During the late Spring months, there are many gatherings of meteorologists around the country to discuss the hazards and impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes. There's one in particular that will be very interesting in Atlanta beginning tomorrow. It will focus on the INLAND impacts of tropical systems. Usually when we think of hurricane season we think of swaying palm trees, choppy waters and reporters holding onto whatever for dear life.
But a tropical storm or hurricane can have major impacts for us as it moves over us. The issues we have to worry about are flash flooding, tornado outbreaks, and mountain mudslides. Warm water is the food source for tropical systems, so once they make landfall they fall apart and can even stall, dumping too much rain in some areas. Because of the change in windspeed and direction with height we can also find tornadoes, and when there's too much rain on a mountainside, part of it can collapse, dragging boulders, trees, and mud as it slides down the mountain.
How do we prepare for hurricane season in the Western Carolinas? You have to have a plan - know where you would go if we had to endure an evening of tornado warnings. Be familiar with where you live and where you'd go for higher or safer ground. And remember that flash flooding kills more people than any other storm related disaster - so never drive your car through flooded roadways. Remember that water always flows downhill, so get to higher ground for safety.
The official forecast calls for an average or below average hurricane season, but if there's only one - and it comes here and causes damage - it will be a bad season. Do you worry about hurricanes when this time of year rolls around?
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