NASA photo of Irene
Irene is the first hurricane to hit the US mainland in almost 3 years since Ike hit back in September 2008. So much for global warming causing more hurricanes.
In fact, if no hurricanes had hit the United States this year, it would have been the longest lull between U.S. hurricane landfalls in recorded history, this according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA.
But that hasn’t stopped the disaster-craved German media from splashing huge block-letter headlines of Irene on the front pages, warning of an “unprecedented event”, a monster scale Armageddon, etc. Call them schadenfreude-junkies. They’ve been waiting 3 years for a fix.
Yesterday German media hopes of a huge hurricane disaster were once again boiling with life. Like the glory days of Katrina. What follows are just a few samples of German media headlines / excerpts (emphasis added).
Der Spiegel: Thousand-Kilometer Storm Threatens America’s Coast
President Obama warns of an ‘extremely dangerous storm’ and has interrupted his vacation: With 175 km/hr wind speeds Irene threatens a number of large cities on the US coast, tens of thousands of people are fleeing. Meteorologists are measuring the hurricane with air crafts. Their data are alarming.
The Big Apple itself is threatened with more than 100 billion dollars in damages; in low-lying areas like Manhattan hospitals and retirement homes have been evacuated.”
and
In the storm’s interior, inferno conditions: The wind near the eye is at 175 km/h; thus the hurricane has reached category 2 or 3 on the 5-category scale.”
Die Welt: In New York It’s Life And Death
Irene is on course for New York: airports are closing, public transportation is shutting down. The mayor is preparing the the citizens for the worst.”
and
‘If you get an order to evacuate, please heed it’, the President added. The hurricane has to be “‘taken seriously’. All previous information say that it is going to be a “historic hurricane’.”
Bild: Fear of “Irene“! New York Fears Total Chaos
Hurricane Irene has put millions of people on the US coast in a state of fear – destructive wind gusts and storm surges threaten. A state of emergency has been called in metropolitan New York. The Monster Storm could steer directly for the city and trigger a historic catastrophe!”
and
Hurricane expert Bernard expects that Irene will be scaled up to category 4 during Friday. If the storm does not weaken again, then it would cause extreme damage to buildings with winds of 210 to 249 km/hr.”
FOCUS: Hurricane Irene Grows To The Size Of Europe
Millions of Americans are fleeing: hurricane Irene is approaching the east coast. Already the storm has reached about the size of Europe. Due to the immense threat, New York has ordered an unprecedented mass evacuation.
Obama warns of a ‘historic hurricane’.”
Today, all media outlets are backpedalling big time, and look just a bit silly.
It is the threat of a storm surge and coupled with the high tide -leading to flooding in low lying areas.
The storm is only a category 1 and ameliorating [they always do – as they track north – as we know, the cooler seas dissipate the violence/energy of the hurricane] PG, bad – but not catastrophic and hardly a, ‘Katrina’.
Too much hype, not enough thought, NYC will be OK! [I sincerely hope – they’re tough in the big apple].
“Irene is on course for New York: airports are closing, public transportation is shutting down. The mayor is preparing the citizens for the worst.”
Hmmm… I didn’t realize that there were 8 million sets of water wings in warehouses. Not after such a hot summer.
“The worst” means sitting in a shelter with no Latte and no WiFi. (and not much of a storm)
When you look at this lame storm, don’t forget, it would have been even lamer without AGW:
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/irenes-potential-for-destruction-made-worse-by-global-warming-seal-level-ri/
That is scandalous hype, no surprise though.
The satellite pictures are simply breathtaking and it looks SO BAD! – therefore, it must be AGW!!!!!!!
On the other hand, it is hurricane season, warm moist air, ITCZ, coriolis, atmospheric temperature contrasts, unstable air, water temps +26C and bingo, optimum conditions.
We ain’t quite sure of the science of formation, yet, what we do know is, there are optimal conditions for 5 months through June to November and it’s a damn good job, they [hurricanes] cannot form more easily…………….. !
It ain’t nothing to do with MMCO2 either.
Hmm, scares and hype:
http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2011/08/28/comment-from-reader-andre/
Naming every tropical depression is fodder for McKibben.
“This year we’re already on letter I—which in a normal year we don’t get to until well into October. Every kind of natural system is amped up, holding more power—about ¾ of a watt extra energy per square meter of the Earth’s surface, thanks to the carbon we’ve poured into the atmosphere.”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/08/25/hurricane-irene-can-be-tied-to-global-warming-says-bill-mckibben.html
Oh noes, three quarters of a Watt; that’s what, a 0.075% increase! We’re doomed. The planet won’t stand that for long.
Headlines you won’t see:
Hurricane Irene saves 26 lives!
Let me explain. In a normal 24 hour period, in the area affected by the hurricane, there will be 18 traffic fatalities among the 60 million people living there. The weather will prevent most of those from driving for the 48 hours of the weekend. So far, there have been 10 people killed by the hurricane, a difference of 26.
Dramatic reporter. Must see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QkHW3KfPmo&feature=player_embedded
Hype or no hype, it was a heck-uva-storm. Check out this graphic showing how big this thing was compared to Europe: http://www.bheberto.com/brendansweather.php
It just barely covers France!
Do you have any idea how big Europe is and how far it extends?
We get storms like this at the North Sea almost every year.
Anyone who believes this was a hurricane of the decade, let alone the century, is purposely labelling himself a complete moron. It’s the first hurricane to hit the USA in 3 years.
Actually the high estimate is that this created about $7 bm in damage, most of which will hit reinsurers. That isn’t stopping the parasite brigade from proposing pushing $20 bn dollars in vote buying slush money through FEMA.