National Weather Service: Hurricane Season

National Weather Service

Our Nation’s Weather Sentry…

…Always There, Always on Guard Chris Strong

National Weather Service

Baltimore/Washington Forecast Office

National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Hurricane Season June 1 – November 30


Threats

• Hurricane or Remnant, threats are same…


Threats


• Flooding from Torrential Rain


Threats



• Tidal Flooding from Surge


Threats




• Tornados


Threats




• Tornados

• Winds


Threats


Probably the most underrated

threat, yet often biggest issue.

1-2 FEET of rain can fall. (An average rainstorm is <1”)


Threats


The biggest inland killer Often from:

– Driving into flooded areas – Kids playing w/ swollen streams

National Weather Service Des Moines, IA



Flooding


Lee Remnants ‘11


Threats


The most deadly threat for:

* those along tidal shores

* watch track W of Fairfax

Think of surge like a slow tsunami


Threats

• Tornados

Many do not realize it, but

hurricanes can produce tornado

outbreaks upon landfall.

Affects targeted areas.




Tornadoes

Remnants of Ivan produced the

worst Mid Atlantic tornado outbreak

(35 tornadoes) in recent history

(Sept 17, 2004).

•Tornado production

can occur for days

after landfall

•Any time of day/night


Threats

• Winds

Typically one of the biggest threats near the landfall region

The main threat for mariners.

Wind speeds usually decrease dramatically after landfall. Can have wind gusts above 200 mph.


4 Threats




• Tornados

• Winds Which one(s) will impact you & how bad ?

Depends on:

* storm’s “personality”

* your particular area!


4 Threats

• Sandy (2012)

• 3) Flooding from Torrential Rain

• 1) Tidal Flooding from Surge

• Tornados

• 2) Winds Which one(s) will impact you & how bad ?

Depends on:

* storm’s “personality”

* your particular area!

Sandy

• Sandy NWS Forecast

http://youtu.be/vQHpx3oB5SY

Sandy’s Wind Gusts

Sandy’s Impacts

Deaths

• 77 Deaths (Direct and Indirect)

• ~ 2/3 Due to Surge & 1/3 Due to Winds

Sandy’s Impacts

Evacuation Orders

• More than 1 Million Evacuation Orders

Implemented

• Decisions for Evacuation are ALL TIED to

Hurricane Category (Wind Speed) in

Emergency Preparedness Plans

Sandy’s Impacts

Power Outages

• More than 3 Million Widespread Power

Outages that Lasted at Least 2 Weeks

• Tri-State Area served by at Least 10 Different

Utility Companies

Sandy’s Impacts

Property Damage

• Cost Estimates Provided by the Governors for

the States of NY, NJ, and CT

- New York $42 Billion

- New Jersey $29.4 Billion

- Connecticut $360 Million

• Main Impacts – Wind Damage (Trees and Power lines; some

structural damage due to fallen trees)

– Coastal Inundation caused widespread and significant property damage; NYC/NJ Metro Area Hardest Hit (including Long Island and CT)

Sandy’s Impacts

Wind and Surge


SO….

• Have plans…

– Not just for the 1 in 10 year storm,

– But the 1 in 100 year storm too!

• For each of the 4 threats

Thank you! Chris Strong

National Weather Service [email protected]

Weather-Ready Nation

Weather Disasters will come… If everyone… …gets advance notice …knows what to do & acts …is prepared …we will truly be a Weather-Ready Nation!

NOAA National Weather Service

National Weather Service: Hurricane Season

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