Tornado Watch!

The Outer Bands....













...Of Clouds, Wind, & Rain!













A Diversion from the Weather!







Even though Hurricane Ike is expected to impact Texas one of the things that cannot be ignored are the outer bands that circulate from the eye of the storm. In the case of Ike, these bands extend about 275 miles or more from the center or eye! This means that Ike literally fills the area of the Gulf of Mexico with bands of tropical storm force winds and rain. The other thing that a storm like this carries is water. Since Thursday, 9/11, low-lying areas along the Mississippi Gulf Coast have had to deal with flooding. These waters are being pushed over the beaches and seawalls and other barriers. Parts of Highway 90 or Scenic Highway, have been closed since early yesterday morning because of the wind-driven water.

The first 2 pictures show the bands of clouds that greeted me first thing this morning. What the pictures can't convey is the force of the wind! When I snapped these pictures the wind was gusting at 42 miles per hour. I really had a hard time standing upright long enough to take the pictures. And, we are under a tornado watch which means conditions are favorably for the formation of nasty weather...we have been put on notice!

As a diversion from the weather, I picked up the Anne Scarf that has been hibernating in one of my project bags. I was able to spend a little bit of time on it this morning and was able to add about 6 inches to its length. Hopefully I can finish this scarf before the Dish Rag Tag box arrives at my door. I am looking forward to my turn to help bring victory to The Dishy Dozen!

"The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of His feet." Nahum 1:3 (NIV)