Tropical Depression #4 moving quickly westward

(Bay News 9) -- Tropical Depression #4, which formed in the Atlantic Ocean Monday morning, continues to move westward at 21 mph.

It has 35-mph winds and though it's currently about 1,500 miles east of the far eastern Caribbean, it could reach that area by this weekend. It is expected to intensify into a tropical storm and eventually a hurricane by this weekend, according to Bay News 9 meteorologists.

The depression is too far away to accurately forecast possible effects on Florida. If it becomes a named storm, it will be called Dean.

The photo above is of a previous storm but it serves as a reminder to all of you summer time boaters in Florida (As if you should need a reminder after 2004). The Hurricane season is here and we all need to keep an eye on the Tropics!

One personal word about storm preparation, you should prepare and you should take every precaution to moor and store your boat in a manner which will prevent damage to it or any other vessel, but by all means if it is a choice between your boat and or you and your families well being (life) please choose life and abandon the boat. Head for high ground and save the important people, including yourself. No boat is worth your life or your health.

In future posts we will discuss the prudent and thoughtful ways you can attempt to save your vessel from storm damage. It can be done, and I have done it but you should never consider riding the storm out in a small vessel. And you should never wait to the last moment to try and save your boat when the winds have already come up and your safety is in question.

Make your preparations early and then take care of your family!