50-Foot Wave from Hurricane Fiona, Drought Update and Fall Climate Outlook for the Northeast
With fall starting tonight, drought in the Northeast has eased in many areas, according to today’s U.S. Drought Monitor update.
“More rainfall this week alleviated drought and dryness in multiple locations,” the Northeast Drought Early Warning System Dashboard says. “Extreme drought eased in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, while severe drought contracted or eased in areas such as southern New Hampshire, central/southeastern Massachusetts, and northern Rhode Island.”
And it appears that drought will end in many areas or improve by year’s end, according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.
Meanwhile, major Hurricane Fiona — a Category 4 storm packing maximum sustained winds near 130 mph, with higher gusts — will generate high surf along parts of the Northeast coast today and tomorrow.
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms in New England, With the Chances of Them Coming Within 50 Miles
A high surf advisory is in effect till 6 p.m. tomorrow in much of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with 5- to 9-foot breaking waves expected in the surf zone.
Well offshore, Fiona has generated significant wave heights near 50 feet, the National Hurricane Center’s Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch tweeted. Significant wave height is the average of the highest one-third of waves (measured from trough to crest). As a general rule, the largest wave you may see is about twice as high as the significant wave height, the National Weather Service office in Key West, Florida, says.
East of Fiona’s center, a NOAA Saildrone reported a 50-foot significant wave height, the National Hurricane Center says.
During the “Perfect Storm” in 1991, a buoy off the Nova Scotia coast reported a 100.7-foot wave, according to the weather service Boston/Norton office. That’s the highest wave ever recorded in the Canadian province’s offshore waters.
During Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, a buoy recorded a 32.5-foot wave near New York Harbor’s entrance, besting a 26-footer recorded during Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011, according to the weather service Mount Holly NJ office.
Fiona is forecast to become a large, powerful post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds (at least 74 mph) when it moves over Nova Scotia Friday night and Saturday, the hurricane center says.
“This storm is shaping up to be a severe event for Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec,” Environment Canada says. “Numerous weather models are quite consistent in their prediction of what we call a deep hybrid low pressure system, possessing both tropical and intense winter storm properties, with very heavy rainfall and severe winds…. There will also be large waves, especially for the Atlantic coasts of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and eastern portions of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Finally, there is a high likelihood of storm surge for parts of Nova Scotia, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and western Newfoundland.”
Fiona is expected to help generate strong winds in parts of New England, including New Hampshire. A high wind watch is in effect in part of Maine from late Friday night through Saturday evening, with gusts to 55 mph possible.
Photos of Emerging Fall Foliage in New Hampshire, September 2022
Meanwhile, look for more warmth in the Northeast this fall, although it may be cooler than normal for starters. Both October and the last quarter of 2022 may be warmer than normal, according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.
Extreme Heat in New England: Record Warmth in August 2022
September Climate Outlook, Summer Recap and Drought Update for the Northeast
More images, including some of my recent photos of fall colors in New Hampshire:
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Photos at Serene, Colorful Lees Pond in Moultonborough, New Hampshire
Cool Clouds, Sunset at Newfound Lake in New Hampshire After Storm
Nor’easter Winds Gust to 94 mph in Massachusetts, Higher than Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey
