Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Danielle steams towards Bermuda; Earl organizing over eastern Atlantic
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 3:20 PM GMT on August 26, 2010 +6
Hurricane Danielle continues on its steady northwesterly path towards Bermuda, as a respectable Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds. However, the hurricane has had its troubles this morning--Danielle wrapped a significant amount of dry air into its core between 4am - 8am EDT this morning, and Infrared satellite loops show that Danielle's cloud tops warmed late this morning, indicating that this dry air reduced the vigor of Danielle's thunderstorms. Danielle has managed to quickly mix out most of this dry air and reform its broken eyewall early this afternoon, as seen on recent visible satellite imagery (Figure 1.) We'll get a better idea of Danielle's intensity on Friday afternoon, when the first Hurricane Hunter mission is scheduled. The storm is still too far from land to reach with their airplanes today.


Figure 1. Morning satellite image of Danielle. A huge thunderstorm has blown up on the west side of the eyewall, giving the hurricane a rather lopsided appearance.

Intensity forecast for Danielle
Once Danielle recovers from its current troubles with dry air, warm 29°C SSTs combined with low wind shear of 5 - 10 knots should allow the storm to intensify. There is substantial dry air to the west and south of Danielle, though, and it is quite possible that some unexpected increase in shear could inject dry air into the hurricane at any time over the next few days. The latest SHIPS model forecast predicts that this shear will remain low, 5 - 10 knots, over the next three days, but then rapidly rise to a high 20 - 40 knots on Sunday. Danielle will probably reach peak intensity Saturday night or Sunday morning, near the time of its closest approach to Bermuda. NHC is giving Danielle a 41% chance of becoming a major Category 3 hurricane.

Track forecast for Danielle
On Saturday, a trough of low pressure that is expected to move off the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada should begin pulling Danielle due north, with the hurricane passing east of Bermuda Saturday night through Sunday. NHC is giving Bermuda a 25% chance of receiving tropical storm force winds of 39 mph or greater from Danielle, and a 1% chance of getting hurricane force winds. This is a substantial reduction from the odds given in the 5am forecast, which were 37% and 6%, respectively. The Bermuda Weather Service is predicting 15 - 20 foot waves this weekend for Bermuda's offshore waters. The most likely scenario once Danielle passes north of Bermuda is for the storm to recurve out to sea, missing the U.S. and Canadian coasts. All of the computer models currently call for this scenario. The possibility of Danielle stalling north of Bermuda and potentially tracking northwest towards the U.S. and Canadian coasts, as called for by the NOGAPS model in some of its runs yesterday, is looking less likely.

History suggests that a storm in Danielle's current location has only a 5 - 10% chance of making landfall on the U.S. East Coast. If Danielle passes east of Bermuda, as forecast, these percentages drop to less than 5%. However, Danielle will bring high surf conditions to the U.S. East Coast beginning this weekend. The latest wave forecast from NOAA's Wavewatch III model (which uses the GFS model as its prediction for the position and intensity of hurricanes), calls for waves from Danielle to begin hitting the coast of North Carolina on Saturday. These waves will build to 7 - 10 feet in the offshore waters from Northern Florida to North Carolina by Sunday. The latest near shore water forecast for Cape Hatteras calls for 5 - 8 foot waves Saturday, and 7 - 10 feet on Sunday.


Figure 1. Morning satellite image of Danielle, Earl, and a new tropical wave emerging from the coast of Africa (possibly to be designated 97L?)

