WDW Weather Forecast - August 31-Sept 16, 2011

[Hammer]

So, Chris, my Mom who lives in Tampa is supposed to fly up here on Friday to attend a wedding this weekend. She is prepared to fly up on Thursday. Good plan? Just waiting for Jetblue to change to allow waivers for Friday flights out of Florida.

[Strmchsr]

Christine, I think the switch to Thursday would definitely be better. If Irene follows the current course, it shouldn't be a huge issue for Tampa, but Thursday will definitely provide more reassurance of that.

[mickeyman42]

Thanks for the update Chris, just keeping my eyes on the winds for Thursday now! Hopefully we'll get in just in time to get cozy in our room and wait out Friday!

[PirateLover]

Chris, we are moving in-laws to Ft. Lauderdale. We are staying at a relative's in MD Weds night, and then heading out 5am thursday. Do you have any better idea yet about when/where Irene will hit land? We know we won't be able to drive straight through (Two of us in a UHAUL and two in a car) and we'll need to stop off somwhere and possibly wait out the storm, but we're not sure where the best place to stop would be.

[Strmchsr]

Maryanne, right now it looks like Irene will end up making final landfall somewhere in the Carolinas on Saturday. You will not want to be driving through NC, SC, or the GA coast on Friday or Saturday. You might need to move a little more inland with U-Hauls, like go over to I-75 in Lexington, KY or Knoxville, TN instead of coming down the East Coast. If you stick to I-75 I think you'll be okay. The main threat within Florida will be Thursday afternoon through Friday.

[Hammer]

Christine, I think the switch to Thursday would definitely be better. If Irene follows the current course, it shouldn't be a huge issue for Tampa, but Thursday will definitely provide more reassurance of that.

Chris, we did exactly that. Mom's on the 1:45 PM flight on Thursday. And if flights are messed up out of this area on Monday due to the remnants of Irene, she'll stay an extra night here with either myself or my sister.

[PirateLover]

Maryanne, right now it looks like Irene will end up making final landfall somewhere in the Carolinas on Saturday. You will not want to be driving through NC, SC, or the GA coast on Friday or Saturday. You might need to move a little more inland with U-Hauls, like go over to I-75 in Lexington, KY or Knoxville, TN instead of coming down the East Coast. If you stick to I-75 I think you'll be okay. The main threat within Florida will be Thursday afternoon through Friday.

Thanks so much, great advice.

[BugeyedMuggy]

It looks good for WDW arrival on Thursday nite but how about 8:30 pm on Aug 28th landing in Hartford BDL? Would a Monday evening be a better option in your opinion? Thanks

[bshaw96]

Eastern North Carolinian here, guess we will be taking this one for the team lol.

[Strmchsr]

It looks good for WDW arrival on Thursday nite but how about 8:30 pm on Aug 28th landing in Hartford BDL? Would a Monday evening be a better option in your opinion? Thanks

Probably so. Sunday night definitely does NOT look good for that area. It'll depend on how far inland Irene goes in NC before turning northeast. If she stays right along the coast, it'll be really nasty up your way Sunday evening.

Eastern North Carolinian here, guess we will be taking this one for the team lol.

My prayers will be with you. This one won't be fun.

[yjgirl32]

Thanks for keeping us updated we are flying down on Sept 1st(hopefully) and will be there till the 12th. Would greatly appreciate the updates.

[wdwfansince75]

Maryanne, right now it looks like Irene will end up making final landfall somewhere in the Carolinas on Saturday. You will not want to be driving through NC, SC, or the GA coast on Friday or Saturday. You might need to move a little more inland with U-Hauls, like go over to I-75 in Lexington, KY or Knoxville, TN instead of coming down the East Coast. If you stick to I-75 I think you'll be okay. The main threat within Florida will be Thursday afternoon through Friday.

From Maryland, depending on how things look on Thursday, you might consider I-85 from below Richmond...you should be below Richmond long before the weather reaches there....avoid 95 in NC, SC, or Ga, until the storm passes....Even if the Hurricane stays off the coast, there will be a lot of rain, and a lot of evacuation traffic...and most of the hotels and motels, if open, will be full. get inland a bit by using 85 (or even 81)..going all the way out to Lexington, or even Knoxville would add an extra day to your trip. Unless the storm actual cuts the coast in FL or GA, staying on 85 should keep you safe. You should be able to decide whether to cut back to 95 by the time you reach Charlotte....77 and 26 will get you to 95...or if it still looks bad Thursday PM, you can stay on 85 to Atlanta, and pick up 75 there...longer trip, but considerably shorter than going west to 75, and then south. Beep as you pass the Easley exit, and I'll run a cup of coffee out to you! (Trade you for some real MD crab cakes!...or some soft shells!)
You might also consider going west to 81at Hagerstown, and make a decision when you approach 77 whether to cut back to 95 there.

