Support Team Weatherzine Organ Donation Miracle Walk

November 11, 2009 – Please join Team Weatherzine, and myself Jeff Gammons, in my efforts to support Transplant Foundation, Inc., in this years Miracle Walk / Run in Miami. As many of you know, I received a lifesaving kidney transplant back on Easter Sunday April 12, 2009. I would not be living a more normal life, and feeling great if it wasn’t for my organ donor. Please help me spread awareness about how important organ donation is, and support our team this weekend.

Team Weatherzine has 15 people walking in this weekends event. Our Team goal to raise for this years event is $1000.00. We have already raised $767.00, but still trying to reach our goal before this Saturday.

Two ways you can make a contribution online: You can make a donation towards Team Weatherzine as a whole, or your welcome to sponsor me. Please chose a link below that will take you to the Miracle Walk events website.

Donate Towards Team Weatherzine

Donate Towards Jeff Gammons

I will be listing everyone’s participation with our team, along with all of our sponsors. I want to thank you all in advance for your support, and look for a follow up blog post after the event.

Thank You – Jeff Gammons

Hurricane Ida Ongoing Chase Updates

November 8, 2009 – Currently en-route to the Florida Panhandle for Hurricane Ida chase. It’s not known if she will remain fully tropical at the time of nearing, and/or making landfall along the Northern Gulf coast. But, I decided it would be a close enough call to justify making the trip, plus, this being the only possible hurricane landfall of the 2009 season. Nevertheless, there will be likely strong winds and heavy rains regardless if she’s a true tropical cyclone, or transitioning into a extratropical system.

LIVE UPDATES BELOW: I will update this blog post throughout my chase to make it easier on me. So refer back to this page for further updates on the road, and watch for new video updates in the right side video player. Thanks – Jeff Gammons

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Update: 11/11/09 9:42am ET - Back home in South Florida after our 36 hour chase to Pensacola Beach for Tropical Storm Ida. I’d have to say the most impressive part of Ida, had to be the very large waves about 12 hours before she reached the coast. I will be posting pictures and video in the coming day or two, and I’ll post a link to them here. Otherwise, this is the last update on this page concerning Ida.

Update: 11/10/09 8:50am ET – A very disorganized Tropical Storm Ida, made landfall along the Alabama coast just to our west, with 45mph winds. The winds are onshore here now in Pensacola, and the Gulf is extremely rough. Were going to get some breakfast down stairs, and then head back down to the water for some last minute video and pictures. After that, back on the highway eastbound, and then south towards home in South Florida. I’ll post a Tropical Storm Ida picture gallery once back home of the last 24 hours of our adventures here in Pensacola Beach.

Update: 11/10/09 12:31am ET - Tropical Storm Ida continues to weaken, remains just offshore the Alabama and Florida coasts. In the last two hours, we have started to receive low-end tropical storm force winds, along with very heavy rainfall here on Pensacola Beach. A heavy band of rain on the northern side of Ida, has been stationary dumping 2-3 inches of rain and hour. The winds have also become more sustained with embedded gusts, but nothing to impressive. Going to get a few hours of sleep, and get up once the onshore flow takes over here on the beach.

Update: 11/9/09 6:36pm ET - We’ve taken the last few hours to relax here on Pensacola Beach in our 3rd floor room at the Hampton Inn beachside. There are thunderous crashing waves just out the window, and the winds are becoming a little more sustained. Looking at radar, some of the last few scans maybe show that Ida may be beginning to make the north-northeast turn towards the Alabama / Florida border. I will be heading out on foot in the next hour, as she looks to make landfall sooner than first thought. It should be a interesting next 6-8 hours here in Pensacola Beach.

Update: 11/9/09 12:02pm - Kersten and I have been around Pensacola Beach, FL the last several hours shooting (AS SEEN ABOVE) some video and pictures of the large swells. Went out to the end of the Pensacola Beach pier to shoot impressive large waves pounding the coastline. Tropical Storm Ida continues to weaken, but still expecting Tropical Storm force winds this evening and heavy rains.

Update: 11/9/09 4:47am ET - Passing Crestview, FL in the Panhandle. Ida Satellite looking much weaker, and looks like cooler water and wind shear are now slowly weakening her as expected. Still en-route though.

Update: 11/8/09 10:40pm ET - Passing central Florida northbound. Learned that Hurricane Warnings now active along the northern gulf coast.

