Ida's remnants pounding North and South Carolina; El Salvador flooding toll at 160
The remnants of Tropical Storm Ida have pushed off the coast of Georgia, and are adding fuel to a developing extratropical storm that is pounding North and South Carolina with heavy rain and high winds. Over two inches of rain has fallen across much of the region, and NOAA's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (Figure 1) predicts that up to eight inches of rain could fall in coastal North Carolina by Saturday. Adding to the rainwater flooding problems from all this rain will be coastal flooding from tropical storm-force winds of 40 mph expected to build tonight through Thursday along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. High tides up to four feet above normal are expected from the strong winds. North Carolina will end up getting a more severe pounding from Ida's remnants than Ida gave to the Gulf Coast. You can follow the storm with our Severe Weather Page.
Figure 1. Forecast precipitation for the 5-day period ending at 7 am EST Saturday November 14, 2009. Image credit: NOAA/Hydrometeorological Prediction Center
Invest 98L no threat
Another extratropical storm (Invest 98L), currently spinning over the Atlantic a few hundred miles northwest of Puerto Rico, is showing no signs of development, and will be entering a region of very high wind shear of 30 - 40 knots on Thursday. It currently appears that 98L will swing northward and northeast out to sea on Friday and Saturday, and not merge with the extratropical remnants of Ida currently pounding North Carolina.
Gulf Coast cleans up after Ida
Tropical Storm Ida left mostly minor damage across the Gulf Coast, with the heaviest damage being reported on the west end of Alabama's Dauphin Island. Roads there were covered with sand and water, and moderate beach erosion was reported. At Gulf State Park at Orange Beach, Alabama, the new fishing pier--the longest on the Gulf of Mexico--suffered heavy damage, and will be closed indefinitely. The pier was replaced after being destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and just opened in July. "We may have significant losses," said Phillip West, Orange Beach coastal resources manager, discussing beach erosion from Ida. "Not catastrophic or devastating, but significant."
In the Florida Panhandle near Pensacola, Ida washed huge amounts of sand over Fort Pickens Road in Gulf Islands National Seashore, and over heavily traveled J. Earle Bowden Way, which connects Pensacola and Navarre beaches. Both roads are closed indefinitely. Fort Pickens Road was washed out by Hurricane Opal in 1995, and moved to a new location. Hurricane Ivan washed the road out in 2004. It was rebuilt, but was destroyed and rebuilt three more times in 2005, thanks to Tropical Storm Arlene and Hurricanes Cindy and Dennis. The most recent rebuilding of the road put it at a lower elevation, to allow sand to wash over it. It is hoped the cost of this latest repair will be under $1 million.
Editorial comment: perhaps having a low-lying road along a barrier island that regularly washes out, requiring millions in taxpayer repair money to fix, is a bad idea?? Seems to me like this is taxpayer money ill-spent. The 1988 Stafford Act, authorizing the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure after presidentially declared emergencies, has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money being spent to rebuild infrastructure damaged by tropical storms and hurricanes on barrier islands. In an era of rising sea levels, and with the U.S. in the midst of an active hurricane period expected to last at least another decade, the Stafford Act just doesn't make sense. Those living in areas subject to a very high level of repeated coastal hazards should pay the bills for their willingness to live in harm's way, rather than depending on Uncle Sam.
In a interview in the New York Times after the last time Fort Pickens Road was washed out, Dr. Orrin Pilkey, professor emeritus in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University and author of the excellent 2009 book The Rising Sea, said, "People say, 'What are you going to do, let the road fall in? The correct answer, of course, is yes."
Food shortages in El Salvador after floods kill at least 160
A tropical disturbance that dumped up to 17.4" (442 mm) of rain in 24 hours over central El Salvador on Sunday has triggered the need for urgent food aid after flood and landslides destroyed huge swaths of crops during harvest season, according to the U.N. World Food Program. The storm killed at leat 160 people, with dozens more still missing. About 13,000 people are homeless after the disaster.
Figure 2. Collapsed bridge at Santa Cruz La Libertad, El Salvador, with people trying to cross the river. Image credit: Wunderphotographer DiegoSagrera
For those interested in making a donation to assist in disaster relief for El Salvador, Portlight.org has a Paypal donation page set up for this. All funds raised will be forwarded to José Luis Escobar Alas, Catholic Archbishop of San Salvador, and used to assist flooding victims at the discretion of the Archbishop.
