Bermuda high could sway BerthaBy Bo Petersen (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
After giving the East Coast a brief scare by rolling farther west than forecasters expected, Bertha began peeling north on Monday as it became a hurricane while still way out to sea. That's not all good news. The hurricane is in the sway of the Bermuda high, that familiar good guy-bad guy of the tropics. The high is a pressure ridge of good, dry weather that can form over the Atlantic during storm season. If it stays close to the coast, it tends to push tropical waves in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. If it moves too far out to sea, the low pressure in the gap behind can suck storms up the Southeast coast. Last year, it tended to hang over the Carolinas. This year, it looks like it's going to play the bad guy. "Last year the high locked in place mid-June through August. This year it has shown more east-west movement, hanging around for a few days then retreating briefly, then moving back," said Mark Malsick, S.C. Climate office severe weather liaison. "As far as Bertha is concerned, I doubt it will affect the coast other than some wave action," said Tom Kines, of AccuWeather.com, a private forecasting company. The Post and Courier is an AccuWeather.com customer. But "we look at the weather pattern to hold for a good chunk of the summer," Kines said. Bertha on Monday roared into a hurricane with 120 mph winds — a "major" hurricane — half a day after being named a hurricane. But the evening advisory by the National Hurricane Center said the storm had turned west northwest, "indicating the hurricane has reached the much anticipated weakness in the ridge." The high "is always out there. It's just a matter of where it's located and how strong it is," Kines said. That's determined by fluctuating regions of higher and lower sea temperatures, as much as anything. This year, the waters in the open ocean are a little warmer than hurricane forecasters would like. They warned of it back in the spring. Last year, storms tracked into the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico or out into the Atlantic. But the temperature pattern this spring resembled years such as 1955, when Hurricane Diana swept into North Carolina, and 1999, when Hurricane Floyd brushed the Lowcountry. And as for Bertha, don't exhale just yet. The computer models are showing what researchers call a "high confidence" in the storm tracking to the open Atlantic toward Bermuda. But "like the knife fight in the movie 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' there are no rules in a knife fight," Malsick said. Reach Bo Petersen at 745-5852 or bpetersen@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 31 comment(s)
Posted by CedarPosts on July 8, 2008 at 2:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Another slow news day in the Low Country, I'd guess that without a photo of Al Parish in leg irons being whisked away to some undisclosed Federal Prison Camp, the PnC decided to run the "Bertha" story for a few more days.
One local television station even resorted to showing stock footage of a sailboat bouncing wildly at it's mooring as sea spray whipped into froth in the background, while the news anchor gave the standard lat. and long coordinates of BERTHA!
Bertha is a good news story because Bertha is a great hurricane name.
More at: http://cedarposts.blogspot.com/
Posted by wpc3iop on July 8, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope Bertha dies in the North Atlantic...
Posted by Tammie on July 8, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lol @ CedarPosts
Posted by bigtrucker on July 8, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like Bertha should stay east of Bermuda,but the East coast could be in for a rough hurricane season
Posted by RTC on July 8, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bertha is the name of the female poster woman for the prison system. Anything with that name means trouble.
Don't ya'll laugh either....just you wait.
Posted by prosperous_hb on July 8, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lol @ RTC....yeah, we have dodged a few hurricanes the last past few years.
Posted by ColdBeer on July 8, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need a good hurricane. It's time for another "Hugo like" cleansing of the trashy buildings that are standing everywhere. It would also be good for the local economy (as long as every one takes the time to ensure they are not hiring contractors that employ illegal aliens).
Posted by rascaljr on July 8, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG!! A Hurricane! Quick raise gas prices!!!
Posted by Early on July 8, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sensationalism at it's best. the only problem is it effects your insurance rates.
As we talk about storms and the destruction they leave, what a huge difference in the way the people of New Orleans reacted in contrast to the way the folks of the Midwest have reacted during the tremendous flooding. Um???
Posted by Neponset on July 8, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't like the local analysis on the weather and have looked elsewhere. I found a site that suits me and have offered it in the past, with little feed back. Check out www.wunderground.com, select blog by Dr. Jeff Masters. Jeff was on the hunter plane that checked out Hugo.
Posted by Weeeee on July 8, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The sad thing is rascaljr is spot on with that comment. Just like the article about Iran threatening the US. I'm sure that article alone will cause prices at the pump to go up another 2-3 cents.
That being said, I hope this is the year. I won't stay here because I'm smart enough to get out (unlike those stubborn morons in NO). It's not a matter of being sure my house can withstand a cat 3+ hurricane. It's just that I feel safer being farther inland because I live in an older home. Plus, I tend to think I'm better than the people in NO. I'm not one to stay around when EVERYONE is telling me to evacuate. I have my pride, but I'm no fool.
