Gaston Advisories

[wx247]

Thanks Kristi!!

I sure hope the hurricane watches are upgraded to warnings soon to give people in the affected areas a chance to prepare.

[seahawkjd]

I stand corrected

[Thunder44]

Just heard that too. Also on the Navy site is says 55kts.

http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html

[NOAA-NHC Saubers1]

Occasionally we will post warnings earlier than the usual, because of its proximity to the coastal areas, with this storm we cant afford to wait until 11, people must know.

[Brent]

Tropical Storm Gaston Intermediate Advisory Number 5a

Statement as of 8:00 PM EDT on August 28, 2004

...Gaston getting a little stronger...hurricane warnings issued for
South Carolina coast...

At 745 PM...2345z...a Hurricane Warning was issued for the coast of
South Carolina from the Savannah River to Little River Inlet. A
Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are possible in
the warning area during the next 24 hours.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect elsewhere along the
southeastern U.S. Coast north of Little River Inlet to Surf City
North Carolina...and south of the Savannah River to Fernandina
Beach Florida.

At 8 PM EDT...0000z...the center of Tropical Storm Gaston was
located near latitude 31.5 north...longitude 79.1 west or about
95 miles south-southeast of Charleston South Carolina.

Gaston is now drifting northwestward. A slow motion toward the
northwest or north is expected during the next 24 hours. This
motion could bring the center of Gaston near the South Carolina
coast by late Sunday.

Reports from an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate
that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph...with
higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast...and Gaston
could be a hurricane strength as it approaches the South Carolina
coast.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the
center.

The minimum central pressure reported by the hurricane hunter is
994 mb...29.35 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels...with
higher levels in bays...can be expected near and to the east of
where the center crosses the coast. Tides of 1 to 3 ft above
normal can be expected elsewhere in the warned area. Dangerous high
surf and rip currents are also possible along the coast in the
warned area.

Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches...with locally higher amounts...
can be expected along the path of Gaston.
Isolated tornadoes are possible late tonight and Sunday in the
coastal areas of South Carolina.

Repeating the 8 PM EDT position...31.5 N... 79.1 W. Movement
drifting northwestward. Maximum sustained winds... 65 mph. Minimum
central pressure... 994 mb.

For storm information specific to your area...please monitor
products issued by your local weather office.

The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at
11 PM EDT.

[seahawkjd]

Tropical Storm Gaston Intermediate Advisory Number 5a

Statement as of 8:00 PM EDT on August 28, 2004

...Gaston getting a little stronger...hurricane warnings issued for
South Carolina coast...

At 745 PM...2345z...a Hurricane Warning was issued for the coast of
South Carolina from the Savannah River to Little River Inlet. A
Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are possible in
the warning area during the next 24 hours.


A tropical storm watch remains in effect elsewhere along the
southeastern U.S. Coast north of Little River Inlet to Surf City
North Carolina...and south of the Savannah River to Fernandina
Beach Florida.


At 8 PM EDT...0000z...the center of Tropical Storm Gaston was
located near latitude 31.5 north...longitude 79.1 west or about
95 miles south-southeast of Charleston South Carolina.


Gaston is now drifting northwestward. A slow motion toward the
northwest or north is expected during the next 24 hours. This
motion could bring the center of Gaston near the South Carolina
coast by late Sunday.


Reports from an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate
that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph...with
higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast...and Gaston
could be a hurricane strength as it approaches the South Carolina
coast.


Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the
center.


The minimum central pressure reported by the hurricane hunter is
994 mb...29.35 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels...with
higher levels in bays...can be expected near and to the east of
where the center crosses the coast. Tides of 1 to 3 ft above
normal can be expected elsewhere in the warned area. Dangerous high
surf and rip currents are also possible along the coast in the
warned area.


Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches...with locally higher amounts...
can be expected along the path of Gaston.

Isolated tornadoes are possible late tonight and Sunday in the
coastal areas of South Carolina.


Repeating the 8 PM EDT position...31.5 N... 79.1 W. Movement
drifting northwestward. Maximum sustained winds... 65 mph. Minimum
central pressure... 994 mb.


For storm information specific to your area...please monitor
products issued by your local weather office.


