USCG RS

This looks to be a potentially large storm again. Furthermore, those just hit need to closely monitor this, if possible.

Voted!

Unforunately, yes there were.

No... No, of course not. Apologies if my tone was misinterpreted here. I was more just piggybacking off of the comment.

Unfortunately, this looks'good' compared to the western portion of the state and, of course, WNC. Some areas are literally just... Gone. There's no other way to put it. It's... Indescribable.

Accumulated Cyclone Energy. It's a measure of energy for hurricanes. In this context it adds to overall index for the year (officials keep track of all energy produced by tropical cyclones each season) https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane2003/August/background_information.html#:~:text=Measuring overall activity%3A The Accumulated,Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index

Please keep your phone charged and on ring. Verizon is setting up a temporary cell tower in Asheville today. There is a chance he may be able to get a call to you. Just wanted to ensure you know about it. There are no words otherwise.

I have been an emergency manager, first responder, medic, rescuer, risk manager or some combination of these for over 17 years. I have been through many deployments, storms, calls, etc. I have never witnessed this type of widespread devastation and catastrophe stateside. Ever. This includes living in NY though Sandy. It's sobering. That's not to say there have not been comparable disasters in United States history. Likewise, we will all get through this, of this I have no doubt. However, I say it again, it is truly sobering what is/has taken place across the Southeast.

Electricity and cell phone signal is simply gone in those areas. Same with upstate SC. I am just south of Greenville City and starting to get some cell coverage back, but Greenville City and NW up through the Mountain areas - it might as well be as if there is no infrastructure right now. I know comms for OEM is struggling and same with all rescue personell. This was a harder hit than expected, even given the warnings. The good news - at this time - deaths are not as high as initially feared at this time yesterday. Unfortunately, long way to go.

At this point, when Helene makes LF, it will still be strengthening. Like Michael appeared to do, we may actually see this storm strengthening over the first interactions with land as well.

That energy/Latent Heat release is.. wow.

Unfortunately. The friction of land actually looks to be assisting with with helping this gets its final act together.

A poster (I can't remember/find it a few pages back) literally just posted this link about a Hurricane Hunter in Hurricane Hugo - https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/articles/hunting-hugo-part-5 Uncanny.

Those warnings the GSP NWS Office was providing were something. I don't recall ever seeing language quite like that out of the NWS, at least to the public.

I won't derail the thread with this, so I won't say anything further after this - but you would be surprised what some teams will brave in an attempt to resuce persons.

And now, if something goes terribly wrong, a SAR team is put in danger. Lovely.

Yeah.. I was questioning my call of 150 MPH at LF I made yesterday or the day before. I think its a distinct possibility. Becoming almost likely at this point and that is just going to cause more problems inland as well.

I will pass that along. Thank you.

Yeah the Greenville/Spartanburg Area is on full alert right now. Red Cross has all hands on deck and the local AHJ is - concerned.

Can you link this? I can't find that exact image and I would like to send it to some peeople. Thanks. Edit: Nvm. Finally found it. Thanks though.

From Michael Fischer

Yeah. It has been a slow process for this storm, which, given its' size I am not necessarily shocked (though I did expect greater strengthening by this time). That withstanding, the latest Vortex Message showcases a Closed eye and it is getting itself gradually more and more together. I noticed last night that the outflow of this storm is quite impressive, both poleward and equatorward. In fact, what came to mind was a favorable trough interaction process with what is over the Midwest/SE United States currently. If that trough can truly vent Helene with the really warm bath water she currently sits in.. I shudder to think of what happens, especially given the core getting its act togehter, and despite being such a large storm. It, unfortunately, is a true wait and see game.

That is worrisome. As most know, an extra 6 or 12 hours over that bath water is going to have singificant implications for organization and intensity.

That western flank looks like trough interaction and outflow building to me. It looks pretty amazing from that perspective, imo