The Return of the Cone

Ah, it's that time of year...when the tropics get active and the dreaded Cone Of Possibilities makes its first appearance near the mainland. Judy, this storm track should have you breathing a little easier tonight, although, as we well know, anything can happen with these cyclones. They wiggle and they wobble. They can't seem to make up their minds. Nonetheless, I'm grateful I have no vacation plans in the Yucatan next week.


I missed watching these cones last summer, when all was eerily quiet in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Watching the "spaghetti models" for Dean take shape was almost like an old friend coming home. The Central Florida Hurricane Center boards are buzzing like a field of wildflowers in July.

We all know I wouldn't find the colorful cone so heartwarming if I still lived in Florida. I'd be pacing like a tiger in a too-small cage, counting jugs of water, buying batteries, and stocking up on canned food. I'd be struggling to position heavy sheets of three-quarter inch plywood over windows. I'd be checking the models every ten minutes. I'd be obsessively reading opinions on the internet from seasoned storm trackers, looking for reassurance that the storm won't come my way, but usually finding reason to be scared. I'd be stressing big time.

Here's to wind shear and cooler waters in the days ahead. May all named storms fizzle like Flossie.