Sorry I’ve been neglecting you of late; I’ve been watching Fay as she makes her long, slow trip of Florida.  It certainly has been interesting!

I live in SE Florida, so I’ve felt the effects of Fay from the time she crossed Cuba on Sunday.  And it’s only today (Saturday) that the skies are clearing up — I actually can see some blue sky and sunshine!

One thing about tropical storms and hurricanes, their effects last quite a bit beyond when they cross your area.  I went through Frances and Jeanne in 2004, then got hit again by Wilma in 2005.  Fortunately, Fay brought mostly rain and a few tree limbs down here and there.

But it was interesting!  Fay had been keeping me in the house, and it wasn’t until Thursday that I got a chance to survey the neighborhood.  The lot across the street from me is a prime example.  It’s low-lying to begin with, and does tend to collect water in spots (it’s part of a wetlands area).  But now, all 5 acres are pretty much a lake.  And I expect the lake would be over my head in various places.

As you’ve been hearing, Florida had been having something of a drought in the last few years.  Well, I think I can safely say that the aquifers are filled up again!  And although Lake Okeechobee is still on the low side, it’s been getting lots of water.  And more to come, from the rivers that flow into it from Central Florida.

The main part of the tropical season hasn’t arrived yet; it’s the first couple of weeks in September.  And there are two systems out there to watch.  But with any luck, they won’t bring any winds or rain to Florida.

This is one of the reasons I encourage people to not visit Florida in August and September.  While Fay didn’t cause the theme parks to close, they had to be wet and miserable for the people who came to Florida for a vacation last week.  A tropical system doesn’t have to be a hurricane to ruin your vacation!