Tropical Storm Hanna appears to be taking aim at the North Carolina coast.. Further out in the Atlantica, Ike has rapidly strengthened into a monster category four hurricane.
As of 5 a.m. parts of the North Carolina coast, including the Leland area, are under a hurricane watch. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible, generally within 36 hours. The hurricane watch extends from Surf City south to north of Edisto Beach, S.C. A tropical storm watch is in effect from Edisto Beach south to Altamaha Sound, GA.
At 8 a.m. the center of Tropical Storm Hanna was located near latitude 24.1 north, longitude 73.1 west or about 760 miles south-southeast of Wilmington. Hanna is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph, and this motion is expected to continue during the next couple of days, with a gradual increase in forward speed. On this track, the center of Hanna will be near the southeast coast by Friday or Friday night. Rain and winds associated with Hanna will reach the coast well in advance of the center.
Hanna has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, with higher gusts. Slight strengthening is possible during the next couple of days, and Hanna could become a hurricane before reaching the southeast U.S. coast. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 290 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure recently reported by a NOAA reconnaissance aircraft was 989 mb, 29.20 inches.
Coastal storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels can be expected in areas of onshore winds within the tropical storm warning area. Swells from Hanna are expected to increase the risk of dangerous rip currents along portions of the southeastern United States coast during the next couple of days.
State and local officials are preparing for Hanna. Gov. Mike Easley’s office issued a release Monday warning North Carolinians to pay close attention to Hanna, and on Tuesday he activated the State Emergency Response Team. On Wednesday, Governor Easley activated the N.C. National Guard and other state resources to be ready to respond to Tropical Storm Hanna. The Town of Leland distributed an e-mail encouraging citizens to prepare before the storm arrives; the e-mail included a link to the town’s emergency preparedness Web page.
Governor Easley’s office said that state emergency officials are closely monitoring the storm and are making certain the state is equipped and prepared. Gov. Easley also reminded citizens they should check to be sure they are prepared for the storm season.
“We do not know exactly where Tropical Storm Hanna will hit, but North Carolinians need to be ready,” said Easley. “We can’t get caught waiting for the storm to make up its mind where it will go. The state’s emergency officials have been monitoring and preparing for this storm for days, and I ask our citizens to be ready as well.”
“With Hurricane Gustav hitting the Louisiana coast today [Monday], we are reminded that none of us can wait to put together emergency plans and disaster supply kits,” Easley added. “Just last week we saw the damage that remnants of Tropical Storm Fay brought to our state with serious flooding, particularly in Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties. It does not take a full-fledged hurricane to create dangerous situations.”
Meanwhile, as of 5 a.m. Hurricane Ike is a monster category four storm with estimated sustained winds of 145 mph. Ike is expected to maintain category three or category four intensity over the next 48 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles. Estimated minimum central pressure is 935 mb, 27.61 inches. At 5 a.m. Ike was located near latitude 22.7 north, longitude 55.8 west or about 550 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands. Ike is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph, and a gradual turn toward the west and west-southwest is expected over the next 48 hours. On this track the hurricane will continue to move over the open waters of the west-central Atlantic during the next couple of days. It is too early to determine what land areas might eventually be affected by Ike.
Elsewhere, as of 5 a.m. Tropical Storm Josephine has regained some strength. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph, and some fluctuations in strength are possible during the next two days. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 997 mb, 29.44 inches. At 5 a.m. Josephine was located near latitude 14.2 north, longitude 31.3 west or about 465 miles west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. The storm is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph. A west-northwest to westward motion is expected for the next couple of days.
