Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Tropical Storm Emily remains weak with roadblocks ahead
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 6:14 PM GMT on August 02, 2011 +20
Tropical Storm Emily took a moment to pause this morning, with no forward motion to speak of in the 11am EDT advisory from the National Hurricane Center, who say Emily might have been reorganizing. Emily eventually picked up some speed, and was moving west at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph in the 2pm EDT advisory. Satellite loops suggest that the storm has improved since yesterday, with strong thunderstorm activity surrounding the center of circulation accompanied by moderately strong outflow at higher levels. Recent satellite estimates of circulation show some consolidation at low levels (850mb), but weak circulation at higher levels (500mb). Despite the organized presentation on satellite, Hurricane Hunters found a generally disorganized storm this morning, with multiple potential centers. The lowest pressure that the Hunters found was 1007mb. Wind shear remains strong to the north of the storm, and this feature extends west across Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. Dry air, which has been lingering to the north of the system for the past few days, has begun to wrap around the northwest side of the storm. This, along with high wind shear along its potential track, could delay or prevent further intensification over the life of the storm. Another Hurricane Hunter mission is on its way to Emily now.


Figure 1. Visible satellite of Tropical Storm Emily at 1pm EDT.

Forecast for Tropical Storm Emily
The official forecast for Emily is a track toward the west-northwest over the next day and a half, after which it will make a turn to the northwest, and by Saturday, to the north. Although the National Hurricane Center has been shifting the forecast track to the east over the past few advisories, the U.S. coastline is still within the cone of uncertainty, and if we know something about this storm, it's that the forecast is uncertain. The CMC continues to be the western boundary of the model track forecasts, bringing Emily over Cuba and into the far eastern Gulf of Mexico. Today, on the eastern boundary of potential tracks fall the HWRF and the GFDL, which forecast Emily to cross over Hispaniola on a north-northwest trajectory, skirting the eastern edge of the Bahamas, and turning northeast before ever making connection with the U.S. coast. The Hurricane Center's official track follows the model consensus, and is the most likely track. Today, Emily is not forecast to strengthen into a hurricane within the next five days by the National Hurricane Center nor most of the models. Consensus seems to be that the storm will max out at a moderate to strong tropical cyclone, but this is assuming the storm can survive the wrath of Hispaniola.

Surviving Hispaniola

Hispaniola is somewhat notorious for being a major disruptor to tropical cyclones that dare cross over it. Since 1950, around two dozen tropical cyclones have crossed Hispaniola near where the National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Emily will pass over. A handful of these cyclones were of similar intensity with a track that was similar to Emily's forecast by various models, and although some went on to intensify (the warm Gulf of Mexico waters can be quite healing) many were fatally disrupted by the second largest island in the Caribbean.


Figure 2. Tropical cyclones that have crossed Hispaniola since 1950 (plotted using the NOAA Historical Hurricane Tracker).

Fay of 2008 developed in the Mona Passage on August 15th as a tropical storm. After a rough track westward over the length of Hispaniola, Fay emerged back into open water with little to no organized circulation, but managed to survive, and skirted the southern coast of Cuba for the next couple of days before turning north toward Florida. Many remember 2008's Fay as the storm that intensified and developed an eye-like feature over Florida after making landfall.

Cindy of 1993 was not as lucky in a battle with Hispaniola. Cindy developed as a tropical depression just east of the Lesser Antilles, and over the course of two days, tracked west-northwest through the Caribbean toward Hispaniola, strengthening into a tropical storm and reaching peak intensity just before landfall. Almost immediately upon landfall in the Dominican Republic, Tropical Storm Cindy deteriorated and the National Hurricane Center stopped issuing advisories on the system.

Emily of 1987 developed well east of the Lesser Antilles in late September and tracked northwest into the Caribbean, where it underwent a period of rapid intensification and was upgraded to a hurricane and then a major hurricane (category 3) just before landfall in the Dominican Republic. As the hurricane approached Hispaniola, it began deteriorating, and within 12 hours of landfall, Emily had weakened to a tropical storm and never regained its strength. Emily then took a turn to the northeast and tracked into the open Atlantic. Hurricane Katie of 1955 had a similar fate.

Angela
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2001. alvarig1263 2:09 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting stormhank:
some of the models have trended more west tonite..anyone think the NHC will shift back west also on the 11pm advisory??


Yes I assumer they'll shift more towards FL as the models finally get a handle on Emily.
Member Since: September 2, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 744
2003. ecflweatherfan 2:09 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting stormhank:
some of the models have trended more west tonite..anyone think the NHC will shift back west also on the 11pm advisory??


