South Carolina’s Emergency Operations Center has elevated itself to Operational Condition 4, the next lowest condition, based on Hurricane Irene’s expected track toward North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service expect winds in excess of 60mph, rip currents and potentially two to four inches of rain in several parts of coastal counties. Irene could cause minor flooding.
A local beach police chief sent an unusual note to our newsroom, attaching what he described as a “seemingly unnecessary”  notification, based on questions from several media outlets, that the beach under his control was closed to swimmers.
I suspect, though I am not at that particular beach and can’t confirm it, that there are likely surfers who are hoping for the perfect wave; it happens with every major storm, which is why such announcements that should be common sense are far from unnecessary.
After all, if it weren’t for stupidity, or at least the very general lack of common sense, most police chiefs would have far less to do with their time.
The image, for those wondering, was taken at 2:59am on Friday.
Parts Of Connecticut Under Hurricane Warning State Halts Train Service, Warns Residents To Stay Inside As Irene Approaches
By HILLARY FEDERICO, hfederico@courant.com The Hartford Courant
9:23 p.m. EDT, August 26, 2011
As a massive Hurricane Irene neared the East Coast on Friday, Connecticut braced for the impact with orders to evacuate low-lying areas, close roads prone to flooding and temporarily halt Metro-North trains and other mass transit throughout the weekend.
The National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning for Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven and New London counties. It also issued a tropical storm warning for Hartford, Tolland, Litchfield and Windham counties.
The last time a hurricane warning was issued for the state of Connecticut was in September 1985 for Hurricane Gloria.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed a declaration of emergency Thursday, calling it necessary to help the state react more “quickly and effectively in the event of a serious weather event.”
Irene was expected make a direct hit on the Connecticut shoreline Sunday afternoon with drenching rains, hurricane-force winds and high tides, then possibly cut a path through the state. According to Fox CT meteorologist Geoff Fox, the damage is likely to include downed trees and power lines, and flooding, but it could also be much worse.
“On Sunday night I expect much of the state to be without power,” Fox said. “It’s difficult for me to see a scenario where we are not significantly impacted by Irene.”
http://www.courant.com/news/weather/hc-hurricane-irene-0827-20110826,0,2751267.story