| Lysis |
| (User) |
| Tue Feb 01 2005 01:37 AM |
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Question regarding Storm Surge
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As you can see here http://flhurricane.com/cyclone/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=34792&an=0&page=0#34792 , I went through Hurricane Charley. I lived in Homestead during Andrew, so I am fully aware of the danger that wind posseses. However, Charley was my first major hurricane experienced while living on the water. Bieng a waterfront owner (well, sorta) in south Florida, I am quite concerned with the aspect of storm surge. I talked to some people who were here during Hurricane Donna (1960) and they said that the peace river was drained out during and before the cyclones eye. When the 2nd half of the storm came, so did the water ---resulting in massive flood damage. During Charley, I observed a strange shift in tides proceding the 2nd half as well. The water level got real low for a little while, and then gradually got back to normal over night. I live on the edge of a canal in Punta Gorda Isles, wich feeds into Charlotte Harbor. Given the geography of the area, uniqe angle, and speed of the storm, why did I experience no surge? When Frances and Jeanne clipped us, the water came over the sea wall flooding parks and low lying areas. Heck, even during back door cold fronts I get more of a wind driven surge than I got during Charley. I saw an image of Fort Myers, wich did not even get Hurricane winds, in which a hotel parking lot was submerged with a storm driven surge. As said before, Charleys olique angle proabably has somthing to do with this. So my question is, why did I not recieve a measurable surge during/proceding hurricane charley, and why do I get a more significant increase in water level during back door hurricanes (for example, like the Miami Hurricane of 1926)? I understand the mechanics of surge, and how it works ---but just not in corrilation with my geography. Thanks.
| LI Phil |
| (User) |
| Tue Feb 01 2005 04:39 PM |
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Re: Question regarding Storm Surge
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The answer to your question can be found here.
| Lysis |
| (User) |
| Tue Feb 01 2005 10:36 PM |
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Re: Question regarding Storm Surge
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What happened, forecasters say, is that Charley shrank to a remarkably small inner core of winds that generate the bulk of surge. It also sped up to almost 25 mph, giving the storm less time to push water ashore.
Sooo...should I be concerned with surge, or not? Should I not have recieved even a little surge? Does it matter how large the core is if you get hit by it? I am still confused. I know that charley was extremly small and fast, but that cannot possibly account for the overall lack of surge. And what of the sharp decline in water level? Not that it matters --I am just glad that we diddnt have to worry about surge. However, what about the future. I mentioned a concern with back door hurricanes and tropical storms. When TS Gabrielle (sp?) made landfall a few miles north of here, the water came over the sea wall. The area in which I live floods very easily. Surge scares me more than any aspect of a hurricane --now more than ever. What will it take for a significant surge in my area:
I will be specific
My exact location :
I live in the fourth canal from the far top left. (the image is huge)
http://www.digitalglobe.com/images/charley/punta_gorda_fl_aug14_2004_dg.jpg
| LI Phil |
| (User) |
| Tue Feb 01 2005 11:39 PM |
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Re: Question regarding Storm Surge
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I don't have the time to do a full search at this time, but you may want to do a google search. SLOSH maps are what your are looking for, and I would narrow it down by using Punta Gorda or Charlotte County. This adobe file is interesting reading.
| Lysis |
| (User) |
| Wed Feb 02 2005 02:19 PM |
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Re: Question regarding Storm Surge
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Awesome PDF LI Phil !! Thanks alot!
| Lysis |
| (User) |
| Wed Feb 02 2005 08:21 PM |
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Re: Question regarding Storm Surge
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http://www.charlottecountyfl.com/Emergency/Flooding/Storm_Surge11x17.pdf
It seems that the little jut that PGI is located on forms a kind of protective barrier. Looking at this, I suppose that a back door system moving counter clockwise would push water in form the mouth of the peace river.
Conversly, a cyclonic system moving in from the west would push the water up against the south side of the jut --hence the the protective barrier. This still doesnt explain why the water level suddenly decreased during the 2nd half of the storm. I have searched for over two hours, and I cant find a single slosh map of the area. I even came across one site explaining how the surge was, in fact, 15 feet high in my region. Do we have a surge expert anywhere? This is the single greatest threat for costal communites. It is a shame that the wind gets all the attention. Everyone immediatly thinks of wind when they hear the word hurricane.