Patreeot Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Here in central VA, Irene caused more power outages than Isabel, though the overall damage wasn't quite as bad. It clearly overperformed up here with max wind gusts just below Isabel and many places getting several inches of rain when generally about an inch was forecasted. What surprised me the most was heading down to the OBX a couple of days later. The area from say Ivor down to Currituck Co. looked relatively damage free. You almost couldn't tell there was a hurricane. A sliver from Wakefield up through New Kent Co. supposedly took the greatest wind damage, worse than Isabel. You can't say Irene underperformed in NC either where I understand sound flooding was greater than Isabel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJO812 Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 It was more of a nuisance storm than a significant storm. 60 mph winds and 6 inches of rain in my area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Wood Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 It was more of a nuisance storm than a significant storm. $15.6 billion in INSURED losses in the U.S. (5th costliest hurricane in US History). 49 directly killed, 7 indirect. I'm sure those deaths were just a nuisance to the families. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrgjeff Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 This: $15.6 billion in INSURED losses in the U.S. (5th costliest hurricane in US History). 49 directly killed, 7 indirect. I'm sure those deaths were just a nuisance to the families. You don't need a textbook stadium satellite pic to be a major disaster - especially considering flooding. As for Ernesto, never had a prayer due to wind shear. Other reasons above also add to the cyclone suppression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Whatever Irene was it was far less than feared initially by many forecasters. It's fair to say those areas are in deep doodoo if something really legit ever hits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OKpowdah Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Just because Irene was by *tropical definition* weaker than initially feared by many doesn't mean the impact was overall less than what would have been with a stronger hurricane. Irene began ET a little earlier than if it were a stronger hurricane moving up the coast. During ET, the strongest winds shift to the northwest quad, and the rain shield expands to the NW. These two factors contributed to the enormous impact in New England. The flooding in VT would not have been nearly as catastrophic if Irene was a stronger tropical system, maintained purely tropical, as it moved north Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ineedsnow Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 maybe for you but for other people it was an epic disaster It was more of a nuisance storm than a significant storm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amped Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 I stand corrected. The government finally put our tax dollars to good use. Thankyou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riptide Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Weather modification is a lost cause because hurricanes and tropical cyclones are necessary components of the atmospheric circulation. The possible benefits from short-term modification may lead to greater environmental impacts in the future; assuming that the US government currently maintains a weather modification program (not likely). If we ever decide to go that route; it will be the end of an era for the Earth. Such damage could also be inflicted by a noreaster or strong coastal low; you don't need a hurricane for historic flooding. March 1993 killed more people and was more widespread than Irene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Just because Irene was by *tropical definition* weaker than initially feared by many doesn't mean the impact was overall less than what would have been with a stronger hurricane. Irene began ET a little earlier than if it were a stronger hurricane moving up the coast. During ET, the strongest winds shift to the northwest quad, and the rain shield expands to the NW. These two factors contributed to the enormous impact in New England. The flooding in VT would not have been nearly as catastrophic if Irene was a stronger tropical system, maintained purely tropical, as it moved north The flooding in VT was terrible but no one nationally other than HPC was even concerned with it ahead of time. The coastal impacts were largely less than feared if also impressive in spots. Billon dollar scales are how we often measure but I'm not sure it's as meaningful as some use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach McGuirk Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 Sorry, I didn't really notice the flooding in the north. I was just speaking about the Hurricane's strength as it moved up the coast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyhb Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Sorry, I didn't really notice the flooding in the north. I was just speaking about the Hurricane's strength as it moved up the coast. It was all over the news for several days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinwood Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Sorry, I didn't really notice the flooding in the north. I was just speaking about the Hurricane's strength as it moved up the coast. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach McGuirk Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 I was out of power for a few days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saltysenior Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Just curious. When every hurricane makes the turn north it instantly gets weaker. The same happened to Isabel back in 2003. i don't know why they get weaker ,but i know the closer they get ,the more people [me too] start praying for the storm to ''go away''.......hope it works this year.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ensō Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 My memory is a little fuzzy now but, as mentioned earlier, I distinctly recall raising a couple of issues on another board as Irene neared the coast. The wind field was wayyy spread out, making it difficult for the winds to catch up to the pressure. The eyewall was starting to get ragged IIRC, further decreasing Irene's ability to wrap up and gain intensity, and there was also a pretty massive chunk of dry air that I'm really surprised more people didn't take note of as she neared the coast. You could see the dry air penetrating nearly into the core pretty early on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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