A less well-known feature is that some tropical storms can penetrate deep into the interior and cause severe freshwater flooding and wind destruction far from the coast. Hurricanes have the potential to travel up to 100 to 200 miles inland. Emanuel (2005b) presented a good summary of the meteorological changes with increasing latitude and the problems the National Weather Bureau had in accurately determining the landfall and intensity of the storm. Slower storm motion: Some research suggests that climate change could cause hurricanes to move more slowly, increasing the potential for prolonged rainfall and inland flooding. (D) Overwash and new inlets formed in the Hamptons, Long Island, New York. Flood stage of the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg is 17 ft (5.2 m). After the 1938 hurricane, the U.S. government sponsored a study of the storm by the Federal Writers Project, Works Progress Administration in the New England States (1938). Changes in atmospheric conditions: Altered wind patterns and atmospheric circulation could influence the frequency and paths of future hurricanes. Hurricanes are common in the eastern Pacific, but they are far less common in the Hawaiian Islands. Landfall typically weakens a hurricane due to increased friction and reduced energy supply from the ocean. A case study in the effects of coastal engineering structures and beach restoration methods after storms, Westhampton Beach, Long Island, New York. ), Weather changes recorded at Amherst, Massachusetts, as the hurricane of 1938 passed over, after Bradley et al. of Geology and Geography, University of Massachusetts, Smithsonian Institution, Publication 3563. The eye offers a brief respite from the storms fury, while the eyewall and rainbands deliver powerful winds and torrential rains. Finally, northern hurricanes can encounter polar air masses on their left sides as they move inland in the early fall (the New England Hurricane of 1938). Learn how to prepare for a hurricane, stay safe during a hurricane, and what to do when returning home from a hurricane. Avalanches flowed down existing chutes. Lost productivity: Disruptions to transportation, power, and communication networks can hinder economic activity and reduce productivity. Do not handle electrical equipment and do not use a landline unless it's an emergency. And the eye of the hurricane is 30 miles in diameter. (Color for this figure is available in the online version of this paper.). Hurricanes can travel up to 100 - 200 miles inland. But when storm winds push up against the ocean surface, pulling up sea water, this forms a storm surge that piles on top of the normal tide. And they all begin with calm winds swirling over very calm, warm waters. However once a hurricane moves inland it can no longer draw on heat energy from the ocean and weakens rapidly to a tropical storm (39 to 73 mph winds) or tropical depression. For this paper, photos of tree damage across New England were examined in the archives of the White Mountain National Forest in Laconia, New Hampshire. Track of Hurricane Hugo and location of Sumter County, South Carolina. It is therefore important to consider the possibility of inland intensification in every future hurricane. Hurricanes have the potential to travel up to 100 to 200 miles inland. (Color for this figure is available in the online version of this paper.). Philadelphia District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy. (A) Locations reporting significant damage. As seen in the image above, hurricanes in the Pacific ocean form in the waters off western coast of Mexico and often move northwest, further into the ocean. Spiral rainbands: Bands of showers and thunderstorms that spiral outward from the hurricanes center, extending hundreds of miles and producing gusty winds and heavy rain. As the first and second wind fields streamed into the valleys, wind speed was increased by the Bernoulli effect (Figure 8A). These temperature contrasts intensified the wind field and enabled the storm to penetrate further inland at a higher speed than expected. Shallow rooted trees snapped or uprooted. However, once a hurricane moves inland, it can no longer draw on heat energy from the ocean and weakens rapidly to a tropical storm (39 to 73 mph winds) or tropical depression. Impacts: Tornadoes spawned by hurricanes are typically short-lived and relatively weak, but they can still cause localized damage and pose a threat to life and property. (C). All locations along the U.S. East and Gulf . On that day, a polar air mass had moved south and was colliding with the tropical air in the hurricane to the east (Figure 18). Hurricane modification of the offshore bar of Long Island, New York. This scale estimates potential property damage according to the hurricane's sustained wind speed. Coch (2015) summarized all the factors that demonstrate that the Long Island shoreline today is in worse shape than it was before the 1938 hurricane. Even though the moisture content was reduced as the storm moved inland, the potential energy of the air mass distribution overcame some of the frictional effects (topography and vegetation) and maintained the energy of the storm. As a result, the hurricane maintained a distinct eye into northern Vermont. Damage was reported at many locations in New York and New England (Figure 16). This is what happened on 21 September 1938, and it greatly energized the wind field. For example, a return period of 20 years for a major hurricane means that on average during the previous 100 . Hurricane Harvey slammed into the Texas coast at Category 4 intensity in 2017 with a destructive storm surge and damaging winds. Even if you have ventilation, never use a generator indoors. They concluded that the precipitation increased by 30%40% as the storm passed over the hills. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. Infrastructure improvements: Enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure, such as power grids, water systems, and transportation networks, can help minimize service disruptions and expedite recovery efforts. A decaying hurricane can have high convective centers inland that result in localized damage more typical of the hurricane at landfall (Hurricane Hugo, 1989). However once a hurricane moves inland it can no longer draw on heat energy from the ocean and weakens rapidly to a tropical storm (39 to 73 mph winds) or tropical depression. Cliff recession of 27 ft (9 m) occurred in the cliffs of Block Island, Rhode Island. (D) James River flood at Richmond, Virginia. However, the storms remnants can still produce heavy rainfall, flooding, and wind damage far inland. America's Most Vulnerable Coastal Communities. (Color for this figure is available in the online version of this paper.). Hurricanes can cause extensive wind damage and spawn tornadoes, resulting in widespread destruction and hazards to communities. From the Carolinas northward, Hurricane Agnes was in contact with a midlatitude cyclone (National Weather Service, 2019) on its west side. Strength and Classification of Hurricanes, Steering winds and atmospheric circulation, Rainfall patterns associated with hurricanes, Wind impacts on structures and vegetation, Influence on hurricane frequency and Intensity, Potential for increased inland penetration, Evacuation planning and emergency response, Building Codes and infrastructure resilience. 100 to 200 miles inland While most residents in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and other hurricane prone areas understand just how intense hurricane winds and flooding can be, others may not be prepared for the various hazards a hurricane can present. In addition, the trees were still in total bloom in late September and offered maximum resistance to the winds. The State (Columbia S.C.), Special issue, 16 September 1990. Enhanced rainfall: Warmer air can hold more moisture, potentially leading to heavier rainfall and a greater risk of inland flooding from hurricanes. If a hurricane's winds add 15 feet on top of the normal two feet ocean tide, this produces a 17 food storm tide, which can very easily sweep away buildings, trees, cars, and people. The interpretation preferred in this paper is that the orographic effect must have been considerable as Hurricane Camille moved from the low elevations of the Mississippi Valley to flow over the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains. Army engineers are surveying the beaches. Homes in Fort Myers Beach were . Inland hurricanes can cause significant damage to urban areas and infrastructure, resulting in power outages, transportation disruptions, and other challenges for communities. Hurricanes in Texas can travel up to 100-200 miles inland, although their intensity typically decreases as they move away from the oceans heat energy. The 2.5+ day backup system. Terchunian and Merkert (1995) described the opening and closing of barrier breaches that resulted from groin construction at Westhampton Beach, New York. Friction: Interaction with land increases surface friction, which disrupts a hurricanes circulation and weakens its winds. Dive into the swirling vortex of hurricane science, as we uncover the factors influencing a storms inland journey, and reveal the hidden dangers lurking beyond the coastline. The massive tree uprooting (Figure 14C) tore up water, sewage, and gas lines. These organizations included: U.S. Geological Survey Information Service, Smithsonian Institution Archive Center, and the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy. How are scientists working to improve hurricane forecasting and our understanding of inland hurricanes? If power is lost, turn off all major appliances to reduce the chances of damaging a power surge. The hills (a glacial moraine) average about 320 ft (100 m) high. Hillsides were littered with sheets of metal roofing, wood planks, and household debris (National Hurricane Center, 1996). More recently, Hurricane Harvey in 2017 caused significant flooding in Houston and other areas of Texas. As hurricanes move inland, they unleash torrential rains, thus the greatest damage . The damage was described in reports of the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy (1969a,b). Surprisingly, the phones worked, although the lines were down. The city, part of the Mississippi Gulf Coast directly hit by the storm, sustained significant damage. SumterThis inland community learned an important lesson-hurricanes can never be considered as a coastal problem. Training rainbands: In some cases, rainbands can become aligned with the storms motion, causing persistent, heavy rainfall over the same area and leading to significant flooding. Tom Batey, administrator of Kauai County, suggested damage study sites during two research tours in Kauai. The New England Council hopes to persuade owners to build cottages further inland instead of at the shore edge. Subtropical ridge: A high-pressure system in the Atlantic Ocean can guide