Posted on 08/29/2004 8:38:00 AM PDT by Cheetah1
Tropical Storm Gaston makes landfall
By David Klepper
The Sun News The Sun News The Sun News The Sun News
Just shy of hurricane strength, Tropical Storm Gaston made landfall near McClellanville south of Georgetown and is expected to bring rain and strong winds to the Grand Strand Sunday. Horry County officials predicted that Gaston could bring as much as 10 inches of rain and localized flooding Sunday. Wind gusts of more than 60 miles per hour are a possibility.
Flooding is Gaston's greatest threat, as rivers and ground water levels are already high. Authorities asked residents of low-lying areas to head to safer areas, though they advised caution on the roads.
``We'll have localized flood ing,'' said Horry County spokes woman Lisa Bourcier. ``We shouldn't have any beach erosion or coastal flooding, but we will have a lot of rain, about six to 10 inches, and the rivers are already full.''
Winds and rain picked up Sunday morning, and were expected to build all day. The storm is moving faster than was predicted Saturday, but is still projected to impact the Grand Strand until late Sunday night. At 10 a.m. Saturday, Gaston was moving north at 9 miles per hour.
Hurricane warnings were issued for Georgetown and Horry counties, but forecasters at the National Weather Service said this would likely be downgraded soon. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Little River to Surf City, N.C. A flash-flooding warning was issued for the entire S.C. coast. Officials said they don't expect the storm to spin off tornadoes, though that remains a possibility.
Some flights were delayed at Myrtle Beach International Airport, though the airport expects to stay open throughout the day, according to Airport Director Bob Kemp.
Residents in the Maryville section of Georgetown County reported power outages before 10 a.m. Sunday.
In both counties, authorities opened their Emergency Oper ations Centers Sunday morn ing. In Horry County. No evacu ation orders _ voluntary or mandatory _ had been issued.
Meanwhile, officials continue to monitor Hurricane Frances, which strenghened into a Category 4 storm far to the east of the Lesser Antilles. National Hurricane Center forecasts predicted Frances would move west, turning slightly to the north as it approaches the Bahamas.
If forecasts hold, Frances should be near the Bahamas on Friday.
Another discussion thread on tropical storm Gaston can be found here.
What are the chances of Gaston's very soggy remnants getting to New York, oh, say, during the protests?
May it make street life completely miserable. The conspiracy theories will be very entertaining.
No one blows like Gaston
No one knows like Gaston
That mobile homes are flattened real low by Gaston.....
000
WONT41 KNHC 291755
DSAAT
Special tropical disturbance statement
Nws Tpc/National Hurricane Center Miami Fl
200 pm EDT Sun Aug 29 2004
Satellite images indicate that the low pressure area located about 360 miles southeast of cape hatteras north carolina continues to Become better organized. If this trend continues...advisories will Be initiated later this afternoon. This system is moving Northwestward near 10 mph.
Forecaster Pasch
2 p.m. Update: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford declared a state of emergency as the storm moved inland Sunday. Gaston will bring heavy rains to the Triangle, Triad, Sandhills and Coastal Plain of North Carolina Sunday and into Monday. A flash flood watch is in effect.
So what does that mean?
It means there is another storm brewing off your coast--perhaps Hermine...
OH GEEZ......thanks for the headsup.
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