Posted on 03/21/2006 7:12:49 AM PST by george76
"Weather Disaster of Historic Proportions" Could Strike as Early as This Year...
The northeast U.S. coast could be the target of a major hurricane, perhaps as early as this season, according to research announced today by the AccuWeather... Hurricane Center.
"The Northeast is staring down the barrel of a gun," said Joe Bastardi, Chief Forecaster...
"The Northeast coast is long overdue for a powerful hurricane...not a question of if but when." ...
"If you examine past weather cycles that have occurred in the Atlantic, you will see patterns of storms," added Ken Reeves, Expert Senior Meteorologist and Director of Forecasting Operations ...
The current cycle and above-normal water temperatures are reminiscent of the pattern that eventually produced the 1938 hurricane that struck Providence, R.I...
The 1938 hurricane was the strongest tropical system to strike the northeastern U.S. in recorded history, with maximum gusts of 186 mph, a 15- to 20-foot storm surge and 25- to 50-foot waves that left much of Providence under 10-15 feet of water.
Forecasters at AccuWeather.com say that patterns are similar to those of the 1930s, 40s and 50s when storms such as the 1938 hurricane, the 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricanes and the Trio of 1954--Carol, Edna and Hazel--battered the coast from the Carolinas to New England.
Because a hurricane of this magnitude has not made landfall in the northeastern U.S. in nearly 60 years, few Americans are even aware that hurricanes can and do directly impact this part of the country...
But the storm that struck Providence on Sept. 21, 1938, traveled northward along the Gulf Stream and first made landfall in Westhampton, Long Island before ripping a path across the island and continuing north to Rhode Island.
That storm is still regarded as the greatest weather disaster in Long Island history.
(Excerpt) Read more at a.accuweather.com ...
Do you think the sun will continue to rise in the East and set in the West?
"Politicians, start your spending!"
I have found his predictions are well below the average weather guy.
I couldn't believe what he said yesterday about KATRINA. Katrina was a strong cat 3 125 mph winds, someone on Fox kinda reminded Joe what he predicted a lot stronger winds...Joe said that was questionable those wind speeds of 125mph. I mean what does he think folks out there are stupid???? We know without any doubt whatsoever what the wind speeds ended up being. [It was the storm surge's momentum that didn't lessen-storm surge was a cat 5.]
Grain of salt...on weenies predicts.
Still on hiatus here...
I'm no Bastardi fan, but Slidell did clock 175 mph sustained winds during Katrina before a gust blew the equipment away.
Will it be the same 'ol Greek alphabet again for 2006?
I'm not saying that Katrina didn't start out very strong but when NO's was hit it was 125mph winds with a cat 5 storm surge. We all saw the strength however as she came in those strong winds diminished to a strong cat 125mph, which is what usually happens cause of the shallow waters etc. Bastardi predicted a different scenario...as he did with Rita and Galveston.
Don't forget Manhattan!
I made the list but I promise to fizzle. Two weeks from now I move from Miami to Ocala - hope to have the new house stocked before season starts.
Git 'er done!
Who's glassy-eyed???
There was an interesting discussion on a local Houston talk show this morning. The question: what is your hurricane plan for 2006 OR what will you do differently next time?
Maybe you remember hurricane Rita that came along right after Katrina and hit east of Houston. A lot of Houston people who were in no danger from rising water freaked out and hit the road. I can understand how it happened because the Katrina disaster was still on the news.
I know people who headed to Dallas, a 4 hour drive, and arrived there 20 hours later. I know others who spent 9 hours sitting in traffic on I-10 and when they decided to go back home they made the trip in 30 minutes.
Rita didn't even give us, in the center of Houston, a shower. Oh well, that's hurricanes, board up your house and leave and the storm goes some place else.
There are those in the Galveston/Houston area who should leave before a storm and the rest of us should not. Somehow people need to learn which group they are in.
" all it would take is another large hurricane to wipe it off the map..."
Then the tax payers will spend more money.
I remember Hazel pretty well.
I was in the first grade at the time and Dad came to get me from the old rural four room schoolhouse in central Virginia early that day. Hurricane Hazel was coming. We got home and waited. When trees started uprooting and the rain was flying horizontal, we all went down in the basement and stayed there 'til the thing passed. Houe was OK, but trees down everywhere, lots of damage. It made a big impression on me, but I didn't really learn to fear 'canes until experiencing Andrew in South Dade, 38 years later.
I bought a 5500 Watt Generac gas powered generator before Y2K for $550. For me, that's enough capacity. I can run anything in the house except the oven. It does tend to make a bit of noise running at 3600 RPM through a cheap muffler.
For this spring's project I picked up a couple of Isuzu 1.8 diesel engines, a frame with most of the accessories (radiator, lift pump), for free. My plan is to turn it into a hydraulic log splitter. I think I'll look into building a governor for it so I can run the generator head too. If I gear it up 2:1 or 3:1 it'll purr along at a nice 1800 or 1200 RPM.
Typical. He "predicts" the obvious and adds to the hype that lulls folks into a false sense of security (meaning those folks who say "Oh the weatherman always says it's gonna be the big one and it never hits"). Way to go Joe!
..Depression city!
Florida is soooo serene right now...
..tropical tradewinds, gently swaying palm trees, sun.....
...I shudder to go through hurricane season again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He says we're simply in the cycle years.....where it's hurricane after hurricane.
Thanks much Howlin!
Sure was horrible .. after having lost it all in Andrew in Naranja, just north of Homestead, those 4 agonizing storms in 6 wks put me on my knees ... and I had to get out after 3 decades. My prayers are now always with all who have to deal with these terrifying things.
Oh the dreaded hurricane ping! : )
We actually moved to Texas over the holidays. Hopefully my experiences with hurricanes are over!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.