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===North Carolina===
===North Carolina===
Moisture from Ernesto was intercepted by a frontal boundary stalled across the state, which led to prodigious rains. The maximum amount as of the morning of [[August 31]] was 5.30"/134.6 mm at a rain gauge two miles north-northwest of Henderson. <ref name="SERFC31"/>
Moisture from Ernesto was intercepted by a frontal boundary stalled across the state, which led to prodigious rains. The maximum amount as of the morning of [[August 31]] was 5.30"/134.6 mm at a rain gauge two miles north-northwest of Henderson. <ref name="SERFC31"/>

===Northeastern United States===
Expected to hit the Northeastern United States on Friday night and dump a 2-4 inches of rainfall throughout the [[Labor Day]] weekend.


==Current storm information==
==Current storm information==

Revision as of 04:38, 1 September 2006

Template:Ongoing weather

This article is about the 2006 storm. For past storms, see Hurricane Ernesto (disambiguation).
Hurricane Ernesto
Current storm status
Tropical storm (1-min mean)
Satellite image
 File:TD52006atlantic.gif
Forecast map
As of:11:40 p.m. EDT (0340 UTC) August 31
Location:33.9°N, 78.2°W ± 15 nm
Onshore at Long Beach, North Carolina
Sustained winds:70 mph | 110 km/h | 60 kt (1-min mean)
gusting to 80 mph | 130 km/h | 70 kt
Pressure:988 mbar (29.26 inHg)
Movement:NNE at 18 mph | 29 km/h | 15 kt
See more detailed information.

Hurricane Ernesto is the fifth named storm and first hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season. It affected the northern Caribbean and Florida before making landfall on the North Carolina coast at just under hurricane strength.

Storm history

Track of Ernesto as of 5 p.m. EST August 30.
Radar image of Ernesto about to make landfall in South Florida on 29 August 2006.

In the fourth week of August, a vigorous tropical wave tracked westward ahead of Tropical Storm Debby. The strong wind shear and the Saharan Air Layer prevented development in the early stages, but it became much more organized near the Windward Islands. It was declared Tropical Depression Five on August 24 after a Hurricane Hunters flight found a closed circulation.

The system continued to become more organized, and it was upgraded to a tropical storm on August 25 west of the Lesser Antilles, after another reconnaissance flight. Organization continued through August 26 leading to a strengthening to a Category 1 hurricane in the early hours of August 27. Ernesto became the first hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season with maximum sustained winds of about 75 mph.[1] The 5 a.m. August 27 advisory noted that Ernesto was "likely undergoing rapid intensification". However, it interacted with the mountainous land mass of Hispaniola and rapidly weakened to tropical storm strength. It was expected to regain strength after traversing Cuba's rough terrain.[1] At 11 a.m. EDT August 28, Ernesto was about 35 miles west of Guantanamo, moving northwest near 10 mph. It dumped heavy rain in localized areas of eastern Cuba, but the storm's winds had diminished greatly as it started moving across land, leading Cuban meteorologist Jose Rubiera said on state television.[2]

Radar image of Ernesto about to make landfall in Southern North Carolina on 31 August 2006.

Ernesto then affected the Florida Keys, before making a third landfall in Miami-Dade County as a weak tropical storm. Weakening to a depression over land, Ernesto moved northeastwards and emerged into the Atlantic on August 30, regaining tropical storm strength shortly after. A short burst of strength warranted the issuance of Hurricane Watches for parts of the Carolina coasts, but Ernesto made its final landfall as a 70-mph tropical storm near Long Beach.

Preparations

Haiti

In Haiti, emergency officers went on regional radio to warn those living in unstable buildings to evacuate to either schools or churches. "These people could be in great danger... flooding is the biggest concern because a lot of residents live along the rivers and the sea." said Adel Nazaire, a coordinator of the agency that protects Haiti.[3] Elisabeth Verluyten, a disaster management representative, also has said that some people won't evacuate "because they’re afraid of losing the little they have" and that they should be encouraged to be more aware.[4]

Local meteorologists forecast that about 20 inches (500 mm) of rain could fall in some mountain areas of Haiti, raising fears of flash floods in the heavily deforested country. Also, evacuations of low-lying areas in the northwestern city of Gonaïves, which was devastated by floods during Tropical Storm Jeanne in 2004, were ordered.[1]

