[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[Nashville EMWIN]

WTUS82 KILM 282202 CCA
HLSILM
AMZ250-252-254-256-NCZ087-096-097-099>101-SCZ024-032>034-039-046-
290100-

TROPICAL STORM GASTON LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
553 PM EDT SAT AUG 28 2004

...GASTON PICKING UP STRENGTH AS IT DRIFTS WESTWARD...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT IS FOR RESIDENTS OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN
SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA...BRUNSWICK...NEW HANOVER...PENDER...
COLUMBUS...BLADEN AND ROBESON. IN NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...
GEORGETOWN...HORRY...WILLIAMSBURG...FLORENCE...MARION AND DILLON.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE COASTAL WATERS FROM SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTH TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM LITTLE RIVER INLET SOUTH
CAROLINA TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA. A TROPICAL STORM
WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LITTLE RIVER INLET SOUTH CAROLINA TO
SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SURF CITY NORTH
CAROLINA SOUTHWARD TO LITTLE RIVER INLET SOUTH CAROLINA.

AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WIND WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PARTS OF
SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 5 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM GASTON WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 31.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.9 WEST OR ABOUT 115 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA. THIS IS ABOUT 200 MILES SOUTH
OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA.

GASTON IS DRIFTING WESTWARD. A SLOW MOTION TOWARD THE NORTHWEST OR
NORTH IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 996 MB OR 29.42 INCHES.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
EVERY HOUSEHOLD SHOULD HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION WHEN HURRICANES OR
TROPICAL STORMS THREATEN. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ONE...NOW IS THE TIME
TO FORMULATE ONE. RESIDENTS SHOULD FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF LOCAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE. STORE OR SECURE LAWN FURNITURE...
BARBECUE GRILLS...GARBAGE CANS AND OTHER LOOSE OUTDOOR OBJECTS. BOAT
OWNERS SHOULD TAKE ACTION NOW AND SECURE THEIR BOATS FOR TROPICAL
STORM CONDITIONS.

...WIND IMPACTS...
IN SOUTH CAROLINA...WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE SUNDAY MORNING
REACHING 40 TO 50 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS...SUNDAY AFTERNOON...
LASTING INTO MONDAY MORNING. HIGHEST WINDS WILL BE NEAR THE BEACHES
AND IN ASSOCIATION WITH SQUALLS.

IN NORTH CAROLINA...WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS...ARE
FORECAST TO DEVELOP SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY EVENING. HIGHEST WINDS
WILL BE ALONG THE COAST WITH TROPICAL STRENGTH WINDS EXTENDING WELL
INLAND.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
THIS SYSTEM IS FORECAST WILL SLOWLY WEAKEN AFTER IT MAKES LANDFALL
ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A STORM SURGE
OF 3 TO 5 FEET. HOWEVER...ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDES ON SUNDAY
EVENING...COMBINED WITH ONSHORE WIND DIRECTIONS AND POTENTIAL HEAVY
RAINFALL WILL INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF MODERATE AND POSSIBLY
SEVERE COASTAL FLOODING...ESPECIALLY IN THE CHERRY GROVE AND GARDEN
CITY BEACH AREAS. FLOOD PRONE AREAS IN SOUTHERN GEORGETOWN COUNTY
NEAR WINYAH BAY AND THE MOUTH OF THE SANTEE RIVERS WILL ALSO NEED TO
BE MONITORED. MODERATE BEACH EROSION IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THE HIGHEST PREDICTED TIDES ALONG THE CAROLINA COAST WILL OCCUR
BETWEEN 800 AND 900 PM.

...SEAS AND RIP CURRENTS...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS...MAINLY IN GUSTS...AND INCREASED SEAS
WILL DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL WATERS SUNDAY.
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ON THE NORTH CAROLINA WATERS ARE NOT
EXPECTED UNTIL LATE SUNDAY NIGHT. MARINERS SHOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS
TO STAY IN PORT. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS TODAY WITH
POSSIBLE DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ON SUNDAY.

...FLOOD IMPACTS...
SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN HAVE ALREADY FALLEN IN SPOTS DURING THE PAST
FEW DAYS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE...WITH
SOME AREAS RECEIVING CONSIDERABLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. FLOODING IS LIKELY
IN MANY AREAS.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS TROPICAL SYSTEM CAN BE FOUND IN
ADVISORIES ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER...AND IN PUBLIC
INFORMATION STATEMENTS AND SHORT TERM FORECASTS ISSUED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN WILMINGTON.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT TROPICAL STORM LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON BY 900 PM THIS AFTERNOON.

$$



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