Tropical Storm Earl
Tropical Storm Earl developed late yesterday afternoon, one week ahead of when climatology suggests the fifth named storm of the year should occur in the Atlantic. Earl is currently very weak and ragged looking, thanks to dry air and wind shear. The wind shear analysis from the University of Wisconsin CIMSS group shows an upper level trough of low pressure to the north of Earl is bringing a high 20 - 30 knots of wind shear to the northern portion of the storm, though the center of Earl is under low wind shear of 5 - 10 knots. The shear has injected dry air into the storm, disrupting the circulation. As a result, Earl has a rather disorganized clumpy appearance on satellite imagery, and the center jumped 30 miles to the south this morning to reposition itself farther from the shear, and closer to the main region of heavy thunderstorms. Water vapor satellite images show a large region of dry air from the Sahara lies to the west of Earl, and this dry air will likely be the primary inhibiting factor for development over the next three days. Sea surface temperatures are warm, around 28°C. Earl is too far from land for the Hurricane Hunters to reach, and the first flight into the storm is not scheduled until Sunday afternoon.

Forecast for Earl
Wind shear is predicted to remain low to moderate, 5 - 15 knots, for the next five days. SSTs will steadily warm--to 28°C on Friday, and 29°C by Sunday. Earl may cross Danielle's cold water wake at some point, which could interrupt development. Dry air will probably be the main inhibiting factor for Earl over the next three days. In combination, these factors should allow for a slow intensification of Earl into a hurricane 4 - 5 days from now.

History suggests that a storm in Earl's current location has a 15 - 20% chance of making landfall on the U.S. East Coast, but the long term fate of Earl remains unclear. The storm is being steered by the same ridge of high pressure steering Danielle, and Earl will initially follow a track similar to Danielle's. As Earl enters the central Atlantic 4 - 5 days from now, the storm will encounter the same mid-Atlantic trough that is steering Danielle to the north. This trough should be able to turn Earl far enough to the northwest so that the storm will miss the Lesser Antilles Islands. It is unclear at this point whether this trough will be strong enough to fully recurve Earl out to sea, east of Bermuda. The long range 6 - 10 day forecasts from the GFS and ECMWF models have consistently been calling for Earl to turn north and follow Danielle, bringing Earl very close to Bermuda next week. This is a reasonable forecast, since Danielle is large enough and strong enough to create a low pressure "path of least resistance" for Earl to follow northwestward towards Bermuda.

Elsewhere in the Tropics
A new tropical wave emerged from the coast of Africa yesterday, and has the potential to develop into a tropical depression early next week. Several of the computer models develop this wave 3 - 6 days from now, and I can't see any reason why this would not occur. Conditions for tropical cyclone development will remain favorable in the Eastern Atlantic for at least the next week, and several of these models successfully predicted the development of both Danielle and Earl well in advance. The new wave will follow a track similar to that of Danielle and Earl, with an unknown potential for eventually affecting any land areas.

In the Eastern Pacific, Hurricane Frank has moved away away from the Mexican coast, and does not appear to be a threat to bring heavy rains to Mexico.

Jeff Masters
Categories: Hurricane
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502. IKE 6:38 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
12Z ECMWF @ 24 hrs....



48 hrs....



72 hrs....

Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070
503. GTcooliebai 6:38 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting winter123:
Will every storm this season be a fish? Danelle, Earl and F all look to be east of Bermuda even. Bonnie and C also died at sea. Alex was just the oddball of the season.

No I doubt it, Caribbean storms are yet to get started.
Member Since: August 31, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 5462
504. Floodman 6:38 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting TXEER:
Why are these three storms taking virtually the same path?


OMG, could it be a conspiracy? Or do you think it might be because they're in roughly the same steering pattern? LOL
Member Since: August 2, 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 9919
506. Tazmanian 6:39 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
26/1800 UTC 10.4N 20.1W T1.0/1.0 97L -- Atlantic
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5089 Comments: 111632
507. GTcooliebai 6:40 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
So anyone still thinking this season is a bust?
Member Since: August 31, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 5462
508. 2010hurricaneseason 6:40 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting angiest:
485 - Right, and I didn't state she is annular, but observed that she looked like she had characteristics of being annular.

I mean, a hurricane won't just go from being classical to annular in the blink of an eye, correct? It stands to reason there is some period of transition. Why then would it be so hard to believe that a hurricane may start to make that transition and fail to complete it and revert back to being a classical hurricane.


