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Orlando & The Freakshow

Tropical Disturbance Update: Heavy Rain & Shifting West

Author Richie Ortiz

Earlier this week we reported on a potential tropical storm forming in the Gulf this week. Right now it’s still too early to tell but local weather guru Denis Phillips tell us “We could be dealing with a messy rainmaker for quite a while next week.” Real Floridians know not to freak out until Jim Cantore shows up, Publix runs out of water, or they start shutting down Waffle House locations.

Tropical Storm Debby

In the world of weather, right now there are two colossal high-pressure areas. One lounging over the southern Plains with all the grace of a sunbather who’s found the perfect spot, and the other firmly planted in the Atlantic near Bermuda. Both of them haven’t yet, but they are about to do battle. Their influence is so vast that they hold the fate of a humble storm in their metaphorical hands. If it continues to develop, this tropical storm will be called Debby.

Will our storm curl up the Eastern Seaboard seeking warmth, make a beeline for the sunny climes of Florida, or take a southern detour into the Gulf of Mexico? Find out on the next episode!

According to Fox Weather, the depression hasn’t turned into a storm just yet. The consensus is that it will move in the general direction of Florida or the Southeast coast late this week and into the upcoming weekend. However, there’s a lot that has to happen between then and now. As our storm contemplates its future, it must first navigate the mountainous terrain of the larger Caribbean islands. They’re key players in our storm’s development.

The good news is as of 2pm on August 1st: the forecast models show the potential storm’s track is heading west. However, any possible development with the system is unlikely to occur until the weekend at the earliest. The NHC gives the disturbance a 30 percent chance of development over the next two days and a 70 percent chance of developing through the next week.

The suspense is real. The stakes are high. The barometric pressure is higher. Sit back and enjoy this atmospheric soap opera as it unfolds.

Source: Fox Weather

Rich grew up in the Bronx, NY but moved to Tampa in 2006 to attend the University of Tampa. Even though he completed 4 years at the University for Sports Management, Ortiz realized his true passion for radio after taking a couple of classes to fulfill his communications minor and volunteering at UT's WUTT radio station as a sports director. Rich also worked at several clubs in Tampa as a host/promoter where he would meet and work alongside Davy Rolando, who would be the one who would help him get a job at WiLD 94.1. From there, Rich worked his way up from Promotions assistant to promotions coordinator, to eventually full-time on-air. Rich loves to write about his favorite Tampa food spots, concert reviews, and the WiLDest Florida man/woman stories.

7 Severe Weather Safety Tips That May Save Your Life

Nobody likes dealing with severe weather. But, it’s part of life. Depending on where you live in the United States, you might come up against hurricanes, tornados, severe thunderstorms, blizzards and more. I’ve certainly had my fair share of severe weather events. Probably my most vivid memory was being in an ice storm, which knocked power out for about a week where I lived, including during Christmas. It was freezing cold, so my family and I had to go to a hotel that was out of town. Needless to say, our Christmas plans were totally different that year. So, what are some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life?

Before we get to the main tips, let’s get through some basics. Stay informed when a severe weather event is approaching. It’s simple but important. You don’t want to be caught off guard when bad weather strikes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service both have information that they provide leading up to and during a severe weather event. So, make sure to get the latest information in the case of any weather emergency. Local meteorologists also have good information, but the main alerts come from the National Weather Service.

Another mistake some people make is not taking “watches” seriously. For example, you might see that there’s a severe thunderstorm watch in your area and think, oh, it’s just a watch, I can go out for a walk. Don’t do it. “A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain,” the National Weather Service explains. We’ll get more into the specifics of a watch, warning and advisory later in this story.

Let’s get into some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life.

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