Posted by RTC on July 8, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Early, you are right about insurance rates. I have heard of some people having their homeowner's cancelled due to the location of their home. They have also changed many of the flood zones. I would like to know why 13 yrs. ago our home was not in a flood zone, and then a few years ago we were informed that we had to have flood insurance due to a change in the zones. I don't know much about this, but how does a flood zone change like that when there have been no storms to affect the area?
Neponset, I checked out that website when you first posted it, and I found it to be very good also.
Posted by drp7773 on July 8, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The whole Southeast needs 2 or 3 Tropical storms to blow thru and fill up the lakes, But the hell with a hurricane thats a b oooops I mean a wind job I never want to go thru again :)
Posted by Neponset on July 8, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
RTC
My home was included in the flood plain about two years ago and I had to scramble around to get the lot surveyed and get flood insurance. I have lived in this house for about 20 years
Posted by prosperous_hb on July 8, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Be careful what you ask for folks. I don't think we are in a position to have a hurricane like Hugo. Imagine what gas prices and insurances rates will do. We'll be stuck with trying to pay for gas and insurance or rebuilding a house.
Posted by grannyofsix on July 8, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is Bertha the female version of Bubba just windering Good Morning all
Posted by Neponset on July 8, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pro
I am not wishing for another Hugo, but if it occures, I will personally make the repairs and not depend on the jack legs that will show up as they did the last time. Lots of their work was substandard or worse.
Posted by grannyofsix on July 8, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You know Coldbeer with any luck or bad luck the trashy homes will stay put, and the newer built ones will fly away
Posted by lou9 on July 8, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First hurricane of the season, not going to hit the East Coast, and Live 5 News spent half their newscast on it last night. Get ready to be lulled to sleep by these drama queen weather people.
Bertha, Bertha Butt, one of the Butt sisters.
Posted by Neponset on July 8, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don’t know how many of you folks have lived thru a major storm, but is not fun. First you leave for safer ground , get reports of the damage (most of it overblown) and then you return and in some cases do not recognize your area due to all of the fallen trees. And your house may be covered with trees with holes in the roof or worse. No power, phone and stuff such as grocery (have you ever gone to a grocery store with a flash lite so you could fine some basic staples?). Then you try to make repairs - you can not find even some of the basic materials such as plywood and roofing. Lets hope we don’t have another Hugo.
Posted by Weeeee on July 8, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My family and I stayed here through Hugo. Throughout the night, we could hear stuff bashing against the rear of the house. The house was relatively new at the time so that tells you how old the house is. Needless to say, this is why I do not trust staying home for another Hugo-esque hurricane.
Posted by Neponset on July 8, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We
Several of my neighbors stayed and they were lucky - I live west of Ashley. If Hugo had struck a few miles south, the surge would have gotten them - our elevation is about 17'. It is best to leave.
Posted by grannyofsix on July 8, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I stayed here doing Hugo I was inland in Cottageville and Yes I slept through it. I woke to 13 trees uprooted and 5 down. Would I stay for another storm? Being inland HELL NO! My butt is out of here
Posted by LadyTarHeel on July 8, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope that we aren't in for a rough hurricane season. I'm from North Carolina and for a while it seemed that every hurricane that formed had a Wilmington radar on it. I was 5 when Hugo hit and we lived in a single-wide trailer. We didn't stay in it during the storm, but I was so afraid we were going to go home and our house was going to be gone. The last really bad hurricane I remember was Fran. It was a rough storm and I hope to never have to ride another one out like that ever again. I'm with We on not staying home during bad hurricanes. I have my hurricane kit stocked and ready.
Posted by Neponset on July 8, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lady
You are correct - NC catches hell just about every year.
Posted by CedarPosts on July 8, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been on the boat for two huricanes Charlie and George of somwthing like that both Cat II, all was good until I saw the end of the mega dock blow off into the squall heading towards the Coast Guard Station.
Just kinda sobering at that point.
Posted by Neponset on July 8, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess your talking about Charlie 2004 which grazed our coast at Cat 1 and George 1998 that went into the gulf.
Posted by ysillyme on July 8, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kinda looking forward to my 1st small hurricane, I think you people sensationalize the fear when all we have to fear is channel 5 itself.
Posted by Neponset on July 8, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
y
Look forward to a "small hurricane" if you want, but I can tell you that dealing with the aftermath sucks.
Posted by RTC on July 8, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Neponset, couldn't agree more. I am always amazed at the people who get so excited when a storm is on it's way, and they want to throw a hurricane party.
You would have thought that Hugo would have killed that enthusiasm.
Posted by jeff61 on July 8, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All I can say if Bermuda would put down the crack pipe and quit getting high we would not have to worry about such problems