Irma

Looks like it might be the strongest hurricane to hit the Caribbean ever recorded.

Terrible news for those in it's path. I know we complain incessantly about our weather in the UK (well, I do anyway) but at times like this I think we have it pretty good.

Richard
 
Looks like it might be the strongest hurricane to hit the Caribbean ever recorded.

Terrible news for those in it's path. I know we complain incessantly about our weather in the UK (well, I do anyway) but at times like this I think we have it pretty good.

Richard

I agree, I often look out at our lot and sometimes wish for better, but we are lucky that we don't get systems like this.

I hope all those who are there and their loved ones are ok.
 
I wonder what it would be like to be out in a 200mph gust?

Lifting my head at 140mph on a motorbike had me being pushed backwards in the seat and only fear kept me hanging on and subsequently slowing down, once was enough. No way is anyone standing up in that Hurricane and any flying object like roof slates are going to be devistating.
 
Latest forecast of the storm surge for Turks and Caicos and Bahamas is for 15 to 20ft. Irma should hit this time tomorrow. A lot of the land there is below that level.
 
There is an evacuation plan for the low lying islands.

The plan is to move them to more Northerly islands and higher ground.

Will it happen ? Well a Bahamian I know says it did Inagua, Crooked Island and Acklins are ghost islands with everyone in Nassau.

T&C guys seem to be aiming to ride it out.
 
...Turks and Caicos and Bahamas is for 15 to 20ft...a lot of the land there is below that level.

Based on those islands which we've sailed to/around, I'd reckon 'a lot' is about 90-95% of the Bahamas and perhaps 98-99% in the T&Cs; the boats of three good friends are moored in the Bahamas and two other friend's yachts are in that heap in the St Martin photo; by th time Irma does its number on the US east coast, this'll be without doubt the biggest devastation of the world's yacht fleet.
 
Here are 'before and after' photos of the bareboats laid up in the 'hurricane hole' at Paraquita Bay -
https://www.passagemaker.com/lifestyle/irma-tortola

And photos taken in St Maarten of the damages there - the eye passed over Barbuda, St Barths and St Maarten, with 200 mph gusts in way of the eye wall.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/stmartinnewsnetwork/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1439449566108784

More photos from St Maarten
https://www.facebook.com/czsanthony/posts/10155851596042437?hc_location=ufi

https://www.facebook.com/jason.wilkins.7355/posts/10155806913472287?hc_location=ufi

And some non Facebook photos from St Maarten
https://tonybrewer.smugmug.com/IRMA-AFTERMATH/

I am in Barbados, approx 400 miles south of St Maarten - on Tuesday we had westerly winds of 15 - 20 knots from a feeder band for Irma, and by the afternoon the sea on the usually placid west coast was quite rough - here is a public video on FB.
https://www.facebook.com/sharon.mesick.3/posts/10159139985550184?hc_location=ufi
 
Here are 'before and after' photos of the bareboats laid up in the 'hurricane hole' at Paraquita Bay -
https://www.passagemaker.com/lifestyle/irma-tortola

And photos taken in St Maarten of the damages there - the eye passed over Barbuda, St Barths and St Maarten, with 200 mph gusts in way of the eye wall.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/stmartinnewsnetwork/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1439449566108784

More photos from St Maarten
https://www.facebook.com/czsanthony/posts/10155851596042437?hc_location=ufi

https://www.facebook.com/jason.wilkins.7355/posts/10155806913472287?hc_location=ufi

And some non Facebook photos from St Maarten
https://tonybrewer.smugmug.com/IRMA-AFTERMATH/

I am in Barbados, approx 400 miles south of St Maarten - on Tuesday we had westerly winds of 15 - 20 knots from a feeder band for Irma, and by the afternoon the sea on the usually placid west coast was quite rough - here is a public video on FB.
https://www.facebook.com/sharon.mesick.3/posts/10159139985550184?hc_location=ufi

Hi Martin

Thanks for posting those. Some really shocking images. I'm heartbroken for the people of Saint Martin, and for all of the victims who have found themselves in Irma's path.
 
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