Finally...Frances decided to make landfall (Link is from the Melbourne NWS radar).

The feeder bands are beginning to come across more often now, with bursts of rain and gusts of wind, but nothing really substantial yet. That's still at least a couple of hours away.

In eastern Polk, power lines are down in some area, perhaps on poles which were weakened by Charley three weeks ago. Those folks in areas which were hit hard by Charley...Lake Wales, Frostproof, Haines City...are expected to be hit hard again. It's just not fair. And remember the term I referred to in an earlier posting: DOUBLE DEDUCTABLE. I'm surprised noone has questioned Jeb! about that issue during the news conferences in Tallahassee.

Here is a link to the Lakeland Ledger's photo gallery. Some of the pictures are actually good. You can choose up to 31 pictures on the site at this time. I'm sure there will be more.

I'm going to try to get some sleep...hope Lakeland Electric keeps the electricity on. Had no problems in that area during Charley.

Here are some bloggers that are keeping up regularly with what's going on:

spacecoastweb.org/blog Dave is in Orange County, and his friend Tom is weathering the storm out in his mobile home in Mims.

Bark Bark Woof Woof Mustang Bobby is in Miami-Dade County, and area which knows something about hurricanes and how to recover from their destruction.

Blogwood Norwood is in Tampa (Shameless plug: You can actually hear him on Tampa noncommercial radio station WMNF-FM 88.5 Tuesday mornings or online at their Web site www.wmnf.org. But you've got to be early; he's on 4-6 AM).

Infinite Improbability From Tampa.

Side Salad From Tampa. I believe he works for the Tampa Tribune, and he noted on his last post that he is now at work after being called in. Sounds like fun.