[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

Thu Oct 6 11:56:32 CDT 2016

WTUS82 KCHS 061656
HLSCHS
GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>052-070100-

HURRICANE MATTHEW LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 34
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC  AL142016
1256 PM EDT THU OCT 6 2016

THIS PRODUCT COVERS SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

**HURRICANE MATTHEW WILL IMPACT THE REGION LATE THIS WEEK INTO THIS
WEEKEND**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A HURRICANE WARNING FOR
      INLAND BRYAN...COASTAL BRYAN...INLAND CHATHAM...COASTAL
      CHATHAM...INLAND LIBERTY...COASTAL LIBERTY...INLAND
      MCINTOSH...COASTAL MCINTOSH...INLAND
      JASPER...BEAUFORT...COASTAL COLLETON AND COASTAL JASPER
    - A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A TROPICAL STORM
      WARNING FOR EFFINGHAM...LONG
    - A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR
      JENKINS...SCREVEN...CANDLER...BULLOCH...TATTNALL...EVANS...ALLENDALE
      AND HAMPTON

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR INLAND BRYAN...COASTAL
      BRYAN...INLAND CHATHAM...COASTAL CHATHAM...INLAND
      LIBERTY...COASTAL LIBERTY...INLAND MCINTOSH...COASTAL
      MCINTOSH...INLAND JASPER...BEAUFORT...COASTAL COLLETON AND
      COASTAL JASPER
    - A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EFFINGHAM...LONG
    - A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR
      JENKINS...SCREVEN...CANDLER...BULLOCH...TATTNALL...EVANS...ALLENDALE
      AND HAMPTON
    - A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR INLAND
      BERKELEY...CHARLESTON AND TIDAL BERKELEY
    - A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR INLAND
      COLLETON...DORCHESTER

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - ABOUT 540 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SC OR ABOUT 520
      MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SAVANNAH GA
    - 25.1N 77.8W
    - STORM INTENSITY 140 MPH
    - MOVEMENT NORTHWEST OR 325 DEGREES AT 14 MPH

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

HURRICANE MATTHEW IS ANTICIPATED TO TRACK NORTHWEST FROM THE
BAHAMAS TOWARD CENTRAL FLORIDA THROUGH TODAY...BEFORE TURNING NORTH
AND TRACKING NEAR THE GEORGIA COAST FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. THE
HURRICANE COULD CONTINUE TO TRACK NEAR THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST OR
COULD TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. MATTHEW
COULD PASS CLOSE TO THE GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA COAST AS A CATEGORY
2 OR CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FROM MATTHEW
WILL LIKELY SPREAD NORTH ACROSS THE AREA AHEAD/ALONG THE PATH OF THE
STORM...POSSIBLY REACHING SOUTHEAST GEORGIA FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND
SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AS EARLY AS FRIDAY EVENING.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE FORECAST TO REACH COASTAL SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA FRIDAY AFTERNOON...THEN NORTH ALONG COASTAL SOUTHEAST SOUTH
CAROLINA FRIDAY EVENING AND FRIDAY NIGHT. SUSTAINED WINDS COULD REACH
AS HIGH AS 40-50 MPH INLAND TO 60-70 MPH NEAR THE COAST. THESE WINDS
COULD DAMAGE TREES AND WEAKER STRUCTURES AND RESULT IN WIDESPREAD
POWER OUTAGES. THERE IS AN INCREASING RISK OF SUSTAINED HURRICANE
FORCE WINDS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COASTLINE IF MATTHEW MAINTAINS A CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO THE COAST. THE THREAT FOR HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL
INCREASE FOR COASTAL LOCATIONS LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...THEN
LOWER AS MATTHEW SHIFTS AWAY FROM THE COAST. THE THREAT FOR TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WINDS OR HIGHER SHOULD BEGIN TO DECREASE SATURDAY NIGHT
INTO EARLY MORNING SUNDAY.

