Florida Keys residents stock up on gas, supplies ahead of Eta - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

Posted: 08 Nov 2020 04:29 PM PST

KEY WEST, FLA. (WSVN) - Scattered showers in parts of the Florida Keys have given way to gusty winds and heavy downpours, as Tropical Storm Eta spins closer to the Sunshine State.

7News cameras captured rain falling sideways and big waves crashing against the shoreline in Key Largo, just after 10 p.m. Sunday, as sustained winds of 55 mph and wind gusts of up to 70 mph buffeted the area.

Some trouble spots like the Stillwright Point subdivision were already flooded by nightfall, as drivers were seen carefully making their way through.

Earlier in the day, Monroe County residents took no chances and made sure they were ready to face hurricane-force winds, as Tropical Storm Eta inched closer.

"We are concerned, but we just take the precautions and the necessary things that we need to do for your family," said Key Largo resident Kevin Williams.

"Normally, we'd be leaving out of here, but we're going to ride it out," said Key Largo resident Maryjane Williams

Cudjoe Key resident Al Woodall filled up several canisters with gasoline at a Shell station in Big Pine Key.

It takes a lot to faze Monroe County residents.

"It's just wind and rain," said a resident.

But that doesn't mean they're unprepared for the inclement weather.

"I'd say about an hour ago, we had lines out to the road," said Ralph Bosque, the gas station's manager.

Woodall said he's ready for all the rain, potential storm surge and power outages the system could bring.

"On my canal, it floods … It's going to take at least a foot to come over, and then it spills over into my pool," he said.

Big Pine Key resident Bruce Reed said he's making sure he has enough gas to keep his generator running.

"Yeah, I just want to keep some fans going and a fish tank running, and everything will be all right," he said.

The Florida Keys remain under a tropical storm warning, Monday morning.

In Key Largo, 7News cameras captured resident Loralee Carpenter putting up shutters and tying up patio furniture.

"In an abundance of caution, I went ahead and boarded up the windows on the predominant side where we're going to have most of our wind, at least initially, from the East," she said. "Now it's a wait-and-see game."

Residents seen securing their boats said they're not too worried about the storm but are nevertheless keeping a close eye on the situation.

"If we have to go and get in the car, we'll hop in the car and go, but we're hoping to not have to do that, so we'll see," said Key Largo resident Melissa Crowley.

"We're trying to prepare for the worst and hope for the best," said Williams.

About an hour down south, in Marathon, the staff at The Turtle Hospital moved the sea turtles to higher ground as they prepare for an expected storm surge.

Sunday night, 7News cameras captured Duval Street in Key West nearly empty on a dreary, overcast Sunday night. Some businesses are boarded up, and sandbags have been placed against the entrances.

One couple, Kirubel and his fiancee Nialani Anthony, said they're not bothered by the approaching storm.

"We just got engaged in Vegas, and then her birthday is today, so we just flew out," said Kirubel.

"The storm just means we get a little extra time together," said Anthony.

They weren't alone. Visitor Shantnu Sharma said he got his first taste of what it's like to ride a tropical storm.

"We have never had this experience of hurricanes, ever, but the way the people behave in a place like this — they are calm, they're composed, and they stand out," he said.

Monroe County has opened three shelters, including one at Key West High School that had about 40 people, Sunday afternoon. The other two shelters are at Marathon High School and Coral Shores High School.

All three shelters are all pet-friendly, and COVID-19 protocols are being strictly enforced. Anyone planning to go must wear a face mask in order to enter.

Residents know where the high ground is: the school parking lot. Dozens of people have left their vehicles there just in case.

The Marathon Airport and the Key West International Airport have closed. Officials said they will be reevaluating the situation Monday morning.

Monroe County officials have ordered evacuations of mobile home parks, live-aboard vessels and similar units.

