Thursday, October 1, 2015

Hurricane Joaquin

NASA's Eyes on Earth Aid Response to Carolina Flooding





It was rain that wouldn't quit. A weather system fueled by warm moisture streaming in from the Atlantic Ocean on Oct. 3 and 4 relentlessly dumped between one and two feet of rain across most of South Carolina. The result was rivers topping their banks and dams bursting. Catastrophic flooding followed across most of the state, which has left residents in some areas without power or clean drinking water.

Tracking and predicting the deluge, both as rain and then floodwater, are the first steps to help protect people in harm's way. State and federal emergency managers have been on the front lines of this natural disaster since it began, armed with weather and flood forecasts from the National Weather Service. NASA has supported these efforts with information based on data from Earth-observing satellites in space.

Read more:

http://go.nasa.gov/1NqAjmZ


Hurricane Joaquin Updates
South Carolina hit by once-in-a-millennium rains

Death toll rises from South Carolina floods

Flood waters continued to rise in parts of South Carolina on Monday after three days of historic rainfall. The statewide death toll attributed to the once-in-a-millennium rains rose to at least 11 — seven from drowning and four in traffic accidents. Two died in North Carolina. About 550 roads and bridges were closed on Monday, and at least 18 dams were breached or failed. Further flood dangers were expected Tuesday, Gov. Nikki Haley (R) said, as a "wall of water" drains from inland areas to the low-lying coast. [The Charlotte Observer, The Washington Post]



South Carolina was hit by historic rainfall over the weekend that caused widespread flooding and left at least six people dead. Two others died in North Carolina. Mount Pleasant, near Charleston, got more than 24 inches of rain. "We haven't seen this level of rain in the Lowcountry in 1,000 years," South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) said at a press conference. "That's how big this is." The state capital, Columbia, got more than a foot overnight. Rescuers plucked hundreds of people trapped by floodwaters, many stranded in cars. [CNN, The Associated Press]

Massive Container Ship Disappears in the Bermuda Triangle During Hurricane Joaquin.
Aircraft find 225 SQUARE MILE debris field in hunt for cargo ship that vanished into Hurricane Joaquin with 33 crew aboard
Cargo ship El Faro was last seen near Crooked Island, Bahamas, on Friday
By Sunday afternoon, search had covered 70,000 square nautical miles
Debris has been found scattered over a 225 square nautical mile area
Oil sheen, deck material and containers also found near Crooked Island
The ship, of 28 Americans and 5 Poles, 'sailed into Hurricane Joaquin'
Wife of a crewmember Rochelle Hamm, 44, revealed her confusion at the captain's decision to set sail even though he knew the storm was coming
'Right now I need to find out if they’ve located my child,' said Laurie Bobillot whose daughter Danielle Randolph, 34, from Maine is on board

Theresa Davidson said her captain husband Michael is 'extremely capable' and believes he and his crew will be rescued this weekend



A missing cargo ship carrying 33 crewmen reportedly sunk during Hurricane Joaquin, NBC News reports. El Faro, which vanished Thursday in the Bermuda Triangle, had 28 Americans on board.The 735-foot cargo ship was en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from Jacksonville, Florida, when it lost contact during the height of the hurricane. Jeva Lange


 Carolina governor calls deadly rain a 'thousand-year' event.

Flash flood emergencies spread in South Carolina.

All highways closed in the capital, Columbia, which had wettest day on record Sunday
 5 deaths in S. Carolina blamed on weather.
"Regardless of where you are in the state, stay home," implored the governor. "Stay off the roadways."

The low pressure area associated with the rain soaking the Carolinas is funneling heavy tropical moisture into the region, creating the torrential rainfall, the CNN Weather Center said.
"Life-threatening rip currents, high surf and coastal flooding, mainly at high tides, will stretch nearly the entire eastern U.S. coast,"


The moisture the storm is pulling in is also associated with Hurricane Joaquin, but the two systems shouldn't be confused.