THE LATEST TRACK OF MATTHEW COULD PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL OVER THE
AREA...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE COAST. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS RANGING
FROM 8 TO 14 INCHES WITH ISOLATED GREATER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT
INTO SUNDAY MORNING. THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD RESULT IN EXTENSIVE
FRESH WATER FLOODING...ESPECIALLY DURING THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE AND
MAXIMUM STORM SURGE NEAR THE COAST THIS WEEKEND.

THE MOST LIKELY STORM SURGE SCENARIO ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE MATTHEW
IS 7 TO 9 FEET WITH ISOLATED LOCATIONS UP TO 11 FEET OF WATER ABOVE
GROUND LEVEL IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND 3 TO 5 FEET WITH ISOLATED
LOCATIONS UP TO 8 FEET OF WATER ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH
CAROLINA. STORM SURGE FORECASTS COULD BE HIGHER/LOWER DEPENDING ON THE
TRACK AND INTENSITY OF MATTHEW AS IT APPROACHES THE AREA THIS WEEKEND.
THE COMBINATION OF STORM SURGE AND WAVES COULD RESULT IN MAJOR COASTAL
FLOODING AND SEVERE BEACH EROSION. HOMES...STRUCTURES AND ROADS
NEAR/ALONG BEACHES COULD BE COMPROMISED. THE THREAT FOR DANGEROUS RIP
CURRENTS WILL ALSO INCREASE WITH THE APPROACH OF MATTHEW LATE WEEK
INTO THE WEEKEND.

THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES WILL REMAIN LOW THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE THE
CENTER OF HURRICANE MATTHEW IS ANTICIPATED TO REMAIN OFFSHORE.
HOWEVER...THERE IS A RISK OF AN ISOLATED WATERSPOUT MOVING ONSHORE
FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY UNTIL MATTHEW SHIFTS FURTHER OFFSHORE LATER
SATURDAY.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* WIND:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING WIND HAVING POSSIBLE DEVASTATING
IMPACTS ACROSS COASTAL COUNTIES. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA
INCLUDE:
    - STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO STURDY BUILDINGS, SOME WITH COMPLETE ROOF
      AND WALL FAILURES. COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF MOBILE HOMES. DAMAGE
      GREATLY ACCENTUATED BY LARGE AIRBORNE PROJECTILES. LOCATIONS
      MAY BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS.
    - UNSAFE TO SHELTER EVEN IN WELL-CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS.
      IMPOSSIBLE TO VENTURE OUTSIDE DUE TO FALLING OBJECTS AND
      AIRBORNE PROJECTILES.
    - NUMEROUS LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ALONG WITH FENCES AND
      ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.
    - MANY ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN
      OR HEAVILY WOODED LOCATIONS. MOST OR ALL BRIDGES AND ACCESS
      ROUTES IMPASSABLE.
    - WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE
      WITH RESULTING OUTAGES POSSIBLY LASTING FOR WEEKS OR LONGER.
      GAS LEAKS AND FALLEN ELECTRIC WIRES POSE A THREAT TO LIFE.
    - MANY VESSELS WILL LIKELY BREAK FREE FROM MOORINGS.

ALSO, PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED
TO EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS INLAND AREAS.

* SURGE:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE
IMPACTS ACROSS LOW-LYING TIDAL AREAS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN
THIS AREA INCLUDE:
    - LARGE AREAS OF DEEP INUNDATION OF SALTWATER ALONG IMMEDIATE
      SHORELINES AND IN LOW-LYING SPOTS FARTHER INLAND NEAR RIVERS
      AND CREEKS, WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING ACCENTUATED BY BATTERING
      WAVES. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS, WITH SEVERAL WASHING
      AWAY. DAMAGE COMPOUNDED BY FLOATING DEBRIS. LOCATIONS MAY BE
      UNINHABITABLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD.
    - LARGE SECTIONS OF NEAR-SHORE ESCAPE ROUTES AND SECONDARY ROADS
      WASHED OUT OR FLOODED AND IMPASSABLE. FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS AND
      BARRIERS COULD BECOME STRESSED.
    - SEVERE BEACH EROSION WITH SIGNIFICANT DUNE LOSS.
    - MAJOR DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS. MANY
      SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS, ESPECIALLY IN
      UNPROTECTED ANCHORAGES, WITH SOME LIFTED ONSHORE AND STRANDED.
    - DRINKING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
    - HAZARDOUS CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS POSSIBLY PRESENT IN SURGE
      WATERS.