I think it was a good call, stating the possibility of it becoming annular. It probably wont happen but it is showing some signs of an annular hurricane, for example the environment is actually quite unfavourable right now for danielle but she/he is getting stronger. Annular hurricanes can strengthen even during unfavourable conditions.
Member Since: June 25, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 58
509. Floodman 6:40 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting Josihua2:

Wtf isn`t this great news for the Caribbean? why would you want these dangerous forces of nature be anything else than a fish storm?


Dude, really?
Member Since: August 2, 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 9919
510. winter123 6:40 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Picture speaks 1000 words. Nice wave train of 3 fish (4 counting the one on africa). Fun to watch and won't hurt anyone.
Member Since: July 29, 2006 Posts: 28 Comments: 1706
511. GTcooliebai 6:40 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
And remember it only takes 1 to make it a bad season.
Member Since: August 31, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 5462
512. IKE 6:41 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
96 hr...12Z ECMWF still showing Earl at 20N and 60W...same coordinates as yesterday...



at 120 hrs...



at 144 hrs...watch out Bermuda!

Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070
514. reedzonemyhero 6:41 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting TampaSpin:
We now have Invest 97L i see......the ConUs can't keep the Luck going would you think?


I wouldn't call it "luck"....persistent trough yes, luck no.
Member Since: August 11, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 74
515. TXEER 6:41 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting Floodman:


OMG, could it be a conspiracy? Or do you think it might be because they're in roughly the same sterring pattern? LOL


It was an honest question...no need to be a JERK!
Member Since: August 26, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 95
516. xcool 6:41 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
next 98L SOON
Member Since: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 15526
517. CaribBoy 6:42 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting Tazmanian:
26/1800 UTC 10.4N 20.1W T1.0/1.0 97L -- Atlantic


not good at all
Member Since: October 6, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2982
518. texascoastres 6:42 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
with those images looks like EARL AND FIONA are going to go skinny dipping in the CAR and possibly take a dip in the Hot Tub (GOM) any thoughts of this on the blog today--- Stormw, Levi,Tampa
Member Since: June 28, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 155
519. wxpaladin 6:42 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
OK ...Question for you guys out there, because I can't seem to recall from my tropical weather classes. ...Why wasn't the Suptropical Storm named? I know that such ULLs(TUTTs) are not given this distiction unless they exhibit these conditions, and in an active season, these type of storms have been previously named. Is this an example of something not worth classifying until post-season review??? ...would love you see your thoughts on this.
Member Since: June 29, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 19
520. Hurricanes101 6:42 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting xcool:
next 98L SOON


where?
Member Since: March 10, 2010 Posts: 1 Comments: 6930
521. itrackstorms 6:43 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting Tazmanian:
26/1800 UTC 10.4N 20.1W T1.0/1.0 97L -- Atlantic



Taz... Could you give me a link for the ^^^^^^ info?

Thanks.
Member Since: July 20, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 152
522. K8eCane 6:43 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
I made an interesting observation. I challenge everyone to check the geographical location of the people who yell fish. See if you notice any similarity between their locations
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523. xcool 6:43 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    


AL, 97, 2010082618, , BEST, 0, 115N, 198W, 25, 1009, DB
Member Since: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 15526
524. GTcooliebai 6:43 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting pilotguy1:


Do you describe a bust as number of named storms or whether they make landfall on North America?

Did you read my last post. Basically I'm still going with 20 named storms. And remember it only takes 1 to make it a bad season.
Member Since: August 31, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 5462
525. xcool 6:43 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    


Member Since: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 15526
526. angiest 6:43 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting IKE:
96 hr...12Z ECMWF still showing Earl at 20N and 60W...same coordinates as yesterday...



at 120 hrs...



at 144 hrs...watch out Bermuda!



