6 days ago
According to Rob Gutro of the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and satellite imagery from NOAA's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Md. the nor'easter ravaging the mid Atlantic states is now moving out to sea.
As of 10 a.m. this morning, the center of what is being called "Ida the coastal low pressure area" was located about 90 miles SSE of Cape Hatteras, NC. The storm is moving southeastward away from land, but it is moving very slowly. At that slow pace, the storm will continue to ravage the coasts of NJ, DE, MD, VA and NC for another 24 hours.
The storm has gained strength since it made landfall as a tropical storm on the Alabama coast earlier this week. A minimum central pressure of 995mb was measured this morning along with sustained winds of 65 mph. Ida made landfall as a tropical storm with a pressure of 999mb.
Damage along the immediate coast of the northern outer banks is extensive. Houses have fallen into the ocean and debris is scattered up and down the northern outer banks beaches. Protective dunes have been completely washed away in areas allowing water and sand to wash over parts of HWY 12, the main artery along the outer banks. A large barge broke loose from the tug boat pushing it and washed up on the beach in Virginia Beach, Va. Bay side flooding has occurred in and around the Chesapeake Bay and in Ocean City, MD. There have also been incidents of inland flooding across the region as rainfall totals have approached 7-11" in eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia.
It is not as much the strength of the storm as it is the length of the storm that has caused so much damage. The winds haven't reached extreme levels, but the duration of those winds has forced the ocean to take back much of the beaches. A typical hurricane or tropical storm moves on shore in a 12-24 hour period, like what Ida did in Alabama at landfall. The remnants however, have been affecting the mid Atlantic states since Wednesday. This prolonged period of heavy winds has created near record level tides and erosion. Winds gusts in the lower Virginia tidewater area have been measured in the lower 70's near hurricane force with sustained winds ranging from the 20's to the 40's along the Virginia and North Carolina coasts.
As the storm moves away from shore, the effects on the coastal area there should slowly diminish as well. The storm will also decrease in intensity as well. The weather will be clearing over the next few days, allowing thousands in the area to begin the clean up.
Meteorologist Bobby Deskins, 10 Connects
Rob Gutro, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center
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