Nature's awesome power

This folks, is a powerful 3-round burst:
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/videos/?uri=channels/455277/1695004

Holy **** **** **** **** **** ****
That was Awesome!

We're going to hear about some redneck in Texas getting fried by lightning in a few days.....

And we're back for more lightning.

Bye, bye ECU...

Usually that's bye-bye ECUs, plural. I fixed a car that was struck by lightning. 8 modules and about $4000 later it was running normally. Let me tell you, that was a tough one. When you turn the key on, and you hear fifteen relays clicking randomly and lights flickering, you know you've got a unique electrical failure on your hands.

We have rednecks in Central Florida fried by lightning once a week or some dip shit golfing in a T-storm. Poor bastards in that SUV, must have scared the daylights (headlights) out of them.

NOAA is forecasting the East Coast getting wet: http://news.yahoo.com/noaa-east-beware-coming-frankenstorm-171317994.html Batten down the hatches. Preliminary weather charts place Frankenstorm on the shore of North Carolina by Monday at 8 AM, continuing North (centered on New Jersey / Long Island) through 8 AM Tuesday.

Below is a NWS / NOAA map further showing the storm's projected coverage. It's early to know for sure though some meteorologists suspect every state from Florida to Maine are going to feel the storm's affects.

Does this mean they could potentially have issues voting in the NE??? C'mon, Sandy!!!

Tux, if you need a place to stay, there is a spare room here. I trade room & board & beer for work on the car and racing lessons.

It's a long trip, though, so you ought to leave soon...

Okay, joking aside. The last time the NWS predicted a terrible huricane with a similar path, it fizzled. How reliable is this model? Is it mere speculation, or more scientific?

If I didn't have a basement to watch Sim I would seek shelter in Texas. The last hurricane was worrying though, the worst part was all of the tornado warnings. Looks like I'll be running 4 sump pumps again.

The engineer part of me says you may not need all 4 pumps. It depends on the size of the basement, the rate at which the pumps evacuate the water, and the rate at which it leaks in, but the lazy part of me says "shut-up, brain, it's Friday."

The homeowner part of me says "I don't want 18 inches of water in my basement". 4 pumps last time allowed me to keep 1 inch only at the low end instead of 18 inches and a contaminated well two years ago. My area has a very high water table.

The hurricane's passing by my coast right now... Got a t-storm yesterday WHILE at Disney, so it was much more enjoyable. Hoping for more rain today. Florida really needs it.

Well, the correct equation to determine the minimum amount of pumps required would depend on the flow rate of each pump, and the flow rate of water coming into the basement (plus some other minor stuff that could probably be ignored.) You could determine the flow rate by measuring how long it took to fill the basement (or part of it) to a certain height. You could use geometry to determine the volume of water that was there, and how long it took to get there, and viola, volumetric flow rate. Then determine the flow rate of the pump, and find out how many you need to counter the flow of water.

To keep things nice and dry, Q (flow rate) into the basement needs to be equal to Q out of it. Otherwise, the basement will fill.

It gets a little more complicated with varying inputs. (i.e., amount of rainfall, effect from the water table, lack of sealer after a certain height of wall, etc.)

I wasn't really giving you a hard time, more just curious to see if 4 is ideal, or if it could be done with less - or worse, if you may need more!

To answer your question about path, fizzle, and model- some meteorologists are comparing this system to the system in 1991 that became a movie. You might have heard of it. Perfect Storm.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/hurricane-sandy-extra-tropical-cyclone/story?id=17570147#.UIr8RIZU18E

Updated trajectory:

You stated some of the information needed to make a mathematical guess, but you also stated the problem. There are too many variables. For the math to work, I would need a running change on flow into the basement. You see, the flow isn't always the same, and also isn't always predictable. For example, if the storm sewer down the road clogs with leaves, the flow rate will change. If the spillway to a nearby tributary is clogged the flowrate will change. You also forgot one MAJOR variable, pipe size. My main pedestal pump moves water through a 70 year old pitch pipe. Pitch can flatten over time. Also, the pipe may not move the amount of water the pump claims to be able to move.

So by the time I'm done the math, I'll drown. It's easier to gauge how fast I clear incoming water in real time. Last time, three pumps was enough. I have a fourth on battery back up. And speaking of battery back up, before you say anything, I've already got loss of power covered. You see, I have two Mopars in the driveway, and 5000 watts worth of power inverters.

Interesting conversation though, I love me some math!

TuxTshirt wrote:...I have two Mopars in the driveway...

Oh, you're good then.

Uhhhhhhhhhh yyyyyyyyyyeeaahh, Avanti, the news is getting worse. I live just outside of Philadelphia, so, yeah. It looks like I'm in trouble. I may need 4 more pumps, one more Mopar and a bunch of plywood.

Batten down the hatches dude. Tell us all about Sandy's wrath on the flip-side. Our forum members shall be praying for you and your family's safety.

There's my dad's Magnum in Maine. I think he needs it though. Would a big fuckin' Ford (Excursion 412CID V-10) help?

See the red mark? That's where I live.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers guys. I'll talk to you on the flip side. If I get a chance, maybe I'll try to take some video.

I have family in York so they're in the same boat. Thoughts and prayers to those under Sandy.

I also notice the updated weather model has the system veering more northeast after it comes inland.

Good luck Tux! Get in some iRacing before you lost power, if you do!

Avanti, hopefully your car is ok up in Maine too!