Those first two pictures of Earl have me thinking "Shine on You Crazy Diamond."
Member Since: August 26, 2006 Posts: 16 Comments: 4766
527. canehater1 6:44 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
The strongest tropical cyclones tend to develop when the MJO favors enhanced precipitation. As the MJO progresses eastward, the favored region for tropical cyclone activity also shifts eastward from the western Pacific to the eastern Pacific and finally to the Atlantic basin. While this relationship appears robust, we caution that the MJO is one of many factors that contribute to the development of tropical cyclones. For example, it is well known that SSTs must be sufficiently warm and vertical wind shear must be sufficiently weak for tropical disturbances to form and persist.

excerpt from MJO tutorial on NOAA site..
Member Since: September 8, 2008 Posts: 1 Comments: 691
529. Tazmanian 6:45 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting itrackstorms:



Taz... Could you give me a link for the ^^^^^^ info?

Thanks.



Link
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5089 Comments: 111632
530. xcool 6:45 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Hurricanes101 .maybe 48hr.or sooon
Member Since: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 15526
531. Floodman 6:45 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting winter123:
Picture speaks 1000 words. Nice wave train of 3 fish (4 counting the one on africa). Fun to watch and won't hurt anyone.


Wow, do you have a line on information no one else has? These systems are all going to be fish storms? Based on what criteria?
Member Since: August 2, 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 9919
532. bermuda1023 6:45 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Good afternoon everyone, Im in Bermuda and was wondering what you guys think it will be like on saturday wind wise? If you could give your guess on bermudas wind forecast that would be great.

Also where what do you think the next model will look like compared to the 11am one?

Thanks
Member Since: August 25, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 15
534. GTcooliebai 6:46 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting IKE:
96 hr...12Z ECMWF still showing Earl at 20N and 60W...same coordinates as yesterday...



at 120 hrs...



at 144 hrs...watch out Bermuda!


Hey Ike did you notice at 144hrs. out the two highs, are they bridging?
Member Since: August 31, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 5462
535. NEwxguy 6:46 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Its amazing looking at the train of waves marching across Africa,our luck as got to run out at some point,the question who is going to be the unlucky one.
Member Since: September 6, 2007 Posts: 820 Comments: 13283
536. Skyepony (Mod) 6:46 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Danielle was annular enough to screen for it~ but turned out to be hardly annular.

## ANNULAR HURRICANE INDEX (AHI) AL062010 DANIELLE 08/26/10 18 UTC ##
## PASSED SCREENING STEP, MIGHT BE ANNULAR, CALCULATE AHI FROM DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS ##
## AHI= 1 (AHI OF 100 IS BEST FIT TO ANN. STRUC., 1 IS MARGINAL, 0 IS NOT ANNULAR) ##
## ANNULAR INDEX RAN NORMALLY
Member Since: August 10, 2005 Posts: 145 Comments: 29993
539. Tazmanian 6:46 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting winter123:
Picture speaks 1000 words. Nice wave train of 3 fish (4 counting the one on africa). Fun to watch and won't hurt anyone.




not all the storms going too be fish you guys
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5089 Comments: 111632
540. xcool 6:46 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
WHXX01 KWBC 261830
CHGHUR
TROPICAL CYCLONE GUIDANCE MESSAGE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1830 UTC THU AUG 26 2010

DISCLAIMER...NUMERICAL MODELS ARE SUBJECT TO LARGE ERRORS.
PLEASE REFER TO NHC OFFICIAL FORECASTS FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE
AND SUBTROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION.

ATLANTIC OBJECTIVE AIDS FOR

TROPICAL CYCLONE EARL (AL072010) 20100826 1800 UTC

...00 HRS... ...12 HRS... ...24 HRS. .. ...36 HRS...
100826 1800 100827 0600 100827 1800 100828 0600

LAT LON LAT LON LAT LON LAT LON
BAMS 15.1N 38.0W 15.6N 41.2W 16.1N 44.2W 17.0N 47.5W
BAMD 15.1N 38.0W 15.8N 40.7W 16.5N 43.7W 17.0N 46.9W
BAMM 15.1N 38.0W 15.8N 40.9W 16.7N 44.2W 17.4N 47.8W
LBAR 15.1N 38.0W 15.7N 40.9W 16.5N 44.3W 17.1N 48.0W
SHIP 40KTS 47KTS 57KTS 66KTS
DSHP 40KTS 47KTS 57KTS 66KTS

