PRELIMINARY POST STORM REPORT...HURRICANE ISABEL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA 445 PM EDT MON SEP 22 2003 ...GENERAL INFORMATION... ISABEL BECAME A TROPICAL STORM ON SEPTEMBER 6...EAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS...STRENGTHENING TO A HURRICANE ON SEPTEMBER 7. ISABEL INCREASED TO A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE ON SEPTEMBER 11...NORTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS...PEAKING IN STRENGTH ON SEPTEMBER 12...WITH 160 MPH WINDS. ISABEL WEAKENED TO A CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE ON SEPTEMBER 18...WHEN LANDFALL OCCURRED NEAR OCRACOKE INLET IN NORTH CAROLINA. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER NEW ENGLAND AND SOUTHEAST CANADA... PREVENTED ISABEL FROM TAKING THE TYPICAL NORTH TO NORTHEAST TRACK THAT PARALLELS THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. INSTEAD THE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM DEFLECTED ISABEL TO THE NORTHWEST...THROUGH EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA. BY MIDDAY SEPTEMBER 19...ISABEL HAD TRACKED INTO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE WIND FIELD OF ISABEL EXPANDED WELL NORTHWARD AS IT TRACKED THROUGH NORTH CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA...DUE TO THE PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN ISABEL AND THE STRONG HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH. SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS...WITH FREQUENT WIND GUSTS APPROACHING AND EXCEEDING HURRICANE FORCE...WERE OBSERVED OVER AN UNUSUALLY EXTENSIVE AREA OF NORTH CAROLINA...VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND. THE WINDS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL CYCLONE RELATED STORM SURGE ON THE OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA...HAMPTON ROADS...AND THE MAIN STEM RIVERS FEEDING INTO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...SINCE THE 1933 CHESAPEAKE-POTOMAC HURRICANE. HEAVY RAIN CAUSED FLOODING OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VIRGINIA... CAUSING HIGH WATER ON MANY ROADS UNTIL LATE ON FRIDAY...SEPTEMBER 19. ISABEL WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THE GREATEST WIND...AND STORM SURGE IN THE REGION...SINCE HAZEL IN 1954...AND THE 1933 CHESAPEAKE-POTOMAC HURRICANE. ISABEL WILL ALSO BE REMEMBERED FOR THE MOST EXTENSIVE POWER OUTAGES EVER IN VIRGINIA...AND PERMANENT CHANGE TO THE LANDSCAPE FROM ALL THE FALLEN TREES...AND STORM SURGE. -------------------------------------------------------------------- MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND GUSTS FROM ISABEL... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 605 PM EST WED SEP 19 2003 LOCATION COUNTY STATE GUST (MPH) TIME (FIRST OCCURRENCE) DUBLIN PULASKI VA 56 10:20 PM 9/18 DANVILLE PITTSYLVANIA VA 52 3:22 PM 9/18 BOONE WATAUGA NC 46 6:41 PM 9/18 ROANOKE ROANOKE VA 44 5:43 PM 9/18 HOT SPRINGS BATH VA 44 8:20 PM 9/18 HILLSVILLE CARROLL VA 43 10:40 PM 9/18 JEFFERSON ASHE NC 41 10:20 PM 9/18 BLACKSBURG MONTGOMERY VA 39 9:20 PM 9/18 LEXINGTON ROCKBRIDGE VA 38 9:00 PM 9/18 MOUNTAIN EMPIRE APT SMYTH VA 36 12:40 AM 9/19 LYNCHBURG CAMPBELL VA 35 4:21 PM 9/18 READ MTN BOTETOURT VA 34 12:20 AM 9/19 BLUEFIELD MERCER WV 32 5:53 AM 9/19 LEWISBURG GREENBIER WV 30 8:40 PM 9/18 ----------------------------------------------------------------- NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 255 PM EDT FRI SEP 19 2003 HERE ARE THE HIGHEST WIND GUSTS REPORTED FROM AREA AUTOMATED WEATHER STATIONS. LOCATION GUST (MPH) TIME IN MARYLAND... PATUXENT RIVER NAS 69 1200 AM 19TH SOLOMONS ISLAND 67 0854 PM 18TH UNIV. OF MARYLAND- BALT CO 61 UNKNOWN