New storm taking shape in open Atlantic
For earlier stories and more information about the Cape Verde storm waves or hurricane season.
AccuWeather.com and click on the tropics link.
While Fay spins along the Florida coast today as a tropical storm or a hurricane, forecasters also are keeping an eye on a storm wave in the open Atlantic that could become the next Cape Verde hurricane. It, too, is moving toward the Southeast.
The consensus on Fay among National Hurricane Center and private forecasters Tuesday was that it will turn back into Florida or Georgia as a hurricane Thursday, said meteorologist Brian Wimer of AccuWeather.com.
But the storm continued to puzzle the computer models, and its forecast track spanned from much of Florida to south of Charleston.
"It's a distinct possibility" the storm could edge up the coast gathering strength before making landfall in South Carolina on Friday, Wimer said.
"It could become a hurricane. In a worst-case scenario it might not even be (just) a minimal hurricane."
AccuWeather is a private forecasting company; The Post and Courier is a customer.
On Tuesday the National Weather Service in Charleston called for an inch or two of rain with Fay today through Friday, and no tropical-storm-force winds, said meteorologist Steve Taylor.
Meanwhile, computer models have begun forecasting that a storm wave 900 miles from the Lesser Antilles will become a hurricane within three days and move to the north of the islands, tracking past the Bahamas toward the Carolinas.
It bears watching, Wimer said. But tracks aren't reliable at long range; Fay is the latest storm to demonstrate that.
At one point early on, Fay seemed poised to move into the Southeast coast before veering south across Caribbean islands in the Gulf of Mexico.
The next storm "is way out there," Wimer said. "Trying to forecast too far ahead of time is a lost cause."
Reach Bo Petersen at 745-5852 or bpetersen@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 9 comment(s)
Posted by karmann on August 20, 2008 at 6:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is always amusing to me when mankind tries to predict the weather. Despite the technology, God is still in control.
Posted by flinsc on August 20, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Beer and beef jerky is all you need.
Posted by RTC on August 20, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have only two words to say to these storms: Stay Away!
Posted by common_sense on August 20, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
More yankee repellant!
I'm just sayin...
Posted by Weeeee on August 20, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bring it. I could use a small vacation.
Posted by iceman1978 on August 20, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I could use some good surf right now.
Posted by MsBehavin on August 20, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"It's a distinct possibility" the storm could edge up the coast gathering strength before making landfall in South Carolina on Friday, Wimer said. "It could become a hurricane. In a worst-case scenario it might not even be (just) a minimal hurricane."
Is Wimer in a time warp? That scenario was shown in some of the computer models DAYS ago, but they have since changed...like DAYS ago. Also, that "distinct possibility" has not been mentioned anywhere on Accuweather.com.
I think it's pretty reckless of Wimer to make such a ridiculous statement - and for the P&C to publish it.
Posted by number1volsfan1 on August 20, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A new tropical storm in the Atlantic, in August? No way.
Posted by CedarPosts on August 20, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So much Weather HYPE I'm going PUKE!
The Weather Channel has one of their talking heads standing in knee deep water wearing foul weather gear a hat and her hood up looking like someone just poured a bucket of water on her head. Then the camera pans left and there are two kids walking by in dry t-shirts and shorts.
Too funny.
Years ago "Dew Levinson" with NBC was in Charleston filming an approaching storm and his favorite prop? A spray bottle filled with water.
Fay is over (knock on wood) and the tropical depression off of Africa is a nothing.