I think they will slightly... perhaps as close to shooting the gap between FL and the Bahamas (closer to the Bahamas than FL, though)
Member Since: March 19, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 947
2004. WxLogic 2:09 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting ecflweatherfan:
Would not be overly surprised to see some Tropical Storm Watches posted for portions of FL tomorrow afternoon. Thoughts?


Too early for that... I would figure Thursday into Friday if track shifts are not are not away from the target(s) state(s).
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2006. Patrap 2:10 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Enhanced Infrared (IR) Imagery (4 km Mercator)


Member Since: July 3, 2005 Posts: 370 Comments: 111273
2007. MeterologyStudent56 2:10 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting ProgressivePulse:
NHC will shift the track base west again in line with the TVCN. Runs right over Grand Bahama. A majority of background plots have also shifted west. The wipers are on full blast, maybe TX will have a turn tomorrow, lol.




Pulse,

Could this be a start of a trend? like last night when the models started to move east?
Member Since: July 21, 2011 Posts: 1 Comments: 332
2008. TropicalAnalystwx13 2:10 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting ProgressivePulse:
NHC will shift the track base west again in line with the TVCN. Runs right over Grand Bahama. A majority of background plots have also shifted west. The wipers are on full blast, maybe TX will have a turn tomorrow, lol.




idk...The XTRP is hinting at Northern Mexico.

LOL.
Member Since: July 6, 2010 Posts: 89 Comments: 25264
2009. Bluestorm5 2:10 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
I'm aren't complaining about Jason. I just want to get facts together since I joined the site. Anyway, next posts will be about TS Emily or any other storm.
Member Since: August 1, 2011 Posts: 7 Comments: 3545
2010. scooster67 2:11 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting presslord:


hell, honey...we ARE an old Johns Island couple
Well are they?

Acting Funny. You know, the Crab.
Member Since: September 26, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 637
2011. RMM34667 2:11 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting Abacosurf:

Just click the hide button on the upper right of the post and problem solved.


Thanks.. I wish I had remembered that!
Member Since: September 7, 2006 Posts: 5 Comments: 910
2012. tiggeriffic 2:11 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting presslord:


What do I need to watch for wid da crabs?


watch the blue crab and the fiddlers...if you see em goin UP STREAM by the flock in the marshes...bad storm coming...the usually stay in the shallows of the tidal creeks...also watch the gulls...they are gonna go nuts over the movement of crab
Member Since: September 16, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 3592
2013. WeatherNerdPR 2:12 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13:


idk...The XTRP is hinting at Northern Mexico.

LOL.

Straight lines are the new fad.
Member Since: July 7, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 5464
2014. ClearwaterRain 2:12 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting jonelu:

My Mom (oblivious to tropical signs) called me to chat and said "Its so weird...I haven't had any ants in for a long time. I come home from work today and they are everywhere. I need to call the bug guy." She's in North Palm Beach.





funny you guys mention that. i have fought "herds" of fire ant mounds all year, but yet i walked outside today and didn't see not a single fire ant....i thought to myself, "i won the battle ,but the war is still going." but they could know something i don't maybe?
Member Since: August 22, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 8
2015. yoboi 2:12 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
I storms have the most us landfalls
Member Since: August 25, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 2421
2016. presslord 2:12 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting scooster67:
Well are they?

Acting Funny. You know, the Crab.


will report back tomorrow...Tigger just told me what to look for...
Member Since: August 13, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 10377
2017. HurricaneDean07 2:13 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Jasoniswildman, 1988
Three words for you, PATTERN IS FRAGILE...


The reason all models shift in different directions is FRAGILE PATTERNS, and UNCERTAINTY
Member Since: October 3, 2010 Posts: 39 Comments: 4035
2018. CharsletonAsrock 2:13 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting scooster67:
Well are they?

Acting Funny. You know, the Crab.


I don't know about the crab, but got some good shrimp in the Ashley River sunday night.
Member Since: August 1, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 18
2019. tiggeriffic 2:13 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting scooster67:
Well are they?

Acting Funny. You know, the Crab.


still a couple days for that...we are in chas, sc...give it till last low tide tomorrow and first low thurs
Member Since: September 16, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 3592
2020. GTcooliebai 2:13 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting Patrap:
Enhanced Infrared (IR) Imagery (4 km Mercator)


It would seem fitting that the yellow dot is the COC, if that's the case it's getting better organized? What are your thoughts?
Member Since: August 31, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 5170
2021. catastropheadjuster 2:13 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting tiggeriffic:
1925. presslord 1:52 AM GMT on August 03, 2011

OK...my friend and neighbor Tigger has been squawking about this for 5 days...and now I'm starting to believe she may be onto something....Why, exactly, shouldn't those of us in Charleston be watching this pretty closely???

maybe cuz they dont have enuf women working at the NHC snicker snicker...im tellin ya...give it 2 days and watch the ants go nuts...3 days the squirls and birds will feed like crazy...5 days and they will all disappear...


