Kevin Abell’s Post

Hurricane Debby, now downgraded to a tropical storm, continues to wreak havoc on the southeastern U.S. Anywhere between 7-15 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts, is possible from north-central Florida to South Carolina's northern coast over the next 48 hours.   We follow all developments live at USA TODAY: https://lnkd.in/ez-xRrVh   Here’s the latest:  - Tornado advisories were in effect across parts of the Carolinas, including the cities of Wilmington and Florence. - One day after Debby made landfall as a Category 1 storm, more than 100,000 homes and businesses in northern Florida were still without power, according to Poweroutage.us.  - Millions across Georgia and the Carolinas were under flash flood warnings and watches that will remain active into the latter half of the week.

Helene: Essential information Everything you need to know about evacuations, shelters and closures as Helene moves in for landfall. A major hurricane is coming to the Gulf of Mexico, and AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the fast-brewing, quick-moving storm can potentially bring life-threatening storm surge, flooding rainfall, and destructive winds to many communities along the Gulf Coast. https://lnkd.in/e8xkFVNX #Helene

Tropical Storm Debby Impacts forecast (posted Sunday, 6:30pm): Tropical Storm Debby is 12 to 16 hours from making landfall in Apalachee Bay, likely as a Category 1 hurricane. Dangerous surge will peak Monday morning in eastern Apalachee Bay and the Nature Coast, with winds capable of snarling trees and powerlines expected in coastal sections of the Big Bend and possible inland. Debby’s track is angling a bit more east today, but no matter where matter it makes landfall, a broad and serious flood threat will persist over northeast Florida, and eastern Georgia and the Carolinas deep into the week. Our final pre-landfall newsletter for Debby takes a specific look as possible at Florida’s region-by-region impacts through Tuesday, including what Tallahassee can expect for wind gusts. In short, Debby will pack a punch in surge terms in Apalachee Bay, and in flooding terms across the Southeast U.S. this week. Forecast is free for all at the link. https://lnkd.in/e-d9xKJ3

🌪️ Did You Know? 🌧️ #Hurricanes aren’t just about wind—they're about rain too! The Saffir-Simpson Scale, which ranks hurricanes from 1 to 5, solely measures wind speed, not total rainfall. This means that lower-ranking storms can still bring catastrophic #floodrisks. Take #TropicalStormDebby, previously #HurricaneDebby, for example. Despite being a Category 1 storm with 80 mph winds, Debby caused extreme rainfall and severe flooding. 🌊 Just look at her impact on Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina – with some areas possibly receiving 20-30 inches of rain! https://lnkd.in/gMbps3_Q Key Takeaways: - Heavy Rainfall: Not reflected in the Saffir-Simpson Scale. - Flood Risk: High during hurricane season, even with low-ranking hurricanes. - Prepare Wisely: Understand all potential storm impacts. At FloodMapp, we specialize in providing real-time flood intelligence to help you navigate these underestimated but dangerous aspects of hurricanes. ➡️ Learn how we can help protect your community: https://lnkd.in/gK3xkr5G

🚨 Major Hurricane Milton Set to Strike Florida This Week 🚨 This week, Florida faces its third landfalling hurricane of 2024. Hurricane Milton is set to strike the western coast late Wednesday night, bringing high winds, flooding rain, tornado risks, and destructive storm surge. Milton has rapidly intensified and is expected to reach CAT 5 over warm open waters soon, but will likely make landfall as a strong CAT 2 or CAT 3. It's rare to see a Category 4 or 5 hurricane in the Gulf this late in the season—a clear signal of our changing climate. Tampa Bay to Sarasota southward to Fort Myers and Naples should all be on high alert for storm surge impacts. In addition to storm surge, flash flooding will be widespread across the Florida Peninsula. The heaviest rain is forecast to occur south of Tampa where 4-8” of rain (locally as high as 15-20”) will fall along the western coast of Florida. Cities on the eastern coast such as Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando and Melbourne will also see substantial rain, flooding, isolated tornadoes and damaging wind gusts through Thursday morning. See Monarch's long-term flood risk below. Tropical meteorologists from Monarch have already begun preparing our partners, with help from our proprietary flood modeling and risk scores — keeping employees safe and assets protected well ahead of the storm. #ConsultMonarch 🌐

Tropical Storm Helene: Essential information A major hurricane is coming to the Gulf of Mexico, and AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the fast-brewing, quick-moving storm can potentially bring life-threatening storm surge, flooding rainfall, and destructive winds to many communities along the Gulf Coast. People in the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend region and much of the central and eastern Gulf coast need...