Jamaica

Jamaican officials issued radio and television advisories for residents in low-lying areas, urging them to be ready and evacuate if it becomes necessary. Additionally, the Jamaican government has opened all shelters on the island, and has put its armed forces on standby.[3]

Long lines for storm supplies were reported at local businesses ahead of the storm in preparation.[3] A tropical storm warning was in effect for Jamaica and the central Bahamas. Cruise ship companies said they were diverting several liners to avoid the storm.[1]

Cuba

Hurricane warnings are in effect for the southeastern half of the island country. Significant storm total rainfall of up to 20 inches (500 mm), particularly across the mountainous south, is expected as the center of Ernesto tracks slowly across Cuba. [5] Cuban officials evacuated 300,000 people[6] and brought its fishing fleet into harbors.[7] Tropical Storm Ernesto hit Cuba west of the U.S. naval air base at Guantanamo early in the morning on August 28. Cuba ramped up emergency preparations before the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season moved ashore about 20 miles west of Guantanamo with top sustained winds dropping to 45 mph. The Cuban government issued a hurricane warning for six eastern provinces and Cuban state television broadcast extensive warnings about the storm, urging precautions. Cattle were moved to higher ground, tourists were evacuated from hotels in the southeastern province of Granma, and baseball games scheduled for August 27 night in Havana were played earlier in the day.[1]

United States

File:Noaanationalwatchwarningernesto.PNG
National watches and warnings. It shows Flash Flood Watches and Coastal Flood Warnings throughout the Eastern Seaboard, north of southern South Carolina and south of Northern Pennsylvania.

Florida

Ernesto crossing the Straits of Florida on August 29, 2006.

In Florida, the Key West, Florida National Weather Service issued a mandatory evacuation order for all visitors and non-residents in the Florida Keys, beginning at 1 P.M. EST on August 29. Monroe County shelters opened on August 30, and an evacuation of special needs and mobile home residents began at 6 AM and 10 AM EST, respectively.[8] A mandatory evacuation of all Miami-Dade and Broward county mobile home residents was put into effect. Miami-Dade and Monroe county schools were closed Tuesday August 29 and Wednesday August 30, while Broward was only scheduled to be closed on Tuesday with a decision to be made as to Wednesday.

The state activated its Emergency Operations Center, while the National Guard was placed on standby, following a "warning order" to its commanders on August 26.[9] At the same time, the Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, issued a state of emergency due to the high risk of impact from Ernesto on the state. [10]

Forecasters issued a hurricane watch on August 28 for southern Florida. A hurricane watch remained in effect for all of the Florida Keys.[1] "I don't want anyone to overly focus on the downgrading. … It has a good chance to regain hurricane status," said Max Mayfield, director of the hurricane center.

Governor Jeb Bush urged Florida residents to make preparations and not wait until the storm was upgraded. "My suggestion: Take this storm very seriously. A hurricane is a hurricane," said Bush, urging people to have 72 hours worth of supplies.[2]

Gulf Coast

Early uncertainty in track forecast led to preparations along the Gulf Coast. In New Orleans and Chalmette the United States Army Corps of Engineers declared that the levees repaired after their failures during Katrina may stop the storm surge from a hurricane, but that they would also block rainwater from leaving the city, due to delays in building the ancillary infrastructure to prevent flooding.[11] No evacuation orders were issued for Gulf Coast residents.

The forecast initially caused oil prices to rise in anticipation of possible impact in the central Gulf of Mexico.[12] The petroleum supermajor BP has stated it will evacuate one-third of its 2,400 employees from their stations in the Gulf of Mexico as a precautionary measure.[3] Combined with uncertainty about a possible conflict with Iran, the cost of crude oil rose on Aug. 25 by $1.19 to $73.55 (2006 USD), and natural gas prices rose $0.39 to $7.47.[12] However, oil prices retreated by $2 (2006 USD) on Aug. 28 to well below $71, as the storm began its track toward Florida. [13]

South Carolina

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford mobilized 250 National Guardsmen to direct traffic if evacuations will be ordered.[10]

