September 2nd, 2010 Category: Image of the day, Tropical Cyclones

Hurricane Earl (07L) - September 1st, 2010

Track of TS 07L

At 8:00 PM EDT (00:00 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Earl (07L) was located near latitude 27.2 North, longitude 73.5 West. Earl is moving toward the north-northwest near 18 mph (30 km/hr).

This motion is expected to continue tonight with a turn to the north on Thursday. On the forecast track, the core of the hurricane will approach the North Carolina coast by late Thursday, and move near or over the Outer Banks of that state by Thursday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 135 mph (215 km/hr) with higher gusts.E arl is a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely tonight and Thursday, but a gradual weakening trend is anticipated thereafter.

Earl is a large hurricane. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles (325 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 941 mb (27.79 inches).

There are various hazards affecting land. Tropical storm force winds are expected to reach the North Carolina coast within the warning area by Thursday afternoon with hurricane force winds occurring by late Thursday. Tropical storm force winds will likely reach the coast from Virginia northward to New Jersey by late Thursday night or early Friday.

A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet above ground level within the hurricane warning
area and the lower Chesapeake Bay. Elsewhere within the tropical storm warning area, a storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above ground level. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches, are expected over portions of eastern North Carolina including the Outer Banks. With regards to surf, large swells from Earl will continue to affect the Bahamas
and the east coast of the United States through Friday. These swells will likely cause dangerous surf conditions and rip currents.

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September 1st, 2010 Category: Tropical Cyclones

Hurricane Earl (07L) - August 31st, 2010

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Track of TS 07L

On August 30 at 11:00 AM AST, Earl (07L) intensified into a category 3 hurricane, making it the second major hurricane of the season after Hurricane Danielle (06L). Later that day, Earl intensified further into a category 4 hurricane and could further develop into a category 5 hurricane.

Earl is the first Cape Verde-type hurricane to affect the Leeward Islands since Hurricane Georges. It is currently predicted to affect the Grand Strand of South Carolina, Outer Banks of North Carolina and possibly Atlantic Canada.

As of 1100 PM AST (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Earl was located near latitude 23.0 North, longitude 69.9 West.E arl is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph (24 km/hr).

This general motion is expected to continue on Wednesday with a gradual turn to the north-northwest thereafter. On the forecast track, the core of the hurricane will be passing well east and northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tuesday night and northeast of the Bahamas Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 135 mph (215 km/hr) with higher gusts. Earl is a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Little change in strength is expected through Wednesday.

Earl is a large hurricane. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles (325 km).  Estimated minimum central pressure is 940 mb (27.76 inches).

Hazards affecting land include winds, storm surges and rainfall. Tropical storm conditions are probably occurring in the vicinity of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Weather conditions will likely improve in these islands on Wednesday. Above normal tides, accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves, are possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas tonight. Rainfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches, are expected for the southeastern Bahamas and for the Turk and Caicos Islands.

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August 31st, 2010 Category: Tropical Cyclones, Tropical Storms

Typhoon Kompasu (08W) - August 30th, 2010

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Track of TY 08W

Upon opening the full image, Typhoon Kompasu (08W) can be seen between Japan (north) and the Philippines (south). In the animated image, Kompasu is the system to the right, whose track is marked; also visible to the left in the full version are Tropical Storm Namtheun (09W) and Tropical Storm Lionrock (07W).

Typhoon Kompasu began as an area of low pressure that formed on August 27th, about 305 km (200 mi) to the east of the island of Yap. At that time, the system was disorganized due to high vertical wind shear.

The next day, the system started to move northwest and crossed the island of Guam. That evening, the system was located about 370 km (250 mi) northwest of Guam, in an area of low vertical windshear and a favorable environment. A Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough (TUTT) was located to the east of the system. At that time, the Japanese Meteorological Agency upgraded the system into a tropical depression.

Around midday on August 29th, the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) on the system as the Low Level Circulation Center (LLCC) became more organized. On the morning of that same day, the JTWC announced that the system had quickly developed into a tropical storm and assigned the designation “08W”.

Intensification continued, and by midday on August 30th, the JMA reported that the depression had intensified into a tropical storm and assigned its international designation “Kompasu”. In addition, PAGASA also announced that the low pressure to the northeast of Batanes had formed, and assigned its local name: “Glenda”. Six hours later, the JMA reported that Kompasu had intensified rapidly into a severe tropical storm. At the same time, the JTWC also upgraded Kompasu to a category 1 typhoon.

