General Discussion

kentuck

(111,098 posts) Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:32 PM Oct 2018

This is a horrible storm.

It started as a small tropical depression off the western coast of Cuba and, three days later, it is slamming into the Gulf Coast of Florida at nearly a Category 5.

Two or three hours after landfall, it still had near 140 mph winds! It is expected to move into Georgia by 8 pm this evening.

We don't know how much damage or death there has been? It would be a miracle if no one was killed in this storm. It had not moved across the Atlantic from Africa's coast.

It started in the Caribbean. It was not a huge storm with a lot of rain. It traveled across the almost hot waters of the Gulf before hitting land.

Our thoughts to all the survivors.

10 replies

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This is a horrible storm. (Original Post) kentuck Oct 2018 OP

The rapid intensification is the terrifying element of this storm. NutmegYankee Oct 2018 #1

I was surprised when I awoke this morning to hear that it was a Cat 4. kentuck Oct 2018 #3

Maria strengthened to Cat 5 over 24 hours before destroying Dominica malaise Oct 2018 #6

After leaving the coast, most of the area it's going over is very rural. There are really no heavy Lochloosa Oct 2018 #2

You're right about that. kentuck Oct 2018 #4

Less population, but more trees and older homes. NutmegYankee Oct 2018 #5

Your right about the trees and power, but I would stay in one of those older homes Lochloosa Oct 2018 #7

The flaw is the older homes often don't lock the roof down to the walls. NutmegYankee Oct 2018 #8

True. I added tie downs the last time my roof was replaced Lochloosa Oct 2018 #9

I hope they noticed that the storm didn't give a shit if they "believed" in man made climate change world wide wally Oct 2018 #10

NutmegYankee

(16,199 posts)

1. The rapid intensification is the terrifying element of this storm.

Reply to kentuck (Original post)

Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:34 PM

Oct 2018

It was predicted to be a CAT 2, and hit at almost Cat 5 with very little notice.

kentuck

(111,098 posts)

3. I was surprised when I awoke this morning to hear that it was a Cat 4.

Reply to NutmegYankee (Reply #1)

Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:41 PM

Oct 2018

The water was so hot and uninhabitable that it almost seemed like Mother Nature was looking for a way to clean it??

malaise

(269,020 posts)

6. Maria strengthened to Cat 5 over 24 hours before destroying Dominica

Reply to NutmegYankee (Reply #1)

Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:46 PM

Oct 2018

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL152017_Maria.pdf

Maria’s peak intensity of 150 kt is based on a blend of SFMR-observed surface winds of 152 kt and 700-mb flight-level winds of 157 kt. Maria’s 65-kt intensity increase over 24 h on 18 September makes it tied for the sixth-fastest intensifying hurricane in the Atlantic basin record.
The intensity of the hurricane when it struck Dominica, 145 kt, is based on an SFMR- observed surface wind of 152 kt which, based on quality control by data processing software, is believed to be somewhat inflated, and a maximum 10-min wind of 130 kt measured at Douglas-Charles Airport on the island, which conservatively corresponds to a 1-min wind of 143 kt. Maria is the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall on Dominica (or strike within 60 n mi of that island).

Lochloosa

(16,065 posts)

2. After leaving the coast, most of the area it's going over is very rural. There are really no heavy

Reply to kentuck (Original post)

Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:41 PM

Oct 2018

populations till it's well into GA.

kentuck

(111,098 posts)

4. You're right about that.

Reply to Lochloosa (Reply #2)

Wed Oct 10, 2018, 05:44 PM

Oct 2018

I have traveled from Georgia to Panama City two or three times and it is densely populated and very rural. The hurricane was not large. It was not carrying a lot of water to slow it down...