Storms 'dirty side' takes aim at GC

Gulf Coast states and Air Force military operations are gearing up for next week's arrival of two potential storms heading toward the northern Gulf Coast. The first to issue an advisory was Tyndall AFB, Fla. Tyndall declared Hurricane Condition 5 on Aug. 21. Hurlburt Field, Fla., also in NW Florida declared HURCON 5 at 6 a.m. Aug. 22. Hurlburt Field is directly located adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. HURCON 5 is a level of warning used by the AF to assist commanders in preparing units for storm response actions. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency in a statewide briefing online and in anticipation of tropical storm systems in the GoM. Hattiesburg American post https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2020/08/22/tropical-storm-laura-marco-mississippi-governor-update-developing-storms/3407342001/ Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss., post https://www.facebook.com/NCBCGulfport/photos/a.10151053655706712/10157308438006712/?type=3&theater ... Jefferson Parish, La., emergency management website https://www.jeffparish.net/departments/emergency-management. Eglin AFB, Fla., was to have entered HURCON 5 also on Aug. 21. The key aircraft test hub and fighter jet base has not announced any aircraft evacuations. Keesler AFB, Miss., a major training hub, has entered HURCON 5. The HURCON scale ranges from 5 to 1E - when sustained winds of 58 mph or gusts of at least 69 mph are occurring - then 1R when the storm is over and safe zones are being cleared. (Source: AF Magazine 08/21/20) The earliest arrival time for tropical-storm force winds from Marco are estimated to be Sunday night at the eastern tip of Louisiana and South Mississippi. Marco could pack heavy rains, winds and storm surge as it moves ashore Tuesday in eastern Texas or western Louisiana. On the other hand, Laura “are more uncertain than usual, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is poised to gain strength in the Gulf. It is expected to move ashore Wednesday in Louisiana, based on current models. The timing and tracks of the storms will be more certain once they enter into the GoM, but rain is expected to begin as early as Sunday, Harrison County Emergency Manager Rupert Lacy told the Sun Herald. UPDATE from NHC [advisory 14] https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=lix&wwa=hurricane%20local%20statement The right side of a storm is often referred to as its “dirty side” or “the bad side” - either way, it’s not where you want to be, Miami Herald reports. In general, it’s the storm’s more dangerous side. The “right side” of storm is in relation to the direction it’s moving, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. If it’s going north, the right side is east. If it’s moving west, the right side is north. Hurricane Marco is moving north-northwest and Laura is moving west-northwest, the weather service says. Their projected paths show much of the Gulf Coast could fall on their “dirty side. UPDATE 2: NCBC Gulfport, Miss., and NAS/JRB New Orleans have ordered the setting of Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness Three today in preparation for Tropical Storm Laura.