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[STORMREPORTS] nw va: storm was minor here; flood working downstream

From: smwincva_wxman{at}webtv.net
Date: Sat Sep 20 2003 - 03:00:05 EDT

Winchester (nw) VA

We were spared a major blow from Isabel. I almost think that Fran &
Floyd left more wind 7 rain, albeit in much shorter durations. Isabel
was placed at 5am Fri over Rio WV, or 40 miles to my west.

We had rain & winds between 3pm Thur & 2am Fri, which diminshed quickly
after that. More wrap around rain left another .10".

My storm total was only 2.18", some places in the upper Shenandoah
Valley (to my south) and the nearby mountians had 6-8" of rain.

My peak wind gust was only 37mph. In fact, few locations inland had
hurricane force gusts.

But the wind took its toll. A storm surge created additional flooding on
the Chesapeake Bay & it's tributaries.

And most of Norfolk & area was dark Thur night (95% w/o power). Dominion
Power Thur night reported 60% of it's total customer base in the dark.

In the Washington area, 600,000 were still dark Fri night. One offical
said they would estimate in a few days when they estimate power
restoration would be complete.

Locally, about 1400 were dark Thur night (Winchester to Luray). That
number was about 250 about 5pm Fri.

I never lost power, phone, or cable, and the basement stayed dry. I
joked..."Let's do it again."

Baltimore tv stations offered marathon coverage, concluding when it was
time for network news. One reporter, on the edge of flood waters, had to
remind viewers what might be in the water "Stay out of it. There's some
funky sh*t in it". He tried to "ship" his way out but the slip had been
spoken.

We went & about this evening & saw a few downed trees. We also saw the
flooded Shenadoah River, west of Berryville.

At the time i taped, i estimate it was 5' above flood stage. In Front
Royal (about 25 miles upstream) it was 17.7 feet at 2am & forecasted to
crest at 24" at 8am. Flood stage there is 12 feet.

Photos (newest photos begin on 6th frame)
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4003288&a=30872973&f=0

Flood Crest Forecast (Baltimore/Washington)
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/31600

Near Real Time River Data
http://ahps.erh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ahps.cgi?lwx

Food Safety (very detailed)
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/31597

Local Storm Reports:
Blacksburg http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/31595
Washington
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/31594
Wakefield
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/31593

Measured Wind Gusts, Baltimore/Washington NWS CWA
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/31592

24 hour weather data, thru 8am Fri, for Baltimore Washington CWA
http://wxmatrix-membersonly/group/VA_StormNet/message/31590

Story from Outer Banks Sentinel
World media 'discovers' banks; Sentinel reports on reporters
http://obsentinel.womacknewspapers.com/articles/2003/09/19/features/1cantore.txt

Outer Banks Sentinel
http://obsentinel.womacknewspapers.com/ 

---
16" rain total in VA was bogus"
" PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 
115 AM EDT FRI SEP 19 2003 

THE UPPER SHERANDO RAIN GAUGE IN AUGUSTA COUNTY VIRGINIA HAS
MALFUNCTIONED.  THIS HAS RESULTED IN AN FALSE REPORT OF 14.12 INCHES AT
THIS SITE.  REPORTS FROM SURROUNDING SITES INDICATE THAT 6 TO 8 INCHES
OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THIS AREA. 
LULOFS"
=======

This will be my last report on this event for a few days. I have other
things to catch up on (including sleep) the next several days. Once i
have time, i will do vidcaps of the broadcast tv images, then send the
link once it's ready.

Steve Minghini
  

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