Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Quoting RedStickCasterette:
Quoting Levi32:


And I would probably die in your heat lol. I've never been in 80 degrees outside before. Have no clue what it's like, not to mention the humidity added to it.

Yeah it was awesome up there. I felt "alive" if that makes sense.

The heat and humidity here gets to you.

Amazing the difference in the dry cold in Anchorage vs. the humid cold in Kenai.

For sure....a cold flow in Anchorage comes from the interior mainland, and sometimes means downsloping off the mountains which results in a much drier cold, while the same cold flow comes off the water into Kenai, resulting in more moisture in the air.

thanks for the input on the twisters,Im no met,but I do live 75 miles inland.It seems the tornadic activity gets worse as the land gets higher above sea level?any thoughts?

On the subject of landfalling tropical cyclones and tornado formation, it should be noted that tropical cyclones, on average, don't produce tornadoes as strong as those spawned from troughs and their associated cold fronts.

Quoting atmoaggie:
I'm with you. I hate all 10.5 months of summer. But that 1.5 months of Fring is awfully nice around here.

Yes! I always say we do not have a fall or spring here in the South. It was the same in Houston.

I remember flying back on the plane from Anchorage, and about crying, the ground was brown and like 80 degrees coming into Houston. I vowed I would move up there, lol.

Quoting KoritheMan:
On the subject of landfalling tropical cyclones and tornado formation, it should be noted that tropical cyclones, on average, don't produce tornadoes as strong as those spawned from troughs and their associated cold fronts.

Right, because of the limiting factors in rotation/shear and explosive updrafts.

Quoting Levi32:


Yes the friction theory makes sense. Apparently not a whole lot is known about tornadoes within hurricanes, and I don't think they can predict how many a hurricane will produce at landfall with any skill.

Agreed. However, looking at the more prolific tornado-producers (Ivan, Beulah, Francis, etc), they were all larger tropical cyclones with many bands. Therefore, those are the ones that I believe are most likely to be tornado-prolific. Other than that though, it does seem to be more or less a shot in the dark.

Quoting beell:


But to get back to the original question, lol...I'd have to say, "I don't know!"

So, MH09 had a good answer.

Abstaining from comment on this one on purpose.

But, yeah, MH09 has a good answer.

I'll say this. Rainbands usually have more documented nadoes than any other part of a TC, though tornado counts in eyewall affected areas are not at all reliable when they are usually brief (2 frames of radar 5 minutes apart could miss them entirely) and the TC winds tend to mask the nado damage. See Ivan's rainband nadoes; a number of papers out there about them.

Quoting chicotman:
thanks for the input on the twisters,Im no met,but I do live 75 miles inland.It seems the tornadic activity gets worse as the land gets higher above sea level?any thoughts?

I'm no expert on tornado formation by any means (severe weather is not my forte, at least not yet), but I would theorize that it is due to increased vertical shear caused by the storm's outflow.

Interaction with mid-latitude cyclones and ridges could also severe to enhance tornadogenesis.

Quoting KoritheMan:


Southeast Louisiana has been experiencing awful heat indexes. Even by my standards, which are rather high, it's been hot here. Nay, it's been oppressive. We're under a heat advisory as we speak, and heat indeces have been regularly climbing anywhere from 105 to 115F for the last two weeks.

I've even felt somewhat ill during this period, when I've been out in it. :/

Yes! I do get "sick" after being out in the heat. Never could figure it out.

Are there any HAM Radio operators on the blog?

Quoting PowEDier7:
Oh boy, not good news, then. Thanks Levi. I live in PBC, by the way.

Same here. Definitely not good news.

2394 Atmo: Great Memory Dude! I'm envious.

Yup that's the storm. Some of the better researchers on here could find news articles that may quote the F-x scale of the 'nado...

How many named storms will form in August? You can go and answer at my blog.

Link

Quoting chicotman:
thanks for the input on the twisters,Im no met,but I do live 75 miles inland.It seems the tornadic activity gets worse as the land gets higher above sea level?any thoughts?

Probably because of what some were mentioning about increased friction from the land, and some lifting of the air can occur if the terrain gets higher shortly inland, enhancing strong thunderstorm development.

Quoting PowEDier7:
ever been to the tropics, levi?

No.

Quoting 1900hurricane:

Agreed. However, looking at the more prolific tornado-producers (Ivan, Beulah, Francis, etc), they were all larger tropical cyclones with many bands. Therefore, those are the ones that I believe are most likely to be tornado-prolific. Other than that though, it does seem to be more or less a shot in the dark.

