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If you are in Florida near the path of the storm, I wish the best for you and your loved ones in surmounting the challenges of the storm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising sea levels present a challenge for National Park System managers over the next century as they incorporate the latest sea-level rise information, including regional parameters when available, into individual park management plans. Rates of sea-level change vary throughout the National Park System, so the National Park Service (NPS) cannot define a single rate applicable to all parks. This complicates park planning and requires interpretation of research and modeling results. In this article we discuss many of the latest developments in sea-level rise research, including the drivers of sea-level change, global sea-level projections for this century, and what these mean for park managers. We also explain why tide gauge data in some regions have recorded decreasing mean sea levels and why potential storm surge should be included in planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a coastal hydrodynamic model for simulating coastal barrier breaching flows through an inlet which are mostly induced by extreme hydrological conditions such as storm/hurricane surges, waves and tides. In order to simulate wave field and wave-induced flow field in a coast, a wave action spectral model is coupled with a hydrodynamic model. The Godunov-type shock-capturing technique is used in the hydrodynamic model to simulate the supercritical flows and shocks driven by the extreme storm conditions. The hydrodynamic model is based on the solution of depth-averaged non-linear shallow water equations with all physical forcings common to coastal hydrological conditions so that it is capable of simulating multiple flow regimes, in which subcritical, transcritical, or supercritical flows may happen. The bed slope terms in the system of equations are treated in such a way that exact balance between flux gradient and bed slope terms is achieved under still water condition. The wave model readily provides the radiation stresses that represent the shortwave-averaged forcings in a water column and take into account wave-induced nearshore currents. In the coupled system, the models are operated systematically. The coastal hydrodynamic model is shown to accurately reproduce analytical and benchmark numerical solutions. To further test the accuracy of the model, flow through a coastal inlet with a storm surge is simulated and the results are compared with an established coastal flow model. Finally, the model is examined to simulate a severe storm surge that develops supercritical flows and the results are found to be encouraging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A large portion of the Biloxi Bay Bridge was submerged and destroyed by surface waves and storm surge associated with Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In this paper, the time history of wave forces exerted on the Biloxi Bay Bridge during Hurricane Katrina was investigated by a wave-loading model. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) method was adopted in the model to track the variations of water surface levels. In order to obtain wave parameters and storm-surge elevation at the bridge site during Hurricane Katrina, a storm surge model and a wave propagation model were coupled to hindcast the hydrodynamic conditions. Outputs of the coupled wave–surge models were imported to the wave-loading model to simulate the dynamic wave forces acting on the bridge deck. In order to evaluate the maximum uplift wave force, five different bridge deck elevations submerged at different water depths were investigated. The processes of wave–bridge interaction were simulated by the wave-loading model. The wave profiles, velocity field in the vicinity of the bridge, and dynamic wave forces on the decks were analyzed. Results indicate that the uplift force on the submerged bridge deck span exceeded its own weight under the extreme wave and storm surge conditions during Hurricane Katrina. Moreover, the numerical simulations suggest that the maximum uplift wave force occurred when the storm surge water level reached the top of the bridge deck. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dangerous storm surges, hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall are forecast to hit parts of the Louisiana coast, including New Orleans, on Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The storm is expected to approach New England with hurricane force strength on Sunday or Monday but forecasts are uncertain if it will make landfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]