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Sandy Obs and Banter thread - fall 2012


mappy

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Is it too early now to say that this won't be the near-apocalyptic event some of the models were showing 48 hours ago? We're now talking about a decaying category 1; sure, damage to Jersey shore, significant storm surge coming under the Verrazano, heavy early snows in WV, and power outages (inevitably) in MD/NoVa - but nothing nearly as threatening or disastrous as could have been.

Edit: Yes, I know it's also a phasing storm, so traditional Cat 1 definitions don't apply - but I think the rest of the description, plus wider wind field, does, correct?

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What did you think it was going to do before that it is not now? The only thing that seems significantly changed as far as sensible weather in the LWX area is probably a bit less rain if the 12z Euro verified compared to the 0z.

Maybe I got a bit carried away by some of the apoco-talk in the SNE forum (ctblizz, e.g.), but even some mets are still saying 'wow, never seen anything like this.' There was talk of 'good bye Fire Island,' for example. Living in NYC in the early '90s I remember a couple of good Nor'Easters that flooded the subway and the FDR; this seems similar, but perhaps a wider area. Or am I missing something historic (apart from the set-up)?

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There still is the possibility of some extreme damage to coastal areas given the surge possibilities with a tidal boost. Still possibilities of some extended power outages for MANY people. I'd have to see the 12z Euro wind forecasts, but going off of previous runs, a landfall a bit farther away from us may paradoxically give us stronger winds.

For the LWX area, the 12z runs mean 2 things immediately to me: later start of serious weather (by 18 hours or so) and somewhat less rain.

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There still is the possibility of some extreme damage to coastal areas given the surge possibilities with a tidal boost. Still possibilities of some extended power outages for MANY people. I'd have to see the 12z Euro wind forecasts, but going off of previous runs, a landfall a bit farther away from us may paradoxically give us stronger winds.

For the LWX area, the 12z runs mean 2 things immediately to me: later start of serious weather (by 18 hours or so) and somewhat less rain.

Right - but that's no comparison to, say, 1938. A couple of days ago that comparison was being made. All I'm asking is, is that discussion now moot?

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What did you think it was going to do before that it is not now? The only thing that seems significantly changed as far as sensible weather in the LWX area is probably a bit less rain if the 12z Euro verified compared to the 0z.

I don't think it changes much yet but in this range many storms will still end up trending further east for landfall. A Long Island hit might not be too intense here

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The Katrina flooding was out of control, but unique to the very low elevation there. The Derecho was bad but it was over in about an hour (damage nothwithstanding).

So, I don't know what people expect for "Katrina levels" of damage. Flooding of that magnitude? Not really possible given that we don't have miles of low-lying topography once you get away from the water. But, 100,000 people without power for 2 weeks? I could see it. 48 hours of near T.S. winds over very populated areas? I think just clearing the trees from roads could take a week or more. I live inside the beltway and I expect at least a week and we might leave town (not sure where we can go and avoid damage, but that's a different discussion.) I'm betting on government shutdown levels of destruction. Call me a hype machine, or whatever, but this looks very, very bad.

THis was my thinking. I'm considering a natural gas generator. But not at this time. But definitely in the next 12 months. Power outages are becoming more frequent. For this storm, we considered a portable generator. But it's just two of us and we don't have THAT much food in the fridge that we'll loose. Like you, I'm considering just leaving town. What I would spend on a portable generator $500 - $1000, I could stand to spend in a hotel for a few days somewhere away from the carnage.

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My oldest had just turned 3 when Isabel hit. I left work early (to a deserted beltway from Capitol Heights-Bethesda) as the winds were increasing. When I got home, my son asked me if the storm was going to knock our house down. I reassured him we'd be OK.

Then the power went out minutes later and within the next hour, a large oak tree fell on the house across the street. He asked again if I was sure.laugh.png With no power, I was left to wonder what conditions would become next, but that was actually the worst of it. Electricity came back 4 days later.

Classic! smile.png

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I don't think it changes much yet but in this range many storms will still end up trending further east for landfall. A Long Island hit might not be too intense here

Yup. I've been telling folks personally a MD/DE/NJ/Long Island hit the whole time and I don't think this changes that range. I'd be surprised at a SNE hit at this point, but the East Coast is so north-south oriented, a small change in placement now or a turn in another day or two can make a big difference to landfall location.

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I bagged a ton of leaves today. I'm now sitting on the deck drinking a beer and watching them be replaced at a fairly steady rate.

I hate leaves.

People may call me lazy, but I wait until all the leaves are pretty much on the ground. I live in a wooded area. So, I get leaves from other neighbor's trees. Now way I'm getting out there two or three different times I'm actually waiting to see if the storm blows them all out of my yard. lol

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