Tropical Storm Karen Threatens States Louisiana - Florida

Tropical storm Karen is predicted to make landfall this weekend, affecting Louisiana to Florida. On Thursday the Air Force confirmed that winds of approximately 50-60mph and circulation were present in the storm, creating a cyclone event. The strength of the storm when it reaches land is yet unknown but researchers predict that the wind shear over the Gulf of Mexico may weaken the storm. At the time of publication, the article UPDATE 1-Tropical Storm Karen aims for U.S. Gulf coast by Jane Sutton for Reuters, puts the storm 500 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

 

The potential risk that this storm poses is great as the area of the Mississippi river relys on heavy use of levees. The sea level for example in New Orleans is sinking due to isotacy (when pressure is placed on the earth from glaciers, and then the plates move up or down), in the event of Hurricane Katrina, the levees broke, flooding great areas of New Orleans and surrounding towns. Thus in any hurricane situation, despite reclamation of levees, this poses a risk to those living in a levee system. However, the percieved risk of levees breaking is great due to past events. The actuality of this event occuring is unknown until landfall actually occurs.

 

Sources:

Reuters article - http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/03/storm-karen-idUSL1N0HT0JE20131003

The Weather Channel - http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/tropical-storm-hurricane-karen-20131003