It’s 2:23 in the morning and I’m blogging this from the beach at Jackonville, FL. At this time hurricane charley is just off shore of Jacksonnville after traveling across Florida earlier today. Charley’s center of circulation is about 50 miles to the east of me.

What’s it like here? In a word, its windy. Very windy. I’m only feeling tropical storm force winds over here but they feel pretty strong to me. Every once in a while a gust comes that feels like its in the 40s or so.

The ocean looks really angry, lots of big breakers here. Charley is whipping up the ocean out there and the waves are impressive.

There isn’t any rain here at the moment only a very slight drizzle. Most of the rain is northeast of the eye over the ocean. There are some rain bands still over the land but I must be between them.

the creepyest thing about being here is the clouds. The sky is of course totally overcast, there are lots of little clouds only a few hundred feet above the ground and they are all moving FAST from north to south along with the wind. Looking out over the water you see and feel in how big this storm is. Being here reminds me of how small we really are.

The motion of the clouds is consistent with the eye being directly east of me, since hurricanes spin counterclockwise. But looking out the ocean there’s this weird effect like the storm is this way. But I know that its heading away from me.

I’m not the only one out here, there are a few groups of people out closer to the water just hanging out and checking out the storm. All the roads are deserted, and almost every business is shut down tonight.

Right next to the water now. For me the voice of this storm isn’t the wind, its the surf. There’s more than just crashing waves I can hear all the waves out to sea as well. The ocean is angry tonight.

The air is very humid of course, but its not that warm, in the 70’s. Its very comfortable out here.

…

Its been about an hour since I got here and charley is definatley moving away from Jax. The wind isn’t nearly as strong as it was an hour ago, and the clouds aren’t moving as fast anymore. I’m starting to see stars through the clouds too. Charley is done with Florida.

I was supposed to fly down to Miami today, but I’m glad my flight was canceled. If I were in Miami, I woouldnt have gotten this chance to see the power of a hurricane up close.

Posted by Mike on Saturday, August 14th, 2004 at 5:29 am.