Top products from r/TropicalWeather

Amazon sell these awesome reusable washable pads. They're huge and really durable. Highly recommended. I also like the grass/sod in the kiddie pool idea. Could even lay grass on top of these reusable pads too.

Medline Softnit 300 Washable Underpads, Pack of 4 Large Bed Pads, 34" x 36", For use as incontinence bed pads, reusable pet pads, great for dogs, cats, and bunny https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FED594/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UYpCDbK1P3KW5

I’ve been reading an amazing book about Polynesian settlement. You should check it out. It’s fascinating and a really good read. The problem is it’s led to a google earth and Wikipedia binge where I’ve learned about islands formed by a god doing goatse to captain cook to the physics of sailing and now I’m ready to leave my family and buy a sailboat.

He was a pioneer in establishing what we know now as the NWS so you aren’t far off. One of the best books I’ve ever read is called Isaac’s Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson(Devil in the White City) that reads like a firsthand account recreated with what’s known from the actual history.

It’s a relatively quick read and it really dives into interesting things like how poor communication(among other socio-political issues) between the US and Cuba prevented the news of the 1900 storm getting out in enough time to do much about it. The book was gifted to me when I lived in Houston, and interestingly enough also explains how Houston became the dominant port city as a latent effect of the 1900 storm’s effect on Galveston and any future it may have had as the big-dog port city.

If you live on the coast and have a bathtub, I would recommend investing in a waterbob some point. They're like $35, they hold 100 gallons, and they don't take up much room for storage. Flashlights are good, but battery powered lanterns are better light sources for a room. Above all, make sure you have some bug spray.

Your best bet is UCAR (a non-profit consortium created by 100+ research universities in meteorology), which has a wide array of online modules/lectures across the geosciences, in a program called COMET. They're all free and searchable by topic: https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_detail.php

One textbook that covers what it seems like you are interested in is "Numerical Weather and Climate Prediction" - https://www.amazon.com/Numerical-Weather-Climate-Prediction-Tomkins/dp/0521513898

If you're interested in studying phenomena in the midlatitudes or tropics, I can recommend some other textbooks, but don't want to make a giant reply if it's not necessary.

You'll be hard-pressed to find a better introductory textbook than Wallace & Hobbs. It's a comprehensive and informative introductory tome that still manages to have lots of judiciously chosen pretty pictures.

https://www.amazon.com/Atmospheric-Science-Second-Introductory-International/dp/012732951X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505767093&sr=8-1&keywords=wallace+and+hobbs+atmospheric+science

I'd highly recommend taking an intro to meteorology class.



If not able to (many schools don't have them whatsoever), I'd suggest trying MetEd: https://www.meted.ucar.edu/resources_faq.php There are a few courses available there.


I wouldn't suggest purchasing many intro-level books that are focused towards young children. Though many books I've seen are qualitative, some don't provide enough information.


This is the textbook I used for an intro level course at a UC. Qualitative but informative. Meteorology https://www.amazon.com/dp/0073659630/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FulQzbBY7NJ0X Pretty much all of the available copies seem to be used.

At our old house we used plywood. My neighbor showed me a really easy way to do this with some prep work beforehand but you only have to do it once. Cut each sheet of plywood exactly to the dimensions of the window you are placing it over and label each. Attach 4 (or more for large windows) eyebolts to each corner of the plywood, then drill holes in the concrete/brick/stucko where the eyebolt lines up when put in place. When a storm comes, you just have to put the plywood in place and latch the eyebolts. We went through 4 storms (biggest was a cat 4) and never had an issue. Super quick to put up and take down, although not as quick as accordian/electric.

If you had an AVR like this could you expect to be protected if you still wanted to watch TV until the power went out?

Amazon has water storage bags that fit in your tub (let me know if I need to edit the link out) if your tub leaks like my in-laws' or you get squicked out by drinking tub water.

GFS Full-Res goes down to 945.

Two recommend books include:

Meteorology Today by Donald Ahrens(Paid)

As long as you have a decent understanding of algebra and maybe some trig, Practical Meteorology would be fine as well.

Practical Meteorology: An Algebra-based Survey of Atmospheric Science(Free)

I'd generally recommend people put their cellphone on Airplane (and stop using it) as opposed to completely powering it off. I find that a modern smartphone can last days in airplane, and turning it on and off wastes a lot of battery power on startup/shutdown.