Jeff Masters
Tuesday morning as Ida passes through.
Reader Comments
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Wow......that is good news. Otherwise that would have really been bad!
www.wavy.com has full coverage, delays and closings for Hampton Rds., Norfolk, Suffolk, etc. areas of VA.
So prior to Ida making landfall there was not too much flooding to the north/east of LA. I just looked and the gauges have lit up.
River Gauges
Link
good night
happy veterans day
its ok, i do it all the time.. think its actually healthy. helps vocalize and sort out your thoughts :) Anyway, IDA is still a flooding event but other than that the hurricane season is over. See y'all next semester 0_o though i may be on here posting about interesting southern hemisphere storms :) I remember Mona (edit: not mona, it was some record setting storm that moved over northern australia, will get back to you on correct name another day... maybe) (edit2: MONICA! Hahaha kinda drunk link: Link ), that was some amazing interesting stuff.
AP
By BOB LEWIS, Associated Press Writer Bob Lewis, Associated Press Writer %u2013 Wed Nov 11, 10:10 pm ET
RICHMOND, Va. %u2013 Virginia's governor declared a state of emergency Wednesday as unrelenting rain from the remnants of a tropical storm soaked the state, while officials in North Carolina braced for another day of heavy rain.
Gov. Tim Kaine's declaration mobilizes state agencies to prepare for the threat of flooding over a wide swath of Virginia.
The National Weather Service forecasts 3 to 8 inches through Friday morning for parts of Virginia as the remains of Tropical Storm Ida, which was once a hurricane, crawl across the state. Old Dominion University in Norfolk canceled classes Thursday.
A coastal flood warning was posted for some areas thanks to a storm surge coinciding with high tide. A flood watch is out for central, eastern and southeastern areas farther inland.
Kaine's declaration urges Virginians in tidal flood plains and areas prone to flash flooding to be on alert.
Heavy rains were falling in North Carolina, Maryland and Delaware. In North Carolina, the eastern two-thirds of the state was braced for another day of significant rain. Gale warnings were out from North Carolina to New Jersey.
National Weather Service meteorologist Phil Badgett said heavy rainfall is expected east of a line from the Triad to the Research Triangle area and down to Wilmington. With strong, gusty winds expected, Badgett said falling trees could be a threat.
Raleigh had reported 4.25 inches of rain from daybreak Tuesday through 8 p.m. Wednesday. In the mountainous western part of the state, Asheville got nearly 4 inches.
Alabama also reported some impressive rainfall totals from the storm, which dumped 9.8 inches on Opelika and more than 6 inches near the coast in Baldwin County and in parts of central Alabama. Birmingham recorded 4.32 inches on Tuesday, a record for that date, according to the weather service.
Ida came ashore at Dauphin Island early Tuesday.
"For Alabama it's over," said Scott Unger, meteorologist at the NWS in Calera. "We've just got a couple of clouds left over."
He said the totals for the most part were what was expected and had no reports of significant flooding.
In Georgia, weather service meteorologist Verona Murrell said the rains have stopped, but officials are watching rivers and streams that have risen above flood stage. Many areas of Georgia, including Atlanta, saw 4 to 6 inches of rain over the last couple days.
"We've got several sites that are in flooding and quite a few places that have flood warnings out," Murrell said.
-------------------------------------
LOL, us talkin' to ourselves.
WaterWitch you were on to somethin':
officials are watching rivers and streams that have risen above flood stage.
Good night, all, I finally finished paying all the bills I've neglected during Ida & remnants watching. YAWN.
Statement as of 5:45 AM EST on November 12, 2009
The Flood Warning continues for
the Ocmulgee River near Macon
* until Sunday evening.
* At 4am Thursday... the stage was 23.8 feet... and slowly rising.
* Minor flooding is occurring and is forecast.
* Flood stage is 18.0 feet.
* The river will continue rising to near 24.1 feet by this afternoon.
The river will fall below flood stage Sunday afternoon.
* At 23.0 feet... minor flooding continues to expand.
* This crest compares to a previous crest of 23.6 feet on Mar 29 2009.
