Earl Could Produce Power Outages and Wind Damage at U.S. Open

The danger from most hurricanes is from water – either the massive amount of rain that falls or the surge that the high winds push onshore.  But in the case of the hurricane Earl path, the bigger problem once it leaves the New York and New England area is likely to be wind damage.

Since trees still have full foliage this time of year, the damage is expected to be worse than the fall, when nor’easters often hit the New England region.

Rain is only one thing U.S. Open Tennis officials have to worry about with Earl.  The U.S. Open is in the middle of a 2-week run in New York. 

We could see limbs down and the uprooting of trees,” says Bill Read, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. “If the roads are covered with trees, this could be a problem for responders if someone has an emergency.”

From the easternmost part of New York to Rhode Island and Cape Cod, Earl is expected to unleash wind gusts of 75 to 100 miles per hour, says meteorologist Mike Pigott of AccuWeather.com. In the eastern part of Cape Cod around Chatham, MA, for example, the winds could reach a sustained 75 miles per hour.

On Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center officially put southeastern Massachusetts – including Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard – on hurricane warning status. That means the region can expect winds of at least 74 miles per hour, probably starting Friday evening.

Utility crews on the East Coast are gearing up for the prospect of clearing trees off power lines and restringing lines, says Jim Owen, a spokesman for the Edison Electric Institute in Washington.

With widespread wind damage, power outages can stretch for days or maybe even longer. “That is why we encourage people to prepare and have adequate supplies of food and water, so they can withstand maybe several days without electricity,” says Owen.

One indication of how long power outages can go: After Wilma, a powerful hurricane, roared through Florida in 2005, many residents went for more than two weeks without electricity.

Let's hope Earl is a tennis fan and stays mostly out at sea.

Friday U.S. Open Play "Iffy" Due to Earl

Tennis fans in New York are watching the weather as Hurricane Earl speeds to the East Coast.

Rain from Earl is is the forecast for all day Friday, and matches at The National Tennis Center could be in question.

After Friday, the rest of the weekend looks perfect for tennis.

Hurricane Earl Threatens Friday's Play at U.S. Open

Although Hurricane Earl has weakened from a Category 4 to a Category 3 storm and isn't expected to land a direct hit to New Jersey and New York, the Labor Day weekend is likely to begin Friday with wet weather, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service is calling for a 30 percent chance of showers in the overnight hours of Friday morning at the Shore. Later in the day, there is a greater probability of showers with winds gusting up to 37 miles per hour and dangerous surf.

The rest of the weekend after Friday looks good right now.

As of 8 a.m., Earl was about 180 miles east of San Salvador in the Bahamas and moving northwest at 16 miles per hour with sustained winds topping out at 125 miles per hour. The storm is now about 780 miles from Cape Hatteras, N.C, where it could land a blow as early as Thursday night.

Friday tennis play could be in jeopardy if Earl continues at its current strength and course.

Day 3: U.S. Open Match to Watch

Men's Singles - 1st Round
Frederico Gil(POR)	vs.	John Isner(USA)[18]

A match on Armstrong Stadium.  Inser finally takes the court for his first round encounter with Gil.  Gil doesn't really have anything to hurt Isner, and that is good for John as he is coming off a bad ankle injury in Cincinnati. 

It's a miracle Isner can even take to the court.  Give a lot of credit to John and his training staff.  I hope his ankle holds out,  if it does, he wins in 3.

Day 2: U.S. Open Match to Watch

How about a big Serbian 1st round match on Ashe Stadium Court.

It's the match of the day for me.

Men's Singles - 1st Round
Viktor Troicki(SRB)	vs.	Novak Djokovic(SRB)[3]

I'm not high on Djokovic living up to his seed, but he'll get by this one in 5 sets.