Having no network access means your phone can go into a deep powersaving sleep. If you have portable batteries, ensure they're charged and UNPLUGGED before the storm hits (due to surges, same goes for any other important electronics such as cells and laptops).

If you still have cell service and need to communicate, shut off your wifi and mobile data and go old school. Text messages require minimal power, and your phone should be able to stay like this for some time without losing too much charge. Using data, be it wifi or cellular, will deplete your cellphone battery in hours.

I'd also recommend having one of those foldable USB solar panels (https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1504892356&sr=8-4&keywords=usb+solar, they really work!!) as a way to recharge devices if the grid goes out for multiple days. Too late to buy one, but if you have one, dig it out.

Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson gives some background on hurricane dynamics while going through a case study from one of the deadliest natural disasters in US history. it is a fantastic piece of non-fiction for both the story and the science.

Don't let your dreams be dreams!

EDIT: Even better option, 10 gallon for same price

Can't agree more. Headlamps are invaluable, I got a lot of use out of mine during Irma.

I would skip the 5W Panel and jump straight to something like this which would charge your phone and power bank a lot quicker.

I would recommend a waterbob: https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504580873&sr=8-1&keywords=waterbob

Here in Gainesville they recommend at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days, so you have that. If you have a bathtub fill it up before the storm hits and use it for cleaning and emergencies. You can cleanse bathwater in an emergency following the instructions here https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water.

If you can, get your hands on something like this https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Version-RunningSnail-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B01MFCFKG5/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1504719082&sr=8-4&keywords=weather+radio.

> Plus I planned to be without for a month and how do you make instant coffee without hot water?

I've heated water over candles before to make coffee. If those little tea light candles can make potpourri simmer... they can make water hot enough for coffee. Those old school metal camping cups work well for this. https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-12-oz-Enamel-Mug/dp/B0009PUR72

Buy water storage jugs from camping supply sections or amazon prime and fill them with tap water.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_0jSRzb8EWX3BY

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GKDFH4/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_0kSRzb4TS9GW0

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KX1DLCY/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_CjSRzbVPGKN0C

Over $20 from amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/DASANI-water-16-9-24-Count/dp/B000T9SZOU

Walmart is over $40: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dasani-Purified-Water-16-9-Fl-Oz-24-Ct/14940709

Staples is cheapest at $15.99: https://www.staples.com/Dasani-Water-500mL-Bottles-24-pack/product_219201

While I'm not one to discourage people from cleaning their bathrooms, I would think a 65-100 gallon water bladder would be a safer/smarter way to store drinking water in the tub (or in general): https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2

one of these

A Water BOB https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2

Buy a WaterBoB instead.

link

There's a thing you can buy that fills your bathtub with water in a plastic bag.

Ever try one of these? Giant plastic bladder that sits in your tub and holds water. https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2

Would these work?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD8MRO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Do I need to predrill the hole? If so what size drill bit do I need?

I would suggest getting a large, reusable water container. An insulated water cooler or normal cooler with a spout can be filled up in your tub. Then fill up your tub.

As another option, I have some of these for changing water for fish:

Reliance Products Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_njPzDbV5QAAJF

We fill the tub so we can flush the toilet if the water goes out. Water is a lot cheaper filling from the spigot than buying from the store.

Yeah, you don't need anything heavy to smash a car window. They're made of tempered glass, so all you need is a sharp object with a concentrated point that is harder than the glass (e.g. an icepick or punch tool). That's why you can shatter a car window with just a tiny smashed piece of ceramic from a spark plug ("ninja rocks").

Using something as a lever works too since it applies so much force into an extremely concentrated area, and it's probably also going to be near the edge of the glass, where tempered glass is weakest.

I highly suggest investing in one of the specialty tools though. They're super inexpensive and take up no room in your car. I keep one in my center console and one in my dashboard. They do make larger ones too if you're worried about a keychain-sized one getting lost.

I finally sprung for the solar-powered one I’ve had on my wishlist for a long time.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RG6L8CW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_B4bADbS4EDJP5

inb4 fuck bezos, I agree

Instead of collapsible water containers, I bought a WaterBob bathtub container. If anything is headed my way, it gets filled up. After the flood in 2015 city water was screwed for almost 2 weeks in my area. 100gal is enough for about a month for me, my kid, and my dogs if needs be.

If you wanted a glimpse into what tropical weather forecasting was at the turn of the 20th century read Isaac's Storm.

It's a page turner and will give you a good understanding of where we were as well as educate you about one of the worst disasters in US history.