2018 Atlantic hurricane season

I imagine that Florence fatigue is growing, at least for folks far from action. Yet I wish to put another example of not-well constrained counting before readers here.

Florence now carries (very approximately) 5 X 10^11 liters of water in condensed-liquid phase.

Anticipated total rainout over land (from qpf7) exceeds 4 X 10^13 liters of water. That 80-ish ratio is unusually large. Such ratios are generally >>1 because hurricanes (as machines) transfer ocean water to land faster than they move away from ocean water sources.

But this water transfer is big, like 2017 Houston-Harvey big, and it is also historically rare. While claiming nothing at all about climate change, I would suggest that dynamic hydrology is a thing to consider. Just as unchecked real-estate development, earthen dams*, coal-ash holdings, and hog-waste holdings have all been things to consider on the +money side.

*Lake Marion in SC has a very large earthen-dam holdback. Please do send your thoughts and prayers...

 

nhc.noaa.gov must be getting a lot of hits because they can no longer be accessed from this end of the pipe. Can still get NWS radar, which now shows eye etc. at NC coastal sites.

Inland flooding in Carolinas seems to be largest concern.

 

Real-time lightning views for your storm-watching (or golfing) pleasure:

Real Time Lightning Map :: LightningMaps.org
Lightning & Thunderstorms - USA, Canada, United States of America

 

Forgot to mention that current* zaps are quite north of storm center.

*like 30,000 amperes

 

I searched in advance for mid-Atl coastal radio stns easy online. To hear how local folks interact with this event. So far I have come up dry. Radio stays with notable talk personalities (might be political to be specific) and ads for high-markup, but uncompelling financial and health--care products.

One might conclude that things are not yet bad there. Or, that willful ignorance is a comfort.

There.
Anywhere.

 

I took Wilsonian advice and am sitting on ABC. Here is one video screen capture:



Boats (>10 apparently) behind Ms. Robach are docked at or near mouth of Cape Fear River. I would speculate that water level will raise a lot there. So to any boaters here, would you not have thought to do something more than tie on a couple more lines?

 

So I have heard. I was on a roof in eye of Georges 1998 (kids don't try this at home) and eyewall was full of lightning all around me. One of those things that make an indelible memory, but are not easy to photograph.

==
Gauged North Carolina rivers near coast are at or near flood stage:

USGS Current Water Data for North Carolina

==
Supertyphoon Manghkut finished crossing N. Luzon but status will not be reported fast and fully.. Will lose strength before it hits...well, you can see that for yourself easily enough.

 

I collect these for notable N Atl hurricanes

TROPICAL STORM FLORENCE

Named as wind snakes. Florence is particularly slithery.

 

A very simplified explanation of relationship between lightning and ice:

Electric Ice | Science Mission Directorate

Better links would be appreciated.