Update: 11/8/09 8:37pm ET - I have departed South-Central Florida, and currently on the road towards the Florida western Panhandle.

Update: 11/8/09 7:19pm ET - Everything is packed and ready to go. Having dinner and then heading out northbound towards the Florida Panhandle.

Late Season Tropical Storm Ida Forms Southwest Caribbean

November 4, 2009 – Tropical Storm Ida organizing in the southwestern Caribbean Sea this afternoon. A recent reconnaissance flight into the Tropical Depression, found winds that have now increased into the moderate Tropical Storm force range. Tropical Storm Ida has winds of 60mph with higher gusts, and slowly moving west-northwest around 6mph. Visible satellite loop trends throughout the day, have showed a fairly organized system, with nice banding of deep convection. I’m surprised that recon found an already impressive 60mph tropical storm with a pressure reading of 996mb. What would we do without solid data from recon missions.

A lot is up in the air about the future track and strength of Ida. If she continues to slowly track a little more west-northwestward, she will remain very close to the Nicaragua coastline, and is forecast to move inland overnight and on Thursday. This would significantly affect the strength, and sustaining of a organized system, especially once it moves fully over land. Right now I’m more focused on it’s future track over the next 48 hours, while interacting with Central American. It is forecast to track out into the western Caribbean and slowly re-intensify.

Models are in agreement in bringing Ida northwestward into the western Caribbean Sea, and possibly the Gulf of Mexico as well. It’s way to early to know for sure if Ida would even make it that far north with some of the land obstacles ahead of her. I’m watching very closely as this late season Tropical Storm is positioned south of Florida in November. It will be interesting to track and see what she does into this weekend. Stay tuned!

Halloween Weekend Miami Beach Pumpkins and Footaball

November 1, 2009 – It’s so hard to believe it’s already November. At least for me, and Kersten said the same thing, the year has flown by so fast. We closed out October this past weekend starting off with a very nice and relaxing early lunch in Miami Beach. Kersten and I decided after taking care of some business, that we had the time to head down to South Beach along Ocean Drive for a walk and a bite to eat.

We walked Ocean Drive, and walked along the beach enjoying a fantastic late October day. It felt more like late Summer with a easterly breeze off the water and temperatures in the upper 80’s. We ate at Ocean’s Ten on a sidewalk table, enjoying drinks and food as we people watched. I shot a nice series of photographs along the beach and then we headed back north for home. Defiantly worth investing the few hours.

Halloween was also a warm and sunny day, and we pretty much lounged around the house watching horror movies and eating some junk food. Later in the afternoon we started to carve up our pumpkins for the front patio deck. By sunset, Kersten was off helping JJ get ready in his costume, while I setup the table outside with our pumpkins. We only had about 23 Trick-or-Treaters, so the evening went fairly fast. Ended the day with another movie and some burgers.

Sunday was pretty much a full day of sports for me. I watched the Miami Dolphins – Jets game, and about passed out in the 4th quarter. I was happy to see Miami pull it out at the very end for a win on the road, and to sweep the Jets. Now, as I type up this post, I have the World Series on behind me ending a great weekend.

Hope everyone has a great first week of November, because it won’t last long. These next 60 days will fly by, and we’ll all be ringing in the New Year.

Storm Chasers Jim Edds James Reynolds Typhoon Mirinae

November 1, 2009 – My good friend and chase partner Jim Edds from Pensacola Florida, along with fellow Typhoon Chaser James Reynolds, sent me in the latest incoming video scenes from Typhoon Mirinae to recently hit the Philippines. They filmed in and around the city of Manila during the duration of the Typhoon. Jim said the locals were friendly, and even had to give him a helping hand at one point when he found himself stuck in a hole as seen in this video update.

This has been Jim’s third Typhoon chase in the last month. He ventured out to the West Pacific Ocean in early October to chase / intercept Typhoons, after the Atlantic 2009 Hurricane Season remained very slow likely due to a developing El Nino. Jim plans to return the Florida sometime at the end of November or into early December once the season out there comes to a close.

Note: Most of the video shot in this segment are from James Reynolds (Typhoonfury.com). I need to edit the overlay credit on the video. Great work, James!

