[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KILM 010638 RRA
HLSILM
AMZ250-252-254-256-NCZ097-100-101-SCZ034-046-011045-

TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
240 AM EDT FRI SEP 1 2006

...CENTER OF ERNESTO MOVING INLAND OVER EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

...NEW INFORMATION...
STORM STATUS HAS BEEN UPDATED.

....AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT IS FOR RESIDENTS OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN
NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...

GEORGETOWN AND HORRY...

AND IN SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...

BRUNSWICK...NEW HANOVER AND PENDER.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE
COASTAL COUNTIES FROM THE SOUTH SANTEE RIVER IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO
SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA. A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR HEAVY RAIN
ACROSS THE AREA UNTIL 5 AM. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR
COLUMBUS AND BLADEN COUNTIES UNTIL 5 AM.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 2 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO WAS LOCATED
INLAND NEAR LATITUDE 34.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.0 WEST...OR INLAND
ABOUT 20 MILES...NORTH-NORTHWEST OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA.

ERNESTO IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 15 MPH. A TURN
TOWARD THE NORTH AND A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED ARE EXPECTED DURING
THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THIS MOTION SHOULD BRING THE CENTER FARTHER
INLAND OVER EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA TODAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
WEAKENING IS FORECAST AS THE STORM MOVES INLAND OVER NORTH
CAROLINA.  A WIND GUST TO 70 MPH WAS RECENTLY REPORTED AT
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH NORTH CAROLINA.

SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 984
MB...29.07 INCHES.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS
IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA IN AREAS OF ONSHORE
FLOW WITHIN THE WARNING AREA. SALT WATER FLOODING EFFECTS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE MINOR TO MODERATE ALONG NEW HANOVER...PENDER AND
BRUNSWICK COUNTIES.

...WINDS...
SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR TROPICAL STORM FORCE...35 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 60 MPH...ARE SPREADING NORTH FROM PENDER COUNTY. WINDS WILL
CONTINUE TO ABATE ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS. OVER THE COASTAL WATERS FRYING
PAN SHOALS BUOY IS REPORTING SUSTAIN WINDS OF 45 MPH WITH 12 FOOT
SEAS. THE BUOY AT ONSLOW BAY REPORTS WINDS OF 55 MPH WITH 17 FOOT
SEAS.

...INLAND FLOODING...
RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE ACROSS BRUNSWICK...NEW HANOVER...PENDER
...COLUMBUS AND BLADEN COUNTIES FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS. FLOODING HAS
CAUSED ROAD CLOSURES IN NEW HANOVER...COLUMBUS...PENDER AND
BRUNSWICK COUNTIES. RADAR ESTIMATES SHOWED AREAS OF 10 TO 12 INCH
RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS IN NEW HANOVER AND NORTHERN BRUNSWICK
COUNTIES. AN ADDITIONAL INCH OR SO OF RAIN IS EXPECTED IN THE
COUNTIES OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

RIVER LEVELS ARE WELL BELOW FLOOD STAGE...BUT ARE EXPECTED TO RISE
AS RAINFALL CONTINUES OVER THE HEADWATERS. PILING OF WATER UP THE
CAPE FEAR RIVER WILL CAUSE SOME FLOODING ON THE TRIBUTARIES IN
BRUNSWICK COUNTY ESPECIALLY ALONG THE WALDEN CREEK AND TOWN CREEK
AND ALSO UP THE LOCKWOOD FOLLY RIVER AND THE ROYAL OAK SWAMP.

...HIGH SURF/BEACH EROSION...
SURF WAS ABOUT 6 TO 8 FT ALONG THE BEACHES OF PENDER AND NEW HANOVER
AND WILL START TO GRADUALLY SUBSIDE DURING THE MORNING.
ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT BEACH EROSION IS EXPECTED MAINLY ACROSS
PORTIONS OF NEW HANOVER AND PENDER COUNTY. ELSEWHERE...MINOR BEACH
EROSION IS LIKELY.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
WILMINGTON AROUND 6 AM.

$$

MAC









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