Posted on 08/27/2011 9:36:42 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
The National Hurricane Center warned that wind hitting upper floors will be stronger than those in most storms during Irene.
New York (CNN) -- The National Hurricane Center on Saturday warned residents of tall structures in the path of Hurricane Irene that the wind hitting upper floors will be stronger than those in most storms.
"As Irene moves through areas with high-rise structures, these structures will experience winds significantly stronger than indicated by the advisory intensity," forecasters said. "Winds at the 30-story level will likely be 20% higher than at the surface. And winds 80-100 stories up could be about 30% higher than the surface."
Irene was expected to reach the New York metropolitan area Sunday at hurricane strength. Winds were at 80 mph Saturday evening.
The center's analysis buttressed Mayor Michael Bloomberg's call for high-rise residents to stay away from windows if they live on the 10th floor or above. At the city's request, building owners were shutting down elevators Saturday. Reaching trapped residents would be a drain on police and fire who need to respond to "real emergencies," Bloomberg added.
In a hurricane the higher you go, the stronger the wind gusts. CNN meteorologist Sean Morris said the higher friction at the ground surface slows wind speeds.
According to the National Hurricane Center, forecasters started seeing the significant upper wind increase when the eye-wall collapsed over the Bahamas.
They also noted that there was little thunderstorm activity associated with Irene. Thunderstorms tend to bring the higher winds down to the surface, and with the lack of such activity the stronger winds are staying at higher levels.
As the storm re-emerges over the Atlantic late Saturday and moves northward, the colder waters also will aid in intensifying this effect.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
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Will prisoners of Rikers Island be left behind?
Good call!!! Phhhhhhhhhhhhht!!!
Isn't that the name of the fault line under Washington that caused that earthquake last week?
Glass will be flyin’.
The Hancock Building.
We survived two big typhoons in Asia..both in High Rise buildings. We taped the windows to reduce flying glass, removed drapes and pictures to upper closet shelves, turned our dressers with the drawers to the walls. Then retreated to a bath room on an with window on a airshaft with our mattress to spend the night. Trouble was..as windows broke out and water poured in from windows and upper floors..we soon had 4 inches of water on the floors and a river flowing down the staircase. Most of the window damage was from flying objects from other buildings. Glass, tiles, things from balconies etc. Plus..the building shook like it was an earthquake. Ah...for the good ole days.
And winds 80-100 stories up could be about 30% higher than the surface.”
Good thing there are probably next to zero people 80-100 stories up in this storm.
What about the increase of wind speed between tall buildings, even if they are much lower than 80 ?
What happened in Houston in 1983 when Alicia hit. Debris breaks windows, broken windows become more debris and break more windows.Strong winds in a downtown area go in all directions. Debris clouds will make 90 degree turns at intersections and such. Stay inside
Do you suppose the architects that built those buildings never took into account hurricane strength winds could hit them?
Supposedly Riker’s isn’t in Zone A, i.e. a mandatory evacuation zone.
The problem with this is that in many cases there is a building across the street of equal height. The winds will not be blowing directly into the windows, but running down the street parallel to the windows.
Alicia blew lots of gravel from building rooftoops, the flying gravel broke lots of windows. I don't remember that happening during the last NYC hurricane (Gloria), though.
Alicia blew lots of gravel from building rooftoops, the flying gravel broke lots of windows. I don’t remember that happening during the last NYC hurricane (Gloria), though.
Alicia had 100 mph winds downtown, lots of buildings with flat roofs. Didn’t hear of same problems with Ike. Best idea is to stay inside for awhile
That picture almost makes me cry. It’s almost been a full year since we’ve had substantial rainfall in Texas.
nyers are such pussies.
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