hurricanes and tropical storms

As inevitable as a Hurricane Florence landfall in the Carolinas appears, the storm's meandering path beyond that — and the foot or two of rain it could dump — remained uncertain as preparations and evacuations continued Tuesday.

Howard County is watching the track of Hurricane Florence and is prepared to deploy workers and resources in flood-prone areas.

As the possible oncoming of Hurricane Florence prompts county agencies to prepare, it is a reminder of the principals pushed during Preparedness Month, recognized in September.

Hurricane Florence is threatening to strike the East Coast as a Category 5 hurricane, prompting calls for evacuation in the Carolinas and an emergency declaration in Maryland ahead of potentially "historic" flooding.

The National Weather Service warned hazardous weather, including coastal flooding and dense fog, was possible Tuesday.

Steady rain in the last couple of weeks has turned ground throughout the Baltimore region into a sloppy, wet mess. More bad weather — particularly with high winds from the potential Hurricane Florence — could topple trees and ruin crops.

After a near-record rainy summer flooded out events and washed out dams, a wet September, darkened by the potential cloud shadows of hurricane Florence, may muddy the outlook for high profile festivals.

Tropical Storm Florence is forecast to become “a dangerous major hurricane” by late next week and potentially make landfall in the Carolinas by Friday.

A map of Maryland flood zones, created earlier this year, shows residents when to evacuate.

As Hurricane Florence strengthens, here's a list of things to do before, during and after a hurricane, according to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.

Carroll County is under a flood warning through 3:30 p.m. Monday, the start of what is expected to be a rainy week with Hurricane Florence threatening to affect the Mid-Atlantic later in the week.

Baltimore is under a flood warning until late Sunday afternoon as the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon and a stalled front drench the region.

Tropical cyclone Florence has been downgraded to a tropical storm, but is expected to strengthen again before possibly brushing or striking the East Coast. The threat of "direct impacts associated with Florence along the U.S. East Coast next week has increased," the National Weather Service says.

“It is far too soon to speculate what, if any, impacts Florence may have on our region next week, but at this point nothing can be ruled out,” meteorologists at the National Weather Service’s Baltimore/Washington forecast office wrote Thursday.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District sent a team to Hawaii to prepare for a response to Hurricane Lane.

A torrent of flood water rushed through a Westminster public works facility July 25, damaging the building extensively and prompting utilities workers to salvage expensive equipment. City officials estimate the damages to cost between $150,000 and $175,000. 

Retro Howard: Looking back at the Ellicott City Bicentennial of 1972, held in the wake of Hurricane Agnes.

This month is ending as Baltimore’s wettest July in history, by far, but that’s only the beginning of the rainfall records set recently.

The Sun's criticism of Donald Trump's emergency response to hurricanes is 'deranged.'

FEMA wisely admits its failures in Puerto Rico, but will the 2018 hurricane season take the U.S. by surprise again?

Two weeks ago today, there was gridlock on both sides of the Susquehanna River, the likes of which has never been seen. Everyone has a horror story, or knows someone with a similar tale, of how many hours it took to make a routine trip usually measured in minutes.

Trump tweets, hurricanes, hate crimes and too much violence marked 2017.

Just when we thought the news could not get any worse, along came natural disasters, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, to decimate parts of our country and our neighbors and the lives of millions, creating many more horrors and unresolved issues.

Gov. Larry Hogan said Monday he had directed 100 Maryland National Guardsmen to head for the U.S. Virgin Islands to help with hurricane relief efforts.

How do you solve a problem like Hurricane Maria?

Harford County officials tried to clear up misconceptions that the county is writing a $100,000 check for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief during a public hearing Tuesday.

Zirpoli: Proposed tax cuts will make America poorer, weaker

Rain showers that passed through the Baltimore area Sunday are expected to continue most of the week as the remnants of Hurricane Nate move through the region.

Rain is forecast for the next few days in Baltimore, after weeks of dry weather. 

Tropical Storm Nate is forecast to strengthen as it approaches the Gulf Coast, and could reach the Baltimore region as a tropical depression early next week.

Four Retrievers and three Tigers are from Puerto Rico, which was ravaged by Maria.

The Army Corps of Engineers is developing a plan to help Maryland officials know where and when to order evacuations ahead of hurricanes.

Americans are suffering mightily in Puerto Rico but don't seem to have nation's full attention.

High temperatures in the Baltimore area are expected to reach 90 degrees Monday, the National Weather Service says.

A strengthening Hurricane Maria is approaching Caribbean islands still recovering from Hurricane Irma, while Hurricane Jose passes just off of Maryland’s Atlantic coast, bringing dangerous surf.

The effects of Hurricane Jose will barely register in Baltimore as it tracks north and diminishes into a tropical storm in the Atlantic this coming week, while Ocean City could feel it more.

Tropical Storm Jose strengthening, expected to bring dangerous surf conditions to East Coast

Forecasters have been watching Hurricane Jose's track for a possible hit to the East Coast, but the latest forecasts show the storm weakening and keeping off shore.

The outer bands of Hurricane Irma, weakened by a blow to Cuba but still a life-threatening major storm, reached the Florida Keys on Saturday as fears of devastation shifted from Miami to Tampa.

Hurricane Irma scraped Cuba’s northern coast Friday on a course toward South Florida, leaving in its deadly wake a ravaged string of Caribbean resort islands.

Since Feb. 19, 1893, there have been more than 20 weather events, in the Westminster and surrounding Carroll County area, which historians refer to as “tornadoes.”

Hurricane Irma retained its Category 5 strength Thursday as it approached the Dominican Republic on a path that threatens South Florida.

Hurricane Irma, the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history made landfall Wednesday in the northeast Caribbean and remains on a path that puts South Florida in peril.

Hurricane forecast forces cancellat of Archbishop Spalding-Bishop Moore football game.

Hurricane Irma has begun to devastate the Leeward Islands as one of the most intense Atlantic cylones on record, but whether and where it reaches the United States mainland is unclear.

With Hurricane Irma possibly hitting Florida, St. Frances football calls off weekend trip to play IMG, hopes to play later.

Florida is under a state of emergency as powerful Hurricane Irma's path became clearer Monday and chances of a tangle with the major tropical cyclone increased.

Edelman: Congress has work cut out for it

Tropical Depression Harvey has begun to lift away from the Gulf Coast, and its remnants are forecast to dampen the start of the Labor Day weekend across Maryland.

We should learn from Texas' experience and think critically about how we prepare for floods as communities and as a nation.