THOMAS POINT LIGHTHOUSE 57 0400 AM 19TH APPROX WALKERSVILLE 54 1232 AM 19TH BRUNSWICK 51 1237 AM 19TH UNIV OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PK 53 1247 AM 19TH GAITHERSBURG 54 1223 AM 19TH BWI AIRPORT 55 1116 PM 18TH ANNAPOLIS 52 1100 PM 18TH IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA... PEPCO- DOWNTOWN 52 1227 AM 19TH AGU 61 1248 AM 19TH GEO WASHINGTON UNIV 52 1230 AM 19TH APPROX REAGAN NATL AIRPORT 58 1156 PM 18TH IN VIRGINIA... QUANTICO 77 1155 PM 18TH MANASSAS 52 1200 AM 19TH RESTON- USGS 56 1212 AM 19TH FT BELVOIR 50 1155 PM 18TH THIS IS A PRELIMINARY LIST SINCE MANY OBSERVING STATIONS LOST POWER. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE DEFINED AS A SUSTAINED (1-MINUTE AVERAGE) WIND OF 39 MPH OR STRONGER. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS BEGIN AT 74 MPH. THE ONSET OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OCCURRED AROUND 2 PM ACROSS SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND THE LOWER TIDAL POTOMAC. TROPICAL STORM FORCE GUSTS WERE OCCURRING AT WASHINGTON DC BY 3 PM WITH POWER OUTAGES BEGINNING AROUND 4 PM DUE TO TREES DOWN. SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WERE OCCURRING IN THE WASHINGTON AREA AROUND 5 PM AND AGAIN BETWEEN 10 PM AND 1 AM. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 1007 AM EDT FRI SEP 19 2003 TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS... ....COUNTY LOCATION.... 1007 PM STUART VA 58 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 PATRICK NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN. LARGEST TREE 2 FOOT DIAMETER. REPORTED BY SPOTTER. 1015 PM 5S NEW CASTLE VA 50 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 CRAIG NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. HWY 621. REPORTED BY CRAIG COUNTY 911. 0730 PM COUNTY WIDE VA 50 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 HENRY NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN. 1100 PM 10SW COVINGTON VA 50 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 ALLEGHANY NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. HWY 18.REPORTED BY ALLEGHANY SHERIFFS' OFFICE. 1100 PM COUNTY WIDE VA 50 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 MONTGOMERY NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN. 1100 PM COUNTY WIDE VA 50 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 ROANOKE NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN. 1100 PM COUNTY WIDE VA 50 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 BOTETOURT A FEW TREES DOWN. 1100 PM COUNTY WIDE VA 50 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 ROCKBRIDGE A FEW TREES DOWN. 1000 PM COUNTY WIDE VA 50 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 BATH A FEW TREES DOWN. 0550 PM ROCKY MOUNT VA 50 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 FRANKLIN NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN. 1000 PM COUNTY WIDE VA 50 MPH NON-TSTM WIND 09/18/03 BEDFORD NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Below is a statewide summary of observations from the three NWS offices serving virginia. There is some duplication of above data and was current as of September 20, 2003. *** WINDS *** Shown below are the sustained winds, in miles per hour, followed by peak guists. In some locations, both readings were not available. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel: 61/74 Blacksburg: --/39 Bluefield: --/32 Boone: --/46 Chesapeake Light: 72/93 Danville: --/52 Dublin: --/56 Duck, N.C.: 73/92 Elizabeth City, N.C.: 59/97 Hampton: --/83 Hillsville: --/43 Hot Springs: --/44 Jefferson: --/41 Kiptopeke: 45/68 Langley AFB: 53/76 Lewisburg: --/30 Lewisetta: 53/68 Lexington: 34/38 Lynchburg: --/35 Newport News: 44/65 Norfolk International: 47/74 Norfolk Naval Station: 54/75 Norfolk, Sewells Point: 57/73 Ocean City, Md.: 41/53 Portsmouth: --/55 Read Mountain: --/34 Richmond: 38/73 Roanoke: --/44 Roanoke Rapids, N.C.: 44/63 Salisbury, Md.: 37/51 Wallops Island: 50/62 *** RAINFALL *** Amelia: 4.50'' Annapolis, Md.: 2.30'' BWI Airport, Md.: 3.21'' Bayard: 5.28'' Bent Gap: 6.68'' Berkeley Springs: 3.06'' Big Meadows: 11.10'' Blackstone: 7.00'' Bluemont: 1.81'' Bowling Green: 4.22'' Bumpass: 5.45'' Cacapon Park: 2.70'' Cambridge: 2.20'' Carson: 6.20'' Cartersville: 4.91'' Castleton: 2.95'' Chester: 4.10'' Chesterfield: 5.80'' Chincoteague: 1.50'' Craigsville: 3.44'' Crewe: 5.10'' Dale Enterprise: 4.17'' Devils Knob: 10.70'' Devils Hole: 2.80'' Dulles Airport: 1.96'' Elizabeth City, N.C.: 2.72'' Emporia: 6.41'' Fredericksburg: 2.79'' Front Royal: 4.41'' Ft. belvoir: 2.32'' Glenn Allen: 5.50'' Grottoes: 6.25'' Heathsville: 2.00'' Herndon: 1.93'' Highview Island: 2.50'' Hogback Mountain: 7.55'' Homeville: 7.10'' Hood: 4.00'' Hopewell: 6.00'' Ida: 8.59'' Inwood: 2.20'' Jordans Point: 5.67'' Keyser: 3.12'' Knobly: 2.48'' Lake Jackson: 1.74'' Langley AFB: 2.67'' Leak Mountain: 3.72'' Lewis Mountain: 6.82'' Lincoln: 1.85'' Linden: 4.23'' Long Run: 7.08'' Lost River: 5.30'' Lynnwood: 5.48'' Madison: 4.10'' Mathews Arm: 8.40'' McDowell: 4.76'' Mechanicsville: 4.50'' Middleburg: 2.78'' Mills Creek Dam: 9.16'' Montebello: 6.10'' Monterey: 4.24'' Moorefield: 3.94'' Mt. Storm: 2.28'' Mustoe: 3.20'' National Airport: 2.31'' Near Berryville: 2.32'' Nethers: 4.23'' New Market: 4.50'' Newland: 3.50'' Newport News: 3.70'' Newport News Int'l: 3.16'' Norfolk Int'l: 2.50'' Norfolk Naval Station: 4.21'' Ocean Pines: 2.40'' Ocean City: 1.97'' Opal: 2.81'' Orange: 3.42'' Petersburg: 3.18'' Pocomoke: 0.96'' Points: 2.20'' Portsmouth, Craddock: 4.04'' Powhatan: 5.00'' Prince George: 6.00'' Remington: 2.10'' Richmond: 6.88'' Richmond Int'l: 4.32'' Roanoke Rapids, N.C.: 6.65'' Robinson Hollow: 7.24'' Romney: 3.45'' Ruther Glenn: 4.22'' Salisbury: 2.66'' Salisbury Airport: 2.08'' Sherando: 8.48'' Short Pump: 3.78'' Skyland: 9.54'' Somerset: 4.73'' Sperryville: 3.62'' Staunton: 5.80'' Sterling: 2.09'' Stuarts Draft: 6.50'' Suffolk: 4.79'' Sugar Grove: 6.17'' Swift Run: 6.90'' The Plains: 3.45'' Toano: 4.00'' Toms Branch: 7.12'' Trasher Knob: 2.24'' Urbanna: 7.00'' Vienna: 2.25'' Wakefield: 5.66'' Wallops Island: 0.80'' Wardensville: 4.10'' Warrenton: 5.85'' Washington, D.C.: 1.92'' Watkins Landing: 4.00'' Waynesboro: 6.11'' West Point: 3.86'' Williamsburg: 4.50'' Winchester: 3.30'' Woodstock: 3.50'' *** STORM SURGE *** Storm surge varied significantly across the region. At Sewells Point in Norfolk, the maximum water level was 7.9 feet above mean lower low water. This represented a 5-foot storm surge. At the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, there was a 4.6 foot surge; higher surge values were noted up the rivers in Eastern Virginia, such as the James, York and Rappahannock. At the Richmond City Locks, a surge of more than 8 foot was recorded. *** TORNADOES *** Only one tornado has been confirmed during Isabel, touching down in the Ocean View section of Norfolk about 6 p.m. on Thursday. *** NOTE FROM WREL: We will add more data as it becomes available to us. We have posted observations from the WREL weather station in Lexington, VA for the 36 hours Isabel affected the Mid-Atlantic region. Those observations and conditions are available here: http://www.wrel.com/wx/Isabel03/Isabel_OBS.txt We are developing a Hurricane Isagel page for the WeatherCenter. Your observations, comments are welcome. Please send to tropics@wrel.com. Thank you.