People Ready For Typhoon Lupit In Aparri Philippines

October 21, 2009 – Storm Chaser partner Jim Edds, is now on the ground in the city of Aparri, which is located on the northern coast of the Philippines. He is there to intercept and document Typhoon Lupit, which is forecast to track across the northern mainland coast. These are some images from the area once he arrived yesterday of local residents preparing for the storm. Expecting more updates over the next few days from him.

Celebrating Six Month Anniversary Post Kidney Transplant

October 12, 2009 – Six months ago today I underwent a very successful Kidney Transplant in Miami after waiting 4 years for a kidney. This morning I awoke like everyday since very thankful for my special gift from the unknown 20 year old that lost their life to better mine. The last six months have been great, and I have been living life again to it’s fullest. I greatly appreciate everyday waking up feeling strong and ready to take on the world.

I’ve recently learned that I might be able to make contact with my donor family if they’re willing to make contact with me through a post-transplant mediator. I’d really like to know more about my donor and who they were. Were they female or male? What was their personality like? What were their interests? All I was allowed to know at the time of the surgery on Easter Sunday evening, was that the person was a young 20 years old, and they were very healthy. I hope to find out more about them in the coming months, and get to share a little more information about their life.

I want to also thank all of my family and friends, and Chaser buds for all their great support over the last half of year. The key for me over the last four years pre and post transplant, is to stay positive and focused.

To be continued…

Captured Waterspout Offshore Sanibel Island FL Pictures

October 12, 2009 – Sunday morning a water spout formed about 6 miles due south of Sanibel Island, Florida. Around 9:30am, a developing heavy shower was slowly moving west-northwest over the very warm Gulf waters offshore Southwest Florida. Shortly after a waterspout organized under the dark rain free base of the cell, with a visible funnel about halfway to the water surface. There was a surface circulation and spray ring visible in the pictures after having to enhance the contrast.

Further east over the interior Southern Florida peninsula, they were burning sugarcane like they do every October for harvesting. The easterly flow made for a hazy morning over the eastern Gulf waters, also making it harder to make out if the funnel was truly reaching the surface. From the visible eye, it was easier to see that indeed it was on the water and producing a spray ring. After messing around with the contrast levels in the digital pictures here, you can make out the spray below and to the right of the funnel / spout.

The duration of the water spout was about 7 minutes, at least from the first time I took notice of it, as I was packing up the car after our week long vacation on Sanibel Island. It made for a nice weather lover departing gift for me, after all the other outstanding nature photography I was able to capture throughout the week on the island.

Update – 10/13/09 - I want to thank Daniel Noah, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay. Daniel sent me a archived radar image of the small cell. Below you can see truly how small this little shower was that produced the waterspout. Looking at the image also, I think it might have been further south than 6 miles from Sanibel. Again, thanks to Daniel for the update, and he also noted that the waterspout will be added to storm data.

Similar Waterspout Posts:
Lake Okeechobee Water Spout and Gustnadoes Video
Pompano Beach Florida Waterspout Pictures

Sanibel Island Sunset – Harvest Moon Coconut Palms

October 5, 2009 – Last night was our first evening on Sanibel Island, Florida. Kersten, JJ and I, are on a week long annual getaway trip along the southwest offshore Florida waters. Our first late afternoon and evening gave way to a beautiful Gulf of Mexico sunset along the white sandy beaches. We walked along the beach searching for seashells and taking pictures along the way as the light slowly faded. It was a nice end to the day after the pleasant trip over from the Florida east coast, and the awesome Miami Dolphins first (finally) win over the Buffalo Bills.

Just after sunset, the moonrise was also underway, as the bright October Harvest Moon broke the horizon looking back towards the east. Later that night the bright moon illuminated the coconut palm tree’s as they danced in the very warm southerly breezes.

My brother Craig made it over to the condo shortly after 10:30pm (after being at the Miami Game), to enjoy a few days with us as well. We fired up the grill again late into the night and had some burgers under the moon. Now as I write this post, it’s 3:00am and everyone is asleep as I edit a small sample of my pictures from our first day on vacation. Hope you like them DeeDee!

Storm Chaser Typhoon Parma Philippines Flooding Video

October 5, 2009 – Typhoon Chaser James Reynolds sends in the latest video scenes from Typhoon Parma. James’s footage feed was shot along a coastal highway from Laoag to Pampalona, in extreme northwest Philippines. He uploaded this latest video to us via satellite data phone. You can find out more on his Typhoon coverage at: Typhoonfury.com

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