Earl a Category 4 storm again
Hurricane Earl has regained Category 4 strength this afternoon, and continues on a steady northwest path towards the North Carolina coast. Recent satellite imagery shows that Earl has become more symmetrical, with improved upper-level outflow and no signs of dry air wrapping into the core. The improved appearance is probably due to lower wind shear. Latest wind shear tendency imagery from the University of Wisconsin CIMSS group shows that shear on the southwest side of Earl has fallen by about 10 knots over the past 24 hours.
Figure 1. Afternoon satellite image of Earl.
Forecast for Earl
The latest set of model runs from 8am EDT (12Z) this morning shows little change to Earl's track. Thus, my write-up of the possible impacts to North Carolina, New England, and Canada in this morning's post remain unchanged. The latest SHIPS model forecast shows wind shear will remain moderate, about 15 knots, through Friday afternoon. This should allow Earl to maintain major hurricane status as it passes North Carolina early Friday morning. By Friday night, as Earl gets caught in the jet stream and accelerates to the northeast, wind shear will rise to 20 - 30 knots and ocean temperatures will plunge to 20°C, resulting in considerable weakening. Earl will still probably be a Category 1 or 2 hurricane early Saturday morning, when it will make its closest approach to New England. Earl is more likely to be a strong tropical storm or weak Category 1 hurricane early Saturday afternoon, when it is expected to make landfall in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Earl is a large hurricane, which gives it a higher potential for storm surge damage than a smaller hurricane with the same top winds. One measure of a storm's power, useful for gauging storm surge threat, is to measure the speed of the winds and multiply by the area over which those winds blow. This total is called the Integrated Kinetic Energy (IKE). Based on the storm's IKE, one can come up with a scale from 0 - 6 rating the storm's destructive power from its storm surge. A separate rating can be given to the destructive potential of the storm's winds. The IKE value of 112 Terrajoules for Earl, at 3:30pm EDT today, gives its storm surge a destructive power of 5.0 on a scale of 0 - 6. Earl's winds have a lower destructive power, 3.4 on a scale of 0 - 6. Let's hope the right front quadrant of Earl, where the main storm surge would occur, stays offshore! For comparison, the small Category 5 Hurricane Camille of 1969 had an IKE of 80 Terrajoules, and the very large Category 2 Hurricane Ike of 2008 had an IKE of 116 Terrajoules--similar to Category 3 Earl's.
Fiona
Tropical Storm Fiona is struggling due to high wind shear, courtesy of strong upper-level northerly winds from Hurricane Earl's outflow. The latest Hurricane Hunter center fix at 1:29pm EDT found Fiona had weakened some, with a central pressure of 999 mb. This is a rise of 1 mb from this morning. The wind shear analysis from the University of Wisconsin CIMSS group shows that shear has increased to a moderately high 15 - 20 knots this afternoon. Satellite loops show the classic signature of a tropical storm experiencing high wind shear--an exposed center of circulation, and all the heavy thunderstorms pushed to one side (the south side in this case). Martinique radar shows that the outer bands from Fiona are bringing heavy rain squalls to the same islands of the northern Lesser Antilles that were affected by Earl. Our wundermap for the northern Lesser Antilles shows no stations recorded winds over 20 mph this afternoon, though there was no reporting station on Barbuda, the island closest to Fiona.
Forecast for Fiona
Moderate wind shear and dry air should keep Fiona from attaining hurricane status over the next two days, as big brother Earl continues to bring high wind shear. The shear may be strong enough to destroy Fiona, as predicted by the NHC. However, by this weekend, Earl may pull far enough away for shear to drop and Fiona to survive. The 4 - 5 day track forecast is highly uncertain, as there is a large spread in the model solutions. It is possible Fiona may pose a threat to Bermuda on Saturday or Sunday, and the storm could wander for a week or more in the waters between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast.
Figure 2. Afternoon satellite image of Fiona.
