Unprecedented Sonoma Wildfires Prompt Nearly A Million Preemptive Power Outages

Written by Team Morecast

 

A recent run of dry, warm weather has helped spark numerous wildfires across northern California. In particular, the Kincade wildfire has burned nearly 26,000 acres in Sonoma County. Now, the highest winds of the season threaten to blow the fire completely out of control on Sunday. Emergency officials have responded by ordering an unprecedented preemptive power outage as well as tens of thousands of evacuations.

 

 

 

Only 10% of the Kincade fire, which has been burning since Wednesday evening, had been contained as of Saturday morning. Winds will increase overnight with gusts of 60 to locally 80 mph (100-130 kph) expected on Sunday. Those winds, combined with abnormally warm temperatures and low humidities, will lead to dangerous conditions. High winds carry flaming embers far ahead of the parent fires to set new areas ablaze. They can also ground aircraft vital to the fire-fighting effort, and make surface firefighting much harder and more dangerous. These winds also blow thick ash and smoke far downwind, leading to hazardous air quality hundreds of miles downwind.

 

 

The Kincade fire is devastating northern portions of the Sonoma Valley, birthplace of the world-renowned California vineyards. Evacuations have been ordered for upwards of 80,000 residents (see graphic above), including the entire cities of Healdsburg and Windsor. Nearly 30,000 homes and businesses will be directly threatened. The preemptive power outage will affect nearly 1,000,000 PG&E households in the region, meaning around two million people will be in the dark. This measure is designed to reduce the threat of downed powerlines with live current sparking new blazes. In fact, there is some speculation that the Kincade fire itself was started by downed wires. Residents who do experience power cutoff should expect to be in the dark for at least two days, possibly more. Lead photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service.

Deadly Tornadoes Strike Sunday Night Across the Southern Plains, Including Metro Dallas!

Written by Team Morecast

 

A severe storm outbreak Sunday night has claimed at least four lives and led to tens of thousands of power outages from Texas through Oklahoma, Arkansas, and southern Missouri. One of the strongest tornadoes, rated an EF3 by National Weather Service survey team, rolled across the north part of Dallas, Texas in the mid-evening hours. Severe damage was reported to homes and businesses as winds up to 140 mph (225 kph) raked the area. The tornado lasted more than 30 minutes, twisting and tearing along a path nearly 15 miles (24 km) long. The clips below give some idea of how terrifying is the prospect of a tornado after dark in a major metro area. Fortunately, timely warnings led to minimal injuries and no reported fatalities in Dallas.

 

 

Sadly, fatalities were reported with straight-line winds up to 90 mph (145 kph) that toppled trees and power lines in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Large hail up to three inches (7.5 cm) in diameter also fell with the stronger cells. In all, the NWS received nearly 300 reports of severe weather across seven states, the busiest severe weather day in more than two months. Lead photo courtesy National Weather Service, DFW.

Tropical Storm Nestor Brings Some Damage To The Southeast

Written by Team Morecast

Tropical Storm Nestor, the 14th named storm of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, made landfall on St. Vincent Island, Florida, Saturday afternoon. With sustained winds of 45mph(72kph) at landfall, the highest gust observed was 61mph(98kph). Nestor brought strong wind gusts, heavy rain, and coastal flooding, but perhaps will be best remembered for the amount of tornadoes it spawned.

So far, 8 tornadoes have been reported across the Southeast. Mainly in the states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The strongest was rated an EF2, containing winds of up to 135ph(217kph), which touched down near the Lakeland Regional Airport in central Florida. This particular twister damaged 50 homes in that region, along with uprooting hundreds of trees, and knocking out power to several hundred people. One resident of Seminole, Florida described the storm as “Scary, I was never so scared”.

Aside from destructive tornadoes, Nestor brought some minor storm surge to the Florida Panhandle. A water level rise of 3.2 feet was observed in Apalachicola, Florida. Rainfall amounts have averaged 2-4 inches(51-102mm). Although some areas of Florida and Georgia did experience some flash flooding, the rains have proven to be more beneficial than harmful. The Southeast has been experiencing a short term, but severe drought in the last several months. Nestor’s rains will surely put a dent in the drought, as well as have farmers and gardeners alike rejoicing.

Nestor made landfall in roughly the same area as Hurricane Micheal did last year. The area is still recovering from the severe blow dealt by that category 5 storm. A tropical system is never something people want to see coming to their area, but in the case of Nestor, which is paltry compared to Michael, many residents of the Florida panhandle say they’ll take it.

Tropical Storm Nestor Racing Northeast Towards Florida Panhandle!

Written by Team Morecast

 

Late-season tropical activity has picked up in the Gulf of Mexico with Nestor developing from Thursday into Friday. Strong upper level winds are acting to limit the storm’s intensity and move it quickly northeast. In fact, Nestor will be completely off the Carolina coast by Sunday morning. In the meantime, though, Nestor will produce some heavy rain and gusty winds from Florida through Georgia to the Carolinas.

 

 

As of Friday evening, Nestor is located about 130 miles (210 km) southwest of Panama City, FL. Moderate to heavy rainfall is already spreading over the region (see animation above). The storm is producing sustained winds to 60 mph (100 kph), moving northeast at near 23 mph (37 kph), rather fast for a cyclone. Nestor will remain a strong tropical storm through landfall, now expected to occur early Saturday morning just south of Panama City (see track map below).

 

 

The storm will likely transition to extratropical status shortly after landfall. However, it will still be capable of producing damaging winds and localized flash flooding. The fast forward speed could also enhance the storm surge potential for sections of the Florida Gulf coast, probably the most dangerous threat from this storm. Some locations will see a surge of up to 4-5 feet inundate the coast. Rainfall of three to locally six inches (75-150 mm) will fall over much of the Southeast. Wind gusts of 45-60 mph will combine with rain-weakened soil to knock down numerous trees. Isolated tornadoes will lead to localized areas of heavier damage. Lead photo courtesy Army National Guard, Lt. Zachary West.