News flash! It’s raining! But not as much as in New York

In case you were not quite sure what that sound was when you woke up… It would be the rain pounding down this morning.

Be careful on the highways. There was lots of standing water and rivers running down the ruts on Highway 4.

The rain should ease by noon but it will return better than ever Tuesday night and unfortunately it will last all day Wednesday.

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Parents: think either water proof makeup, your best costume out of a Helly Hansen or just roll with it and when the night is done send the kids out in the rain to wash away the days attire. Either, cardboard might not be a good idea.

Happy Monday!

I would be remiss if I did not mention Hurricane Sandy aka “FrankenStorm” now bearing down on the US East Coast. The worst is expected this afternoon (our time) when the high tides driven by the full moon combine with the storm surge. This is similar to what happened during the floods of November 2006 in Port Alberni when a major wind storm combined with high tides to blow the top off of manhole covers here and flood 3rd Ave.

This storm will affect 50 million people and it looks truly epic. A record 11ft storm surge is expected to flood the subways of New York City.

Check out this statement issued last night by NOAA. They weren’t pulling any punches.

SOME IMPORTANT NOTES…

1. IF YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO EVACUATE A COASTAL LOCATION BY STATE
AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, PLEASE DO SO.

2. IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT TO EVACUATE, AND YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO RODE
OUT THE `62 STORM ON THE BARRIER ISLANDS, ASK THEM IF THEY COULD DO
IT AGAIN.

3. IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT, THINK ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONES, THINK ABOUT
THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHO WILL BE UNABLE TO REACH YOU WHEN YOU
MAKE THE PANICKED PHONE CALL TO BE RESCUED, THINK ABOUT THE
RESCUE/RECOVERY TEAMS WHO WILL RESCUE YOU IF YOU ARE INJURED OR
RECOVER YOUR REMAINS IF YOU DO NOT SURVIVE.

4. SANDY IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM. THERE WILL BE MAJOR
PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURIES ARE PROBABLY UNAVOIDABLE, BUT THE GOAL IS
ZERO FATALITIES.

5. IF YOU THINK THE STORM IS OVER-HYPED AND EXAGGERATED, PLEASE ERR
ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.

WE WISH EVERYONE IN HARMS WAY ALL THE BEST. STAY SAFE!

It will be all over the news but If you are looking for a good online source for info, Dr. Jeff Masters Hurricane blog on WUnderground is the best of the best as is his comments section.

150mm of rain is expected in New York City. That in itself is not a record i dont think, but if you are looking for a link to climate change, its the precipitation that is the smoking gun. This graph appeared on Dr. Masters blog on Friday.

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Notice the numbers of hurricanes is not abnormal, but the amount of precipitation delivered by them has taken off since the 1990s. A warmer sea and atmosphere can hold more energy and moisture respectively.

To put the strength of this storm in some perspective, the lowest barometric pressure ive recorded at Alberniweather is 964mb in January 2008. Sandy/Frankenstorm will likely break records on the East Coast with pressures below 950mb when its on land. A tweet just now notes the central pressure is at an incredible 939mb.

Lets hope for the best for people out there.

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