National Weather Service
Our Nation’s Weather Sentry…
…Always There, Always on Guard Chris Strong
National Weather Service
Baltimore/Washington Forecast Office
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Hurricane Season June 1 – November 30
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Threats
• Hurricane or Remnant, threats are same…
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Threats
• Hurricane or Remnant, threats are same…
• Flooding from Torrential Rain
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Threats
• Hurricane or Remnant, threats are same…
• Flooding from Torrential Rain
• Tidal Flooding from Surge
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Threats
• Hurricane or Remnant, threats are same…
• Flooding from Torrential Rain
• Tidal Flooding from Surge
• Tornados
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Threats
• Hurricane or Remnant, threats are same…
• Flooding from Torrential Rain
• Tidal Flooding from Surge
• Tornados
• Winds
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Threats
• Flooding from Torrential Rain
Probably the most underrated
threat, yet often biggest issue.
1-2 FEET of rain can fall. (An average rainstorm is <1”)
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Threats
• Flooding from Torrential Rain
The biggest inland killer Often from:
– Driving into flooded areas – Kids playing w/ swollen streams
National Weather Service Des Moines, IA
National Weather Service Des Moines, IA
National Weather Service Des Moines, IA
Flooding
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Lee Remnants ‘11
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Threats
• Tidal Flooding from Surge
The most deadly threat for:
* those along tidal shores
* watch track W of Fairfax
Think of surge like a slow tsunami
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Threats
• Tornados
Many do not realize it, but
hurricanes can produce tornado
outbreaks upon landfall.
Affects targeted areas.
National Weather Service Des Moines, IA
National Weather Service Des Moines, IA
National Weather Service Des Moines, IA
Tornadoes
Remnants of Ivan produced the
worst Mid Atlantic tornado outbreak
(35 tornadoes) in recent history
(Sept 17, 2004).
•Tornado production
can occur for days
after landfall
•Any time of day/night
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Threats
• Winds
Typically one of the biggest threats near the landfall region
The main threat for mariners.
Wind speeds usually decrease dramatically after landfall. Can have wind gusts above 200 mph.
National Weather Service Des Moines, IA
National Weather Service Des Moines, IA
National Weather Service Des Moines, IA
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
4 Threats
• Hurricane or Remnant, threats are same…
• Flooding from Torrential Rain
• Tidal Flooding from Surge
• Tornados
• Winds Which one(s) will impact you & how bad ?
Depends on:
* storm’s “personality”
* your particular area!
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
4 Threats
• Sandy (2012)
• 3) Flooding from Torrential Rain
• 1) Tidal Flooding from Surge
• Tornados
• 2) Winds Which one(s) will impact you & how bad ?
Depends on:
* storm’s “personality”
* your particular area!
Sandy’s Wind Gusts
Sandy’s Wind Gusts
Sandy’s Impacts
Deaths
• 77 Deaths (Direct and Indirect)
• ~ 2/3 Due to Surge & 1/3 Due to Winds
Sandy’s Impacts
Evacuation Orders
• More than 1 Million Evacuation Orders
Implemented
• Decisions for Evacuation are ALL TIED to
Hurricane Category (Wind Speed) in
Emergency Preparedness Plans
Sandy’s Impacts
Power Outages
• More than 3 Million Widespread Power
Outages that Lasted at Least 2 Weeks
• Tri-State Area served by at Least 10 Different
Utility Companies
Sandy’s Impacts
Property Damage
• Cost Estimates Provided by the Governors for
the States of NY, NJ, and CT
- New York $42 Billion
- New Jersey $29.4 Billion
- Connecticut $360 Million
• Main Impacts – Wind Damage (Trees and Power lines; some
structural damage due to fallen trees)
– Coastal Inundation caused widespread and significant property damage; NYC/NJ Metro Area Hardest Hit (including Long Island and CT)
Sandy’s Impacts
Wind and Surge
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
SO….
• Have plans…
– Not just for the 1 in 10 year storm,
– But the 1 in 100 year storm too!
• For each of the 4 threats
Thank you! Chris Strong
National Weather Service [email protected]
Weather-Ready Nation
Weather Disasters will come… If everyone… …gets advance notice …knows what to do & acts …is prepared …we will truly be a Weather-Ready Nation!
NOAA National Weather Service