Hanna Sets Sights on Carolinas

States act to protect citizenry from tropical storm, but worry about impending hurricane

(NEWSER) - Southeastern states are taking precautions for the impending landfall of Hanna, which is expected to arrive as a low-level hurricane on Saturday, the AP reports. But planners and the East Coast populace are also looking down the road to Ike, which remains a Category 4 hurricane charging toward the Bahamas. “Ike is a very scary storm,” said a spokesman for a North Carolina energy concern. It's too early, however, to predict its path. More»

(AP) - Tropical Storm Hanna accelerated toward the New England states today after the storm's whipping winds and rain did not linger long enough over the Southeast to cause much more than isolated flooding and power outages. Hanna moved quickly inland after cruising ashore overnight with winds of around 50 mph. But as Hanna cleared out, eyes turned to Hurricane Ike—a Category 3 storm with winds of nearly 115 mph that was expected to strengthen as it approached Cuba and southern Florida by Monday. More»

Now Josephine's waiting in the wings

(NEWSER) - Two major storms are churning across the Atlantic, with their chances of striking the US still unclear. Hurricane Ike has rapidly strengthened to a raging Category 4, while Tropical Storm Hanna is now battering the Bahamas after killing 26 in Haiti. Hanna could hit the US Saturday anywhere between Georgia and North Carolina, reports AP. Ike’s path is still uncertain. More»

Expected to affect Florida, could hit Georgia, Carolinas

(NEWSER) - The first hurricane of the Atlantic season has officially developed. Irene is currently moving over Puerto Rico; it could eventually rattle Florida and skim Georgia and the Carolinas later this week. First, though, it’s headed toward Hispaniola, the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The storm has maximum sustained wins of 75mph and is pushing west-northwest at 12mph, the AP reports. More»

Tornadoes, rain, hail pelt the region

(NEWSER) - A devastating storm system ripped its way through the South yesterday, pummeling the region with tornadoes, flash flooding, and hail the size of softballs. The death toll shot up today to at least 47, reports NBC News, with emergency crews searching for more victims in hard-hit areas of Virginia and North Carolina. The latter alone saw 24 fatalities and declared an emergency after it weathered at least 62 tornadoes and the worst storm in 27 years, reports the AP. The death toll is expected to rise. More»