Thunderstorms continue over the Gulf of Mexico in a very disorganized fashion. Strong westerly shear should preclude any significant surface low pressure development.
The weak & compact tropical wave moving west/northwest is entering the Eastern Caribbean. West/southwest shear is strong so any appreciable development is unlikely. Heavy rain will, however affect many of the Central & Southern Lesser Antilles through Wed.
As families revisit their emergency plans, they should also be aware of the of the simple and most effective ways to keep their cell phones running and conserve battery life during a storm. Following are hurricane-preparedness tips from MetroPCS Jacksonville:
· Charge it: Make sure you keep cell phone batteries fully charged well before warnings are issued.
· Have a back-up: Make sure back-up power devices are available at all times, such as a car-charger.
· Choose texting over dialing: Text with family and friends and limit calls to emergencies to save the battery life.
· Keep key numbers handy: Program emergency phone numbers in your phone, including local police, fire department, insurance providers, power companies, friends and family.