Becker said that 315 vehicle collisions occurred in one 12-hour period on Sunday, and Haley said that more than 750 motorists called for assistance during that same stretch.

Today has been the wettest day in Columbia history. 6.71" has fallen so far at CAE. The old record was 5.79" set Jul 9 1959 #SEflood #scwx

— NWS Columbia (@NWSColumbia) October 4, 2015




The GOES-East satellite captured this visible image of Hurricane Joaquin east of the Bahamas on Oct. 3 at 1615 UTC (12:15 p.m. EDT).
The national weather forecast for October 3, 2015: Joaquin is no threat for now, but the nor'easter on the East Coast is causing massive flooding.
Heavy rain hit Charleston, South Carolina., and much of the Southeast on Saturday, giving the region little relief from the threat of Hurricane Joaquin as it moved to the northeast away from the East Coast.

Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project


Ref-https://www.facebook.com/NASA.GSFC/photos/
Hurricane Joaquin Updates: All Schools Closed, Floods Trap Southern Islands Residents

The Ministry of Education announced the early closure of all public schools in Exuma, San Salvador, Cat Island and Rum Cay at noon yesterday due to expected flooding due to Joaquin.

#The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBPF) yesterday suspended leave for all officers away from duty.

Joaquin: Hurricane Strengthens to Category 3 as It Approaches Bahamas.




Joaquin is now a major hurricane and will impact the Bahamas today and tomorrow. Sustained winds are near 120 mph with gusts near 150 mph. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles front the center. Joaquin is centered about 20 miles north of the Samana Cays Bahamas and moving slowly WSW at 5 mph. This storm will continue drifting slowly southwest and move over portions of the Central Bahamas on Thursday and Friday. Joaquin will make a sharp northerly turn on Friday and move up the East Coast this weekend. Joaquin could strengthen to a category 4 hurricane by Friday. Joaquin will likely be closest to VA and NC on Sunday.


A hurricane watch was also in effect for the northwest Bahamas, which includes the islands of Eleuthera, the Abacos, New Providence, Andros, the Berry Islands, Bimini and Grand Bahama. Residents in those areas should begin to make preparations for the possible impact of Joaquin within 36 hours.

#A tropical storm warning was also put out yesterday for the southeast Bahamas which includes Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Inagua, Mayaguana and Ragged Island.

#A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

#Last night Joaquin had reported maximum sustained winds of 105mph which extended 35 miles from the centre, about 95 miles east the central Bahamas and moving toward the southwest at 7mph.

#According to the Bahamas Meteorological Office, moderate to severe flooding can be expected as Joaquin is forecast to produce five to 10 inches of rain with isolated amounts of 15 inches possible over San Salvador and Rum Cay through Friday morning. Rainfall of three to five inches is possible over the remainder of the central Bahamas through Friday morning, with two to four inches expected over the northeast and southeast Bahamas.
New Providence is not expected to be hit directly, tropical storm winds as well as localised flooding is expected in the capital.
Forecasters expect Joaquin to turn north after leaving the Bahamas, but they have little confidence in predicting its path after that. Many US computer forecast models predict a hit on the East Coast of the US next week, anywhere from North Carolina to New York’s Long Island.

#The US National Hurricane Centre said Joaquin could become a category three hurricane, with winds of 115mph, in the Atlantic Ocean by Saturday after leaving the Bahamas.


 "In light of Hurricane Joaquin and information provided by NEMA officials, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has decided to close all schools throughout The Bahamas until further notice. As this is a big system, even though islands may not be in the direct path, the outer bands place the majority of our islands under a hurricane warning.The College of The Bahamas and The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute will also be closed on Friday.

All residents to take necessary precautions and to remember that protection of life is more important that the protection of things. We will provide further updates as information becomes available. Please remember to check the Ministry’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for additional updates.











Download/read more: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=4367


Ref:http://www.tribune242.com
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news
http://theweek.com
Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio Data provided by the joint NASA/JAXA GPM mission

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