I cant speak for Buelah but Frances and Ivan both made landfall from the gulf.. Gulf land fall hurricanes tend to produce tornadic activity on the east side of the storms.

Quoting atmoaggie:
Abstaining from comment on this one on purpose.

But, yeah, MH09 has a good answer.

I'll say this. Rainbands usually have more documented nadoes than any other part of a TC, though tornado counts in eyewall affected areas are not at all reliable when they are usually brief (2 frames of radar 5 minutes apart could miss them entirely) and the TC winds tend to mask the nado damage. See Ivan's rainband nadoes; a number of papers out there about them.

Yeah I can't see very many tornadoes occurring in the eyewall or in close to the main core. The outer spiral bands would sensibly be the most favorable area for tornadoes.

Quoting atmoaggie:
Heck, we had snow 2 years in a row. could be 10 years, or more, before we see any again...and that would be statistically normal.

Having snow was amazing, especially this last time.

Quoting MechEngMet:
2394 Atmo: Great Memory Dude! I'm envious.

Yup that's the storm. Some of the better researchers on here could find news articles that may quote the F-x scale of the 'nado...

I have family that still lives in Belle Terre, been there for 35 years.

And you had it right, F3.

As Hurricane Andrew approached Louisiana, an isolated storm on one of Andrew's raindbands spawned a tornado that traveled west-northwestward through Laplace, Louisiana. The tornado damage path was 9 miles long and about 150 yards wide. The tornado was rated F3 on the Fujita damage scale. Damage to homes was more severe in the tornado than hurricane-caused damage to similarly constructed homes in Louisiana. The tornado lasted ten minutes beginning around 8:10pm.
http://www.stormtrack.org/library/damage/andrew.htm

The strongest Tropical Cyclone tornado that I have ever heard of is the F4 that Hurricane Carla (another large, strong storm with many rainbands) put on Galveston Island.

Quoting RedStickCasterette:
Quoting KoritheMan:


Southeast Louisiana has been experiencing awful heat indexes. Even by my standards, which are rather high, it's been hot here. Nay, it's been oppressive. We're under a heat advisory as we speak, and heat indeces have been regularly climbing anywhere from 105 to 115F for the last two weeks.

I've even felt somewhat ill during this period, when I've been out in it. :/

Yes! I do get "sick" after being out in the heat. Never could figure it out.

The fact that I'm a heavy soda drinker only adds fuel to the fire. I know I know, that's not the smartest thing to do, but an addiction is an addiction.

mesovortices in the eyewall are typically associated with intensification. They are similar to suction vortices you see around major tornados. So, while the tornados they spawn are weak, they can move with their parent mesovorticy at speeds equivalent to the hurricane's windspeed. Without an associated tornado, the mesovorticy itself typically causes an uptick of around 10% as opposed to the rest of the storm. Prime example is hurricane Andrew whose destruction occured predominately in swaths. It wasnt until late that these were theorized to have came from mesovortices and associated tornados (it's difficult to prove due to the fact that rotational debris fields are absent in almost all cases and also due to the fact that the storms are rain wrapped)

thanks to all for the input,seems more outer bands and stronger storms will be the worst.I lost a home to hurricane lili in oct.2002 when the train came through.scary stuff

Quoting Bordonaro:

For such a large and well equipped County Hospital, JPS is Tarrant counties (Ft Worth, TX) only Level 1 trauma hospital, they only have 2 vascular surgeons. AMAZING!! But there is nothing I can do as a human being to get them to speed up the process.

Believe me, I literally went off on the 5 doctors that took care of me.

Ha I can imagine! Can you go elsewhere or is it best to just wait it out? Seems like the meds you are on can help you hold out, if that makes sense.

Quoting RedStickCasterette:


Having snow was amazing, especially this last time.

Over here, in Covington, we had a solid 6 inches in Dec 08. Stuck around for 48 hours, too.

Visible satellite image showed snow cover the next day for us, Hammond, and parts of S central MS.

That, I had only seen in the mountains and upper midwest.

Quoting KoritheMan:


It wouldn't surprise me. At all.

Seems like its always been about 10-15 years for snow while I was in Houston or here in BR.

Nada... nuttin...



AOI

AOI

AOI

AOI

AOI

TS BUSTED FORECAST ALIBI

Quoting atmoaggie:
Over here, in Covington, we had a solid 6 inches in Dec 08. Stuck around for 48 hours, too.

Visible satellite image showed snow cover the next day for us, Hammond, and parts of S central MS.

That, I had only seen in the mountains and upper midwest.

