Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Tropical Storm Agatha, Pacaya volcano kill 15 in Guatemala; oil spill update
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 2:39 PM GMT on May 30, 2010 +2
Tropical Storm Agatha, the first Eastern Pacific named storm of 2010, was short lived but deadly. Agatha was a tropical storm for just 12 hours, making landfall Saturday on the Pacific coast of Guatemala as a 45 mph tropical storm. However, the storm brought huge amounts of moisture inland that continue to be wrung out as heavy rains by the high mountains of Guatemala and the surrounding nations of Central America. So far, flooding and landslides have killed twelve people in Guatemala, and one person in neighboring El Salvador. According to the excellent Guatemala weather site, climaya.com, rainfall amounts of up to 152 mm (six inches) in 24 hours have occurred in some regions of Guatemala. The National Hurricane Center is warning that rainfall amounts of up to 30 inches may fall the next few days in some mountainous regions near where the storm has dissipated. Adding to the mayhem is fallout from the Pacaya volcano in Guatemala, which began erupting three days ago. At least three people have been killed by the volcano, located about 25 miles south of the capital, Guatemala City. The volcano has destroyed 800 homes with lava and brought moderate ash falls to the capital.


Figure 1. Visible satellite image of Tropical Storm Agatha at landfall. The storm was intensifying right up until landfall, and had an impressive "hot tower" of building cumulonimbus clouds near its center that brought heavy rains to Guatemala.


Figure 2. Flooding in Quetzaltenango, Zone 2, in Guatemala on May 29, 2010, after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Agatha. Image credit: Carlos Diaz, climaya.com

Oil spill update
Light onshore winds out of the south are expected to blow over the northern Gulf of Mexico today through Tuesday, resulting increased threats of oil to the Alabama and Mississippi barrier islands, according to the latest trajectory forecasts from NOAA. Winds are expected to shift to southwesterly on Wednesday and continue through Friday, increasing in force to 10 - 20 knots late in the week as a cold front approaches the Gulf. These persistent and strengthening southwesterly winds will likely bring oil very close to shore from Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle by next weekend.

Oil spill resources
My post, What a hurricane would do the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
My post Wednesday with answers to some of the common questions I get about the spill
My post on the Southwest Florida "Forbidden Zone" where surface oil will rarely go
My post on what oil might do to a hurricane
NOAA trajectory forecasts
Deepwater Horizon Unified Command web site
Oil Spill Academic Task Force
University of South Florida Ocean Circulation Group oil spill forecasts
ROFFS Deepwater Horizon page
Surface current forecasts from NOAA's HYCOM model
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery from the University of Miami

Join the "Hurricane Haven" with Dr. Jeff Masters: a new Internet radio show
Beginning next week, I'll be experimenting with a live 1-hour Internet radio show called "Hurricane Haven." The show will be aired at 4pm EDT on Tuesdays, with the first show June 1. Listeners will be able to call in and ask questions. Some topics I'll cover on the first show:

1) What's going on in the tropics right now
2) Preview of the coming hurricane season
3) How a hurricane might affect the oil spill
4) How the oil spill might affect a hurricane
5) New advancements in hurricane science presented at this month's AMS Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology
6) Haiti's vulnerability to a hurricane this season

I hope you can tune in to the broadcast, which will be at http://www.wunderground.com/wxradio/wubroadcast.h tml. If not, the show will be recorded and stored as a podcast.

I'll probably be back Monday with a quick update. Have a great holiday weekend!

Jeff Masters
Categories: Hurricane
  Permalink | A A A
Reader Comments
Display: 0, 50, 100, 200 Sort: Newest First - Order Posted
Viewing: 251 - 301

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34Blog Index

251. PanhandleChuck 5:32 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
KOG --- Please use the ignore button NOW --- it will only get worse as the season progresses. I'm pleading with you man, it's for your own good. LOL
Member Since: May 13, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 1183
252. skkippboo 5:32 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Good Morning.
Member Since: April 19, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 132
253. xcool 5:32 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
From NWS Tampa Bay AFD:

LONG TERM (TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)...