Hey Tig, I'm not being a smarta** by asking this, I would just like to know. Does the ants really go nuts and the squirrels and birds feed like crazy and then disappear? I heard many different folks talk about this and a lot of folks laugh at them but I am really wondering if this does happen?
It looks like M is getting some ump with her groove.
what do u think about her?
sheri
Member Since: August 24, 2006 Posts: 21 Comments: 3556
2022. Bluestorm5 2:13 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting Baybuddy:
Ok, which hurricane had the best satellite image?(by best I mean symmetry, beauty etc...)
I think it's either Hurricane Katrina at peak, or Hurricane Hugo at landfall of Charleston, SC.
Member Since: August 1, 2011 Posts: 7 Comments: 3545
2023. sunlinepr 2:14 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Latest move... Looks like moving NW to Mona passage... or eastern DR



Member Since: August 2, 2010 Posts: 19 Comments: 8440
2024. scooster67 2:14 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting Patrap:
Enhanced Infrared (IR) Imagery (4 km Mercator)


What do you think Pat?

Looks like a closed low in the last three images you posted!
Member Since: September 26, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 637
2025. sgarver 2:14 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting Abacosurf:

Just click the hide button on the upper right of the post and problem solved.

The problem was there was no right side so no hide button. I had to ignore user to fix the page. Hated to do it and plan to unignore later.
Member Since: September 3, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 3
2026. GTcooliebai 2:14 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Everybody remember Fay was fickle, I'm calling Emily fickle!
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2028. FloridaTigers 2:15 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting Baybuddy:
Ok, which hurricane had the best satellite image?(by best I mean symmetry, beauty etc...)


Typhoon Tip is quite good. My favorite is the satellite photo of Andrew while he's over the Bahamas. So small, yet so dangerous.
Member Since: May 17, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 559
2029. GTcooliebai 2:15 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting sunlinepr:
Latest move...



Black dot right in the center!
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2030. wpb 2:15 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
hispanola factor reduces storm my %50.
nhc has it a depression off the north coast. my be generous
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2031. animalrsq 2:15 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting FLdewey:


Since we're burning blog space on this.

Jason is a bit, umm eccentric in his posts. Jason may or may not have some challenges in life. As per typical cowardly online mob behavior people pick on him and yell at him incessantly, rather than just clicking "ignore" and going on with their lives.

I would say we should all be more tolerant of him, but that's not going to happen with nasty hateful children on here.

Those of you who pick on Jason should feel good about yourselves... you're da man! Maybe one day when you become adults, and maybe even have to deal with a situation like that yourself you'll change your tune. I'd bet anything his life is happier than any one you bottom feeders who pick on those who are vulnerable in life.

Ugh... hate to see such intolerance and hate.


Anyway, emily updates less than an hour away... not expecting much of a change.


+1000 (or more)
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2032. scooster67 2:15 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting presslord:


will report back tomorrow...Tigger just told me what to look for...
Good enough :)
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2033. Joshfsu123 2:15 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Emily needs to expand the thunderstorms around her core tonight... dry air is trying to invade and if she can keep firing the cold cloud tops and expand the CDO, she'll probably strengthen a little more tomorrow.

But right now she's not looking the greatest and dry air is really invading.
Member Since: July 6, 2005 Posts: 5 Comments: 575
2034. ecflweatherfan 2:15 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting WxLogic:


Too early for that... I would figure Thursday into Friday if track shifts are not are not away from the target(s) state(s).


I know they put them out 48 hours in advance for watches and 36 hours for warnings... which would put it in the Friday time. Current track puts it just east of Andros Island at 2pm Friday.
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2036. ProgressivePulse 2:16 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting MeterologyStudent56:


Pulse,

Could this be a start of a trend? like last night when the models started to move east?


In a track that's all about timing, they will shift a lot. Even a slow down of 1 or 2 mph could have big implications down the line. However, Hispaniola & DR aren't going to shift around at all and is the biggest obstacle for Emily ATM.
Member Since: August 19, 2005 Posts: 5 Comments: 4326
2039. WeatherNerdPR 2:16 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting Bluestorm5:
I think it's either Hurricane Katrina at peak, or Hurricane Hugo at landfall of Charleston, SC.

