Daily Archives: June 12, 2017

The tropical Atlantic Basin is expected to remain quiet this week, but conditions for development may arise in the vicinity of southeastern Mexico next week.

Several disorganized clusters of showers and thunderstorms known as tropical waves will continue to move westward over the open tropical Atlantic this week. However, negative factors will keep these waves weak and disorganized in the short term.

The most significant negative factor is wind shear. Wind shear is the change of the direction and speed air currents at different levels of the atmosphere. Strong wind shear can prevent the development of tropical systems.

"Wind shear is likely to remain significant in the potential development area from the western Caribbean to the Gulf of Mexico this week," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

However, weakening wind shear may open the door for possible development in the area by early next week.

The lowering wind shear may produce a suitable environment for development somewhere from the northwestern Caribbean to the southwestern Gulf of Mexico during June 18-24.

"Water temperatures are marginally warm at best over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico but are sufficiently warm in the northwestern Caribbean," Kottlowski said.

"As a result, there's a chance a system gets going in the northwestern Caribbean first then wanders into the Gulf of Mexico."

Tropical systems rely on warm ocean water as fuel. If the water is not warm enough or the depth of warm water is not deep enough, then storms can struggle to develop or maintain intensity.

While formation of a tropical system is one thing, projecting where the system will track is another.

The latest indications are that a path in the northern Gulf of Mexico may be blocked next week.

"If this new blocking idea holds up, any tropical system that forms may be more likely to track westward toward Mexico rather than northward toward the United States," Kottlowski said.

Given all of these factors, there is a low chance but not a high chance for the formation of a tropical depression in the general area of the Yucatan Peninsula by early next week.

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Early in the hurricane season, the typical breeding grounds for tropical systems are in the Gulf of Mexico and far western Caribbean.

While it is still too early to tell exactly where and if a tropical depression will form, folks along the Gulf Coast and others with interests in the area will want to monitor the situation over the next week.

If a tropical system were to develop, it would be the second of the 2017 Atlantic season.

The second name on the list of tropical storms for this year is Bret. Arlene, the first storm on the list, formed back in April in the open Atlantic well west of the Azores.

Regardless if an organized system does develop or not, an uptick in tropical downpours will be possible along the Gulf Coast next week.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially started June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, with the peak of the season occurring in late August through September.

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Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea could yield second tropical system in the Atlantic Basin of 2017 - AccuWeather.com

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Things not to worry about on a Royal Caribbean cruise - Royal Caribbean Blog (blog)

MARGATE Jewish Treasures of The Caribbean will be featured June 30 to July 28 at the Milton and Betty Katz JCC, 501 N. Jerome Ave.

The exhibition features photographs of the oldest Jewish synagogues and cemeteries in the Western Hemisphere, surprisingly located in the Caribbean, as seen through the lens of award-winning photographer Wyatt Gallery.

The traveling exhibition features more than three dozen framed photographs from the recently published book of the same title, which captures the little-known history of the Jews of Barbados, Curacao, Jamaica, Nevis, St. Croix, St. Eustatius, St. Thomas and Suriname, according to Gallery.

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Photographer Christine Peck and stained glass artist Christopher Michalek will be the featur

These Jewish communities date back to the mid-1600s and are home to the first synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in the Western Hemisphere, he said.

Only five historic synagogues remain in use today, according to the exhibit website.

"The goal of the exhibit is to raise awareness of the need for preservation of these little-known historic sites of the legacy of Judaism, said Philadelphia-born Gallery, who is based in New York and whose tagline is A person, not a place.

Northfield, Linwood and Somers Point offer a number of things to do culturally and artistically.

While photographing the devastationafter the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, I realized that a similar fate could happen to any of these historic synagogues at any time."

A special reception and book talk with Gallery will be held 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 11.

The monthlong exhibit is open during the JCCs normal hours

CAPE MAY Hurricanes, nor'easters and blizzards have all left Cape May with a flood of memo

For more information, call Katz JCC Special Events Coordinator Melissa Vola at 609-822-1167, ext. 159.

Contact: 609-601-5196

nanette.galloway@shorenewstoday.com

Twitter @DBCurrent

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'Jewish Treasures of the Caribbean' to be featured at Margate's Katz JCC - Shore News Today

West Phillys Urban Art Gallery recently hosted the second installment of Caribbean Creatives Art Show & Mixer. Featuring the work of Caribbean visual artists, the Young Caribbean Professional Network supported event was curated by Delaware County resident and Spanish Town, Jamaica native, Erice Reid, along with Kalphonse Morris, owner of the gallery.

Were excited to partner with Urban Art Gallery and all of the artists participating this year, Reid said. She was inspired to launch the exhibit last year after discovering that there were so many artists in the Philadelphia region who were of Caribbean descent.

I thought it important to highlight their work and contributions to the local (art) scene. Were sharing our experiences and culture through art, said Reid, the owner of Yard Girl Jewelry.

A visual artist herself, for the past 10 years Reid has worked as an English and special education teacher in the William Penn School District, serving students at Penn Wood High School. One of two Young Caribbean Professional Network vice-presidents, Reid has been actively engaged in the areas Caribbean American affairs, often using her artistic skills and organizational involvement to forge fruitful relationships.

Challenged by her late father, Reid exhibited her paintings last month at Urban Art Gallery, inviting people into her therapeutic safe space.

I believe that art is a powerful tool that can create change, healing, understanding, and unity, said artist and educator, Amber Nicole Williams. The arts are in our DNA, and it is what helps unite us.

A collective of Caribbean visual artists, including Williams, Ariel Williams, Jae Martin, Eric Rivera, and Kayode Malomo, showcased their work in the venue that welcomes emerging artists.

Young Caribbean Professional Network is proud to support young Caribbean and African artists throughout the region in presenting contemporary art, thereby adding culture and diversity to the marketplace, said YCPN founder and BFW Group CEO, Blane Stoddart.

We are not one dimensional people. I believe that the world should experience the vast array of beautiful cultures represented throughout the African Diaspora, Williams said. We all are connected but have a different story to tell.

It is important to bring awareness to the Caribbean artist and to the Caribbean culture, said Morris.

Philadelphia has a large Caribbean (immigrant) community, so this is our way of recognizing the contributions of local Caribbean artists while giving guests a visual, culinary and musical experience, he said.

In addition to showcasing visual artists, there was live painting by Jay Coreano and desserts from Johnnys Cheesecakes a bakery that specializes in fusing Jamaican flavors into their delicious cheesecakes, said Reid.

With a chance to be seen, heard and recognized at the Caribbean Creatives Art Show, Williams, like Reid, was eager to share a bit of ourselves and our cultures with the world, Reid said.

I believe that art is an integral part of African and Caribbean culture, Williams said. The arts are deeply embedded in the roots of African and Caribbean culture. I think it is important for us to celebrate our culture and share it with the rest of the world.

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Philadelphia's Urban Art Gallery highlights Caribbean American artists, celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month - HuffPost

PHOTO: Blue Bay Hotels spa spotlight. (photo courtesy of Blue Bay Hotels)

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READ MORE The BeachFun4Life Experience: Sports, Beach and Fun

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Behind the Caribbean's Best Spas: BlueBay Hotels in the Spotlight - TravelPulse (blog)