ATL: IRENE - Remnants - Discussion

[VacationStorm]

The land elevation is not that big a deal in the outer banks. I think since they are so narrow that the water just goes from the ocean into the sound and it never piles up. I have always heard the big problem is Soundside flooding. The wind backs up the water in the sounds and rivers then when it changes direction that all comes back like a rocking a bathtub. The storms that come up the sound are supposed to cause more damage, which it looks like where this one is headed.

[BUD]

My wife just told me there covering the windows up at Wal-mart in North Myrtle beach.

[UpTheCreek]

If the latest tracks verify, New Bern could get up to 8-10 feet of water (or more) from the river, plus up to 100 mph winds. Go ahead and make reservations somewhere and plan to get out tomorrow morning. Take a weekend trip to the mountains or something. This one is not the one to mess with.

I believe we will do just that. Good luck to you, capepoint.

[HurrMark]

Be careful there, Mark. A hurricane can easily intensify over 80F water. And they can maintain over water as low as 74F if conditions are right.

It definitely could...but I am referring to a storm intensifying beyond 115 mph...you would generally need higher heat content at that intensity for it to get stronger.

[Frank2]

Irene seems to be a "moderate" hurricane, if there is such a thing, because it seems to be having trouble (thankfully) intensifying to more than a weak Cat 3 status...

However, as said the Gulfstream waters north of the Bahamas are warmer and without any other land interaction (since the Bahamas do have a modest effect on a hurricane) could mean that it will strengthen...

Also - when at the NHC one evening a hurricane was a bit north of Irene's present position when it began to encounter a front moving off the SE coast, and the result was a NOAA bouy that reported to us an apparent rogue wave of 33 Meters (108 feet) - wow...

So it definitely bears watching for those along the mid-Atlantic and northeast US coasts...

P.S. We did have a few pretty intense rain bands pass through here between 7 and 10 this morning, but now it's just overcast...

Frank2

[dolebot_Broward_NW]

Now we're talking!

http://inws.wrh.noaa.gov/weather/alertinfo/3743432

Rainband inc Tri-county SFL.

[Stephanie]

Just from the anecdotal comments on this forum and responses from our friends and family .... geez, I'm very concerned that millions of people won't be ready for Irene.

I'm in a relatively "safe place". Inland 15 miles from the west and north, and 50 miles from the south and east. My elevation is 98 ft. above sea level. HOWEVER, there are quite a few streams and rivers around and we tend to get a lot of flooding when we have down pours. Also, my current place of employment is along the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Storm surge could be a HUGE problem.

[NDG]

Question about the Outer Banks - what's their highest elevation? Average? I'm thinking that Irene's surge may completely inundate the Outer Banks and wash much of it away.

Not very high...

http://www.enr.state.nc.us/images/obxdunes.pdf

Yeah, was just looking on google's approximate elevation chart and the highest is just a few sand hills 20-25' feet high, that's only in Cape Hatteras itself, the other barrier islands is just a few feet above sea level.

[WeatherLovingDoc]

Question about the Outer Banks - what's their highest elevation? Average? I'm thinking that Irene's surge may completely inundate the Outer Banks and wash much of it away.

"The highest point on the Southern Outer Banks and home to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is Buxton."

http://www.ncbeaches.com/Outerbanks/

[UpTheCreek]

This is making me crazy...don't know if the kids should head out of Wilmington or not at this point.

I'd leave, Irene could go further west. Why chance it?

[mf_dolphin]

Video report from Nassau this morning,

http://video.foxnews.com/v/112795007600 ... cane-irene

[ncbird]

That track looks really bad for Wilmington.

Yea not looking good for us here in NC. Guess I better batten down the hatches and have the hubby board up the windows.

NCBird

Hi Bird, my hurricane friend! We might just leave, looks as the track's gone westward once again. What a rollercoaster, but tomorrow we'll be pretty certain!

Hi there.... We won't leave, but with all the gum tree's around the house we have to cover the windows. Those picker balls are nasty projectiles when the wind gets bad. Just herd on local news they are predicting New Bern could get close to 18" rain from this.

[ConvergenceZone]

Irene seems to be a "moderate" hurricane, if there is such a thing, because it seems to be having trouble (thankfully) intensifying to more than a weak Cat 3 status...

However, as said the Gulfstream waters north of the Bahamas are warmer and without any other land interaction (since the Bahamas do have a modest effect on a hurricane) could mean that it will strengthen...

Also - when at the NHC one evening a hurricane was a bit north of Irene's present position when it began to encounter a front moving off the SE coast, and the result was a NOAA bouy that reported to us an apparent rogue wave of 33 Meters (108 feet) - wow...

So it definitely bears watching for those along the mid-Atlantic and northeast US coasts...

P.S. We did have a few pretty intense rain bands pass through here between 7 and 10 this morning, but now it's just overcast...

Frank2

Yep, this is going to be devasting to whoever it hits.

[SNOW_JOKE]

Yes a real concern people in NYC aren't taking this at all seriously. Even if the Hurricane isn't max categorisation by the time it gets to the state, its Surge will still be carried by motion. Combine this with tidal heights, amplification and wave trough/peaks. I'm afraid if people don't start prepping soon there going to leave it too late.

[capepoint]

If the latest tracks verify, New Bern could get up to 8-10 feet of water (or more) from the river, plus up to 100 mph winds. Go ahead and make reservations somewhere and plan to get out tomorrow morning. Take a weekend trip to the mountains or something. This one is not the one to mess with.

I believe we will do just that. Good luck to you, capepoint.

You too.

[Sanibel]

Irene seems to be a "moderate" hurricane, if there is such a thing, because it seems to be having trouble (thankfully) intensifying to more than a weak Cat 3 status...

Irene is a weird cold top - warm top pulser.

Punching 10mph refreshing breezes under sun. Should be the worst for us here.

[UpTheCreek]

Hi there.... We won't leave, but with all the gum tree's around the house we have to cover the windows. Those picker balls are nasty projectiles when the wind gets bad. Just herd on local news they are predicting New Bern could get close to 18" rain from this.

Thankfully we haven't had a lot of rain, because we have some large pines and others that would absolutely crush our home. Hope they stay strong. If not for the kids, we'd stay, but I see no point in risking it. We're on the water too, another big concern.

I think as south as Wilmington is at grave risk, given they keep moving the track westward. Only blessing in all of that is that it might takes some wind out of Irene's sails before it reaches the northeast.

[WeatherLovingDoc]

As past NorEastor's have shown, in the most Northern OBX area you not only fight the sea water rise, but the bay rise which lies behind it in parts. It's got you covered both ways, Route 12 often floods in the north end, and there is still only one bridge out!

I'm thinking, maybe if desperate, the northern barrier north of Corollas to Virginia could be taken down. As I recall, there is a small bridge leading up to it (over water) and then a large metal barrier across the states line. Can't recall if there is a road on the VA side to allow cars to pass.

This is why many have talked about a second northern bridge out of OBX for years.


Edit: To specify north OBX as region discussed and correct typos.

[maxx9512]

Maybe someone can answer this. Why does it look like Irene is bulging some on
the west side? Is it, or am I not seeing this after looking at it for a week!
Any ideas?

[Swimdude]

I'm surprised how little talk/concern there seems to be that the NHC is forecasting a Cat 1-2 hurricane to pass directly over New York City. Can you imagine the damage? Particularly with skyscrapers and in low-lying areas? This has the potential to be a HUGE disaster...

And on August 29, most likely. Interesting. Anyone else notice that?