all of a sudden got really rough on the north shore late today – probably due to a NE wind and effects from Danielle passing.  I’m hoping out friends in Barbuda will post updates as Earl passes because they will feel the effects about 9 hours before us.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

This morning, people were busy hauling boats from the Cove and Sandy Ground (not a good sign).  We will definitely get some bad weather, just a question of how bad!  With the CPA at 69 miles, right now looks like strong TS force winds, some serious waves and a good bit of rain.  Let’s hope the NHC and models are correct this time re: Earls path.  But beautiful day diving this morning – bright blue sky, flat seas, gentle breeze.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

At 11:53 today, we set a 7 year record with a heat index reading of 107.3 °F, and at 11:55 today, we came within 0.4°F of breaking a 7 year high temperature record of 91°F.  Plus the sea breeze is just about non-existant – 2 to 4 knots tops.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

Had 4 small, quick showers come through overnight giving us 0.15 in. of nice rain.  More dark clouds to our east so suspect we’ll get some more.  Certainly cooled things off.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

Right now the boys in the boat race would like a little bit of Colin.  Gusts have been 5 knots, but steady only 2 or 3 - and for the past 10 min, - 0.  Sea looks like a millpond, and it’s hot and humid! Whatever Colin was supposed to deliver never happened!  Heat index was over 100 at times this afternoon.  Maybe something later. But this sure beats a TD or hurricane!

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

Starting about 1:30 this morning, lots of thunder, lightening, rain (0.77 in. so far) and wind (30 knots).  Still light to moderate rain and some distant rumbles of thunder, but satellite shows it should be out of here soon.  Looks like Colin is staying well to our north, but even if there is a major change in the track, the TS wind field is so small (30 miles), it would need to be a direct hit to amount to anything.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com/

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

No thunder or lightening for about 1-1/2 hours – just lots of steady, heavy rain.  We have 0.92 right now, falling at the rate of 2.0 – 2.5 in./hr.  I’m now updating my weather station at http://www.anguilla-weather.com every 5 minutes until this system passes.

Steve Donahue

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

Well, the edge of the tropical wave to our east has just reached us.  Nice, sunny morning until 10:15 when a SERIOUS thunderstorm passed to our south over SXM.  Now at 11:00, the rain started here – but thunder is staying to our south.

Good news is, our good friends in SXM lent us a fire truck for the airport, so after 6 days, looks like Liat and American can fly in today.  We’ll see!

Steve Donahue

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

Went diving this morning – sea temp at 60 – 70 ft. was 84° at one site, 85° at another.  But vis was maybe 20 – 25 feet because of serious algae bloom that’s been here for a week or so – worst I and others have ever seen.  Friend was fishing 35 miles north at Sombrero and had same green water there, and SST of 87°.  If any hurricane gets anywhere near us, it’ll love these warm seas – and the algae “soup” will just make it warmer!

Steve Donahue

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

So this morning about 6:30, it turned dark as night, the wind started howling (21 kn. steady, 39 kn. gusts), some thunder and lightening – and nothin’!  It was pouring out in the St. Martin – Anguilla channel, and we here in the course of ½ hour got 0.05 in. total.  So now we have a total of 9.7 in. ALL THIS YEAR – guess my cistern will never be filled.

Steve Donahue

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177

To our friends to the west in the Virgins and Puerto Rico – don’t count on this system to fill your cisterns.  There has been a “blob” stretching a few hundred miles to our west, but no rain here.  We had a period of light showers mid-morning (about 0.3 in. total) and that’s been it!  Sun has been trying to break through for several hours this afternoon.  And do we need the rain!  We’ve had a whooping total of a little over 8 inches all year – on top of our driest year in memory last year (23 inches).  Maybe we’ll get some before it’s all out of here.

Steve Donahue

www.anguilla-weather.com

Anguilla, AI2640, B.W.I.

US Phone – 410-505-8661

Anguilla Phone – 264-497-8177