Typhoon Fung-Wong is making landfall in the Philippines this morning US East Coast time (evening in Manila):
This looks to be bad. It is a very large, powerful storm, a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. On this track much of the central and northern Philippines will see damage, with impacts approaching $2 Billion USD. An additional 20″ of rain could fall over parts of the central islands, adding to the ongoing disaster from a series of typhoons and an earthquake.
Afterwards, the storm should weaken as it curves north then northeastward over Taiwan.
The US weatherdoomer community is in full chat about a strong cold front making its way across their beleaguered nation. Here’s one on the TV now …
In all seriousness, this is a strong early-season cold snap. A cold front is moving through, there is a possibility of a thunderstorm this afternoon, but the real news is the cold filtering in behind the front. There are watches and warnings up across the southeast …
Even our beloved Frogmore has a Freeze Watch in place in anticipation of near record cold Monday and Tuesday, a watch that will become a warning by tomorrow:
The local NWS forecast discussion from this morning lays out the scenario:
Monday night into Tuesday morning we expect a solid freeze across the area, potentially all the way to the beaches. Also, in pockets of southeast GA the wind chill could briefly dip below 20 degrees, triggering a Cold Weather Advisory. Freeze headlines are likely to be needed for the entire forecast area Monday night. Additionally, a Lake Wind Advisory for Moultrie may be needed. Tuesday night, clear skies with light to calm winds should provide strong radiational cooling conditions. Low temperatures should fall to around 30 degrees along and west of I-95, with the mid to upper 30s to the east. Temperatures moderate on Wednesday, rising well into the 60s.
So, what does it mean? Definitely bring in or cover any delicate plants, they probably aren’t ready for this yet. That goes for pets as well. Dripping pipes is always a controversial subject, in the Frogmore Metroplex proper (link to geography lesson) it’s probably not needed for anything unless it’s really exposed to open winds above ground since the ground and building) are warm. Looking at Bloomingdale (in West Chatham County, 46 miles SSW of Frogmore), while the wind-chill will be below freezing for about 12 hours (8pm Monday to 8am Tuesday), the period of actual below-freezing air temps will be half that (from 1am to 7am) and the low “only” around 28 or 29. While that’s bad for exposed plants or critters, any pipes with any protection at all should be ok this time. Further inland any exposed pipes might need dripping.
Was going to post Alkonost’s “Gates of Winter,” and while it’s a nice melody most won’t understand it so here’s something in English … the Susanna Hoffs (Bangles) doing Hazy Shade of Winter at a Paul Simon tribute …
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