Hurricane

Joaquin and Dover
Category 4 Hurricane Joaquin on October 1, 2015, as viewed by GOES-13. Photo: NOAA

Category 4 Hurricane Joaquin on October 1, 2015, as viewed by GOES-13. Photo: NOAA

The meteorology models regarding the path of Hurricane Joaquin differ greatly, with some saying it will make landfall in the Carolinas/Virginia or north of there and others saying it will turn and head out into the Atlantic. Astrometeorology can be a real asset in pinpointing the direction/landfall of a hurricane.

Based on the autumn ingress chart and the October 4, 2015 lunar phase chart, Joaquin appears to be headed for the northeast, with landfall in Maine/Canada. Saturn (overcast, cool, storms) and Neptune (precipitation, flooding) are prominent there in the ingress chart, and Neptune is prominent in the lunar phase chart. The lunar phase chart also has a Mars-Neptune opposition – a classic hurricane aspect.

So this weekend’s scheduled race at Dover is likely to be rescheduled because of the effects of Joaquim. Will it be Monday? Maybe. Tuesday? More likely. Monday depends on the rain stopping in time to dry the track and run at least half the laps before sundown – iffy, at best.

Be sure to check out the Autumn Forecast, a seasonal overview of the next three months.

Erika Headed West

Tropical Storm Erika is churning its way through the Caribbean, where it’s likely to weaken somewhat as it crosses the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and then Cuba, after which it will begin to encounter warmer sea surface temperatures (SST) conducive to strengthening.

Although Floridians are already wisely preparing for Erika’s arrival and wet weather, the storm’s main target is more likely to be the Gulf coast states of Louisiana and Texas.

The potential for heavy precipitation in the Gulf from a tropical disturbance was set at the summer ingress of June 21, 2015. In that chart, a Mercury-Neptune square aspects the chart angles (longitude and latitude), always a strong indication of cloudy, wet weather. That aspect, which forewarns of hurricanes, tornadoes, and abundant precipitation, will be activated by the Full Moon of August 29, which will be in effect for the following seven days.

Erika could easily get a fresh boost of energy in the warmer Gulf waters as it heads for the Gulf coast states. Look for its arrival September 1-2.