Tropical Storm Gaston forms
Tropical Storm Gaston developed enough heavy thunderstorms near its center this afternoon to get a name, and appears destined to become Hurricane Gaston by early next week. Water vapor satellite images show a large area of dry air to the north and west of Gaston, and this dry air will be the dominant inhibiting factor for development. The latest SHIPS model forecast predicts shear will remain moderate, 10 - 15 knots, for the next four days, and perhaps fall to the low range 4 - 5 days from now. Gaston is over warm 28°C waters, and should be able to steadily intensify into a hurricane by Saturday or Sunday, as predicted by the many of the intensity models. Gaston may threaten the northern Lesser Antilles Islands as early as Tuesday.
Next post
I'll have an update in the morning, and Dr. Rob Carver will have a late night update tonight.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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That was kinda my thought. Banding features are not as evident in the core, but they are on the periphery. Danielle was similar at one point, and hit 1 on the annular model or whatever that is.
Its under the SHIPS text block
932mb
Thanks for stating that, folks need to hear it more than once.
True. But most of 'em do have a DC input power jack.
What is "Miss Piggy"?
Did someone say bad boy ??
Wow, that's almost halfway to the moon! ;)
Agree, although the others will make for great surfing, Gaston looks to be to one to watch.
Melbourne, Base Reflectivity 0.50 Degree Elevation Range 248 NMI
Models showing it well south of 20N at 50W.
Miss anything exciting?
AL, 09, 2010090200, 03, LGEM, 12, 132N, 388W, 41, 0, , 0, , 0, 0, 0, 0,
AL, 09, 2010090200, 03, LGEM, 24, 136N, 402W, 48, 0, , 0, , 0, 0, 0, 0,
AL, 09, 2010090200, 03, LGEM, 36, 138N, 415W, 54, 0, , 0, , 0, 0, 0, 0,
AL, 09, 2010090200, 03, LGEM, 48, 142N, 428W, 60, 0, , 0, , 0, 0, 0, 0,
AL, 09, 2010090200, 03, LGEM, 60, 147N, 443W, 67, 0, , 0, , 0, 0, 0, 0,
AL, 09, 2010090200, 03, LGEM, 72, 152N, 461W, 79, 0, , 0, , 0, 0, 0, 0,
AL, 09, 2010090200, 03, LGEM, 84, 155N, 483W, 91, 0, , 0, , 0, 0, 0, 0,
AL, 09, 2010090200, 03, LGEM, 96, 155N, 510W, 101, 0, , 0, , 0, 0, 0, 0,
AL, 09, 2010090200, 03, LGEM, 108, 160N, 532W, 109, 0, , 0, , 0, 0, 0, 0,
AL, 09, 2010090200, 03, LGEM, 120, 170N, 551W, 117, 0, , 0, , 0, 0, 0, 0,
(...) Also Earl will be moving into a
pre-existing tropical airmass as is being experienced over Eastern
Canada recently. That could permit Earl to retain more tropical
characteristics as it enters our region.
Full: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/hurricane/statements_e.html
When I see dvorak outputting a T 9.0 I wouldn't want to be in the same hemisphere as whatever monster makes that. A storm that strong would be sub 890mb pressure in almost all cases. I thought 8 was the maximum anyway?
Buoy 41047 located 90 miles northeast of Earl reporting 63mph wind gusts. Earl still packing winds of 135mph
Could you post a link to that image?
Oh ok.
Hi there LOL
Gaston may well be the first true test for the Caribbean this year. Zonal flow from E to W, negative NAO and the MJO always swinging back to the Atl basin. Factor in very high SST and off the charts TCHP and you have a recipe for real problems. If Gaston makes it to 70 W and 17N expect a CAT 5
Also interesting to see how A-B High sets up next week ...The wave train is just gettin'
into gear!
LOL
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/eaus/flash-wv.html
even if it did start one now... the eye would have to contract which would have a huge increase in winds before the outer eyewall develops
Where are you seeing that? I see no evidence looking at it.
Agreed. As scary as Earl is right now, I expect we'll be just as terrified if not moreso in about a week. Call me Mr. Sunshine.
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