* FLOODING RAIN:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE
EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS AREAS EAST OF I-95 IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND
SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
    - MAJOR RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT MANY EVACUATIONS AND RESCUES.
    - RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY RAPIDLY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS IN
      MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, DITCHES MAY
      BECOME DANGEROUS RIVERS. FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS
      COULD BECOME STRESSED.
    - FLOOD WATERS COULD ENTER MANY STRUCTURES WITHIN MULTIPLE
      COMMUNITIES; SOME STRUCTURES BECOME UNINHABITABLE OR ARE WASHED
      AWAY. FLOOD WATERS COULD COVER MULTIPLE ESCAPE ROUTES. STREETS
      AND PARKING LOTS BECOME RIVERS OF MOVING WATER WITH UNDERPASSES
      SUBMERGED. DRIVING CONDITIONS BECOME DANGEROUS. MANY ROAD AND
      BRIDGE CLOSURES WITH SOME WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT.
    - DRINKING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES COULD BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
    - HAZARDOUS CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS POSSIBLY PRESENT IN FLOOD
      WATERS.

* OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS:
DANGEROUS TO FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS...HIGH SURF AND SIGNIFICANT BEACH
EROSION ARE EXPECTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS:
FOR THOSE UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS, LEAVE AS SOON AS PRACTICAL WITH
A DESTINATION IN MIND. GAS UP YOUR VEHICLE WELL AHEAD OF TIME. BE
SURE THAT YOU TAKE ALL ESSENTIAL MATERIALS FROM YOUR EMERGENCY
SUPPLIES KIT. LET OTHERS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND WHEN YOU
INTEND TO ARRIVE.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
CHECK-IN WITH YOUR EMERGENCY POINTS OF CONTACT AMONG FAMILY, FRIENDS,
AND CO-WORKERS. INFORM THEM OF YOUR STATUS AND WELL-BEING. LET THEM
KNOW HOW YOU INTEND TO RIDE OUT THE STORM AND WHEN YOU PLAN TO
CHECK-IN AGAIN.

KEEP CELL PHONES WELL CHARGED AND HANDY. ALSO, CELL PHONE CHARGERS
FOR AUTOMOBILES CAN BE HELPFUL AFTER THE STORM. LOCATE YOUR CHARGERS
AND KEEP THEM WITH YOUR CELL PHONE.

IF RELOCATING TO A NEARBY SHELTER OR TO THE HOME OF A FAMILY MEMBER
OR FRIEND, DRIVE WITH EXTRA CAUTION, ESPECIALLY ON SECONDARY ROADS.
REMEMBER, MANY BRIDGES AND CAUSEWAYS WILL BE CLOSED ONCE HIGHER WINDS
ARRIVE. ALSO, IF YOU ENCOUNTER WATER COVERING THE ROAD, SEEK AN
ALTERNATE ROUTE. ALWAYS OBEY OFFICIAL ROAD SIGNS FOR CLOSURES AND
DETOURS.

IF YOU ARE A VISITOR AND STILL IN THE AREA, LISTEN FOR THE NAME OF
THE CITY OR TOWN IN WHICH YOU ARE STAYING WITHIN LOCAL NEWS UPDATES.
BE SURE YOU KNOW THE NAME OF THE COUNTY OR PARISH IN WHICH IT
RESIDES. PAY ATTENTION FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV
- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG

NEXT UPDATE
-----------

THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN CHARLESTON SC AROUND 6 PM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.

$$
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