Latest Conditions in Key West, FL
Nov 12
5:53 am
Overcast 75°F
(24°C)
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
410 AM EST THU NOV 12 2009
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
WHR THIS STM WL RANK (COMPARED TO STMS OF THE PAST) STILL UNKNOWN
AT THIS TIME...BUT CERTAINLY IT MEANS BUSINESS...AND THE WORST
(ESP IN TERMS OF CSTL FLDG...AND HVY RA - ESP SE VA/NE NC) YET TO
COME (OVR THE NEXT 12-24 HRS). LO PRES NOW INVOF GULF
STREAM...JUST SSW OF BUOY 41036...W/ CSTL FNT NE TO BTWN HSE AND
NAGS HEAD. NE WNDS N OF FNT/STM CONTG TO BE STRNG/GSTY FM ERN NC ON
NWD THROUGH FA. HIEST NOTED SPDS SO FAR INVOF PORTIONS OF HAMPTON
RDS...MOUTH OF THE BAY - TO 55 MPH. LRG AREA OF MOD/HVY RA...EVEN
PSBL ISLTD T...SPRDG NNW THROUGH ERN NC...AND INTO SE VA ATTM.
TRENDS SUGGS A VRY WET MRNG INTO (ERY) AFTN HRS ACRS SE 1/2 OF
FA...W/ RA AMTS AVGG 2-4 IN (QUITE PSBLY HIER IN SOME PLCS). PDS
OF RA CONTG MOST OTR SXNS OF FA. NEEDLESS TO SAY...FLD WATCH TO
RMN UP. ADDTNLLY...EXPANDING WND ADVSRY TO I95 CORRIDOR (FOR GUSTS
40-45 MPH)...AND WND WRNG TO CTYS OF NRN NECK/MID PEN BORDERING
CHES BAY (PSBL GUSTS TO 50-55 MPH). COMBO GSTY WNDS AND SATURATE
GRND LEAD TO INCRSD LIKLIHOOD OF POWER OUTAGES. HVY RA WL ONLY
EXAGERATE CSTL FLDG NOT ONLY FOR HI TIDE CYCLE TDA...BUT THE LO
ONE AS WELL. TOTAL RA AMTS 6-8 IN ACRS SE VA/NE NC...WOULD NOT BE
SURPRISED TO HV A REPORT OR TWO 10-12 IN. OTRW...WDSPRD 3-6 IN
XPCTD ACRS FA BY LT TNGT.
another slow day at work here....usually sit here and lurk and read the blog...
11/12/2009 11:35AM 1,713 invest_DEACTIVATE_al982009.ren
Cue the fat lady?
(6:48 am EST)
Wind Direction (WDIR): NNE ( 30 deg true )
Wind Speed (WSPD): 45.1 kts
Wind Gust (GST): 51.1 kts
Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): 29.71 in
Air Temperature (ATMP): 55.6 °F
Conditions at CBBV2 as of
(7:06 am EST)
Wind Direction (WDIR): NNE ( 20 deg true )
Wind Speed (WSPD): 47.0 kts
Wind Gust (GST): 55.0 kts
Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): 29.72 in
Air Temperature (ATMP): 56.3 °F
Water Temperature (WTMP): 63.0 °F
I'm about 15 miles N.E. of Wilmington on the coast and ex IDA was mostly a rain event. 7.3 inches in my yard. Wind was 15 , maybe 20 Kts.
Good luck Va.
LOL!!!!
I think 'reed PERFECTSTORM zone' will also fit!!!
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I'm calling it again.
It's over. If I'm wrong...crow me again.
448 hours....
39 minutes and it's official.
there's been a lot of arguing and fighting on here lately. I have never seen it this bad and I have been a lurker for 2 years. Lots of "put downs". Not necessary. Everyone has their opinion which is why we are unique. That is what this site is all about. We all come here to learn more about the weather. You can gather a lot of knowledge here...so sad that some people have to make it like this.
It's always been this way. Look back at some of Dr. M's blogs in 2005 during the hurricane season.
sorry I wasn't on here in 2005. I think I joined in 2007...
I understand...I'm just saying there's always been arguments on here.
Not going to lie, total buzzkill for us lurkers.
It is petty. I'm beyond it. Too many other things to concern myself with.
Exactly! Oh well, back to lurking or something like it.
Morning Kog.. snowing yet :)
AOI
AOI
AOI
AOI
The bad: Currently running more than a foot above the forecast...is that a hint about the forecast?
The ugly: Isabel's highest mark at this gauge was 7.9 feet.
Road I live on was paved about 8-9 years ago.
Hard to keep a vehicle clean living on a dirt road.
Lawyer: 'Balloon boy' parents to plead guilty
NEWS On FLOODING IN VA
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