Tags: 07W 08W 09W Tropical Storm Lionrock Tropical Storm Namtheun Typhoon Kompasu |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | | Leave a comment

August 30th, 2010 Category: Tropical Cyclones

Hurricane Danielle (06L) - August 29th, 2010

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Track of TS 06L

On August 27, Hurricane Danielle (06L) strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane, becoming the first major hurricane of the season, and further strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane shortly after.

Danielle later weakened to a Category 3, then Category 2 hurricane, and later became a Category 1 Hurricane. As the storm is moving in a northerly manner, it is not expected to strengthen, since it will be experiencing increasing wind shear and colder surface waters.

The center of Hurricane Danielle is located near 38.0°N 54.5°W, about 605 miles (975 km) south of Cape Race, Newfoundland and Labrador.  The minimum central pressure is estimated to be 977 mbar (hPa, 28.85 inHg) and the storm is moving north-northeast at 29 mph (46 km/h).

Maximum sustained winds are estimated at 80 mph (130 km/h), with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 310 miles (500 km) from the center of Danielle, and hurricane force winds extend up to 85 miles (140 km) from the center. Very high surf and rip currents are likely along the northern East Coast of the United States and the coast of Atlantic Canada, through Monday.

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August 29th, 2010 Category: Image of the day, Tropical Cyclones

Hurricane Danielle (06L) - August 28th, 2010

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Track of TS 06L

The center of Hurricane Danielle (06L) is located near 30.3°N 59.7°W, about 330 miles (535 km) east-southeast of Bermuda.

The minimum central pressure is estimated to be 970 mbar (hPa, 28.64 inHg) and the storm is moving north-northeast at 13 mph (20 km/h).

Maximum sustained winds are estimated at 105 mph (165 km/h), with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km) from the center of Danielle, and hurricane force winds extend up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center.

Very high surf and rip currents are likely in Bermuda, along the East Coast of the United States and the coast of Atlantic Canada over the next few days.

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August 27th, 2010 Category: Tropical Cyclones

Tropical Storm Frank (09E) - August 26th, 2010

Track of TS 09E

Hurricane Frank (09E) is passing south of Socorro Island. The center of the system is located near latitude 18.2 North, longitude 111.2 West.

Frank is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph (15 km/hr). A turn toward the northwest with a gradual decrease in forward speed is expected during the next day or so. Frank is forecast to turn northward on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/hr) with higher gusts. Frank is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Gradual weakening is expected Friday followed by a more steady weakening on Saturday as frank moves over cool waters.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km). Estimated minimum central pressure is 980 mb (28.94 inches).

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August 27th, 2010 Category: Image of the day, Tropical Cyclones

Tropical Storm Danielle (06L) - August 26th, 2010

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Track of TS 06L

Swells from Hurricane Danielle (06L) are expected to affect portions of the United States east coast starting Friday. The system is currently located near 25.8N 57.6W, about 625 mi (1005 km) southeast of Bermuda.

Danielle is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph (19 km/hr) and a gradual turn toward the north-northwest and north is expected during the next couple of days. On this track, the center of Danielle is expected to remain well east of Bermuda.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 110 mph (175 km/hr) with higher gusts. Danielle is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Danielle is expected to become a major hurricane on Friday.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 50 miles (85 km) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 965 mb (28.50 inches).

Hazards affecting land could include large and dangerous surf conditions in Bermuda during the next few days. Swells from Danielle will begin to arrive on the east coast of the United States on Friday. Large surf and dangerous rip currents are expected throughout the weekend.

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August 26th, 2010 Category: Tropical Cyclones

Tropical Storm Frank (09E) - August 25th, 2010

Track of TS 09E

Tropical Storm Frank (09E) was upgraded to hurricane status, and has since strengthened a little more.

The system is located near 17.2N 107.5W, about 250 mi (405 km) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, and about 425 mi (680 km) south-southeast of the southern tip of Baja California.

The system is presently moving west-northwest at 14 mph (22 km/hr), and this motion is expected to continue for the next day or so. A reduction in forward speed is likely to occur on Friday as Frank moves over cooler water.

Frank is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Maximum sustained winds are at 80 mph (130 km/hr), with higher gusts. Minimum central pressure is 984 mb (29.06 inches). Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km).

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August 25th, 2010 Category: Tropical Cyclones

Tropical Storm Danielle (06L) - August 24th, 2010

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Track of TS 06L

Tropical Storm Danielle (06L) has been upgraded to a hurricane once again. The system is located about 795 mi (1275 km) east of the Leeward Islands. It is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph (30 km/hr), but is expected to slow down and turn toward the northwest during the next couple of days.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph (120 km/hr) with higher gusts. Danielle is thus a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Little change in strength is expected tomorrow, with some strengthening possible by Thursday.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb (29.23 inches).

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