Hurricane Season?

Living in Florida you become accustomed to certain weather patterns--sunny warm days that send you running to the beach and afternoon thunderstorms that send you inside in the afternoons. Of course there are more serious weather conditions that plague our peninsula state--tropical weather systems i.e. tropical storms and hurricanes. 2004 was the year that made it seem like hurricane season would never end--Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne collided with our state and caused severe damage. There were many people that were prepared for hurricane season that year, and many that weren't. It seems that people that haven't lived here for long are usually the least prepared for hurricane season. Then of course there are those that still cling to the ridiculous idea of "it will never hit over here...we won't get any damage."

This year Florida, as well as the rest of the United States, has been very fortunate with regards to hurricane season. Here it is November 9th and we are just now dealing with the first named tropical system to impact the United States--Tropical Storm Ida. Luckily it will only hit the Gulf Coast as a low-grade tropical storm, although even a tropical storm can cause severe flooding damage. While I am glad that there is not going to be a direct hit in our area, I am looking forward to the rain that we should get from some of the feeder bands of the system that will be pushed our was as the result of a cold front. Right now it is dry in our area and we are having to watch or drought index. We here in Florida do not want have to deal with any more fires due to a lack of rain.

All in all I am very glad it has been a quiet tropical season this year. While I do wish we would get some more rain in our state, I am definitely not going to wish for any hurricanes!