[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KILM 270526
HLSILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE IRENE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
126 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

...CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE TO MAKE ITS CLOSEST APPROACH TO CAPE
FEAR SHORTLY...

.AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND MARINE INTERESTS IN PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE
ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
INLAND PENDER...COASTAL PENDER...INLAND NEW HANOVER...COASTAL NEW
HANOVER...INLAND BRUNSWICK AND COASTAL BRUNSWICK.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
BLADEN...COLUMBUS...INLAND HORRY...COASTAL HORRY...INLAND
GEORGETOWN AND COASTAL GEORGETOWN.

FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS FROM LITTLE RIVER INLET NORTHWARD.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE ATLANTIC COASTAL
WATERS SOUTH OF LITTLE RIVER INLET.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN
NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA. PLEASE LISTEN
CLOSELY FOR ANY FLOOD WARNINGS THAT MAY BE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.

A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PENDER...NEW
HANOVER...AND BRUNSWICK COUNTIES AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.STORM INFORMATION...
AT 100 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 33.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.5 WEST. THIS WAS ABOUT 110
MILES SOUTHEAST OF WILMINGTON NC...OR ABOUT 140 MILES EAST-
SOUTHEAST OF MYRTLE BEACH SC. STORM MOTION WAS NORTH-NORTHEAST AT
13 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS WERE 100 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL
PRESSURE IS 952 MILLIBARS...OR 28.11 INCHES.

.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE IS MOVING TOWARD A LANDFALL ON THE
NORTH CAROLINA COAST NEAR CAPE LOOKOUT LATER THIS MORNING. RAIN
BANDS AND STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE COAST OF SOUTH
AND NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH THIS MORNING. DANGEROUS WAVES...STORM
SURGE...AND STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE LARGEST THREATS.
WHEN MAKING DECISIONS DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT FORECAST TRACK.
IRENE IS A LARGE STORM AND ITS EFFECTS EXTEND A CONSIDERABLE
DISTANCE WEST OF THE STORM'S CENTER.

.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DURING THE STORM...STAY INSIDE AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DO NOT
VENTURE OUTSIDE WHEN HIGH WINDS ARE OCCURRING OR DURING TEMPORARY
LULLS AS FLYING DEBRIS CAN EASILY...AND SUDDENLY...CAUSE SERIOUS
INJURY. KEEP A WELL-CHARGED CELL PHONE NEARBY.

CLOSELY MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS
FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES TO
THE FORECAST.

&&

.NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN WILMINGTON AROUND 400 AM EDT...OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.

NCZ105>110-270930-
/O.CON.KILM.HU.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
INLAND PENDER-COASTAL PENDER-INLAND NEW HANOVER-
COASTAL NEW HANOVER-INLAND BRUNSWICK-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-
126 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING EVACUATION
INFORMATION AND BRIDGE CLOSURES. KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS
INFORMATION MAY CHANGE.

FOR BRUNSWICK COUNTY...ALL THREE HIGH SCHOOLS IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
ARE OPEN FOR THOSE SEEKING SHELTER. BRUNSWICK COUNTY RESIDENTS
NEEDING TO EVACUATE WITH PETS SHOULD USE THE SHELTER AT BRUNSWICK
WEST HIGH SCHOOL.

THE SUNSET BEACH AND HOLDEN BEACH BRIDGES ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE. ACCORDING TO LOCAL OFFICIALS...THE OAK ISLAND BRIDGES
CLOSE WHEN WIND SPEEDS REACH 40 MPH...AND THE OCEAN ISLE BRIDGE
CLOSES WHEN WIND SPEEDS REACH 50 MPH.

FOR NEW HANOVER COUNTY...DOROTHY B JOHNSON ELEMENTARY AND NOBLE
MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN AS STORM SHELTERS. NEW HANOVER COUNTY
RESIDENTS NEEDING TO EVACUATE WITH DOGS AND CATS SHOULD USE THE
SHELTER AT NOBLE MIDDLE SCHOOL. FOR WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH...A CURFEW
WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 7 AM SATURDAY. UNCW IS
UNDER A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION AND A CAMPUS CURFEW REMAINS IN EFFECT.

SNOWS CUT BRIDGE WILL CLOSE WHEN WIND SPEEDS REACH 45 MPH. THE
CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSES TO RIVER TRAFFIC WHEN WIND SPEEDS
REACH 40 MPH...HOWEVER THE BRIDGE IS NOT EXPECTED TO CLOSE TO
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. PROGRESS ENERGY REPORTS 15000 PEOPLE HAVE LOST
POWER JUST IN NEW HANOVER COUNTY.

