Tag Archives: Chincoteague

Hurricane Erin Passes South of Cape Cod

Hurricane Erin passed south of Cape Cod on Thursday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Erin was located at latitude 36.4°N and longitude 69.1°W which put the center about 320 miles (520 km) south of Nantucket Island.   Erin was moving toward the northeast at 20 m.p.h. (32 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h).   The minimum surface pressure was 952 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Duck, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bermuda.

Hurricane Erin started to weaken slowly as it moved over the Atlantic Ocean between Cape Cod and Bermuda on Thursday.  No eye was visible at the center of Erin’s circulation on satellite images.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Hurricane Erin.  Storms near the center of Erin were still generating upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.  The removal of mass in the upper levels of the atmosphere almost matched the inflow of mass in the lower levels.  There was slightly more mass flowing into the center of Erin’s circulation.  So, the surface pressure was slowly increasing.

The circulation around Hurricane Erin was very large.  Winds to hurricane force extend out 100 miles (160 km) from the center of Erin’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out 320 miles (520 km) from the center of Hurricane Erin.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Erin is 16.5.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 36.9 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 53.4.  Hurricane Erin is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Ike when Ike hit Texas in 2008.  Erin is not quite as strong as Ike was, but Hurricane Erin is bigger than Hurricane Ike was.

Hurricane Erin will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification of a hurricane during the next 24 hours.  Erin will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 26°C.  It will move under the eastern side of an upper level trough over the Northeast U.S. and the Great Lakes.  The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Erin’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Erin will weaken slowly during the next 24 hours.  Erin is likely to make a transition to a strong extratropical cyclone during the weekend.

The upper level trough over the Northeast U.S. and the Great Lakes will steer Hurricane Erin toward the east-northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Hurricane Erin will pass south of Nova Scotia on Friday.

The large circulation around Hurricane Erin will continue to produce large waves that will move toward the east coast of the U.S.  Erin could continue to cause a storm surge of up to four feet (one meter) along the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Thursday night.  Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island.  Water has already washed over parts of Hatteras Island.  The large waves are likely to cause significant beach erosion.  Conditions along the Outer Banks should start to improve on Friday when Hurricane Erin moves farther away.

The large circulation around Hurricane Erin could also produce tropical storm force winds in Bermuda.

Hurricane Erin Moves Southeast of Cape Hatteras

Hurricane Erin moved southeast of Cape Hatteras on Wednesday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Erin was located at latitude 32.8°N and longitude 73.1°W which put the center about 215 miles (345 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.  Erin was moving toward the north-northeast at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 942 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Bermuda.

Concentric eyewalls formed again in Hurricane Erin on Wednesday.  The inner eyewall had a radius of 17 miles (28 km).  The outer eyewall had a radius of 75 miles (120 km).  The strongest winds were occurring in the outer eyewall.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the concentric eyewalls.  Storms near the center of Erin generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.  The removal of large quantities of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease on Wednesday.

The circulation around Hurricane Erin was very large.  Winds to hurricane force extend out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Erin’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out 265 miles (425 km) from the center of Hurricane Erin.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Erin is 19.2.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 33.0 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 52.2.  Hurricane Erin is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Ike when Ike hit Texas in 2008.

Hurricane Erin will move through an environment that will become unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Erin will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the eastern side of an upper level trough over the Northeast U.S. and the Great Lakes.  The upper level trough will produce southeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Erin’s circulation.  Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase on Thursday.  Hurricane Erin will start to weaken when the vertical wind shear increases.

The upper level trough over the Northeast U.S. and the Great Lakes will steer Hurricane Erin toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Hurricane Erin will be move away from Cape Hatteras on Thursday.  Erin will pass far to the south of Long Island on Thursday.

The large circulation around Hurricane Erin will produce large waves that will move toward the east coast of the U.S.  Erin could cause a storm surge of up to four feet (one meter) along the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island.  Water is already washing over parts of Hatteras Island.  The large waves are likely to cause significant beach erosion.  The large circulation around Hurricane Erin could also bring tropical storm force winds to the Outer Banks.  Conditions along the Outer Banks should start to improve on Friday when Hurricane Erin moves farther away.

Tropical Storm Ophelia Brings Wind and Rain to Eastern North Carolina, Virginia

Tropical Storm Ophelia brought wind and rain to eastern North Carolina and Virginia on Saturday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Ophelia was located at latitude 35.1°N and longitude 77.0°W which put it about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Ophelia was moving toward the north at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 983 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Fenwick Island, Delaware. The Tropical Storm Warning included Albemarle Sound and Pamlico Sound. A Tropical Storm Warning was also in effect for Chesapeake Bay south of North Beach. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the Tidal Potomac south of Cobb Island.

