The Atlantic tropical season has already begunPosted May31, 2008 at 08:58 PMNever mind the "offiicial" start of the season on Sunday, June 1. A weak tropical storm, named Arthur, formed today just off the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and moved inland. So we're under way in what is expected to be a busy tropical season in the Atlantic. Remember that a busy Atlantic season doesn't guarantee that anything will hit the U.S., and a relatively inactive season can still allow a violent hurricane or two to strike the U.S. And even if multiple hurricanes do hit the U.S., there is no guarantee that we in Southwest Virginia will feel any effects, including still much-needed rainfall. |
About this blog
Kevin Myatt works on the copy desk for The Roanoke Times and is its principal weather geek, writing a weekly weather column and advising the newsroom on weather topics. He helps guide students on a storm chasing trip to the central U.S. each May and was an editor for "Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States." .....Advertisement.....
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Comments
[June 1, 2008 11:53 AM]
Amy Hanek : →http://www.houseonthegladehill.blogspot.comMy family and I moved to SW Virginia a year and a half ago from SW Florida. After feeling the close brush of Charley and Wilma, I will not be nearly as concerned here, so far inland.
Still, a hurricane supply kit sits in my basement and I am ready for ANYTHING!
[June 1, 2008 3:40 PM]
Kevin MyattAmy: Typically, the biggest impact of tropical systems here is torrential rainfall. We experienced that with the Frances-Ivan-Jeanne threepeat in September 2004 and also in a very big way with Juan back in 1985, the infamous great flood. Ivan in 2004 spawned several tornadoes in Southwest Virginia. If a strong hurricane were to hit in South Carolina and rapidly beeline for the area, then some minimal hurricane-force winds would be possible. That apparently happened with Hazel in the '50s and almost with Hugo in the late '80s. Virginia's biggest hurricane hit of recent times was Isabel in 2003. It was the costliest natural disaster on record in the Commonwealth, but Southwest Virginia was generally spared the worst effects.
An emergency kit is very wise. Probably, the biggest threat for needing that would be something that doesn't happen in Florida -- winter storms. We're overdue for a paralyzing snowstorm, and there's nothing we experience that can do more to power lines that would a widespread major ice storm.
[June 2, 2008 8:08 AM]
Amy Hanek : →http://www.houseonthegladehill.blogspot.comI agree with you Kevin. I realize the chance of flooding in this region can ruin any community. The chance for flooding in Florida though was very high. My house sat at 8 ft. sea level.
The ice storms, I have been told have been much less than normal and I do take these seriously. I am more prepared during the winter than during the hurricane season.
[June 2, 2008 10:23 AM]
Kevin MyattThe main difference in flooding here vs. south Florida, both for better and worse, is terrain. Obviously, high elevation areas have little to worry about in regard to flooding. But steep ridges and valleys accelerate runoff into streams and rivers, and that can intensify flooding for areas below.
[June 2, 2008 3:45 PM]
Amy Hanek : →http://www.houseonthegladehill.blogspot.comGood point!
Do we ever have mudslides in this area? I know in CA they have quite a bit along their mountains (or hills).
[June 3, 2008 12:20 AM]
Kevin MyattAmy: It's not unusual to get some small landslides during a heavy rain event here in the mountains, but the kind where whole sides of mountains with houses slide off is rare. It may have something to do with the soil structure. Perhaps a geologist would be better to answer that.