East Coast Deluge

It's been raining from North Carolina to New York for days now and there is no end in sight. A tropical system (not even a depression) is making its way northward to join the moisture that's already saturated much of the east coast. Areas north and east of me are evacuating residents due to the threat of flooding from the Patuxent River. The Mayor of D.C. has declared a state of emergency. Many buildings in downtown D.C. are closed, including several museums around the Mall. But the flooding on the eastern shore is the worst in this area.

The VA/D.C./MD area is certainly not the only area being effected by these heavy rains. Flood watches and warnings are in effect from norther North Carolina to central New York.

Houston Flooding

As much as ten inches of rain fell in Houston today. This wasn't a hurricane or a tropical storm, just a low pressure system moving across southern Texas. This low is being compared to Tropical Storm Allison, which hit Texas in 2001 and lingered for several days. Flooding is and will continue to be the biggest problem. There have been reports of torrential rains falling at the rate of 6 inches an hour, which is more than enough to cause flash flooding. The local forecast says that heavy rains could continue for the next two days, which will cause more persistance flooding. Local coverage can be found here and here.

Alberto update #3

While I was at work, Alberto increased in strength a bit.

Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph
Minimum central pressure: 997 mb

Despite 20-30 mph wind shear and a ton of dry air to the west, Alberto not only refused to die, but intensified. I checked the calendar. It insists that it is 2006, but it still feels like 2005 to me.

Alberto is forecast to reach hurricane strength by the time it makes landfall right in Florida's armpit. Since Alberto will probably make landfall in the morning and tropical systems like to intensify overnight, it will probably be at peak when it hits. Governor Bush has ordered evacuations of Florida's Gulf coast. The evacuations aren't so much for winds or even heavy rain (which most of Florida has already gotten or is getting now) but for storm surge, which is predicted to be a rather high 8-10 feet.

Alberto: I'm not dead yet

Quick morning update:

Maximum sustained winds: 49 mph
Minimum central pressure: 1001 mb

Alberto is still holding together, despite high wind shear. All of the computer models now have it hitting Florida somewhere, with the official forecast sending it right to the inner bend. If it's survived this far, Alberto will probably be a tropical storm when it hits Florida, bringing heavy rains to much of the state.

Alberto forms

Tropical Depression 1 has now officially become Tropical Storm Alberto.

Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph
Minimum central pressure: 1003 mb

Alberto has already pounded Cuba with heavy rains. But he will probably be little more than a low pressure system in a couple of days, given the wind shear and dry air to the east and the relatively high central pressure. The center appears better defined than last night, but that and the warm waters it's sitting over at the only things going for it. Of course, last season, storms formed and even strengthened under worse conditions. Alberto will be over open water for at least two days. So we'll see.

Welcome, Weather Fiends!

To avoid swamping my personal blog with weather-related posts, I'm starting this one for Hurricane Season 2006 and beyond. Hopefully, it won't go the way of my fiction blog. And hopefully my personal blog won't suffer as a result. Anyway, welcome. Let's get started.