Yikes! Hurricane Earl on Way to East Coast

[3113]

And I don't mean our long-lost and beloved British Earl of the AH:

Hurricane Earl has strengthened to Category 4 and is bearing down on Puerto Rico, the National Hurricane Center says. The powerful storm, with top sustained winds of 135 mph, might affect the U.S. East Coast later in the week.

Forecasters are warning coastal residents from North Carolina to Maine to keep an eye on Earl, which is raking the Caribbean with heavy rain, high winds and dangerous seas.

At the same time, Tropical Storm Fiona has formed right behind it, east of the Leeward Islands.

Batten down the hatches, East Coasters!

 

[sr71plt]

If it will just dally a bit in the Caribbean, I'll be headed west before it gets to Virginia. The track I last saw had it just brushing the coast of the Carolinas (more of a wallop in New England), which would be fine where I live. We'd get much-needed rain without much of the blow.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I'm too far inland and uphill to care too much. There might be some flooding here and there, but I only cross one flood zone during the week, so I'm not too worried.

 

[Huckleman2000]

Just once I'd like to see a hurricane hit the deniers in Oklahoma and Kansas. Or at least hit their representatives in D.C.

 

[amicus]

One meteorologist stated that if Earl came ashore near Manhattan Island, there would be a twenty foot tidal surge and all the subways would flood.

Here's hoping it decides to take a northerly then easterly turn and misses landfall in the US.

Y'all keep us informed when it gets closer! And watch out for Fiona, following close behind.

ami

 

[Weird Harold]

One meteorologist stated that if Earl came ashore near Manhattan Island, there would be a twenty foot tidal surge and all the subways would flood.

Here's hoping it decides to take a northerly then easterly turn and misses landfall in the US.

Y'all keep us informed when it gets closer! And watch out for Fiona, following close behind.

ami

You've been watching the weather channel's "It could Happen Tommorrow" series, haven't you.

That series has a fairly interesting episode on what would happen if a "major hurricane" hit New York City -- including the flooded subways prediction -- and another about what a major hurricane would do to Washington, DC and episodes predicting destruction and disaster for half a dozen other east coast cities that routinely dodge direct hits by hurricanes.

 

[amicus]

I did watch that series, but this was a report today on CNN expressing concern as to the path the storm would take and the possible worst case scenario's.

Last year, the NOAA forecast was for increased storm activity along the east coast, but it didn't happen....dunno...I have personally weathered two hurricanes, one in Florida and one in Mississppi, 'George', I think, only a Cat 1, but enough to school me on just how powerful these storms can be.

So...a bit of concern for those possibly in harms way...

ami

 

[buxxxom]

Watching and waiting.

 

[rgraham666]

Good thing I'm flying home today.

 

[Huckleman2000]

In related news....

Bjorn Lomborg is now channeling Emily Lutella ("Never mind.")