Still at the beaches? You need to leave
I know, it's a beautiful day, and you want to stay in your beach chair. Maybe you'll ride out the storm and snap some pictures of the cool waves.
Don't. Pack your stuff, batten the hatches and leave. This is a serious storm coming your way tomorrow. If you don't care about yourself, think of the people who love you, and those who will have to try to rescue you or recover your remains.
Here are some forecast items to think about:
1. Irene's top sustained winds are forecast to reach 120 mph when it makes landfall on the Outer Banks Saturday.
2. Barrier Islands from North Carolina to Ocean City are under evacuation orders.
3. Hurricane Warnings are posted from Hatteras to Sandy Hook, NJ. Flash Flood Warnings or Flood Watches are posted for Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.
4. Forecasters expected 6 to 10 inches of rain, with a potential for 12 inches, during Irene's passage.
5. Flooding is the biggest single cause of death in hurricanes.
6. The forecast track takes the center of Irene right up the beach line to New York.
7. Waves will begin building tonight, reaching 12 to 15 feet Saturday through early Sunday.
8. The storm surge will be 4 to 8 feet in southern portions of the Chesapeake Bay and on the ocean side of Delmarva.
9. A State of Emergency has been declared in Maryland and Virginia.
Comments
Frank,
any chance this will flood fells point and the Harbor area? How about tracking up the bay?
FR: Most forecast models take it over Delmarva, the beaches or just offshore. The farther east, the better for the Baltimore Harbor communities. You can check storm surge probabilities for your location here: http://bsun.md/pp4LJN
Posted by: allen | August 26, 2011 10:11 AM
Do you know if the city's hazardous waste drop off at Poly which was planned for tomorrow is still on? It is pre-storm, but I was thinking perhaps they might have staff diverted to other storm related projects.
Thanks!
FR REPLIES: Still on, according to city DPW.
Posted by: shara | August 26, 2011 12:17 PM
Is it going to be possible to fly into BWI on Saturday afternoon? Or are flights being cancelled?
FR REPLIES: There will undoubtedly be cancelations. Even if BWI remains open, flights to and from other places that close will be canceled. Check with your airline. Here's what airport authorities are saying: http://bit.ly/mSISMW
Posted by: Toulouse | August 26, 2011 2:30 PM