A FEW DISCREPANCIES IN THE LONG TERMS MODELS ARISE THIS
AFTERNOON. DECIDED TO SIDE WITH THE ECMWF FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE
LONG TERM DUE TO ITS RELATIVE CONSISTENCY THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
MAIN MODEL DIFFERENCE IS THE EFFECTS...IF ANY...THAT THE REMNANTS
OF TROPICAL STORM AGATHA WILL HAVE ON SW AND CENTRAL FL. GFS IS
MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH THIS SYSTEM SHOWING A 1011-1013 WAVE
MOVING NE FROM THE WESTERN CARRIBEAN AND PUSHING THROUGH THE WEST
CENTRAL PENINSULA ON WEDNESDAY. THE MOISTURE SURGE ASSOCIATED WITH
THE EURO CURRENTLY APPEARS A BIT MORE REASONABLE SHOWING A
MODERATE MOISTURE SURGE REACHING THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE CWA.
WENT AHEAD AND NUDGED UP POPS ACROSS THE CWA (MAINLY COASTAL
LOCATIONS AND ADJACENT WATERS) TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY TYPE OF MOISTURE
SURGE.
Member Since: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 15503
254. Cavin Rawlins 5:32 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
It alls comes down to the fact that if we have such a consensus in environmental conditions then there shouldn't be such a wide range. What is the least active neutral year and least active La Nina year with the conditions we are seeing now being equal? NOAA needs to ask themselves that question.
Member Since: July 24, 2005 Posts: 407 Comments: 19076
256. bappit 5:34 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting Levi32:


But that's not even the biggest thing. Now that the El Nino's gone they shouldn't even be looking at the Pacific. We know what's gonna happen there. They should be looking at the Atlantic SST profile compared with the rest of the world and see how heat is bundling in the deep tropics of our basin. Anyone who can recognize that would know that we're in for a very bad season. It's not rocket-science, and 2005 is the closest analog in terms of SST profile in the Atlantic. There is a clear imbalance of heat that has to be corrected with our hurricane season this year.





Heat is bundling?
Member Since: May 18, 2006 Posts: 3 Comments: 4389
257. louisianaboy444 5:35 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Just the fact that we have waves this strong coming off of Africa now makes me a bit worried
Member Since: August 29, 2006 Posts: 17 Comments: 1219
258. Levi32 5:35 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting MiamiHurricanes09:
I'm sorry but I have no clue what effect the PDO has on the Atlantic.


Long story short, the cold PDO signature in the north Pacific cools most of north America (except the eastern US) and really most of the northern hemisphere from the temperate latitudes northward. The effect is especially profound when the AMO is cold too.

More specifically the PDO can also have an effect on the steering patterns in the Atlantic as it favors east coast ridging.
Member Since: November 24, 2005 Posts: 587 Comments: 25462
259. IKE 5:35 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting FIU2010:
You noticed that double-layered ridge type of a pattern shapping up on the GFS there, Ike? That spells out deep-!@#$ for us, storm-track wise, if it doesn't change anytime soon, you are aware of that, right? That's the tyep of pattern that Drak, 456, and Levi are all forcasting for this season. That also explains why Florida in the middle of all of the action, if you will, this summer. It doesn't take a rocket-scientist to figure that one out, my friend, :(. Keep an eye on the long trend patterns that these models tend to show, instead of only focusing on whether they develop storms or not, trust me, you might learn a thing or two, by doing that, keep it in mind.


Whatever you say.
Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37047
260. MiamiHurricanes09 5:36 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting Levi32:


Long story short, the cold PDO signature in the north Pacific cools most of north America (except the eastern US) and really most of the northern hemisphere from the temperate latitudes northward. The effect is especially profound when the AMO is cold too.
Oh, thanks!
Member Since: September 2, 2009 Posts: 129 Comments: 19976
261. Levi32 5:37 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting bappit:


Heat is bundling?


As in focusing, concentrating in a certain area.
Member Since: November 24, 2005 Posts: 587 Comments: 25462
262. oddspeed 5:37 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
bump
Quoting oddspeed:
any thoughts on this?

Member Since: September 4, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 225
264. BahaHurican 5:37 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Levi, I know there is at least one study [daag, can't remember lead researchers name, but one of the guys at NHC] which documents 1950-2000? and shows that while there isn't a huge difference, neutral years average higher storm numbers [and higher landfalls, too IIRC] than la nina ones. Given the analog years some have been suggesting, I'd think a smaller range with a # like 18/19 in the middle would suggest more accuracy. I think we can realistically expect 18+ named systems this year. I'm not as gung ho about the hurricanes and majors, but there sure is enough fuel out there, and so far SAL conditions seem sufficiently mild to allow at least 1/2 of the 18 to reach hurricane status. I think after they got burned in '05 and '06 forecasters are being a bit more.... cautious..... :o)

From my perspective, the biggest qtn is not how many, but WHERE....
Member Since: October 25, 2005 Posts: 19 Comments: 17690
265. bappit 5:37 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
From http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml:

La Niña contributes to reduced vertical wind shear over the western tropical Atlantic which, when combined with conditions associated with the ongoing high activity era and warm Atlantic SSTs, increases the probability of an exceptionally active Atlantic hurricane season (Bell and Chelliah 2006).