Igor will always be my favorite.
That storm was amazing to watch. Weird how all the pretty storms get retired.
Member Since: July 7, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 5464
2040. stormpetrol 2:17 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Is Emily near stationary and festering or getting ready to take a right hook, notice all the deep convection is now N of the 15 lat line.
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2041. zoomiami 2:18 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
I'm not sure why admin isn't policing the blog a little more than they seem to be. This nonsense over Jason whoever is silly, to say nothing of wasting our time while we are trying to read the important information.

Read the rules of the road -- anyone who baits a troll, or continues to talk about the trolls is also subject to a ban.
Member Since: August 13, 2007 Posts: 10 Comments: 4064
2042. Twinkster 2:18 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Emily does not seem as organized to me as it did earlier. Convection has shrinked back into ball shape and outflow in NW quadrant is nearly non existent. Emily might have a rough night. However, emily has surprised people before and it might continue tonight
Member Since: June 7, 2007 Posts: 4 Comments: 932
2043. scooster67 2:18 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting tiggeriffic:


still a couple days for that...we are in chas, sc...give it till last low tide tomorrow and first low thurs
Will be lurking.
Member Since: September 26, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 637
2045. tiggeriffic 2:19 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting catastropheadjuster:


Hey Tig, I'm not being a smarta** by asking this, I would just like to know. Does the ants really go nuts and the squirrels and birds feed like crazy and then disappear? I heard many different folks talk about this and a lot of folks laugh at them but I am really wondering if this does happen?
It looks like M is getting some ump with her groove.
what do u think about her?
sheri


i have always been and will always be a critter caster. it holds true for tornados, hurricanes, blizzards, etc. ever watch the leaves on a tree turn upside down and the sun is shining? next thing you know the wind is blowing HARD and within 30 mins u have a massive thunderstorm? you can look at water and tell a storm is coming without a cloud in the sky. animals get nervous and pace when a tornado is threatening...and i mean BEFORE they are ever picked up on radar. critters know before we do or technology...
Member Since: September 16, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 3592
2046. MeterologyStudent56 2:19 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting WeatherNerdPR:

My favorite is Igor.


Wilma in the Carribean....



Member Since: July 21, 2011 Posts: 1 Comments: 332
2047. bappit 2:19 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting sunlinepr:
Latest move... Looks like moving NW to Mona passage... or eastern DR




Interesting how the clouds dissipate on the western side and reform on the east. Earlier they were dissipating only on the NW corner it seemed. Hard to tell what's going on just by looking at the pictures.
Member Since: May 18, 2006 Posts: 3 Comments: 4364
2048. stormpetrol 2:19 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting P451:


Not sure but what appears to be happening is that her convection is lagging eastward. Her old mid-level circulation is still out there to the east and I wonder if that's causing it.

That lagging of the convection makes it seem like she is stalling. The surface feature is likely still moving westward...and since that is what they track...then no she's not stalling.

Upper level convection on the other hand - just not sure. It appears to be getting drawn eastward/hanging up - potentially in response to the leftover mid-level circulation.



Thanks, a voice of thought and reason, just like everyone or mostly everyone, trying to learn, never an exact science though :)
Member Since: April 29, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 6396
2049. SouthDadeFish 2:20 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Looks like the anticyclone displaced to the SW of Emily is causing some westerly shear as well as preventing the mid and lower level centers from stacking. I'm not that impressed at the moment...
Member Since: August 12, 2007 Posts: 11 Comments: 2417
2050. YouCaneDoIt 2:20 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
I'm beginning to think each and every one of you is Jason...
Member Since: June 24, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 57
2051. caneswatch 2:20 AM GMT on August 03, 2011    
Quoting FLdewey:


Since we're burning blog space on this.

Jason is a bit, umm eccentric in his posts. Jason may or may not have some challenges in life. As per typical cowardly online mob behavior people pick on him and yell at him incessantly, rather than just clicking "ignore" and going on with their lives.

I would say we should all be more tolerant of him, but that's not going to happen with nasty hateful children on here.

Those of you who pick on Jason should feel good about yourselves... you're da man! Maybe one day when you become adults, and maybe even have to deal with a situation like that yourself you'll change your tune. I'd bet anything his life is happier than any one you bottom feeders who pick on those who are vulnerable in life.

Ugh... hate to see such intolerance and hate.


Anyway, emily updates less than an hour away... not expecting much of a change.


+1000
Member Since: October 8, 2008 Posts: 14 Comments: 4473

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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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