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Emily Could Be Threat to SC Coast, Experts Say

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Last Updated on August 9, 2011

There’s good news and bad news about Tropical Storm Emily.

The good news is that it’s a disorganized mess that is struggling to stay together, which is why is hasn’t yet become a hurricane.

The bad news is that despite all that, it could still make its way to the South Carolina coast. Still, even that’s not so bad (as long as it stays just a tropical storm) because we’re behind on rain and could use a pretty good soaking. Even though getting a soaking is pretty miserable to deal with as it’s happening.

Charleston, after all, is a glorified marshland. A heavy rain turns everything into a giant puddle, including our beautiful, historic downtown area which has battled flooding problems from the start.

Hurricanes do have a function in the grand scheme of things: they are the earth’s way of cooling ocean temperatures. Research has shown that when a hurricane moves through, water temperatures in those areas will have dropped.

I couldn’t help noticing yesterday that on our beach forecast, it listed water temperature at 86°. I hope that’s not a bad sign for our part of the world, though we’re constantly reminded that our last “direct hit” was Hurricane Hugo, and that was in September of 1989. The presumption is that we’re “due.”

Somehow, I don’t think Mother Nature looks at it quite that way. Neither, I suspect, do hurricanes. I doubt one has ever thought to itself, “Charleston’s a nice place to visit, and they are due.”

Maybe that’s just me.

If you’re one of those media hater types who remains convinced that everyone who works in television is just champing at the bit for a major hurricane to come, then I am sorry to tell you that I am singlehandedly shooting down your little theory.

I don’t mind them spinning out to their hearts’ content cooling the ocean. Just stay away from land. We’d prefer to admire you from afar.

the authorPatrick
Patrick is a Christian with more than 30 years experience in professional writing, producing and marketing. His professional background also includes social media, reporting for broadcast television and the web, directing, videography and photography. He enjoys getting to know people over coffee and spending time with his dog.

2 Comments

  • I still remember driving along the Virginia coast and seeing signs that read “Hurricane Evacuation Route”. Shiver… I know that these huge and devastating storms can and do happen to the areas in the south, but seeing those signs is chilling. Fortunately, they are not a common occurrence.

    On the west coast the same signs are there, but they read “Tsunami Evacuation Route”. Yikes! I’ll take my chances with the hurricanes, thanks – I am sure I have a much better chance of outrunning those suckers!

    Or I will just stay in the Garden State. Our ocean roads do not come with any warning signs!

    Still, I’ll keep my positive thoughts on Emily remaining out to sea and not coming in for a landing anywhere along the eastern seaboard.

  • The weather guys seem a little disappointed when one misses us. They try to hold on to the last second with “it could still turn and hit us” long after we’ve gone into the single digits of probability. It makes sense, they are trying to keep an audience. In addition, a major storm is their best shot at national exposure and eventually an opportunity to work in a larger, better paying market.

    Our last big hit before Hugo (1989) was Gracie(1959). So let’s not talk about being due until 2019.

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