Thanks guys,
I'm back in Indianapolis, almost feeling guilty that I could so conveniently leave, and the locals can not. Here's a view of the storm as of 10 pm, Monday Aug 20. It tagged Jamaica good and hard last night. They called it a 'glancing blow', which means the eye didn't pass directly over. However, it's the winds coming over the top-front of the storm that are the worst. Jamaica got that stuff. That upper right-hook storm wind velocity,
plus the velocity of the storm's travel speed = the worst winds. The area right in front of the eye is where you get the major storm surge. I put a dot where we were staying. Not meaning to derail the thread, but if you all could put in a little prayer for the people and wildlife and trees of the region, they could use all the help they can get.
They talk about Cancun and Cozumel missing a direct hit, but honestly, that entire coast is developed for tourists. The locals live inland a short distance in Pueblos and their housing is, lets say, not up to hurricane standards. It's gonna be a God-awful day for everyone there tomorrow.
One highlight while I was there, I saw was a clutch of baby sea turtles hatch and emerge from their nest on the beach and hustle it out to sea. There were 136 of the little buggers. There were dozens of other turtle nests, protected by caring humans, perimetered by stones to mark the location, with a sign denoting the lay date. It is hatching season right now. For the eggs still just beneath the surface of the sand, Mother Nature is sending them a most cruel force.
They say the storm may strengthen to category 5 tonight. The water out there is really warm.