By JEFF MARTIN (Associated Press)
A uncommon blue supermoon might increase tides above regular simply as Hurricane Idalia takes intention at Florida’s west coast, exacerbating flooding from the storm.
The moon might be closest to the Earth on Wednesday night time, the identical day Idalia is predicted to make landfall in Florida. While a supermoon could make for a spectacular backdrop in photographs of landmarks world wide, its intensified gravitational pull additionally makes tides larger.
“I would say the timing is pretty bad for this one,” mentioned Brian Haines, the meteorologist in cost on the National Weather Service workplace in Charleston, South Carolina.
It’s anticipated to make tidal flooding worse not solely in Florida, however in states comparable to Georgia and South Carolina, the place Haines’ workplace has been warning residents that components of Charleston may very well be underneath water by Wednesday night time.
When the moon is full, the solar and the moon are pulling in the identical course, which has the impact of accelerating tides above regular ranges, mentioned Kerry Emanuel, professor emeritus of atmospheric science on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The moon’s gravitational pulls are even stronger when it’s nearer to Earth, so the tides are even larger.
The storm surge is usually the best killer when hurricanes strike. The ocean water pouring onto land may very well be as much as 15 toes (4.6 meters) alongside components of Florida’s west coast, the National Hurricane Center projected in its newest briefings Tuesday. Farther south, as much as 7 toes (2.1 meters) of storm surge is predicted within the Tampa Bay space.
Storm surge that may be taller than an individual is a priority with any main hurricane. The tides and the affect of a supermoon can enhance that considerably.
“There’s a saying that you hide from the wind and run from the water, and hopefully people are heeding that advice,” mentioned Brian Tang, affiliate professor of atmospheric science at University at Albany in New York.
The a part of northwest Florida that may very well be hit by Idalia is particularly susceptible to storm surge due to the area’s geography. The continental shelf extends thus far out from the coast and has a gradual slope, permitting the ocean to develop larger as hurricane winds drive the water onto land, Tang mentioned. The form of the coast in that area – referred to as Florida’s Big Bend space – can also be curved inward, which may focus the storm surge to make it much more harmful, he mentioned.
In South Carolina, there’s concern that Idalia’s path will take it close to the historic metropolis of Charleston and the encompassing space referred to as the Low Country. That would add water to the excessive tide that’s within the forecast, Haines mentioned.
“Wednesday evening looks really nasty for coastal flooding here,” he mentioned.
The climate service is forecasting an 8.2-foot (2.5 meter) tide in Charleston Wednesday night, which might produce widespread flooding in downtown Charleston, Haines mentioned. Even with a 7.5 foot tide (2.3 meters), some roads within the metropolis flood and turn into impassible, he mentioned.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”