High Wind Watch
Expires 6:00 AM EST on February 11, 2010
Statement as of 4:21 am EST on February 9, 2010
... High wind watch in effect from Wednesday morning through late
Wednesday night...
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued
a high wind watch... which is in effect from Wednesday morning
through late Wednesday night.
Very strong northwest winds will develop across the region on
Wednesday and continue for most of Wednesday night. Sustained
wind speeds will peak during the afternoon and evening hours... ranging
from 30 to 40 mph. Damaging wind gusts may develop by mid day and
remain into the early morning hours on Thursday. Peak gusts are
forecast to exceed 60 mph.
Recent widespread precipitation events and cool temperatures has
kept soil conditions across the region nearly saturated. In
addition... most of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia
will experience a hard freeze tonight... further loosening the
soil. The combination of unstable soil conditions and strong gusty
winds could result in significant damage to trees and power lines.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A high wind watch means there is the potential for a hazardous
high wind event. Sustained winds of at least 40 mph... or gusts of
58 mph or stronger may occur. Continue to monitor the latest
forecasts.
Public Information Statement
Statement as of 7:20 am EST on February 09, 2010
NOAA National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg discontinues
river forecast point on the French Broad River at for Hot Springs,
NC
Fact sheet
contact: Patricia Tanner, National weather service: (864) 848-9970
ext 234
* noaas National Weather Service (nws) at Greenville-Spartanburg SC
will discontinue forecasting river levels on the French Broad River
at Hot Springs NC effective March 10 2010.
* During the past 5 years... there have been issues with the
location of the gage site that have resulted in continuing
maintenance problems with the gage located at Hot Springs. This has
limited the lower Mississippi River forecast centers ability to
produce accurate and timely river forecasts for the Hot Springs
forecast point. Efforts to identify alternate nearby locations for
the gage have been unsuccessful.
* Coordination with the Madison County emergency management
agency... the State of North Carolina flood plain management team
and canvassing the local population have determined that official
river forecasts for this point are not needed at this time.
* Past high water events have caused little if any flooding of
buildings or other property. Additionally an existing painted staff
gage and a nearby co-op observer may still enable the NWS to obtain
a river reading if one becomes necessary in the future.
* Accurate and timely flood forecasts are an important part of
noaas mission and are part of noaas National weather services
continuing effort to serve societies needs for weather and water
information.