hurricanes on a westward or northwestward path. The quote below is from Williams and Guy (1971): On the night of August 19 a rare combination of circumstances brought about a rapid intensification of the rain fall in the region just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, especially around Nelson County, Virginia. The following quote from their report (pp. What contribution could orographic rainfall have contributed as Camille passed over the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains? The author is collectively grateful to the eight survivors who provided a first-hand view of the storm experience. Meet Richard Buettner, the esteemed editor of GeoAffairs, armed with a Master's degree in Geography and sharing his valuable insights through 25 years of dedicated experience in the field. Structural damage included a combination of roof stripping (Figure 14A,B), uprooted trees falling on structures (Figure 14C), and gable-end failure on homes (Figure 14D). Mountains can induce orographic precipitation that can result in massive debris flows (Hurricane Camille in Nelson County, Virginia, 1969). Downed lines and poles: Strong winds can topple power lines and utility poles, resulting in widespread power outages and making repairs difficult. Hurricane Iniki was by far the strongest and most destructive. While the short answer is up to 100-200 miles, theres much more to the story. In some cases, tropical cyclones can maintain their strength or even intensify over land due to the release of large amounts of latent heat from extremely wet soils, a phenomenon known as the brown ocean effect. Nonetheless, the speed at which a hurricane moves inland can be as fast as one mile every three or four minutes. Tannehill (1956) believed that the speed was slower and that the storm had a forward velocity of 56 mi/h (90 km/h) as it crossed the Long Island shoreline. Each major damage location is indicated on Figure 16A. Northeast section of Fujita's (1992) map of the first and second wind fields of Hurricane Iniki on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Hurricanes have the potential to travel up to 100-200 miles inland, though their intensity typically decreases rapidly once they move away from the oceans heat energy. How can communities prepare for and mitigate the effects of inland hurricanes? Additionally, changes in atmospheric conditions may affect the frequency and paths of future storms, with possible implications for inland hurricane penetration and associated impacts. The waters of Narragansett Bay were pushed into Providence, Rhode Island, by the afternoon rush hour (Figure 16F). Rainfall intensity and duration: The amount and duration of rainfall can determine the severity of inland flooding. The State of Virginia is now conducting surveys of the devastated areas to better understand the potential for slope failure in future storms (Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy, 2019). The staff of the White Mountains National Forest in Laconia, New Hampshire, provided archive photographs of tree damage across New England. Make sure to follow your local weather news channel for alerts. Rainfall map for Hurricane Agnes. Shelters big and small have opened across the state, as far away as in Dallas, where some evacuees ended up after fleeing the storm. There are earnest proposals that the seaside resorts pass zoning laws. Timely evacuations: Well-coordinated evacuation plans can save lives and reduce the risk of injury during inland hurricanes. (Color for this figure is available in the online version of this paper.). Join Direct Energy for a chance to win Yeti 3000X + (4) Tanks + Link + Home Integration Kit + 600-Watt Power Supply. South Carolina Governor Caroll Campbell flew over the area, and the American media soon realized that the damage in Sumter County was severe. Warm air rises, cool air sinks. In the case of Hurricane Iniki, the irregular topography inland (Figure 4) created more damage on the lee side. Finally, relief workers must minimize their effect on devastated communities by providing their own housing, food, equipment, and vehicles. More heat energy collects and builds more clouds. How far inland do hurricanes go? By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to, HURRICANE AGNESMERGING OF A TROPICAL LOW WITH A CONTINENTAL LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM, HURRICANE INIKI (1992)WIND CHANNELING ON A MOUNTAINOUS ISLAND, HURRICANE CAMILLEOROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION CREATES MAJOR MASS MOVEMENTS AND STREAM FLOODING, HURRICANE HUGO (1969)DESTRUCTION FROM HIGH CONVECTIVE BANDS INLAND, THE 1938 NEW ENGLAND HURRICANEHURRICANE INTENSIFICATION INLAND FROM THE COLLISION OF POLAR AND TROPICAL AIR MASSES, https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-20A-00002.1, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy (1969a, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy, 2019, Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Internal Solitary Waves in the Penghu Channel Based on Satellite Remote Sensing, Inbound Tourism Economy for Coastal Areas of China: Differences and Influencing Factors, Barrier Island Reconfiguration Leads to Rapid Erosion and Relocation of a Rural Alaska Community, How to Improve the Bioreceptivity of Concrete Infrastructure Used in Marine Ecosystems? This was 2 ft (0.6 m) higher than the water level reached in the 1815 hurricane. Pierce (1939) explained the role of the temperature difference across the wind field. Texas 64 hurricanes (19 were Category 3 through Category 5 . The radar picture as the storm was centered over Sumter County is shown in Figure 13. While most residents in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and other hurricane prone areas understand just how intense hurricane winds and flooding can be, others may not be prepared for the various hazards a hurricane can present. This radar image reveals that the eastern two-thirds of the county were showing very high reflectivity values of 2650 dB. A hurricanes destructive power is not limited to coastal regions; its impacts can extend far inland, posing significant risks to communities and infrastructure. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. NOAA's National Hurricane Center uses an analysis tool that quantifies those chances called the hurricane return period. A considerable volume of raw and partially treated sewage was washed into Chesapeake Bay along with agricultural nutrients. (Color for this figure is available in the online version of this paper.). Several factors influence a hurricanes inland reach, including storm size and intensity, terrain, and topography, and atmospheric conditions. Hurricane Hugo, a category 4 hurricane, made a landfall on the South Carolina coast at Sullivan's Island around 0400 h on 22 September 1969. Williams and Guy (1971) described the reasons for the excessive rainfall, based on research by Schwarz (1970). It is important to note that hurricanes have the ability to go 100-200 miles inland. Introduction to the Risk Maps. (D) Gable-end roof failure. He graciously discussed the results and interpretations of the observations after each visit. The presence of land can significantly alter a hurricanes path, as well as its intensity and structure. A very detailed discussion of erosion, depositional features, and the characteristics of debris deposits was given by Williams and Guy (1971). Return home only when authorities have declared the area safe. 100 to 200 miles inland While most residents in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and other hurricane prone areas understand just how intense hurricane winds and flooding can be, others may not be prepared for the various hazards a hurricane can present. Animal fatalities: Inland flooding and strong winds can result in livestock fatalities and injuries, as well as disruptions to animal husbandry practices. This is for disclaimer and any terms and conditions that we need to show. This moist air extended up to 3,000 feet (914 meters). As many as 250 million trees were downed in a few hours. Winds can be channeled through passes on mountainous islands, like Kauai, to cause massive destruction on the lee side (Hurricane Iniki, 1992). The primary hazard associated with inland hurricanes is flooding, which can have devastating effects on communities, especially those in mountainous regions. In Florida, hurricanes have the potential to travel up to 100-200 miles inland. August is the most probable month for a hurricane to reach Texas, however storms may occur at any time between early summer and late autumn. Log in to renew or transfer your service, Supply Chain Responsibilities & Disclosure. Buis, Alan. Since hurricane record-keeping began in 1949, nine storms have begun their lives as either Atlantic hurricanes or tropical storms (i.e., sustained winds of at least 34 mph) and moved across North America to become Northeast Pacific hurricanes, or vice versa. Hurricanes and shoreline changes in Rhode Island. The system strengthens into a tropical depression. A less well-known feature is that some tropical storms can penetrate deep into the interior and cause severe freshwater flooding . Camp and Miller (1970) considered that to be the second highest discharge on the James River since Jamestown was settled in 1607. Northern hurricanes can encounter polar air masses on their left sides as they move inland in the early fall (New England Hurricane of 1938). Catastrophic damage. Larger and more intense storms: Hurricanes with a larger size and higher intensity can penetrate farther inland before weakening, as they have more energy and momentum. What were the meteorological conditions that led to the extraordinary regional damage in the 1938 hurricane? Hurricanes pose significant threats to coastal communities and ecosystems, with storm surges and powerful waves causing widespread damage. Brooks (1939) mapped the rainfall from the storm. 26 hours before landfall: First signs of a hurricane appear including falling pressure, light breezes, ocean surface swells of 10-15 feet, and white cirrus clouds on the horizon. On 4 September 1938, a French observer noted a gentle wind shift and an easterly wave passing over an oasis in the Sahara Desert. (Color for this figure is available in the online version of this paper.). The purpose of this paper is to describe the various conditions that can cause hurricane damage inland. 24 hours before landfall: Overcast skies, high winds, sea foam on the ocean's surface. But it was Harvey's agonizingly slow meander over or near the Texas . This excessive rainfall softened the soil and made it easy for the strong winds to break and topple trees. (Color for this figure is available in the online version of this paper.). (Color for this figure is available in the online version of this paper.). Hurricanes are born from a combination of warm ocean waters, moist air, and favorable atmospheric conditions.