The Impacts of Hurricane Cristobal

Hurricane Cristobal, though a "fish storm" not directly impacting land, still has an impact. As storms churn off the coast, there can be substantial impacts on shore.  In the case of Hurricane Cristobal, so far, I have seen reports of 4 deaths attributed to the rip currents caused by the low end, off-the-coast hurricane.

I'm sure, by now, you've had the opportunity to see images of the waves off the coast of California, spawned by Hurricane Marie, also a "fish storm".  The waves have drawn surfers and spectators galore.  Here is a link to an article with some pics, in case you've missed them.  They were monstrous, raging waves.

Along the eastern seaboard, the impacts of Hurricane Cristobal have not been nearly as dramatic as the impacts of Hurricane Marie were on the western coast, but there are still impacts.  They are impacts that are more subtle and thereby, I would argue, more dangerous.  Powerful rip currents are stirred up when a hurricane spins off-shore. 

Rip current

A rip current, commonly referred to simply as a rip, or by the misnomer "rip tide", is one specific kind of water current that can be found near beaches. It is a strong, localized, and rather narrow current of water. Wikipedia

 As unsuspecting swimmers are grabbing onto their last days of summer, before school kicks off in the northeast, they are subjecting themselves to dangerous conditions in the ocean.  Rip currents can grab a strong swimmer and take their life.  The narrowness of the current makes it virtually invisible and incredibly dangerous.  If for whatever reason you find yourself caught in a rip current, you are advised to swim parallel to the shore in order to escape it and then swim ashore.  Sadly, you will likely not be successful if you try to swim directly out of it.

Rip currents kill. 

I highly recommend that if rip current flags are raised, then you should stay out of the water, but if you happen to be in the water and get caught up in one, know ahead how to save yourself.  Educate your children, tell the people you're vacationing with... it could save someone's life.

Be aware of what's going on off-shore during your beach vacation.  Hurricanes that don't make landfall don't have much wind and surge impact, but there are other dangerous impacts that are helpful to be aware of...

Till next time,
~Dewdrop

Hurricane Cristobal: Third Hurricane of the Season

We have surpassed the midpoint of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season, yet we are only on the 4th storm of this year's season.  That means absolutely nothing regarding the potential for impact from storms this season.

It ain't over till it's over...

It only takes one.  Hurricane Cristobal has reached hurricane strength just off the coast of the Bahamas, skirting the coast of that island paradise and disturbing the plans of vacationers and bumping into the funds that generates for residents.

Hurricane Cristobal does make the third named storm consecutively turned hurricane, starting out the season.  What's kind of cool is that such an event hasn't happened in 22 years.  That's right, back in 1992, the first 3 named storms were hurricanes.  In fact, that year was also a slow season, without any real action until August, where Hurricane Andrew made his appearance... It only takes one.

Fortunately, for interests along the eastern sea-board, it looks like Cristobal is taking a turn to the northeast and not even Bermuda needs to really concern themselves with his movements, but you never know.  We refer to Cristobal-type storms as "fish storms".  I wonder what the fish think...

Trajectory models for Hurricane Cristobal

It only takes one...

I think we have a tendency in the United States (or perhaps just as a human race), to nullify things that don't have a direct impact on us. It's some sort of strange and apathetic ego-centrism.  If it didn't have a big media blitz, it must not have happened.  I can't tell you the people who tell me that we haven't had an active Atlantic season in years...

Actually, in 2011, we made it to the letter "S"  storm, and in 2012, we made it to "T".  It didn't impact the United States though, so it might as well have not even happened.  I think we tend to be that way in other storms of life.  We casually watch the news and see stuff happening to people, but do we really get invested?  Do we feel moved to action when those other people are impacted, or do we somehow put "those people" over there?  Way over there.  Surely, it would never happen to us.  It wouldn't happen here.  That happened to them.  And surely other people are helping them. 

Disasters aren't discriminatory.  People caught up in crisis experience real suffering and need help of those who aren't caught up in the crisis with them.  We have some real opportunities to reach out to others, to be a people of a lifted eye.  We can be a people who look for ways to help others in their greatest moment of need. 

For now, it looks like we won't need to provide too much relief for people in the path of Hurricane Cristobal, but it only takes one.

Until next time...
~Dewdrop