Mid-Atlantic

The National Weather Service also issued a Coastal Flood Watch and a Flash Flood Watch for the Washington, D.C. area. Ernesto is predicted to pass near the nation's capital and then veer west towards the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.[11]

Impact

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico experienced peripheral rainfall from the cyclone as it tracked through the eastern Caribbean Sea. As of the morning of August 27, a two-day storm total of 4.69 inches (119.1 mm) of rainfall had fallen at the Sabana Grande ALERT station.[14]

Hispaniola

In the Dominican Republic, heavy rainfall caused river flooding and mudslides, resulting in damage to several houses. The rainfall also downed trees, while the flooding entered over 400 houses near Santo Domingo[15], displacing over 1600 people.[16]

Heavy rainfall in Haiti caused flooding, destroying 13 homes on the island of La Gonave. One person was confirmed dead in Île à Vache as a result of the storm surge[17] and another was killed in central Artibonite valley.[18] In addition, officials tried to confirm reports of a storm-related death in Gonaives.[7] The storm also downed telephone lines in various parts of the country.[18] In Port-au-Prince, rainfall severely damaged a bridge, isolating the southern portion of the region.[19]

Cuba

Ernesto produced heavy rainfall in eastern Cuba, with Guantanamo reporting 3 inches in 4 hours.[20] Due to rainfall from the storm, the Cuban Civil Aeronautics Institute remarked that flights throughout the country would be cancelled until further notice.[21] Gusty winds left some towns in the Camagüey province without power, though overall damage was minor.[22]

There were no reports from Cuba of deaths, injuries, or major damage attributed to the storm as of August 29. More than 700,000 people were evacuated in recent days in this country of 11.2 million. [23]

Florida

Atlantis heads back to Launch Pad 39B to ride out Ernesto

The Space Shuttle Atlantis was being returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center to avoid risking damage from Ernesto, but NASA changed its mind later on Tuesday. The mission, STS-115, had already been delayed twice due to a lightning strike to the launch pad's lightning rod on August 25.[24] On August 29, in light of the downgrade of Ernesto to a tropical storm and a reassessment of the risk it posed, NASA ceased the rollback to the VAB.

Heavy rains fell across southwest Florida. The highest total from the state so far was 6.74"/171 mm as of the morning of August 31. [25] [26] Two people were reported killed on the mainland in road traffic accidents apparently triggered by the rainfall from Ernesto. During the night approximately 6,800 Florida Power & Light residents lost power, but power was quickly restored. [27]

As Ernesto passed near Central Florida it dumped heavy rains, and wind gusts ranging from 20-35 mph. In Brevard County, winds blew a piece of metal on to the power lines causing an immediate outage that is current at this time. The wind knocked one boat over and it also caused a surfer in Volusia County to be thrashed hard by waves. He received cuts and scrapes and had to be fished out by Beach Patrol. [28] The Orlando International Airport canceled 150 flights on 30 August, due to Tropical Storm Ernesto. AirTran canceled 70 flights and Southwest Airlines canceled 80. [29]

South Carolina

Heavy rains have fallen across the Palmetto State with a total of 5.75"/146 mm at Blythewood on Cedar Creek as of the morning of August 31. [26]

North Carolina

Moisture from Ernesto was intercepted by a frontal boundary stalled across the state, which led to prodigious rains. The maximum amount as of the morning of August 31 was 5.30"/134.6 mm at a rain gauge two miles north-northwest of Henderson. [26]

Northeastern United States

Expected to hit the Northeastern United States on Friday night and dump a 2-4 inches of rainfall throughout the Labor Day weekend.

Current storm information

As of 11:00 p.m. EDT (0300 UTC) August 31, the center of Tropical Storm Ernesto was located within 15 nautical miles of 33.9°N, 78.2°W, about 25 miles (45 km) SW of Wilmington, North Carolina and about 105 miles (165 km) WSW of Cape Lookout, North Carolina. It has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h, 60 kt), with gusts to 80 mph (130 km/h, 70 kt). Ernesto is moving toward the north-northeast at near 18 mph (29 km/h, 16 kt). The minimum central pressure is 988 mbar (29.18 inHg). Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 145 miles (230 km) away from the storm's center of circulation, mainly to the east.

