Ernesto nears CAT1 Hurricane status, landfall soon.

[skids]

5pm update from NOAA.

EXTENSIVE RECONNAISSANCE WITH BOTH NOAA AND AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT
INDICATE THAT THE MAXIMUM SURFACE WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH ERNESTO ARE
60 KNOTS. THE CENTRAL MINIMUM PRESSURE IS 991 MB. SATELLITE AND
RADAR PRESENTATION SHOW A WELL DEFINED CONVECTIVE CURVED BAND
WRAPPING AROUND AN AREA OF DEEP CONVECTION NEAR THE CENTER. ERNESTO
IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 15 KNOTS AND ON THIS
TRACK...THE CYCLONE IS FORECAST TO REACH THE COAST WITHIN THE
WARNING AREA TONIGHT WITH 60 KNOTS. ONE CAN NOT RULE OUT THE
POSSIBILITY A SLIGHT STRENGTHENING TO A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE AT
LANDFALL.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT5+shtml/312038.shtml

Note that the landfall area yesterday experienced flash floods from a large thunderstorm system. It is already saturated with water. Be safe DUers -- don't do anything worthy of a Darwin Award.

[Hubert Flottz]

1. Headed staright for my kids and grand kids!

This sucks!

[Mist]

2. Are they in South Carolina? I'm in NC, in Chapel Hill, and from a

selfish point of view, we're welcoming the rain Ernesto is bringing. I hope your kids and grandkids ride this out OK.

[Hubert Flottz]

4. Wilmington NC area.

About eight miles inland. I tried to call and they're gone...may be on the way here?

[opihimoimoi]

3. I hope they all remain safe...this sucks big time....

Fetch a bone with meat for Willy...lol

Sic him on those JWs

[malaise]

5. Hope they're all safe n/t

[Hubert Flottz]

6. I just talked to them on the phone.

They are worried more about the rain than anything else. They are not feeling much wind from the storm yet, but there is a lake near the house that is almost at flood stage. They are headed here to WV for the weekend and I'm glad.

[malaise]

7. Good news

We had two days rain after Ernesto passed north of us.