FOR PENDER COUNTY...THE TOWNS OF TOPSAIL BEACH AND SURF CITY HAVE
ENACTED ISLAND-ONLY CURFEWS UNTIL NOON SATURDAY. BURGAW MIDDLE
SCHOOL...MALPASS CORNER ELEMENTARY...AND TOPSAIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ARE OPEN AS STORM SHELTERS. RESIDENTS NEEDING TO EVACUATE WITH
DOGS OR CATS SHOULD USE THE SHELTER AT BURGAW MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REPORTS A COMPLETE CLOSURE OF U.S
HIGHWAY 117 SOUTH OF WALLACE DUE TO POWER LINES ON THE HIGHWAY.

IF YOU ARE NOT IN A FLOOD ZONE...AND ARE EXPERIENCING STRONG
WINDS...STRONGLY CONSIDER SHELTERING IN PLACE UNTIL THE WINDS
SUBSIDE. DO NOT STAY IN A MOBILE OR MANUFACTURED HOME...OR IN A
FLOOD ZONE. IF YOU HAVE PETS...USE THE NEAREST PET-FRIENDLY
SHELTER.

IF STAYING IN A HOME...TURN THE REFRIGERATOR TO ITS COLDEST
SETTING AND KEEP IT CLOSED. TURN OFF PROPANE TANKS AND UNPLUG
SMALL APPLIANCES. FILL THE BATHTUB WITH WATER IN CASE TAP WATER
BECOMES UNAVAILABLE AFTER THE STORM.

&&

...WINDS...
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH LATE THIS MORNING. GUSTS TO NEAR HURRICANE-
FORCE ARE POSSIBLE NEAR THE BEACHES. WINDS WILL TURN FROM THE
NORTH TO THE NORTHWEST AS THE STORM'S CENTER MOVES BY. MINOR TO
MODERATE DAMAGE MAY OCCUR TO SOME MOBILE HOMES...ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT HAVE CANOPIES...AWNINGS...OR CARPORTS. OTHER HOMES MAY HAVE
MINOR ROOF AND SIDING DAMAGE. SOME LOOSE OUTDOOR ITEMS WILL BE
TOSSED AROUND AND MAY CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. A LARGE NUMBER OF
POWER LINES WILL BE KNOCKED DOWN RESULTING IN POWER OUTAGES. SOME
LARGE BRANCHES OF HEALTHY TREES WILL BE SNAPPED. MOST NEWLY
PLANTED TREES AND SHRUBS WILL BE DAMAGED OR UPROOTED.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
COMBINED STORM SURGE AND ASTRONOMICAL TIDES 4 TO 6 FEET ABOVE
MEAN SEA LEVEL ARE BEING REALIZED WITHIN AREAS NEAR TO THE COAST
AND ARE RESULTING IN FLOOD INUNDATION OF 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE GROUND
LEVEL. THE WORST COASTAL FLOODING WILL AFFECT THE SOUTHERN NEW
HANOVER COUNTY BEACHES: CAROLINA BEACH...KURE BEACH...AND FORT
FISHER. WEST OF BALD HEAD ISLAND THE OFFSHORE WIND DIRECTION WILL
HELP PUSH WATER BACK OUT TO SEA...WITH ONLY A 2 TO 4 FOOT STORM
SURGE...AND RELATIVELY MINOR FLOODING PROBLEMS EXPECTED.

...INLAND FLOODING...
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. BE READY TO ACT IF
FLOODING RAINS OCCUR AND FLOOD WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. STORM TOTAL
RAINFALL OF 5 TO 10 INCHES IS POSSIBLE...WITH THE HIGHEST TOTALS
NEAR THE NEW HANOVER AND PENDER COUNTY BEACHES.

...TORNADOES...
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM. BE READY TO ACT
QUICKLY IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED.

...COASTAL HAZARDS...
LARGE AND VERY DANGEROUS SURF WILL CONTINUE WITH BREAKING WAVES
OF 8 TO 12 FEET. THE RIP CURRENT RISK WILL ALSO BE HIGH. THESE
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

$$

SCZ053>056-270930-
/O.CON.KILM.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
INLAND HORRY-COASTAL HORRY-INLAND GEORGETOWN-COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
126 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FINAL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT PROPERTY SHOULD ALREADY HAVE BEEN
COMPLETED AT THIS TIME.

