Hurricane Matthew pounds Carolina coast
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Hurricane Matthew is bringing damaging winds, torrential rains and an impressive storm surge to the coast of South Carolina this Saturday morning.
The enhanced infrared satellite loop shows the highest and coldest (red) cloud tops near the center of Hurricane Matthew:
Here is the combination visible and infrared (temperature sensing) satellite view:
You can follow the visible/IR satellite loop as Matthew continues to move along the South Carolina and North Carolina coasts today and tonight.
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Here is the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center:
BULLETIN
HURRICANE MATTHEW INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 41A
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL142016
800 AM EDT SAT OCT 08 2016
...STRONG WINDS AND DANGEROUS STORM SURGE AFFECTING THE COAST OF
SOUTH CAROLINA...
...HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS SPREADING INLAND...
SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...32.5N 79.8W
ABOUT 20 MI...35 KM SSE OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 45 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...962 MB...28.41 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* North of Altamaha Sound to Surf City
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* North of Surf City to Cape Lookout
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* North of Surf City to Duck
* Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Matthew was
located by NOAA Doppler weather radars, and an Air Force Reserve
Hurricane Hunter aircraft, near latitude 32.5 North, longitude
79.8 West. Matthew is moving toward the northeast near 12 mph
(19 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue today.
On the forecast track, the center of Matthew will continue to
move near or over the coast of South Carolina today, and be
near the coast of southern North Carolina by tonight.
Reports from the reconnaissance aircraft indicate that maximum
sustained winds have decreased to near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher
gusts. Although weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours,
Matthew is expected to remain a hurricane while the center is near
the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from
the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185
miles (295 km). A private weather station at Folly Beach reported
a wind gust of 76 mph (122 km/h). Strong wind gusts are also
occurring well inland in South Carolina. Orangeburg recently
reported a wind gust of 55 mph (89 km/h).
The minimum central pressure recently reported by an Air Force
reconnaissance aircraft was 962 mb (28.41 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND: Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected to
continue over the warning area in Georgia and South Carolina
this morning, and spread northward elsewhere within the warning area
through today.
Residents in high-rise buildings should be aware that the winds at
the top of a 30-story building will be, on average, about one
Saffir-Simpson category higher than the winds near the surface.
Hurricane conditions are possible within the Hurricane Watch and
Tropical Storm Warning area in North Carolina by tonight or Sunday
morning, with tropical storm conditions expected later this morning.
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge, the tide,
and large and destructive waves will cause normally dry areas near
the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the
shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground
if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Altamaha Sound, GA, to Edisto Beach, SC...6 to 9 ft
Edisto Beach, SC to Cape Fear, NC...5 to 7 ft
Cape Fear to Duck, NC, including portions of the Pamlico and
Albemarle Sounds...2 to 4 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances. Large waves generated by Matthew will cause water
rises to occur well in advance of and well away from the track of
the center. For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.
There is a danger of life-threatening inundation during the next 36
hours along the coast from Altamaha Sound, Georgia, to Cape
Fear, North Carolina. There is the possibility of life-threatening
inundation during the next 48 hours from north of Cape Fear to Duck,
North Carolina, including portions of Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.
For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the Prototype National
Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic. For information
specific to your area, please see products issued by your local
National Weather Service forecast office.
The Prototype Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic is a depiction of
areas that would qualify for inclusion under a storm surge watch or
warning currently under development by the National Weather Service
and planned for operational use in 2017. The Prototype Graphic is
available at hurricanes.gov.
RAINFALL: Matthew is expected to produce total rain accumulations of
8 to 12 inches near and east of Interstate 95 in South Carolina and
North Carolina, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches.
Matthew is expected to produce 2 to 6 inches of rain over central
South Carolina, western North Carolina, and southeastern Virginia.
Additional rain accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are expected over
eastern Georgia. In all of these areas rainfall may result in
life-threatening flooding and flash flooding.
TORNADOES: An isolated tornado or two will be possible today along
the coast of North Carolina and northern South Carolina.
SURF: Swells generated by Matthew will continue to affect portions
of the east coast of Florida during the next few days, and will
spread northward along the southeast U.S. coast through the weekend.
These swells will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
Parts of South Carolina could see a storm surge of 6 to 9 feet today.
A glossary of terms that are used by the National Hurricane Center is available.
The National Hurricane Center “cone of uncertainty” shows that Matthew’s center may ride along or near the coast of South Carolina today, then along or near the North Carolina coast on Sunday:
The National Hurricane Center has a new storm surge product that is in the development stage.
It shows that the storm surge could move a good distance inland today, in several spots between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, SC:
The storm surge product can be zoomed in to get details of specific points.
The product comes with this explanation from NHC:
This map should only be used as a general guideline for understanding where storm surge flooding could occur given the current forecast situation. Regardless of what this map shows, always follow evacuation and other instructions from your local emergency management officials.
This map depicts the potential flooding that could be produced from storm surge during a tropical cyclone. Storm surge is water from the ocean that is pushed onshore by the force of the winds. Flooding from storm surge depends on many factors, such as the track, intensity, size, and forward speed of the tropical cyclone and the characteristics of the coastline where it comes ashore or passes nearby.
The National Hurricane Center will post regular Hurricane Matthew updates.
Cool Saturday, warmer Sunday
Highs will be cooler than normal today, with 40s over northern Minnesota and 50s to the south:
Low in the 30s are on tap for Sunday morning, and many areas could see frost:
Highs Sunday will be closer to normal, touching 60 in southern Minnesota:
Winds will be light to start the weekend, but they'll pick up a bit late Sunday as a high pressure system slides to our east:
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.