I was speaking to someone from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania about 4:45 today.

He asked how things were in North Carolina because of the hurricane.  So, I told him.  Then I stated you take care with it coming your way.  He stated, it isn't going to be that bad here.  I then spoke with him another 15 minutes to convince him he had to take things more seriously and listen to any warnings and evacuations.  


Sometimes folks just don't do the right thing no matter how hard others try.  


The roads are still flooded in Wilmington, NC


If the game is called off because of a hurricane, I would think people would 'get serious.'  Whatever.


PHILADELPHIA — At least the Phillies can't be accused being "wusses.'  (click title to entry - thank you)

With Hurricane Irene bearing down on Philadelphia, the Phillies tried to play ball Saturday. They opened the gates at Citizens Bank Park, let the fans in and sold a few cheesesteaks.

But the rains from Irene's northern bands came around noon and never stopped. Around 1:20 p.m., 15 minutes after the scheduled first pitch, came the announcement over the PA system that the game was postponed....

Latest report from family in Wilmington, North Carolina:

...all are safe.  There was a lot of debris flying around and a lot of limbs down.  No damage to vehicles.  Electricity was out for five hours and some of the children's milk products have to be thrown out to be on the safe side. ( One of the children has a special diet and her refrigerated food can only be without refrigeration for 2 hours. )  A lot of flooding, Figure Eight Island is closed.  They will venture out on the roads in a few hours,   

It is hitting some drought areas. I can't believe this is 90 mph with that much loft.

August 17, 2011
1040.17z
UNISYS Infrared Atlantic States Satellite Image (click here for 12 hour loop)

It is a rainmaker.  In the loop of the satellite at the link above it is easily discerned how condensed the eye became and increased loft as it approached landfall.  

Raleigh, NC - Hurricane Irene click title to entry - thank you) slammed into North Carolina's coast around dawn Saturday with howling winds and drenching rains amid reports of flooding and tens of thousands of people without power.

The center of Hurricane Irene is expected to hit the Outer Banks around lunchtime.

Irene claimed it's first victim Friday night when a 22 year old surfer drowned after being caught in a rip current off the coast in Virgina Beach.

A tornado watch was issued for parts of Virginia until 11 a.m. Saturday. Included in that  watch is Northampton County in North Carolina.

Just after 10 p.m. Friday night a tornado touched down in Belhaven, NC in Beaufort County.  The tornado did structural damage to multiple trailers and ripped the roof off of a car dealership.

A second tornado was reported early Saturday morning in Tyrrell County near Columbia, NC.  Structural damage was done to buildings and some injuries reported.

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane at 3am Friday has maximum sustained winds at 90 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.

No significant change in strength is forecast before Irene reaches the coast of North Carolina, and some weakening is expected after landfall....

The power of the storm is best noted  due to its sustained 'area.'  It isn't minor physics that is maintaining a storm at 90 mph winds with such a large footprint.  That's why it is difficult for any weather service to simply say this storm isn't 'all that.'  It is 'all that.'  And it changes so unpredictably that it can NOT be trusted in what will happen next.  In that short 12 hour loop it changed its entire character and once it passes over land and goes back so sea it will change again.  Taking care of people and property during these events isn't efficient, but, it is prudent.  That is something the public sometimes does not appreciate.  A surfer in Virginia died due to rip currents caused by this storm hundreds of miles away and it wasn't for the lack of warning.  Why do people think they know more than what is told them?