&&

...WINDS...
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH LATE THIS MORNING. MINOR DAMAGE IS POSSIBLE
TO MOBILE HOMES... ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE CANOPIES...
AWNINGS...OR CARPORTS. POORLY CONSTRUCTED HOMES MAY SUSTAIN ROOF
DAMAGE. SOME LOOSE OUTDOOR ITEMS WILL BE TOSSED AROUND AND MAY
CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. SOME POWER LINES WILL BE KNOCKED DOWN
RESULTING IN SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES. SOME LARGE BRANCHES OF
HEALTHY TREES WILL BE SNAPPED. MOST NEWLY PLANTED TREES AND SHRUBS
WILL BE DAMAGED OR UPROOTED.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
A STORM SURGE IN THE 3 TO 5 FOOT RANGE IS OCCURRING
NOW...PRODUCING UP TO 1 OR 2 FEET OF WATER ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN A
WORST-CASE SITUATION. THE WORST COASTAL FLOODING IS LIKELY
OCCURRING NEAR AND SOUTH OF MURRELLS INLET IN THE VICINITY OF THE
MOUTH OF WINYAH BAY. ELEVATED WATER LEVELS NEAR THE COAST MAY
REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH THE NEXT HIGH TIDE...EXPECTED TO OCCUR
AROUND 630 AM.

...INLAND FLOODING...
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. STORM-TOTAL RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED NEAR AND NORTH
OF MYRTLE BEACH...WITH LESSER AMOUNTS...AROUND 2 INCHES...
FORECAST FARTHER INLAND.

...COASTAL HAZARDS...
LARGE AND VERY DANGEROUS SURF WILL CONTINUE WITH BREAKING WAVES
OF 5 TO 8 FEET. THE RIP CURRENT RISK WILL BE HIGH. THESE HAZARDOUS
CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST INTO THE DAY SATURDAY.

$$

NCZ096-099-270930-
/O.CON.KILM.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
BLADEN-COLUMBUS-
126 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT PROPERTY SHOULD ALREADY HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

&&

...WINDS...
THE LATEST AREA FORECAST IS FOR MAXIMUM WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH
WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 50 MPH...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EASTERN
PORTIONS OF BLADEN AND COLUMBUS COUNTIES. MINOR DAMAGE IS
POSSIBLE TO MOBILE HOMES... ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE
CANOPIES...AWNINGS...OR CARPORTS. SOME LOOSE OUTDOOR ITEMS WILL
BE TOSSED AROUND. A FEW POWER LINES WILL BE KNOCKED DOWN
RESULTING IN SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES. SOME LARGE BRANCHES OF
HEALTHY TREES MAY BE SNAPPED. MOST NEWLY PLANTED TREES AND SHRUBS
WILL BE DAMAGED OR UPROOTED.

...INLAND FLOODING...
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. STORM-TOTAL RAINFALL TOTALS
SHOULD RANGE FROM 4 TO 6 INCHES...WITH THE HIGHEST TOTALS ACROSS
THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF BLADEN AND COLUMBUS COUNTIES.

$$

AMZ250-252-270930-
/O.CON.KILM.HU.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
SURF CITY TO CAPE FEAR NC OUT 20 NM-
CAPE FEAR NC TO LITTLE RIVER INLET SC OUT 20 NM-
126 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT AND WELL SECURED.

&&

...WINDS AND SEAS...
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 50 TO 60 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 75 KNOTS WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH LATE SATURDAY MORNING. WINDS ARE NOT FORECAST TO
FALL BELOW TROPICAL STORM FORCE UNTIL EARLY SATURDAY EVENING. SEAS
WILL RANGE FROM 10 TO 12 FEET NEAR SHORE TO AS HIGH AS 25 FEET AT
20 MILES DISTANCE FROM SHORE.

...TORNADOES AND WATERSPOUTS...
A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE
SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS FOR YOUR LOCATION...AND BE READY TO ACT
QUICKLY IF A TORNADO APPROACHES.

$$

AMZ254-256-270930-
/O.CON.KILM.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
LITTLE RIVER INLET TO MURRELLS INLET SC OUT 20 NM-
MURRELLS INLET TO SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SC OUT 20 NM-
126 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT AND WELL SECURED.

&&

...WINDS AND SEAS...
SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS HAVE ARRIVED AND WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT. MAXIMUM WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE IN
THE 40 TO 50 KNOT RANGE WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 65 KNOTS AWAY FROM
SHORE. SEAS WILL RANGE FROM 10 FEET NEAR SHORE TO 18 FEET AT
20 MILES DISTANCE FROM SHORE.

$$

TRA




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