Does not seem like they are ignoring anything you are talking about Levi.
Member Since: May 18, 2006 Posts: 3 Comments: 4389
266. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 5:37 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting FIU2010:
NOTATION TO IKE, LEELO, MIJO:

You noticed that double-layered ridge type of a pattern shapping up on the GFS there, Ike? That spells out deep-!@#$ for us, storm-track wise, if it doesn't change anytime soon, you are aware of that, right? That's the tyep of pattern that Drak, 456, and Levi are all forcasting for this season. That also explains why Florida in the middle of all of the action, if you will, this summer. It doesn't take a rocket-scientist to figure that one out, my friend, :(. Keep an eye on the long trend patterns that these models tend to show, instead of only focusing on whether they develop storms or not, trust me, you might learn a thing or two, by doing that, keep it in mind.
learn a thing or two the only learning to be done is by you my good olde bud sir
Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 144 Comments: 40670
268. Tropicsweatherpr 5:39 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting altesticstorm10:
1998 was a transitional year but not that bad...a modest 14 storms and the Caribbean pretty much spared for the vast majority of the year.


Hmmm,Georges went over me here in PR.
Member Since: April 29, 2009 Posts: 64 Comments: 8273
269. Levi32 5:39 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting bappit:
From http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml:

La Niña contributes to reduced vertical wind shear over the western tropical Atlantic which, when combined with conditions associated with the ongoing high activity era and warm Atlantic SSTs, increases the probability of an exceptionally active Atlantic hurricane season (Bell and Chelliah 2006).

Does not seem like they are ignoring anything you are talking about Levi.


That thing you just posted had nothing to do with what I was talking about.
Member Since: November 24, 2005 Posts: 587 Comments: 25462
270. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 5:39 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
226. Hurricanes101 5:24 PM GMT on May 30, 2010
FIU he wasnt even talking to 456



do you have some type of medical condition that i should be aware of
Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 144 Comments: 40670
272. bappit 5:40 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting Levi32:


Something Bastardi pointed out the other day is that the PDO going cold will cool the northern areas of the world first during this summer, creating an even greater imbalance of heat between the Atlantic tropics and everything else to the north. Don't mistake that for baroclinic instability, this is much more general than that, and hurricanes aren't driven baroclinically. It is a heat imbalance and the earth uses hurricanes to correct that by transporting heat out of the tropics and towards the poles.


You have the most charming teleology.
Member Since: May 18, 2006 Posts: 3 Comments: 4389
274. xcool 5:40 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Member Since: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 15503
275. Drakoen 5:40 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Satellite imagery and cimss 850mb vorticity reveals a mid level circulation near 15.4N 89.1W moving to the ENE
Member Since: October 28, 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010
277. Hurricanes101 5:41 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting KEEPEROFTHEGATE:
226. Hurricanes101 5:24 PM GMT on May 30, 2010
FIU he wasnt even talking to 456



do you have some type of medical condition that i shopld be aware of


???
Member Since: March 10, 2010 Posts: 1 Comments: 6902
279. IKE 5:41 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting FIU2010:
WHAT? isn't it true, Ike? Whatever, but you know it is. You are just scared to admit to me, apparently.


Yeah...I'm scared.
Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37047
280. Levi32 5:42 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting BahaHurican:
Levi, I know there is at least one study [daag, can't remember lead researchers name, but one of the guys at NHC] which documents 1950-2000? and shows that while there isn't a huge difference, neutral years average higher storm numbers [and higher landfalls, too IIRC] than la nina ones. Given the analog years some have been suggesting, I'd think a smaller range with a # like 18/19 in the middle would suggest more accuracy. I think we can realistically expect 18+ named systems this year. I'm not as gung ho about the hurricanes and majors, but there sure is enough fuel out there, and so far SAL conditions seem sufficiently mild to allow at least 1/2 of the 18 to reach hurricane status. I think after they got burned in '05 and '06 forecasters are being a bit more.... cautious..... :o)

From my perspective, the biggest qtn is not how many, but WHERE....


