Sad

For reasons that are too pathetic to even contemplate, I'm sat behind the computer again on my birthday night. I'm watching TS Ernesto, Ernie to his friends, doing strange things.
A year ago tonight, I was on the campsite, listening to England win at Trent Bridge, talking drunkenly with the in-laws, falling ina ditch, and wondering what the next morning would bring when Katrina hit land. I remember the reports on the BBC World Service (from the same guy who's now in Afghanistan saying everything's OK with the world), saying how there was a bit of rainwater downtown, but it looked like New Orleans had got away with it.
The bloggers and posters this evening/night are starting to look very strangely at this storm - for the umpteenth time in its existence. The NHC forecast is for a TS, perhaps a CAT1 to hit Florida, move out to sea again and threaten the Carolinas. But Ernie seems to be strenthening rapidly after - probably - moving off the Cuba shore. The track is uncertain still - which it would be when no-one can find the centre for sure. And the SSTs are very high, shear has dropped completely, and the conditions are ripe for a blow up. Looking at the picture, the banding is potentially enormous.
Mostly in the minds of all the bloggers is Wilma. I've read one comment from a professional meteorologist that we will never see that again in 20 or 40 years. He's probably right. But what if we see something equally mind-numbing?
At least they agree - tonight is Ernie's chance to do or die. At least it's something for me to watch on my quiet birthday night. Hopefully, the only damage out of this one will be to property or reputations. The concern is that with such masive uncertainty, evacuations are going to be near impossible. Tourists have been sent out of the Keys, but AFAIK, residents are still there. I have an unpleasant feeling that the Keys might yet be in line - just before Labor Day...