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Title: Tropical Depression Forms Off North Carolina; Watches Issued
Source:
Bloomberg / NNHC
URL Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news? ... 1103&sid=aTMBcKyUapp4&refer=us
Published: Jul 18, 2006
Author: Bloomberg
Post Date: 2006-07-18 14:27:56 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 123
Comments: 12
Tropical Depression Forms Off North Carolina; Watches Issued July 18 (Bloomberg) -- A tropical depression with the potential to become a tropical storm as early as today has formed about 220 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center said. Sustained winds were 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) as of 11 a.m. Miami time, according to Jamie Rhome, a hurricane specialist at the center. That's just 4 mph shy of the threshold for a named tropical storm; if this storm strengthens to that point, it will be called Beryl. ``It wouldn't take much,'' Rhome said in an interview. The depression has been moving slowly northward for six to nine hours. Models indicate the center could move over or just east of North Carolina's Outer Banks barrier islands in about 48 hours, the hurricane center said in a statement. An alternate scenario suggests the storm going ashore near Cape Lookout, North Carolina, south of the Outer Banks, in 36 to 48 hours. ``Based on the current forecast, winds will start to reach tropical storm force along the coast north of Cape Lookout later Wednesday evening and continue into Thursday,'' the statement said. ``At this point, winds are expected to reach 40 to 50 mph, mainly over the Outer Banks.'' The center issued a tropical storm watch for parts of eastern North Carolina at 11 a.m. local time, advising coastal residents from Carteret County north along the Outer Banks to protect their property in the event of a tropical storm. Storms are categorized as hurricanes if their sustained winds reach at least 74 miles per hour. Rhome said that's ``not very likely at the present time'' for the system. If it strengthens, the storm would be the second named event this year in the Atlantic basin. The first named storm, Alberto, made landfall June 13 in Florida. Last year's hurricane season was the most active on record with 15 hurricanes. An Air Force reconnaissance plane is scheduled to fly into the depression this afternoon to better assess its location and strength, the hurricane center said.
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#5. To: Brian S (#0)
Don't tropical depressions usually form off the coast of Africa and then cross the Atlantic? Isn't it highly unusual for one to form so close to the U.S.?
#8. To: aristeides (#5)
Karl Rove was hoping you wouldn't notice. :-)
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Replies to Comment # 5. Isn't it highly unusual for one to form so close to the U.S.?
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