Storm Surge

Tracking Dorian

Hurricane Dorian continues to be monitored very closely. It devastated parts of the Bahamas. When it made landfall on Great Abaco Island (near Marsh Harbour) with 185 mph maximum sustained winds, it tied the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane for the strongest Atlantic hurricane landfall on record. Catastrophic storm surge also occurred. For the first time in recorded history, at least one Category 5 hurricane has now occurred in the Atlantic Basin for four consecutive years.

This storm is expected to track off to the east of North Florida and South Georgia. A Hurricane Warning remains in effect from Sebastian Inlet to Ponte Vedra Beach. A Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning covers our coastal communities to the north. The greatest impacts will be in coastal areas. Storm surge looks to be the biggest threat with heights 3 to 5 feet above ground forecast in some spots. Hurricane-force wind gusts, flash flooding, and isolated tornadoes are the other noteworthy hazards.

Read More

Southeast Georgia Overdue for Major Hurricane Strike

Areas like Brunswick and Savannah have been impacted by hurricanes like Matthew (2016) and David (1979), but these storms did not cause extreme damage across Southeast Georgia. However, major hurricanes have moved through the region before. In the 1890s, three directly tracked across Southeast Georgia. Unbelievably, not one has since. When Hurricane Michael moved into Southwest Georgia as a major hurricane last year, it was the first storm to track across any part of the state at that strength since 1898. As devastating and tragic as it was for parts of the state, Coastal Georgia was not significantly impacted. Storm surge was not a major concern there.

Read More