[PirateLover]

From Maryland, depending on how things look on Thursday, you might consider I-85 from below Richmond...you should be below Richmond long before the weather reaches there....avoid 95 in NC, SC, or Ga, until the storm passes....Even if the Hurricane stays off the coast, there will be a lot of rain, and a lot of evacuation traffic...and most of the hotels and motels, if open, will be full. get inland a bit by using 85 (or even 81)..going all the way out to Lexington, or even Knoxville would add an extra day to your trip. Unless the storm actual cuts the coast in FL or GA, staying on 85 should keep you safe. You should be able to decide whether to cut back to 95 by the time you reach Charlotte....77 and 26 will get you to 95...or if it still looks bad Thursday PM, you can stay on 85 to Atlanta, and pick up 75 there...longer trip, but considerably shorter than going west to 75, and then south. Beep as you pass the Easley exit, and I'll run a cup of coffee out to you! (Trade you for some real MD crab cakes!...or some soft shells!)
You might also consider going west to 81at Hagerstown, and make a decision when you approach 77 whether to cut back to 95 there.

THANKS! I am going to print this out and we will all sit with a map tonight and discuss all of our options and what will work best. GREAT point about evacuation traffic. Didn't think of that one.

[Aurora]

My thoughts are with all of you on the East Coast. To those who are traveling, stay safe!

Strmchsr Chris and Intercotees, you rock.

[LisaP]

Right now it doesn't look like the travel issues would be significant, if anything. It really depends on when on Thursday. The later in the day, the greater the possibility of a delay. The current official track puts Irene only about 150 miles SE of Orlando at 1 am on Friday. The feeder bands from a Cat 2 hurricane stretch out much further than that. So, I think we'll begin to see thunderstorms from the feeder bands beginning late Thursday afternoon. However, those shouldn't cause cancellations. Just potential delays. And even those should be minor. I expect major delays and flight cancellations on Friday, though. If she speeds up, Thursday will be more of an issue, but right now I think you'll be okay and just need to be prepared to stay in rooms/shelter most or all of Friday.

Hi Chris,

Can't seem to get detailed info on updated status of Irene as it relates to my arrival to WDW on Friday ... all my local weather is saying is that it will hit NC this weekend.

We are scheduled to depart Philly Friday am, any idea what to potentially expect?? I'd like to avoid airport delays with 2 youngins in tow, and perhaps change my flight if necessary. Thanks for all this expert info!

[Strmchsr]

Lisa, I don't think Friday will be a big deal in terms of delays. Irene should be far enough off shore that any impact in Orlando would be a few scattered thunderstorms and nothing consistent that would cause big problems at the airport. It's possible, but not too likely unless Irene jogs back closer to Florida. That, also, doesn't seem too likely right now. The potential impact for NC also would be Saturday, not Friday, so, again, no worries for you. I think Irene will probably just brush North Carolina (which could still be bad) with the greater impact coming in the NYC-Boston range Sunday or Monday.

[yjgirl32]

Is there another tropical storm or hurricane developing in the gulf? I believe you had mentioned it before- just wondered if there was any more to it. Thanks for the help.

[Strmchsr]

Is there another tropical storm or hurricane developing in the gulf? I believe you had mentioned it before- just wondered if there was any more to it. Thanks for the help.

Some of the models are continuing to show a tropical system of some kind impacting Florida around the Sept 5-6 time frame. However, I don't see it at the moment in terms of where that would develop from. The only significant wave in the Atlantic right now will turn north and not be a threat at all. Sometimes the models develop stuff out in "voodooland" just because conditions are ripe. So, nothing to worry about right now.

[yjgirl32]

ok thanks. We leave on the 1st and will be there till the 12th. Just wondered what weather we would be up against.

[Strmchsr]

ok thanks. We leave on the 1st and will be there till the 12th. Just wondered what weather we would be up against.

My guess right now is continued hot and humid. I have no reason to be overly concerned about anything specific in the tropics right now. If that changes, I'll definitely be sure to post it in the forecast. Hope you have a great trip!