Tropical Storm ERIKA to bring possible severe weather to Central Florida early next week

Aug 26, 2015 in "Severe Weather impacts to Walt Disney World"

Forum Forums Tweet Share Tweet Share

Gallery / 1 Photo
Tropical Storm Erika tracks

Posted: Wednesday August 26, 2015 8:42am EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

Tropical Storm ERIKA could bring severe weather to Central Florida early next week.

The latest track from the National Hurricane Center forecasts ERIKA to be close to the south Florida coast on Monday morning with hurricane force winds.

The impact to Central Florida remains unclear, with the exact path of the storm to still be determined.

At 800 AM AST (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Erika was located near latitude 16.2 North, longitude 56.8 West. Erika is moving toward the west near 17 mph (28 km/h), and a west to west-northwestward motion is expected over the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the center of Erika will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands tonight and move near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Thursday.

Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Some slow strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

The last storm to impact the theme park areas was Tropical Storm ISAAC in late August 2012, although effects were limited to sustained rainfall and strong gusty winds.

The last time the parks were closed due to weather was in late October 2005, with Magic Kingdom and Epcot having delayed openings at 1pm, and Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios and the water parks remaining closed for the entire day.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

Horizons '83Aug 31, 2015

haha wow, this thread has me :joyfull:

JohnDAug 31, 2015

PhotoDave219Aug 30, 2015

I forgot you were without power that long. Eleven years ago.... I think Francis and her Cat 5 winds off the coast were legitimately terrifying. Those six weeks were terrible.

Nick WildeAug 30, 2015

A chair fell over in my backyard. We will rebuild.

kpilcherAug 30, 2015

I totally agree. I was without power For more than a month after Charley. And I'm in a very suburban area near a hospital. The lights came back on in time for the third storm to knock them out again. People need to prepare.

The MomAug 30, 2015

There is absolutely nothing wrong with people being "scared" enough to go out and buy a few hurricane supplies during hurricane season. Too many people have nothing put aside and wait until it's too late. Canned goods, flashlights (as long as you remove the batteries when not in use) even bottled water will last many years. There will be a power outage sometime in your future. Anything that gets close to an expiration date can be used - which is why you shouldn't purchase anything you wouldn't ordinarily eat. If you hate tuna, don't bother having it in your emergency stash. (which can be stored in a rolling foot locker or even large suitcase) Then, all you have to do if you are under a watch/warning is batten down the hatches, as they say. Secure your house, take care of outdoor furniture, pots, etc. make sure your vehicle is in a safe place. And think about your evacuation plans. We have many friends who are in Cat 1 & 2 evacuation zones (waterfront), and their plan is to bring their supplies & pets and come to our house (we are in a cat 5 evacuation zone) We have a generator, and our next door neighbor also has one along with gas appliances and a well. Between us we have 5 extra bedrooms, and a few fold out couches in other rooms. I was without power for two weeks after one of the three that hit us in rapid succession.

PhotoDave219Aug 29, 2015

Oh i know.... Very glad your station was being responsible. More news stations/directors/GMs should be that way. Edit: Here's a basic PSA that EVERYONE needs to know. Never drive through water that crosses the road whether its just standing or not. Turn around or you risk getting swept away. (Almost learned that the hard way and I knew better)

kpilcherAug 29, 2015

Respectfully, I saw and heard nothing on my station or the others in town aimed at scaring or "Overhyping." (Granted I saw much less of 9 and 13) Urging people to prepare, yes. But our team was cautious to not "cry wolf" about the storm (which took at least 12 lives in the Caribbean). We went out of our way to tell people the true test would be after Erika crossed Hispanola. As a member of the media, you should know if we don't talk about and forewarn -- even while reassuring -- the consequences can be deadly. We are already at a place where too many people don't take these storms seriously. Happy Erika dissipated. Happy I won't be starting 12-on/12-off work shifts tomorrow. But I know the next storm could always be worse. Remember in 2004 -- Charley was not supposed to mean much by the time it reached Central Florida.

PhotoDave219Aug 29, 2015

Seriously. Overhyping these things is as dangerous as ignoring them. You cry wolf every time a small, disorganized joke of a tropical storm shows up, no one will listen when the really nasty ones come. Page views and marketing shouldn't impact public safety.

GrumpyFanAug 29, 2015

Nothing to see here folks, move along.

BoltAug 29, 2015

And mainstream media cries...

PhotoDave219Aug 29, 2015

Which is excellent news!

wdwmagicAug 29, 2015

Erika has dissipated as a tropical cyclone. NHC will issue a Special Advisory shortly. Tropical storm watches/warnings being discontinued.

SMS55Aug 29, 2015

Right now, I wouldn't worry too much about this. Perhaps pick a park like Hollywood Studios or EPCOT on the day it's in the area as many outdoor rides may not be operating due to the rain, but as a minimal tropical storm, this is the equivalent of an afternoon thunderstorm, or just a rain day with some gusty winds. Don't stress it too much people. Take it from some of the locals.