1 Introduction 



The meteorological system which evolved into Hurricane Emily was 

 detected on 22 August 1993 via satellite imagery as a cloud pattern typical of 

 a tropical depression. At the time, it was located approximately 1,800 miles 1 

 southeast of Cape Hatteras, the point of closest approach to land in the conti- 

 nental United States. Emily persisted as a tropical depression for the next 

 2 days while moving to the northwest. On 25 August, Emily slowed to almost 

 a stop and the system began to intensify, being upgraded to tropical storm 

 status. Emily briefly attained minimal hurricane strength on 26 August as it 

 began to move toward the southwest. During the next 2 days, Emily gradually 

 turned again to the northwest and re-intensified, attaining Saffir-Simpson scale 

 category 3 hurricane status on 31 August 1993. On 1 September 1993, Emily 

 skirted the Outer Banks of North Carolina while on a northward track, then 

 turned toward the northeast and moved back into the Atlantic. Figure 1 (from 

 Lawrence (1993)) shows the track of Emily. 



The histories of Emily's central pressure and maximum wind speeds are 

 shown in Figures 2 and 3 (from Lawrence (1993)). The maximum surface 

 wind speed of slightly more than 100 knots was observed about the same time 

 as was the minimum central pressure; both occurred at the time of closest 

 approach to land. The radius of maximum winds at this time was approxi- 

 mately 23 miles (Lawrence 1993). The position of Emily's maximum winds 

 relative to the Outer Banks during the storm's passage resulted in flood water 

 being forced from Pamlico Sound across the barrier island into the Atlantic 

 Ocean. 



A table of factors for converting non-SI units of measurement to SI units is presented on 

 page v. 



Chapter 1 Introduction 