Marine heat wave possible in Northland this summer - and may bring ex-tropical cyclone - New Zealand Herald

Posted: 09 Nov 2020 09:15 AM PST

Red seaweed infested waves at Waipu Cove has turned the water off the popular swimming beach to a thick soup. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Northland could experience a marine heatwave this summer, prompting a warning from a marine biologist that it has the potential to affect food supply for both sea organisms and humans in the long term.

The Tasman Sea and New Zealand coastal water temperatures warmed considerably during October, particularly near the North Island, driven by warmer than average air temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and lighter winds.

According to Niwa's season climate outlook for November to January, marine heatwave conditions may develop between now and January that will see sea temperatures in the low to mid-20s degC.

Rainfall is likely to be near normal, soil moisture and river flows below average, and temperature above average in Northland for the next three months.

Niwa's Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook indicates the risk of an ex-tropical cyclone passing near New Zealand between November and April as sea and air temperatures heat up.

Marine biologist Clinton Duffy said there was already an influx of tropical fish and other marine invertebrates in Northland waters while some migratory species like marlin and tuna were not spending much time in the upper North Island.

A La Nina cycle, he said, also has an impact on oceanic biological production along the north-east coast where it shut down the upwelling — a process in which deep, cold water rises towards the surface — of nutrients from the bottom of the water.

"The northerly offshore winds blow water offshore along the east coast and that creates a conveyor belt and that draws down the nutrients which lots of small animals feed off.

"It encourages the settlement of tropical and subtropical species along the coast. That happens fairly regularly but if it increases in frequency with global climate change, we'll see a shift towards a more tropical marine environment.

"That will see two common species, the tropical urchins and crustaceans, becoming more prevalent and seaweed which is a habitat for juvenile reef fish dwindling."

Duffy said birds that relied on small fish along the coast could also struggle to find food.

He said Kiwis could also find poisonous fish species in New Zealand waters as a result of warmer than usual sea temperatures.

Apart from marine life, Duffy said warmer waters could also bring red algae the likes of which rolled out at the southern end of Waipū Cove five years ago.

A marine heat wave from rising sea temperatures in Northland could bring flooding as a result of an ex-tropical cyclone this summer. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Niwa principal scientist in marine biology Dr Wendy Nelson said seaweeds were really important for a lot of sea species that have different sea temperature tolerance levels.

She is New Zealand's leading authority on seaweeds and there are more than 350 different species of seaweeds in Northland.

"Seaweeds are important for habitat, food, nutrient uptake, stabilisation of reefs, and carbon culture. It's not just the temperatures but how long heatwaves last for that will have an impact on marine biology," Nelson said.

"There's also the beauty of diving through seaweeds and seeing all these rich communities and the variety of life they support, so there's going to be multiple impacts – likely to be different for different species - but we are not sure at this stage how serious it will be."

Niwa meteorologist Ben Noll said New Zealand started experiencing marine heatwaves towards the end of 2017, beginning of 2018 when sea temperatures in parts of the country reached the mid 20s degC.

"People like surfers head to the beach and experience warmer than normal seas. It makes going to the sea without having to wear a wetsuit a bit more enjoyable.

"On the flip side, there's the impact on marine life and can lead to a shift in the distribution of marine organisms.

"This spring has so far been quite dry and farmers and growers are concerned they may have to go through another drought but the chances of that are low with rainfall likely to be near normal."

The discovery of sea creatures like this bluebottle jellyfish found on Matauri Bay this year is attributed to warmer sea temperatures. Photo / Francesca Jago

Noll said La Nina would bring moisture and warm seas that could also fuel ex-tropical cyclones.

He said the warmth, along with humidity, could prove difficult for some people with certain underlying medical conditions.

A recent Atmosphere and Climate Report by the Ministry of Environment said the impacts of rising temperatures would be more prevalent in areas that were already drier, including eastern parts of Northland and places in the Far North district that struggled with water supplies this year.

The frequency of droughts and wildfires are likely to increase in the next four to five decades, the report says. Northland has had six droughts in the past 10 years.

Those conditions present Northland with a golden opportunity to venture into growing more tropical fruits like bananas and pineapples.

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