5:30-5:50: Darkness

After a short period of light rain and little win, the rain has now picked up in intensity, along with some more significant wind gusts. The outer rain band that has been affecting us for most of the day is now passed, and now we are into an even more intense inner rain band. Extreme rain rates - 1 to 2 inches per hour - are here now, as the strongest squall yet passes.

I noted just before beginning to write this post at 5:30 an eerie darkness come over the campus. Then the rain picked up, along with the wind. It will likely be this way - and worse - well into the night.

The pressure is now down to 1001.1 mb here in the dorm, and between 8 and 9 inches of rain has fallen since midnight...Most of which fell within the last 12 hours.

The lights have been flickering off and on all afternoon, and we may lose power at some time this evening.

The outer rain band that has dominated the weather here on campus can be seen just above the black X. The inner rain band is marked by the yellow area to the south of the X. Close study of the radar and satellite imagery finds that the eye of this strong tropical storm will likely pass directly over or just a little to the west of FIT. It will be an exciting night.

It is also important to note the remarkable strengthening of Fay as she crosses over land...The pressure has dropped 10 millibars since landfall 15 hours ago! We have not seen the last of this storm either, for sure.