Major storm batters the East Coast. Tree almost hacks writer.
November 13, 2009, 12:27 PM
By: Jon Coen
Jon Coen
Went back to see the one that almost got me this morning after Public Works had at it.
While Mr. Jake Howard is sucking back Mai Tai's out in Hawaii, I've got a little weather
to report here in the northeast. This is one of the most brutal storms I can ever remember.
Last night, I left the barrier Island where I live and was on the way to eat Chinese food at a friend's house. They live in the woods, and on the way a 75-foot pine tree actually blew over, falling into the road in front of me. Me, the dog, and the pickup truck skidded and stopped a few feet from it. Three seconds later would have been very bad.
Luckily, there has been construction there lately and I pulled a bunch of orange barrels out and got them on the road, while some local good ol' boys strapped up the tree and dragged it out of the road with a big 4wd.
The General Tso' Shrimp was excellent, but the power was out all night.
Basically, what we have is the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida reformed into a ghastly offshore hybrid system. It has a few tropical characteristics. Most notably however, unlike a hurricane, which is compact and fast-moving, this is a broad storm that's not going anywhere.
Ironically, best surf on the East Coast today might be South Carolina. Looks like from the Southern Outer Banks through Florida has potential for head-high waves, for the most part clean. 2nd Light in Florida had some gems this morning. The Outer Banks north, however, is all double overhead and bigger, with brutal northeast winds. It seems that many of the reports are down this morning, possibly due to the weather.
Courtesy NOAA
The whole East Coast is being battered by the remnant hybrid of Tropical Storm Ida.
Kurt Korte of Surfline wrote to me earlier this week that the sound might meet the ocean in Rodanthe. I've already dubbed it "Gerbil Breach."
Areas of Virginia and Maryland are preparing for coastal flooding and the most damaging winds. Here is the NOAA Marine forecast for VB:
A prolonged period of wet and windy weather expected to continue today as low pressure off Cape Hatteras will be slow to track out to sea into the weekend. High pressure rebuilds into the mid Atlantic region from the north this weekend.
Storm Warning in effect until 10 am EST this morning Today
NE winds 30 knots with gusts up to 50 knots, decreasing to 25 to 30 knots with gusts to around 45 knots. Seas 14 to 19 ft with a dominant period of 11 seconds, subsiding to 12 to 15 ft with a dominant period of 12 seconds. Rain. Tonight
NE winds 25 to 30 knots, becoming N 15 to 20 knot after midnight. Gusts up to 40 knots. Seas 10 to 13 feet, with a dominant period of 12 seconds. Rain likely with patchy drizzle in the evening, then a chance of rain after midnight. Sat
N winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 9 to 12 feet. A chance of rain in the morning, then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. Sat Night
N winds 15 knots, Seas 8 to 11 ft, subsiding to 7 to 9 feet after midnight.
Five people have already died as a result of this storm. Fox NY had this story yesterday, about Alessandro Barreto, 36, who drowned surfing Rockaway yesterday.
I doubt anywhere will be very good Friday or Saturday morning. Even at the right beaches, the 40-knot winds and moving water will be bonkers. The winds are forecasted to remain north on Sunday and ease up. South facers could be insane then. Unfortunately for most spots, there isn't a true west wind in the foreseeable future. I do, however, think we will have waves through Wednesday from this.
Obviously, we should all know our limits, but beginning surfers shouldn't be anywhere near the ocean for the next three days.
Jon Coen
Everyone wants waterfront property until a good nor'easter.
Early this morning, I drove around assessing the conditions. I felt like Jim Cantore
without the cool Weather Channel windbreaker. Long Beach Island is getting walloped. It's hard to really judge the size of the surf because it has no shape, but it's ten-foot by conservative measures,
And mean.
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Contributors
Jon Coen
Jon is from New Jersey and continues to reside there with his wife and dog—which means occasional empty barrels and the occasional session in the snow.The state isn't as dirty as people might think, but he'll let them keep believing that.
Jake Howard
Jake lives, writes and surfs in San Clemente, Calif. He spent his formative gremlin years surfing points north of San Francisco, and for the past 10 years has been contently surviving behind the Orange Curtain.
Kimball Taylor
Author of "Return by Water," as well as books on Jeffreys Bay and Pipeline, Kimball drives a red-hot Camero, and back in the '70s, he used to party with your dad.
Daniel Ikaika Ito
Daniel surfs like a hippie, but dresses like a homie. The Native Hawaiian originally hails from Hilo, but now resides in Honolulu. He enjoys twin-fins, new sneakers and being ESPN's "Cuz On The Scene" in the 50th State.
Jason Kenworthy
About as majestic as a turkey vulture, when he's not schlepping his lens around the world or looking for roadkill, Jason can be found at home in Dana Point, Calif., tending to his growing brood.