The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at
11 PM EDT.


Forecaster Lawrence

[cycloneye]

Tropical Storm Gaston Intermediate Advisory Number 5a


Statement as of 8:00 PM EDT on August 28, 2004


...Gaston getting a little stronger...hurricane warnings issued for
South Carolina coast...
At 745 PM...2345z...a Hurricane Warning was issued for the coast of
South Carolina from the Savannah River to Little River Inlet. A
Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are possible in
the warning area during the next 24 hours.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect elsewhere along the
southeastern U.S. Coast north of Little River Inlet to Surf City
North Carolina...and south of the Savannah River to Fernandina
Beach Florida.

At 8 PM EDT...0000z...the center of Tropical Storm Gaston was
located near latitude 31.5 north...longitude 79.1 west or about
95 miles south-southeast of Charleston South Carolina.

Gaston is now drifting northwestward. A slow motion toward the
northwest or north is expected during the next 24 hours. This
motion could bring the center of Gaston near the South Carolina
coast by late Sunday.

Reports from an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate
that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph...with
higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast...and Gaston
could be a hurricane strength as it approaches the South Carolina
coast.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the
center.

The minimum central pressure reported by the hurricane hunter is
994 mb...29.35 inches.
Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels...with
higher levels in bays...can be expected near and to the east of
where the center crosses the coast. Tides of 1 to 3 ft above
normal can be expected elsewhere in the warned area. Dangerous high
surf and rip currents are also possible along the coast in the
warned area.

Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches...with locally higher amounts...
can be expected along the path of Gaston.
Isolated tornadoes are possible late tonight and Sunday in the
coastal areas of South Carolina.

Repeating the 8 PM EDT position...31.5 N... 79.1 W. Movement
drifting northwestward. Maximum sustained winds... 65 mph. Minimum
central pressure... 994 mb.

For storm information specific to your area...please monitor
products issued by your local weather office.

The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at
11 PM EDT.

Forecaster Lawrence

Here it is the advisory.Now up to 65 mph.

[Lowpressure]

May catch a few people off guard on their way to church.

[Hyperstorm]

Make that 100 mph conservative gusts....

[seahawkjd]

So is this going to skirt the coast and not loose much strength or go inland and just rain do you thinK?

[Hurricane Cheese]

Early this month, Hurricane Alex strengthened rather rapidly while sitting off the east coast of the US, reaching 105 mph while clipping the NC coast.

Could we see a similar scenario with Gaston!?

[Lowpressure]

994 is not a good sign. Probably near 80mph at land fall, maybe a bit higher.

[Lowpressure]

Gaston appears to be doing something quite similar to this point, except he may go a bit further inland.

[seahawkjd]

Yeah Gaston has to take quite a bit more of a jog east to not slam into the coast

[Derek Ortt]

this may end up stronger than alex at landfall because conditions are much mroe favorable for development than they were for Alex. Also, as we saw with alex, the trough may induce some further intensification before landfall

[Hyperstorm]

As we saw with Alex, Charley, Opal (central Gulf) and so many other hurricanes...

[WXBUFFJIM]

Better to be safe than sorry just in case this increases at the last minute in intensity. It's better to know about this sooner than later. I always figure even if this thing is a weak category 1 at landfall, prepare for something stronger just in case!!! Either way, there could be very heavy rains. Someone will likely see significant fresh water flooding. As a result don't be the next victim. More people die from inland fresh water flooding in tropical cyclones these days and that's something to really stress, even for inland areas of South and North Carolina.

Jim

[NOAA-NHC Saubers1]

Youre right Jim, torrential rainfall, is sometimes worse than 70mph winds

[TLHR]

Jim,

You are right.
Turn around. Don't drown!

BTW, the waters around are mostly salty, even in the Cooper and Ashley Rivers. So another good reason not to drive through standing water. It's murder on your car's undercage.

[doglegleft]

i know this borderlines on beating a dead horse but....

shouldn't TWC follow up the warning by covering the developing situation with Gaston vs. airing Storm Stories?!?

This is an interesting / newsworthy development. I "clearly" understand now why rowing accross the Atlantic ocean would take precedent to actual weather events.

developing storm stories anyone?