National Weather Service Bulletin: Hurricane Sam Aims for Florida Coast 1000 EDST

After a brief encounter with the US Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic, Hurricane Sam seemed to be blowing off steam before taking a swipe at Cuba, and heading toward the tourist rich havens of the Florida Keys. The rather thick fluffy cloud layer that has grown atop Sam has made penetration by Hurricane Hunter aircraft difficult, but they will make another attempt late today.

While a minimal hurricane, Sam has puffed himself up occasionally, striking fear into the coastal residents, and particularly into the hearts of property-casualty underwriters and agents, as they scurried to cover themselves with additional layers of insurance and re-insurance as well as sheets of plywood and other storm supplies. At this juncture, according to my insurance sources, it’s too late as Sam approaches. In the words of the wise insurance guru:”What you got, you got” (Or was that Uncle Guido?)

The next bulletin will be at 0200 hours following penetration into Sam’s eye by Hurricane Hunter aircraft… OUCH!

Hurricane Sam Update 0200 EDST

Hurricane Hunter aircraft have downgraded Sam’s winds to tropical storm strength, and Sam does not appear to be turning into a monster at this point. While occasionally blustery and windy, and sometimes referred to as “all wet” by others, Sam has veered off the point and his fury dissipated, having run into a wall of hot air generated by the political upheaval in Washington, which has funneled at an odd angle down down the East Coast.