⚠ Hurricane Alert: Tropical Storm Beryl Update ⛈ Stay safe, everyone! Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to strengthen into a hurricane and make landfall on the Texas coast Monday morning. Here are some quick hurricane preparedness reminders: Stay informed: Follow updates from the National Hurricane Center (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/) and local authorities. Develop a plan: Discuss evacuation routes and communication strategies with your family. Remember, Don't drown, turn around! Assemble an emergency kit: Include non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, medications, and a battery-powered radio. Secure your property: Bring in outdoor furniture, trim trees, and secure loose objects. Consider evacuation: If you live in a low-lying area or are under an evacuation order, leave early. Let's all stay vigilant and take precautions to ensure the safety of ourselves and our communities. #TexasStrong #HurricanePreparedness #StaySafe #WeatherUpdate #TropicalStormBeryl #TexasCoast

Heavy rainfall, flash flooding, tornadoes, and gusty winds are all still expected in SC from Hurricane Helene. Helene remains a very large storm, so impacts will be felt far outside the storm’s track. The risk for tornadoes has expanded to include more parts of the state, and numerous nocturnal tornadoes are possible overnight Thursday into Friday morning.   Links to local NWS Office briefings: NWS GSP: https://lnkd.in/eB_XVvwJ NWS ILM: https://lnkd.in/eXSS3bqN NWS CAE: https://lnkd.in/euVqHCu2 NWS CHS: https://lnkd.in/e9CNHdSF At 5am EDT, Hurricane Helene was located 650 miles southwest of Beaufort, SC with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and a minimum central pressure of 966 mb. Helene is moving toward the north-northeast near 12 mph. This general motion is expected to continue with a significant increase in forward speed during the next 24 hours. On the forecast track, Helene will cross the FL Big Bend coast this evening or early Friday morning. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the TN Valley on Friday & Saturday. Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major Hurricane when it reaches the FL Big Bend coast this evening. Weakening is expected after landfall, but Helene's fast forward speed will allow damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. Tropical storm conditions are spreading across the FL Keys at this time, and they are expected to spread northward across the rest of FL, GA, and SC through tonight. Tropical Storm Warning All South Carolina counties Storm Surge - Heights above ground * Savannah River to South Santee River – 1-3 ft Rainfall Over portions of the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches. This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Flash flooding likely, particularly in western Midlands and the Upstate. Numerous significant landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians. Landslides are possible in the Upstate Mountains. Tornadoes The risk for several tornadoes will gradually increase today through tonight. The greatest threat is expected from parts of northern Florida into southeast GA, the Midlands and Lowcountry of SC, and southern NC. Increased risk of tornadoes overnight Thursday, particularly in southern and eastern SC, but still possible throughout SC. Wind High wind gusts are possible throughout SC. Tropical storm warnings are in place for all SC counties. Tropical Storm Wind Probabilities Beaufort, SC - 43% Charleston, SC - 29% Augusta, GA - 54% Columbia, SC - 16% Anderson, SC -46% Greenville, SC - 23%

The “cone of uncertainty” produced by the National Hurricane Center to forecast the location and ferocity of a tropical storm is getting an update this year to include predictions for inland areas, where wind and flooding are sometimes more treacherous than damage to the coasts. The goal of the expanded forecast cone is to make sure people who don’t live along a coast are aware of the dangers they could still face and features colors to show which places face threats in a much broader way than before. https://lnkd.in/gfc26YxD

Community Update #1: Hurricane Helene Hurricane Helene is expected to become a major hurricane and is forecast to make landfall during the evening hours of Thursday, Sept. 26, along areas of the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region. The storm system will likely be large in size, so impacts will extend far beyond the storm center and begin well before the storm center arrives in the forecast area. According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Helene may produce damaging winds, heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of north Georgia. Gov. Brian Kemp has also declared a State of Emergency in the State of Georgia due to the potential negative impacts of Hurricane Helene. TIMING/THREAT WINDOW Today and Tonight: Heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding (not associated with Helene) is expected across portions of north and central Georgia, especially roughly along the I-85 corridor. Helene will also bring heavy rainfall, tropical storm force winds and the potential for short-lived tornadoes. LOCAL IMPACTS Helene will bring heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday. Life-threatening flash flooding and/or river and stream flooding can be expected. The previously issued Flood Watch remains in effect across the entire forecast area until 2 PM Friday. A Tropical Storm Watch has also been issued and is in effect across our forecast area until Friday morning. The metro Atlanta area now has a 6 in 10 chance of seeing tropical storm force wind gusts (>39 mph). There is also a very high risk for downed trees and powerlines that could lead to widespread and extended power outages. >> Read the fill update here: https://lnkd.in/g_i42jS8 #HurricaneHelene #OneForestPark #ClaytonCounty #HurricaneSeason