Image: Mollie Bloudoff-Indellicato
Myth: You should've kept your windows open during Sandy
There's an urban legend that suggests keeping windows shut during a hurricane causes pressure to build up in a home until the building's roof pops off. By this logic, you should open your window just a tad to equalize pressure.
It's true that as hurricanes move into an area, atmospheric pressure can plummet by nearly 10 percent, raising the relative indoor pressure. Such a sudden drop may cause problems.
"It could basically blow out your windows," says Rice University hydrologist Philip Bedient. "It happens all the time."
However, Bedient still takes issue with this advice. Opening your window may help equalize pressure, but allowing 145-kilometer-per-hour winds into your home presents other risks, and it isn't the best strategy. —Daisy Yuhas
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8 Comments
Add Comment7. Readers love to click multiple times to read a single article.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisre: effect of "spring" tides on storm surges. The author states the effect probably would be only a few centimeters. I have observed several spring tides along the central NJ shore and the effect is more like 1 - 2 feet higher than on a week before or after a spring tide. The low tides during spring tides times are extreme also with large areas of wet sand being exposed that is normally covered other times. Another effect on storm surges that I have never seen mentioned is low barometric pressure. Think of "sucking" water up a straw. A drop in pressure of 10% would cause a rise of nearly a meter even if there were no other factors involved!
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Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this2. Georgevv...
Thank you for your comment. I thought maybe things are different on the east coast.
Here on the west coast spring tides have significantly greater swings in water movement. The difference can easily be seen by anyone who pays attention. A difference of a couple of inches wouldn't even be noticeable.
I do. I wish I could click every other word. It's so informative and entertaining.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIs Cumbre Veijo still being monitered?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLet us hope that the volcano holds secure.
Best wishes,
Marg.
hanmeng: Just hit the print button and you'll see the whole article. No extra clicking necessary.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisChildren were lost, White, black, red and brown.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCan't bring them back.
All I know is they are playing for Jesus's soccer team.
i do know where the United States Navy is off shore.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMight want to shut up.