Yes I pondered that too, until I saw how fast we're plunging into the tank. El Nino procrastinated longer than most coming out of the winter, and the result is a lot of heat still left in the atmosphere while the ocean is turning around faster than the atmosphere can keep up. The result should be less draining of heat out of the Atlantic than we might usually see with a moderate La Nina. This really concerns me, and a cold Pacific just means below-normal tropical seasons for them which focuses heat even more in our basin.
Member Since: November 24, 2005 Posts: 587 Comments: 25462
281. bappit 5:42 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting Weather456:
It alls comes down to the fact that if we have such a consensus in environmental conditions then there shouldn't be such a wide range. What is the least active neutral year and least active La Nina year with the conditions we are seeing now being equal? NOAA needs to ask themselves that question.


Do you have any reason to think that the relative accuracy (percent error) should decrease as the number of storms increases? If the relative accuracy remains constant, the range they give in their predictions should increase as the total increases.
Member Since: May 18, 2006 Posts: 3 Comments: 4389
282. xcool 5:42 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    



LOW Shear


Member Since: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 15503
283. Levi32 5:43 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting bappit:


You have the most charming teleology.


I love you too Bappy. I really do.

I'm out for a while, later all.
Member Since: November 24, 2005 Posts: 587 Comments: 25462
284. IKE 5:44 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37047
286. PanhandleChuck 5:45 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting IKE:


Yeah...I'm scared.


LMAO -- you just like the banter don't you?
Member Since: May 13, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 1183
287. MiamiHurricanes09 5:46 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting Drakoen:
Satellite imagery and cimss 850mb vorticity reveals a mid level circulation near 15.4N 89.1W moving to the ENE
Wow, it's further east than I expected, I think that this could make it to the Gulf of Honduras.

The red dot indicates were Drakoen thinks the mid level circulation is:



Member Since: September 2, 2009 Posts: 129 Comments: 19976
288. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 5:46 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting IKE:


Yeah...I'm scared.
iam too for him
Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 144 Comments: 40670
290. Drakoen 5:47 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting MiamiHurricanes09:
Wow, it's further east than I expected, I think that this could make it to the Gulf of Honduras.

The red dot indicates were Drakoen thinks the mid level circulation is:





Just south of that dot
Member Since: October 28, 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010
291. xcool 5:47 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Miami .YEAH BIG WOW
Member Since: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 15503
292. MiamiHurricanes09 5:48 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting IKE:
12Z CMC
Just shows a weak system affecting south Florida.
Member Since: September 2, 2009 Posts: 129 Comments: 19976
296. MiamiHurricanes09 5:49 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting Drakoen:


Just south of that dot
My bad. Coordinates are a little sketchy on that image.
Member Since: September 2, 2009 Posts: 129 Comments: 19976
297. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 5:49 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
x
Member Since: July 15, 2006 Posts: 144 Comments: 40670
298. BahaHurican 5:49 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Gotta head out, ya'll. I'll check in later if I can get 2 a starbucks....
Member Since: October 25, 2005 Posts: 19 Comments: 17690
299. PanhandleChuck 5:51 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting KEEPEROFTHEGATE:
FIU i have a new primary portrait for you



LOL
Member Since: May 13, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 1183
300. indianrivguy 5:51 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting StSimonsIslandGAGuy:
To say that the Caribbean was 'spared' in 1998 except for Georges and Mitch is like saying in 2005 Louisiana was 'spared' except for Katrina and Rita.

It may not be as well known, but 1998 was the deadliest hurricane season in the Caribbean since 1780.


+
Member Since: September 23, 2006 Posts: 1 Comments: 1787
301. louisianaboy444 5:51 PM GMT on May 30, 2010    
Quoting Drakoen:


Just south of that dot


Based on Steering it should be pulled more Northward soon right?
Member Since: August 29, 2006 Posts: 17 Comments: 1219

Viewing: 251 - 301

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34Blog Index

New Comment
Community Standards Policy Comments will take a few seconds to appear.
Post Your Comments
Please sign in to post comments.
Not only will you be able to leave comments on this blog, but you'll also have the ability to upload and share your photos in our Wunder Photos section.
About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

Community Activity