Tropical Storm Cristobal Forms Off Coast
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say the depression off the Southeast coast has strengthened into Tropical Storm Cristobal.
At 2 p.m. EDT, the center of the storm was about 100 miles east of Charleston, S.C. and about 225 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C. It's moving toward the northeast at about 7 mph and was expected to hug the Carolinas' coast during the next two days.
Several inches of rain have already fallen in some areas along the North Carolina coast, and cities are under flood advisories as more rain is expected.
This is the first storm to threaten the U.S. this hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.
A tropical storm warning was in effect from the northern South Carolina coast to the North Carolina-Virginia border, the National Hurricane Center said.
Reid Hawkins, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Wilmington, N.C.,
cautioned against swimming along the North Carolina coast, citing reports of 6- to 8-feet seas, as well as a danger of rip currents.
Most of the strongest winds and rains have remained over water, but forecasters said the storm should move closer to land after it strengthens.
"We've had more isolated rain showers moving on shore," said Jonathan Lamb, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston. "It's been very slowly organizing."
At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of the tropical depression was about 90 miles east of Charleston and about 250 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, N.C. The depression was moving toward the northeast at about 7 mph and was expected to hug the Carolinas' coast during the next two days.
Less than one inch of rain had fallen in Charleston at midday Saturday, and Lamb said only one more shower was expected to pass through the area before the storm spun north toward Wilmington.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. The system would become a named tropical storm if sustained winds reach 39 mph.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. At 2 p.m. EDT, the center of the storm was about 100 miles east of Charleston, S.C. and about 225 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C. It's moving toward the northeast at about 7 mph and was expected to hug the Carolinas' coast during the next two days.
Several inches of rain have already fallen in some areas along the North Carolina coast, and cities are under flood advisories as more rain is expected.
This is the first storm to threaten the U.S. this hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.
A tropical storm warning was in effect from the northern South Carolina coast to the North Carolina-Virginia border, the National Hurricane Center said.
Reid Hawkins, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Wilmington, N.C.,
cautioned against swimming along the North Carolina coast, citing reports of 6- to 8-feet seas, as well as a danger of rip currents.
Most of the strongest winds and rains have remained over water, but forecasters said the storm should move closer to land after it strengthens.
"We've had more isolated rain showers moving on shore," said Jonathan Lamb, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston. "It's been very slowly organizing."
At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of the tropical depression was about 90 miles east of Charleston and about 250 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, N.C. The depression was moving toward the northeast at about 7 mph and was expected to hug the Carolinas' coast during the next two days.
Less than one inch of rain had fallen in Charleston at midday Saturday, and Lamb said only one more shower was expected to pass through the area before the storm spun north toward Wilmington.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. The system would become a named tropical storm if sustained winds reach 39 mph.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.
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Posted by zgomer
Proof of the perils of lead paint.
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Posted by smurfcrusher at 10:32 AM : Jul 20, 2008
+ report abuse
LMMFAO,.....good one.....
How about the southwest and west with wildfires and earthquakes and water shortages.
geez !
Posted by earth56
Don''t those posts crack you up? Every state has some level of weather related vulnerability. Hurricanes, snow, freezing temps, blazing hot summer, floods, tornadoes etc etc etc!
Posted by nordeck52
If you look at historical data, many, storms have formed there and a bit north. The models all show that this will head out and turn hard NE because of the trough that will push it off the coast. Points north of NC shouldn''t have a thing to worry about.
As someone else said, it''s too early to lose sleep over a TS.
Posted by zgomer
Proof of the perils of lead paint.
Posted by zgomer
So the media shouldn''t report potential storms that may cause coastal damage and flooding in order to meet YOUR agenda? Typical egocentric neocon!