Good to know you folks in NOLA have at least seen the stuff that I have to live with 7 months of the year :)

Quoting PowEDier7:


would you like to,? or do you perfer your cold climate instead? ^_^.

Janiel...You would invite Levi to stay with you? I find that very kind of you.

Quoting KoritheMan:


The fact that I'm a heavy soda drinker only adds fuel to the fire. I know I know, that's not the smartest thing to do, but an addiction is an addiction.

*high five*
XD
We share the same addiction. -.-

Quoting PowEDier7:


would you like to,? or do you perfer your cold climate instead? ^_^.

No clue. I'd probably melt lol, but I would like to experience tropical weather someday. At least a thunderstorm, or a tropical system.

Quoting Levi32:


That's simply....hellish, for lack of a better word.

Ha it is hellish. Thats why I stay inside, and get fatter lol from no activity outside, while I take my college break.

Its a nightmare!

I can promise you that there are infact tornados in the eyewall sometimes levi. I saw one in Ivan ... they can move incredibly fast, are hard to see, and the destruction is masked (as Atmo pointed out as I was typing the same thing a moment ago) The only difference in the aftermath is a swath of greater damage ... and thats assuming it doesnt get covered with water... These tornados are different than those associated with Cb. in fact, they more resemble suction vortices and waterspouts.

Quoting RedStickCasterette:
Quoting Bordonaro:

For such a large and well equipped County Hospital, JPS is Tarrant counties (Ft Worth, TX) only Level 1 trauma hospital, they only have 2 vascular surgeons. AMAZING!! But there is nothing I can do as a human being to get them to speed up the process.

Believe me, I literally went off on the 5 doctors that took care of me.

Ha I can imagine! Can you go elsewhere or is it best to just wait it out? Seems like the meds you are on can help you hold out, if that makes sense.

Without medical insurance I sincerely doubt any for profit hospital will do anything but tell me," You are stabilized, patiently wait your turn at JPS for surgery"!!

To top things off, the 3 coronary arteries that supply the main blood supply to my heart are 20,30 and 40% blocked. They stated that it was not necessary to install stints in those blood vessels in my heart, stating the blockages were not critical.

And I asked the doctor's WHY I have tingling and sharp pains in my head and my left arm, and pressure in my chest for 15 days non-stop. Of course, they did NOT have an answer!!!

Quoting chicotman:
thanks to all for the input,seems more outer bands and stronger storms will be the worst.I lost a home to hurricane lili in oct.2002 when the train came through.scary stuff

Oh, so you're another Louisiana resident? Awesome! I didn't realize there were so many of you here. The more the merrier. :)

Lili was nothing for me. Some 50 kt gusts, but other than that, nothing to write home about. And those 50 kt gusts were confined to only the heaviest squalls. Generally, winds were less than that. I only lost power very briefly. Isidore was worse for my area.

For those that are interested, here is a great paper on Beulah and her 115+ tornadoes.

Link

Quoting SouthALWX:
I can promise you that there are infact tornados in the eyewall sometimes levi. I saw one in Ivan ... they can move incredibly fast, are hard to see, and the destruction is masked (as Atmo pointed out as I was typing the same thing a moment ago) The only difference in the aftermath is a swath of greater damage ... and thats assuming it doesnt get covered with water... These tornados are different than those associated with Cb. in fact, they more resemble suction vortices and waterspouts.

Yeah I know they occur but I meant rarely compared to the outer bands of the storm, which produce them in much greater numbers.

Quoting Levi32:


No clue. I'd probably melt lol, but I would like to experience tropical weather someday. At least a thunderstorm, or a tropical system.

haha!
I would probably freeze up there. XD

Quoting PowEDier7:
levi, did you notice how towards the end of the GFS 18z run, it shows two CV storms forming by the start of the second week of august, were you surprised by this?

Nope.

Quoting JLPR2:


haha!
I would probably freeze up there. XD

Well don't visit this winter then lol....likely to be very very bad. I'll be having to walk to school on many -50F mornings, guaranteed.

Quoting JLPR2:


*high five*
XD
We share the same addiction. -.-

:D

nice

Quoting PowEDier7:


with your love towards tropical meteorology, you def. need to. were you born up there?

Yes and haven't left the same town lol. Only been out of state once for a week in rural ohio during the winter when it was snowing....not exactly different lol. I've never been in a city larger than Anchorage either.

Quoting Levi32:


Good to know you folks in NOLA have at least seen the stuff that I have to live with 7 months of the year :)

Ehh, but not really...our temps just hovered around freezing. Any colder has to mean very dry, for us.

Though I have gone skiing with a high temp of 2, once. But that was UP Michigan.