Hurricane Irma...

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message

“He makes the weather – clouds and thunder, lightning and rain, wind pouring out of the earth.”
-Psalms 135, The Message

​Sunday, 11:45 AM – clear sky, cool, 60°, windy. Hurricane Irma is to hit Florida today. School has already been cancelled tomorrow. A very rare occurrence to have hurricane effects so far inland. During the morning church service, the trees out front were beginning to sway back and forth. Sticks and twigs rain down in the small patch of woods beside the church.
 
Monday, 8:30 AM – work has been cancelled too. Why? The forecast: “Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers and possibly thunderstorms. Some storms can produce heavy rainfall. The greatest impacts from Irma will be felt with winds increasing to 40 to 50 MPH by early this afternoon. Because of the wet spring and early summer, the forecasted wind speeds will easily bring down trees and lead to widespread power outages.”
 
So far a thick, grayish white blanket of clouds sits high in the sky, while swifter moving dark clouds pass rapidly through lower levels. Gusts pass through the trees creating loud rushing noises like that of a waterfall.
 
Monday, 2:20 PM – there is a constant rushing wind with frequent stronger blasts. The rain falls at a 45° angle toward the southwest, but shifts directions and to more severe angles with the gusts. Many of the trees are losing leaves.
 
Monday, 3:45 PM – power is out. The wind is non-stop. Surprisingly, a number of our regular backyard birds are still at the feeder.
 
Monday, 5:50 PM – the power is back on. I hope we don’t lose the Crape Myrtle to the left of the patio and it bends and sways; the root ball looking as if it will erupt from the ground at any time.
 
Monday, 10:00 PM – the winds are decreasing. Made it through the worst with no damage. But there are reports of power outages throughout the state (some which end up lasting several days).