HURRICANE EARL SUMMARY

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2, 20102:15 PM

Hurricane Earl – Category 4 Storm

HURRICANE EARL PROJECTION

• Major category 4 hurricane currently • Earl will likely pass 50 to 100 miles southeast of

Nantucket late Friday evening– Probably as a weakening Category 2 hurricane

• Preparations should be complete by noon Friday

HURRICANE EARLWATCHES/WARNINGS

• Hurricane Warning:– Westport to Hull• But primary concern is with Cape Cod, Martha’s

Vineyard, and Nantucket

• Tropical Storm Warning– New Haven to Westport (southeast Connecticut

and Rhode Island Coast including Block Island)

• Tropical Storm Watch:– Hull, MA to Eastport, ME

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND IMPACTSMarine

• High seas, high surf, and dangerous rip currents through Saturday– along most ocean exposed beaches whether

south or east facing – Seas over open coastal waters• 10 to 20 feet to left of track• 20 to 30+ feet very near track• 30 to 40+ feet to right of the track

HURRICANE EARL IMPACTSWind

• Be prepared for:– Hurricane force winds Nantucket, Cape Cod and Martha’s

Vineyard – although most likely outer Cape and Nantucket– Tropical Storm Force winds with possible hurricane force

gusts Buzzards Bay coast and Plymouth County coast– Tropical Storm Force winds (either sustained or in gusts)

likely along the Rhode Island coast and Block Island– Tropical Storm Force wind gusts possible rest of

Massachusetts coast– Tropical Storm Force gusts interior southeast

Massachusetts

• Any further shift to the west of the track would shift stronger winds to W and NW

HURRICANE EARL IMPACTSHeavy Rain/Flooding

• 2 to 4 inches of rain Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts possible– Embedded spot amounts up to 6 inches possible

somewhere within this area, although looking less likely

– 1 to 3 inches possible eastern Connecticut into eastern Worcester County Massachusetts

• Urban poor drainage flooding most likely problem

HURRICANE EARL IMPACTSStorm Surge Flooding

• Storm surge of 2 to 4 feet may cause minor flooding along vulnerable portions of the Nantucket, Chatham and Martha’s Vineyard shoreline during the Friday evening high tide

• Surge of 2 to possibly 3 feet may cause spotty minor coastal flooding Narragansett Bay.– Fox Point Barrier water level could approach 7 feet MLLW for Friday

afternoon high tide

• Up to 2 feet of surge possible rest of Massachusetts east coast during Friday evening high tide with splashover possible

• Minor to moderate storm surge flooding possible for Wellfleet and Provincetown harbors after Earl passes Friday night – 3 to 6 foot surge possible 3 to 5 AM but between high tides

POST HURRICANE EARL

• Mostly Sunny and breezy Saturday– NW wind gusts to 30 mph

• Swells, surf, and rip currents subsiding during Saturday but still dangerous

• No hazardous weather rest of Labor Day Weekend