...48 HRS... ...72 HRS... ...96 HRS. .. ..120 HRS...
100828 1800 100829 1800 100830 1800 100831 1800

LAT LON LAT LON LAT LON LAT LON
BAMS 18.2N 51.3W 20.7N 58.6W 21.7N 64.4W 21.5N 67.9W
BAMD 17.6N 50.1W 18.6N 56.2W 20.3N 60.9W 22.7N 64.9W
BAMM 18.1N 51.5W 19.3N 58.0W 20.2N 62.6W 22.0N 65.6W
LBAR 17.9N 51.8W 19.3N 57.8W 20.2N 61.3W 22.6N 65.2W
SHIP 73KTS 82KTS 90KTS 94KTS
DSHP 73KTS 82KTS 90KTS 94KTS

...INITIAL CONDITIONS...
LATCUR = 15.1N LONCUR = 38.0W DIRCUR = 280DEG SPDCUR = 16KT
LATM12 = 14.7N LONM12 = 34.8W DIRM12 = 278DEG SPDM12 = 15KT
LATM24 = 14.4N LONM24 = 31.8W
WNDCUR = 40KT RMAXWD = 60NM WNDM12 = 40KT
CENPRS = 1003MB OUTPRS = 1012MB OUTRAD = 225NM SDEPTH = M
RD34NE = 75NM RD34SE = 60NM RD34SW = 0NM RD34NW = 75NM


Member Since: September 26, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 15526
541. Relix 6:46 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    


Season is shaping up like this! Of course... I see that after Sept 10 more things will go west. But for now it's fun to see them! =P
Member Since: August 3, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 2359
542. Floodman 6:47 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting TXEER:


It was an honest question...no need to be a JERK!


It's a netiquette issue...using bold letters exclusively is as bad as all caps...it makes it look like you're freaking out...you're not freaking out, are you?
Member Since: August 2, 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 9919
543. hydrus 6:47 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting Skyepony:
Dark creeping up on 97L
97L looks very healthy, and has been looking that way for a long time....I think we will have another little monster on the tracking chart....may have another in the Western Caribbean if some of the models pan out.
Member Since: September 27, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 14721
544. winter123 6:47 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting Floodman:


Wow, do you have a line on information no one else has? These systems are all going to be fish storms? Based on what criteria?


Based on the current pattern and model support with the 3 storms currently over water.
Member Since: July 29, 2006 Posts: 28 Comments: 1706
545. IKE 6:47 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting GTcooliebai:

Hey Ike did you notice at 144hrs. out the two highs, are they bridging?


Looks like they are separating...notice the break off of the east coast.
Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070
547. angiest 6:48 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting WeatherNerdPR:

Oh, so in childish terms:
Annular Hurricane = Giant Storm Donut?
lol But seriously, I get it now.


Giant Krispy Kreme, the extreme symmetry is important. :) There is a bit more than appearance, of course.
Member Since: August 26, 2006 Posts: 16 Comments: 4766
548. itrackstorms 6:48 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting Tazmanian:



Link


Thanks much!
Member Since: July 20, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 152
549. hurricanehanna 6:48 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
hi guys, just me again - not sure if you are seeing my posts, but Storm, Levi, anyone....maybe someone could tell me what is happening at 80W and 15N - it's a large flare up and I didn't read anything about it. Thanks
Member Since: September 5, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 3214
550. GTcooliebai 6:48 PM GMT on August 26, 2010    
Quoting Relix:


Season is shaping up like this! Of course... I see that after Sept 10 more things will go west. But for now it's fun to see them! =P

Hey you stole my map, j/k:P
Member Since: August 31, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 5462

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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.

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