Look Into The Eye of The Storm: 32 Hours Til Isabel Arrives

NHC | 9-17-03 | my favorite headache

[rwfromkansas]

Well, at least that means she won't packas as much a punch.

[Conspiracy Guy]

A tornado is an isolated event usually narrow in path but sometimes long in length. The primary destructive force is wind, with a little help from rain and lightning of the everpresent T storm that spawned the tornado to start with.

Usually a tornado is hard to predict and fairly short in duration with many notable exceptions but exceptions they are. The damage is usually pretty bad but once again it is isolated. That is of no comfort to those of us who have property damaged or worse, but it is a fact.

On the other hand a Hurricane is typically several hundred miles in diameter packing winds that while less than a tornado are going to be there for several hours. The hurricane has a neat little friend called the tide surge which can wash away miles of beaches and anything on them in seconds. The hurricane is also frequently the mommy of storms that spawn, guess what?, tornadoes.

Having experienced both and studied them in depth I assure you that the hurricane is packing a more potentially deadly force. With the increase of coastal populations that deadliness is even greater. The big advantage with hurricanes is the modern tracking capabilities usually allows humans to leave thus losing only their property so life loss is much less than pre-radar and satelite days. In addition the average hurricane will destroy most everything when it makes landfall. I watched a neighbor's house across the street flattened by a tornado that didn't even throw debris in my yard. Had that been a hurricane I would not have been so lucky.

I'd recommend that before you declare yourself an expert do a little research on both over the past 100 years then get back with some death and destruction numbers and convince us that your assumptions have any validity.

Regards

[Constitution Day]

Thanks tgsl! I am at work now, but will leave in a few hours.

I don't think this will be nearly damaging as Floyd, but we have prepared for it nonetheless.

[norraad]

Yes, that explains, fantasticCitizen!

Like the Albert E. quote;

"If you can't explain it so an 8 year old can understand it, you don't understand it."

[FrustratedCitizen]

Just got to it now...but to answer your question...i think a track (it hit land right around Hatteras as I expected) from Hatteras to Richmond to Dulles Airport is in order...meaning far worse consequences for the Tidewater and the Chesapeake in general.

It didn't intensify like I thought it would...but nonetheless...it's a pretty big deal...VA Beach pier is falling apart...that's not good. :\

The entire DC area should expect 5-8 inches of rain, coastal regions getting 7-12 foot storm surge and 6-12 foot additional waves...and winds peaking out at 50-65 mph sustain with 75-90 mph gusts possible in the worst thunderstorms.

Don't forget the possibility of tornadoes with this as well...the storm prediction center has a watch up over Eastern NC, but as of now hasn't issued one for the DC area...they probably will around 5 PM and it'll stay up until 5 AM or so.