There's a slew of articles at the NYTimes on Helene. One is an interactive feature tracking the storm's destruction. As usual, that's best viewed noninteractively via Archive Today: <https://archive.is/8OODU>.
One location highlighted is the Unocoi County Hospital in Ewrin, TN, from which 50 people were evacuated from the roof by heliocopter after flooding.
The facility opened less than six years ago:
"New Unicoi County Hospital set to open in less than two weeks" (Fri, October 12th 2018)
A month ago HN was discussing the lull in major storms so far during the 2024 hurricane season. As I wrote at the time, also noting that climates and storm conditions are complex systems with numerous factors:
Rapidly-developing storms with access to a great deal of thermal energy and tropical moisture increase the likelihood of major storms developing rapidly with little warning and severe impacts. That's no joke to deal with.
Helene largely matched that description, and has been[1] a major storm, landing as a category 4 (220 km/h / 140 mph winds) having intensified from tropical storm status only 28 hours before, with an immense storm area, engulfing multiple US states, dumping prodigious amounts of rain, and responsible so far for 70+ deaths and $22 billion in damages, with tallies likely to increase. The main saving grace has been that it was fast-moving at landfall minimising the worst of wind and rain damage. Its path slowed dramatically afterwards, and some of the worst damage has been reported well inland, in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, from heavy flooding.
As I write this, Nullschool's Earth Weather Visualiser is showing two large storms likely to develop in the Gulf by 4 October, with another major hurricane well off in the Atlantic:
The most westerly of the storms eye is indicated at the time of this post, that location may shift for those viewing the forecast later. The easterly storm may well hit Florida again.
Those who complained about the "alarmist" climate scientists and jouralists who "cried wolf" might take some heed.
There's a slew of articles at the NYTimes on Helene. One is an interactive feature tracking the storm's destruction. As usual, that's best viewed noninteractively via Archive Today: <https://archive.is/8OODU>.
One location highlighted is the Unocoi County Hospital in Ewrin, TN, from which 50 people were evacuated from the roof by heliocopter after flooding.
The facility opened less than six years ago:
"New Unicoi County Hospital set to open in less than two weeks" (Fri, October 12th 2018)
<https://wcyb.com/news/tennessee-news/new-unicoi-county-hospi...>
NB: it might be best not to build your county hospital in a flood plain:
Google Maps / Terrain: <https://www.google.com/maps/place/Unicoi+County+Hospital,+20...>
Or, for that matter, your US Navy Nuclear Fuel Services Inc., plant:
<https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nuclear+Fuel+Services+Inc/...>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Fuel_Services>
Hurricane risks, 500 km / 300 mi inland.
A month ago HN was discussing the lull in major storms so far during the 2024 hurricane season. As I wrote at the time, also noting that climates and storm conditions are complex systems with numerous factors:
Rapidly-developing storms with access to a great deal of thermal energy and tropical moisture increase the likelihood of major storms developing rapidly with little warning and severe impacts. That's no joke to deal with.
<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41367512>
Helene largely matched that description, and has been[1] a major storm, landing as a category 4 (220 km/h / 140 mph winds) having intensified from tropical storm status only 28 hours before, with an immense storm area, engulfing multiple US states, dumping prodigious amounts of rain, and responsible so far for 70+ deaths and $22 billion in damages, with tallies likely to increase. The main saving grace has been that it was fast-moving at landfall minimising the worst of wind and rain damage. Its path slowed dramatically afterwards, and some of the worst damage has been reported well inland, in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, from heavy flooding.
Wikipedia has a continuously updated page on the effects of Helene as well: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Helene>
As I write this, Nullschool's Earth Weather Visualiser is showing two large storms likely to develop in the Gulf by 4 October, with another major hurricane well off in the Atlantic:
<https://earth.nullschool.net/#2024/10/04/1200Z/wind/surface/...>
The most westerly of the storms eye is indicated at the time of this post, that location may shift for those viewing the forecast later. The easterly storm may well hit Florida again.
Those who complained about the "alarmist" climate scientists and jouralists who "cried wolf" might take some heed.
<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41366911>
________________________________
Notes:
1. I'm avoiding use of the past tense as though Helene has officially dissipated, it appears that the relic low will re-form out over the subtropical Atlantic to become a storm off the Eastern seaboard near the Chesapeake Bay, before finally dissipating for good: <https://earth.nullschool.net/#2024/10/03/0400Z/wind/surface/...>. Such "zombie storms" are being noted increasingly, with Hurricane John being another example: <https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/back-hurricane-streng...>.
Archive / paywall: <https://archive.is/CaRow>