When NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over the Central Pacific Ocean it gathered temperature data on Tropical Storm Madeline.
Advertisement
If either storm strikes Hawaii’s Big Island as a hurricane, it would mark the first such occurrence ever recorded since 1949. The National Hurricane Center expects a few parts of Florida to bear more than six feet of water above ground level when the storm hits.
“Preparations to protect life and property should be completed by nightfall today”, the alert said.
Big Island resident Mitzi Bettencourt says she has boarded up windows in her brother’s oceanfront home.
She and her neighbors are hoping their roofs stay intact and their houses don’t float away. The Hawaii County Civil Defense has warned citizens to stock up on supplies, including a full week of food and water for each person in a household.
The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for Florida from Anclote River to Indian Pass. The watch advisory means tropical-storm conditions are possible within 48 hours. All were major hurricanes but all dissipated before making it to the Big Island. Nevertheless, this storm could also bring torrential rainfall and powerful surf to towns and cities that haven’t had a moment to catch their breath.
The hurricane center forecast takes Madeline south of the Big Island while still a hurricane. While neither storm is expected to make a direct hit on Maui, each could change tracks without notice.
Two hurricanes are barreling toward Hawaii, while two tropical depressions are spinning up near the East Coast.
In the coming days, it’s expected to strengthen into a tropical storm, and would be named Hermine. Nine is the only one forecast to make landfall.
The powerful storm is packing winds of 125 miles per hour, a category 3, but a combination of cooler ocean waters and increased wind shear should weaken the storm to a category 1 or 2 by Wednesday. Some weakening was forecast through early Thursday. However, Lester is predicted to weaken before it reaches the islands like Hurricane Darby did. Jung said “significant weather” could include heavy flooding; heavy rains’ road closures due to flooding, landslides, or storm surges; hail; funnel clouds, and strong wind. North Carolina Radar and E. Hurricane Gaston is located 486 nautical miles east of Bermuda, with maximum wind speeds at 110 mph (95 kts). At present, no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
Madeline’s movement was forecast to turn west-southwest Tuesday night through early Thursday. North Carolina weather observations (not much wind there as I write this).
Dozens of cars with tags from places including Maryland, New York and OH were seen headed Tuesday morning toward a bridge to the mainland.
Advertisement
A public beach near Rodanthe was almost empty, save for two parents enjoying the morning with their 11-year-old son. 8 is off the coast of North Carolina. We also have two tropical depressions (as I write this around 2 am) affecting the U.S. T.D. Lester has peak winds of 125 miles per hour as I write this, but a slow weakening trend is likely today and tomorrow. The storm is less than 1,700 miles east of Hawaii in the East Pacific moving around 14 mph. This rainfall may lead to risky flash floods and mudslides.