Ernesto made landfall in southern Miami-Dade County early on August 30 and weakened somewhat as it traveled up the Florida peninsula. It strengthened into a strong tropical storm after emerging in the Atlantic and is currently onshore at Long Beach, North Carolina at just under hurricane force.

Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches are possible from coastal South Carolina northward into the mid-Atlantic region with maximum amounts of 15 inches over the next few days.

Along coastal areas, storm surge flooding of one to three feet (up to one meter) above normal tide levels is possible.

Tropical cyclone warnings and watches

Hurricane warning levels
Hurricane warning
Hurricane conditions
expected within 36 hours.
Hurricane watch
Hurricane conditions
possible within 48 hours.
Tropical storm warning
Tropical storm conditions expected within 36 hours.
Tropical storm watch
Tropical storm conditions possible within 48 hours.
Storm surge warning
Life-threatening storm surge possible within 36 hours.
Storm surge watch
Life-threatening storm surge possible within 48 hours.
Extreme wind warning
Winds reaching Category 3 status or higher likely (issued two hours or less before onset of extreme winds).
See also: Tropical cyclone warnings and watches

As of 11 p.m. EDT August 31 (0300 UTC), the following warnings and watches were in effect:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Anita Snow (August 28, 2006). "Ernesto Hits Cuba, on Track for Florida". argusleader. Retrieved 2006-08-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b Anita Snow (August 28, 2006). "Ernesto Hits Cuba West of U.S. Air Base". abcnews. Retrieved 2006-08-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d Howard Campbell (August 26, 2006). "Ernesto Aims at Jamaica, May Hit Gulf". Associated Press. Retrieved 2006-08-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Ernesto threatens to be season's first hurricane". Associated Press. August 26, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ James Franklin (August 27, 2006). "Tropical Storm Ernesto Public Advisory 14, 1100 PM EDT". National Hurricane Center/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2006-08-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Anthony Boadle (August 28, 2006). "Ernesto bears down on Cuba after killing 1 in Haiti". Reuters. Retrieved 2006-08-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b Jim Loney (August 27, 2006). "Ernesto weakens as it pounds Haiti". Reuters. Retrieved 2006-08-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Key West NWS (2006). "Hurricane Local Statement". Retrieved 2006-08-29.
  9. ^ Martin Merzer (August 27, 2006). "Hurricane Ernesto could take aim at Florida". The Miami Herald. Retrieved 2006-08-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Jessica Gresko (August 27, 2006). "State of Emergency Declared in Florida". Associated Press. Retrieved 2006-08-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Peter Henderson (August 26, 2006). "Louisiana on alert for Tropical Storm Ernesto". Reuters. Retrieved 2006-08-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b Brad Foss (August 26, 2006). "Oil Rises As Traders Watch Iran, Storm". Associated Press. Retrieved 2006-08-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Brad Foss (August 28, 2006). "Oil prices drop more than $2 a barrel". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2006-08-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Environmental Modeling Center (August 26, 2006). "24-hour precipitation reports ending 12Z on 2006-08-26". National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2006-08-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ [2]
  17. ^ Anthony Boadle (August 28, 2006). "Ernesto weakens to storm, one dead in Haiti". Mail and Guardian. Retrieved 2006-08-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ a b Nancy San Martin (August 28, 2006). "Ernesto washes over eastern Cuba; 2 dead in Haiti". The Miami Herald. Retrieved 2006-08-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ [3]
  20. ^ Anthony Boadle (August 28, 2006). "UPDATE 4-Ernesto drenches Cuba on track to south Florida". Reuters. Retrieved 2006-08-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ [4]
  22. ^ [5]
  23. ^ [6]
  24. ^ "NASA scrubs Atlantis launch under storm threat". CNN. Retrieved 28th August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ ftp://ftp.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/mmb/gcp/precip/katz/usa-dlyprcp-20060830
  26. ^ a b c Southeast River Forecast Center (August 31, 2006). "24 HOUR Rainfall COLLECTIVE ENDING AT 12Z". NWS. Retrieved 2006-08-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ [7]
  28. ^ [8]
  29. ^ [9]

See also

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