Tropical Storm Ophelia brought wind and rain as it moved inland over eastern North Carolina on Saturday morning. The circulation around Ophelia was large. Tropical Storm Opehila was interacting with a high pressure system over eastern Canada to produce strong winds northeast of the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 310 miles (500 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Ophelia’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) in the other parts of Tropical Storm Ophelia.

A weather station in Cape Lookout, North Carolina reported a sustained wind speed of 47 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and a wind gust of 71 m.p.h. (115 km/h). A weather station in Morehead City, North Carolina reported a sustained wind speed of 43 m.p.h. (68 km/h) and a wind gust of 53 m.p.h. (85 km/h). NOAA buoy 41037 near Wrightsville Beach reported a sustained wind speed of 54 m.p.h. (87 km/h) and a wind gust of 83 m.p.h. (134 km/h).

Tropical Storm Ophelia will move around the western side of a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Ophelia toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Ophelia will move inland over eastern North Carolina and Virginia. Ophelia will bring strong, gusty winds and locally heavy rain to eastern North Carolina, eastern Virginia, southeastern Maryland and southern Delaware.

The heaviest rain was falling in bands in the northern and western parts of Tropical Storm Ophelia. Bands in the eastern and southern parts of Ophelia’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Locally heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Flood Watches were in effect for eastern North Carolina, eastern Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.

Easterly winds in the northern side of Tropical Storm Ophelia will blow water toward the coast. A storm surge of up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) could occur in some locations. A Storm Surge Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Bogue Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia. The Storm Surge Warning included Albemarle Sound, Pamlico Sound, the Pamlico River and the Neuse River. A Storm Surge Warning was in effect for Chesapeake Bay south of Colonial Beach, Virginia. Large waves will also cause significant beach erosion.

Tropical Storm Ophelia Develops South of Cape Hatteras

Tropical Storm Ophelia developed south of Cape Hatteras on Friday afternoon. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Ophelia was located at latitude 32.7°N and longitude 76.0°W which put it about 185 miles (295 km) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Ophelia was moving toward the north-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Fenwick Island, Delaware. The Tropical Storm Warning included Albemarle Sound and Pamlico Sound. A Tropical Storm Warning was also in effect for Chesapeake Bay south of North Beach. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the Tidal Potomac south of Cobb Island.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center designated a low pressure system south of Cape Hatteras as Tropical Storm Ophelia on Friday afternoon. Drier air was wrapping around the southern and eastern sides of Ophelia’s circulation. The drier air was making the distribution of thunderstorms asymmetrical. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northern and western parts of Tropical Storm Ophelia. Bands in the southern and eastern parts of Ophelia consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms north and west of the center of Ophelia’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. The circulation around Tropical Storm Ophelia was large, Winds to tropical storm force extended out 275 miles (445 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Ophelia will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Ophelia will move over the Gulf Stream where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the eastern side of an upper level trough over the eastern U.S. The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Ophelia’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. However, the flow of air in the upper levels will also provide divergence aloft that will pump mass away from the tropical storm. The removal of mass will cause the surface pressure to decrease. The drier air in the southern and eastern parts of Tropical Storm Ophelia will inhibit the formation of thunderstorms in those regions. Tropical Storm Ophelia could intensify during the next 12 hours, while it is over the Gulf Stream.

Tropical Storm Ophelia will move around the western side of a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Ophelia toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Ophelia will approach the coast of North Carolina on Friday night. Ophelia will bring strong, gusty winds and locally heavy rain to eastern North Carolina, eastern Virginia, southeastern Maryland and southern Delaware. NOAA buoy 41025 at Diamond Shoals, North Carolina reported a sustained wind speed of 47 m.p.h. (76 km/h) and a wind gust of 60 m.p.h. (97 km/h). A NOAA C-MAN station at Cape Lookout, North Carolina reported a sustained wind speed of 45 m.p.h. (72 km/h) and a wind gust of 53 m.p.h. (83 km/h)

Locally heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Flood Watches were in effect for eastern North Carolina, eastern Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.

Easterly winds in the northern side of Tropical Storm Ophelia will blow water toward the coast. A storm surge of up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) could occur in some locations. A Storm Surge Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia. The Storm Surge Warning included Albemarle Sound, Pamlico Sound, the Pamlico River and the Neuse River. A Storm Surge Warning was in effect for Chesapeake Bay south of Colonial Beach, Virginia. Large waves will also cause significant beach erosion.