Heavy rains kill seven in Georgia
Very heavy rains exceeding fifteen inches have soaked the Atlanta, Georgia region over the past two days, triggering widespread major flooding. Record flood levels have been observed on seven rivers and creeks in the Atlanta area, breaking records that had been set as long ago as 1919. In one case, the new flood record (for Utoy Creek near Atlanta), was more that ten feet above the previous record, with the creek still rising. The Chattahoochee River was one of the rivers that rose to record levels, and flood waters from the Chattahoochee crested over the I-285 bridge in western Atlanta, forcing closure of the expressway. At least seven people have been killed, according to ajc.com, with at least six people still missing.
Figure 1. Radar estimated rainfall for the Atlanta, Georgia region ending on September 22. More than 15 inches (white colors) had fallen in and around Atlanta.
A list of the records set so far:
Noonday Creek near Woodstock 19.66 ft 21/530 PM, old record 16.30 ft (07/11/2005)
Nickajack Creek at Mableton 19.30 ft 22/215 am, old record 16.60 ft (07/11/2005)
North Fork Peachtree Creek at Atlanta 18.07 ft 21/715 PM, old record 17.70 ft (09/16/2004)
Utoy Creek near Atlanta 27.04 ft 22/715 am, old record 16.86 ft (05/06/2003)...still rising
Chattahoochee River at Whitesburg 29.58 ft 21/1015 PM, old record 29.11 ft (12/11/1919)
Suwanee Creek at Suwanee 14.30 ft 21/645 PM, old record 12.04 ft (10/05/1996)
Yellow River at Lithonia 25.50 ft 22/515 am, old record 17.53 ft (05/07/2003)... nearly steady
Yellow River near Conyers 20.80 ft 22/730 am, old record 16.36 ft (07/08/2005) below Milstead...still rising
Chattahoochee River at Franklin 28.71 ft 22/715 am, old record 28.40 ft (12/15/1919)...still rising
The strong flow of moist air from the southeast that fueled the heavy rains has diminished today, and no widespread heavy rains will affect northern Georgia over the next few days. However, there will be some scattered thunderstorms in the region the next two days that will dump heavy downpours over local areas, and these thunderstorms will keep flood waters from receding much along some flooded rivers and creeks. It is possible that some additional moisture from the remains of Hurricane Fred will affect northern Georgia and South Carolina Wednesday and Thursday, boosting rainfall totals from these scattered thunderstorms.
Figure 2. AVHRR visible satellite image of Hurricane Hugo taken on September 22, 1989. Hugo was over Ohio at this time, and had finally been declared extratropical.
Twenty years ago today
Hurricane Hugo plowed through the center of South Carolina on September 22, 1989, reaching the North Carolina border 140 miles inland by 8am EDT. Amazingly, Hugo remained at hurricane strength for its entire passage through South Carolina--a full eight hours. The hurricane caused massive damage to forests, buildings, and power lines along the way, killing thirteen South Carolinans in total. Charlotte, North Carolina, over 200 miles inland, and a place of refuge for many South Carolinans that fled the storm, received sustained winds of 69 mph from Hugo--just below the 74-mph threshold of hurricane strength. Hugo turned northwards and roared through Virginia, where it killed six people, then into West Virginia and Ohio, where it was finally declared extratropical at 2pm EDT on the 22nd. The hurricane claimed its final victim near Buffalo, New York, when winds from Hugo toppled a tree onto a motorist.
In all, Hugo did $7 billion in damage to the continental U.S., and $10 billion over its entire path ($17.6 billion in 2009 dollars), making it the most costly hurricane ever at that time. The final death toll was 56.
Figure 3. Maximum wind gusts recorded from Hurricane Hugo of 1989. Wind gusts in excess of 80 mph (green hatched areas) were recorded all the way to the North Carolina border, 140 miles inland. Image credit: National Hurricane Center.
There are no threat areas in the Atlantic to discuss today, and none of our reliable computer models are forecasting tropical storm development over the next seven days.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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18, and a freshman at Purdue
Presslord posted the following quote earlier. I told him I’d post back when we’d donated. It wasn’t much – Lord knows we ain’t got much, but I reckon if enough folks give a little, it’ll mean a lot to the Baxters.
BTW, there’s another site I heard about on the news (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#32920444) where you can give anonymously to someone you know. It sounds pretty cool and all the money you give goes to that person. That person can then leave you a message (presumably a thank you) without them knowing who you are. The name of the site is Giving Anonymously. Their address is http://givinganon.org/.
180. presslord 6:47 PM GMT on September 22, 2009
Brian and Chrissy Baxter have lost their home in Lithia Springs, Georgia, due to the recent flooding. They also lost all their furniture, their clothing, and everything else that was in their home...as well as a car. The water was up to just a few inches from the ceiling inside their home.The Baxters have five children: Tony (male, age 13), Victoria (female, age 12), Brian (male, age 11), Nathan (male, age 10) and Aiden (male, age 1). The family is currently staying at an Extended Stay Hotel in Lithia Springs, Georgia. The hotel is without electricity.Both Brian and Chrissy work. However, they are unable to get to their jobs due to the flooding in the area. We don't know how much money they need. We do know that the family currently needs help with paying for lodging, food, clothing and transportation. Any help you can provide would be much appreciated.Portlight Strategies, Inc., has set a goal of raising $10,000.00 to help the Baxters defray the short term expenses of lodging, food and clothing.Please share your good fortune with this suffering family.Use the PayPal button @ www.portlight.orgOr send checks to:Portlight Strategies, Inc.2043 Maybank Hwy.Charleston, SC 29412memo: Baxters
I agreed, I removed it
Ignorance is not only bliss, but also a virtue.
Nope, is it good? I'm writing an English paper :/
thanks, and yes I agree, and I apologize
nah, Eng106
Just an English writing class
hmm, sounds intriguing, I might have to watch some of it
Riders on the storm
Into this house were born
Into this world were thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out alone
Riders on the storm
lol nice one
It, #585, might get you banned (maybe not, since the blog's so slow), but if means anything, I got a good chuckle out of it. lol
It is weather related...and to this day fills the dance floors in clubs!
thank you, I was wondering if would
Really? People hold conversations with themselves??? Oh man, talk about funny…
Reminds me of a standup comic who was talking about people who talked to themselves. He said the saddest case he ever saw was the guy who couldn’t get a word in edgewise. It was always like “Yeah, I know, but…right…but…but…ok, you got a point there…but all I’m saying is…” Cracked me up.
duststorm over 1/2 of NSW and Sydney included. We woke to a red sky. Not pink, not a haze, it was red through and through...
link is to the SMH photos and video
duststorm over 1/2 of NSW and Sydney included. We woke to a red sky. Not pink, not a haze, it was red through and through...
link is to the SMH photos and video
Link
if the link doesn't work just go to the Sydney Morning Herald and see the pics :)
if iceman is a troll, then he is good troll who posts useful pictures, some of which I had never seen before, nor do I know the link to xD
Like the one he posted about the NAO going negative in Oct =O
and by the way, Hello everyone or anyone there =P
slow blog tonight
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