It is forecast to hit hardest Saturday night and Sunday morning, but the 40-45 mph winds don't figure to cause much damage. The worst effects probably will come from rain, which may fall heavily in some locations. Parts of the Grand Strand, such as Garden City, are particularly prone to flooding with even routine rainstorms. The most dangerous phenomenon may well be the rip currents, which can sweep swimmers out a significant distance and doom those who panic and try to fight the current to get directly back to shore. (The secret is to swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current -- and don't panic.)
Quite appropriately, the lifeguards are strictly enforcing no swimming at the public beaches. This is a matter of saving lives, a legitimate stand for public safety.
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This is an Atlantic system from years past; not Ana. |
Arthur was enough to get me thinking in specifics about how to prepare for a hurricane, but so far Ana is just making me think about thinking about what we need to do -- you know, the bottled water, batteries, important papers, evacuation routes, car ready to roll, and so forth. No doubt though it is a good idea to keep an emergency kit up to date, whether for a natural or man-made disaster.
So far storm watchers have enjoyed a slow dance with Ana. The breezes and showers have been more refreshing than ominous. Superdawg and I have even relished a few walks between squalls. That could change, of course; tonight's report from the hurricane hunters states that there has been some further strengthening. {Breaking news: Wind speed is up to 60 mph at midnight tonight. That is higher than had been anticipated.} It is a very slow-moving system. So we shall see. No one should ever grow complacent about storms that boil up in the warm ocean waters.
© Robert G. Holland 2015
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