Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Nate makes landfall; Maria organizing, but pulling away from the islands
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 4:15 PM GMT on September 11, 2011 +20
Tropical Storm Nate made landfall at 11 am EDT this morning just north of Barra de Nautla in the Mexican state of Veracruz, as a tropical storm with 45 mph winds. Satellite loops show that there is very little heavy thunderstorm activity associated with Nate, and the storm should not cause significant flooding or damage as it pushes inland and dissipates later today.


Figure 1. Visible satellite image of Nate as it made landfall in the Veracruz state of Mexico near 11 am EDT Sunday, September 11, 2011.

Tropical Storm Maria
Tropical Storm Maria has managed to organize in the face of the persistent moderate wind shear that has affected it, and now looks a little more like a tropical storm should. Though the center of circulation lies partially exposed to view, satellite imagery shows a large area of heavy thunderstorms lies to the northeast of Maria's center. These rains and the storm's strongest winds lie well away from the Lesser Antilles Islands, though one spiral band is bringing heavy rains to the islands, as seen on Martinique radar. A wind gust of 40 mph was reported on St. Martin at 11 am EDT, and one of 36 mph affected St. Kitts and Nevis at 9 am EDT during a rain squall. The trough of low pressure that is bringing hostile wind shear to Maria is predicted to slowly weaken over the next few days, which should allow the storm to grow to hurricane strength by Tuesday. On Wednesday, Maria will be making its closest approach to Bermuda, and the island could see sustained winds in the 20 - 40 mph range. Most of the models show that Maria will brush or strike Newfoundland, Canada on Friday or Saturday, and residents there should anticipate the possibility of tropical storm conditions late this week.


Figure 2. Morning satellite image of Tropical Storm Maria.

Extratropical Storm Katia
Hurricane Katia brushed by Newfoundland, Canada yesterday morning, and is now racing east-northeast at 50 - 60 mph across the open Atlantic. On Monday, the storm will pass very close to the northern British Isles, bringing winds of 50 - 60 mph to the offshore waters of Northern Ireland and Western Scotland. Ex-Katia will bring 2 - 4 inches of rain to the coast, and its strong winds will likely cause significant tree damage and power failures.


Figure 3. The center of Extratropical Storm Katia is predicted to pass just north of the British Isles on Monday, bringing a large area 45 - 50 knots (52 - 58 mph, red colors) to the coast. This wind forecast is from the 00Z (8 pm EDT) run of the GFS model made last night. To convert from knots to mph, multiply by 1.15.

Elsewhere in the tropics
Most of the models predict the development of a tropical depression or strong tropical disturbance 5 - 6 days from now off the coast of Africa.

I'll have an update Monday morning. Peace to all this September 11!

Jeff Masters
Categories: Hurricane
  Permalink | A A A
Reader Comments
Display: 0, 50, 100, 200 Sort: Newest First - Order Posted
Viewing: 801 - 851

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21Blog Index

802. CaribBoy 3:28 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
We have a lightning every 10s lol
Member Since: October 6, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2852
803. Tazmanian 3:29 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:
Not yet Taz, should start in a few minutes.


ok
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111354
804. EYEStoSEA 3:30 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting Tazmanian:


ok


Taz, a visual for you :)

Member Since: September 16, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 1491
806. Tazmanian 3:31 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting EYEStoSEA:


Taz, a visual for you :)




thanks
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111354
808. BaltimoreBrian 3:34 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
The curtain rises.....


00Z initial position for Maria just a touch too far west.

Environment north of Maria looks very 'ridgey' for now.
Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345
809. ShenValleyFlyFish 3:35 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
.
Member Since: September 9, 2007 Posts: 36 Comments: 4684
810. Tazmanian 3:36 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:
The curtain rises.....


00Z initial position for Maria just a touch too far west.




YAY the GFS started
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111354
811. nofailsafe 3:37 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:


That's insane.


This is Houston, they haven't replaced jerry-rigged traffic lights from Ike yet. Nearly every one on the south side of town looks like it's been thrown to the ground once or twice, missing a lens, or something. The streets around here are worse than Post-War Berlin's.

Grr... Ok, rant's over with.

In other news, the NAM and GFS give us a little chance of rain. :)
Member Since: June 18, 2010 Posts: 3 Comments: 830
812. trHUrrIXC5MMX 3:37 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting wxgeek723:


A category 5 fish storm hasn't happened in the Atlantic in a long time.


yes because if I said just a Cat 5 you might think Im crazy
Member Since: April 23, 2011 Posts: 33 Comments: 7904
813. trHUrrIXC5MMX 3:38 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting wxgeek723:
Looks like Maria is the only game in town, at least for a few days.

*wakes up next morning*

...EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE RAPIDLY DEVELOPS INTO TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA...

LOL.


LOL
Member Since: April 23, 2011 Posts: 33 Comments: 7904
814. BaltimoreBrian 3:39 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
At 12 hours the 00Z GFS run has Maria at 21N 67W at the same strength. Ridge to the north beginning to erode.
Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345
815. Tazmanian 3:40 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:
At 12 hours the 00Z GFS run has Maria at 21N 67W at the same strength. Ridge to the north beginning to erode.



can you all so tell me what CA has on the gfs
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111354
816. BaltimoreBrian 3:43 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
The graphics I am looking at have the tropical Atlantic and the eastern half of the USA Taz. Sorry.
Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345
817. Tazmanian 3:44 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:
The graphics I am looking at have the tropical Atlantic and the eastern half of the USA Taz. Sorry.



thats ok
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111354
818. jpsb 3:44 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting MZT:
They're forecasting a 970 MB low to cross northern Scotland


Katia! Have fun with her.
Member Since: June 30, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 578
819. SXMFL 3:44 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Really really bad storm in St Martin right now, constant lightning and thunder. Never have seen lightning like this in my life, and I'm from Florida.non stop lightning.
Member Since: August 19, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 14
821. will40 3:48 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:
At 12 hours the 00Z GFS run has Maria at 21N 67W at the same strength. Ridge to the north beginning to erode.


i dont think that first ridge will effect her a lot
Member Since: September 19, 2005 Posts: 2 Comments: 3439
822. BaltimoreBrian 3:48 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
The 00Z GFS run at 24 hours shows Maria at around 21.5N 69W and a little stronger. Ridge to the north definitely buckling.

Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345
823. BaltimoreBrian 3:50 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
I'm looking at both the raleighwx and ncep graphics. I like the raleigh graphics better, they show the ridge hieghts and are less 'busy' But can't post images from there.
Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345
824. Tazmanian 3:51 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:
The 00Z GFS run at 24 hours shows Maria at around 21.5N 69W and a little stronger. Ridge to the north definitely buckling.





cool
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111354
825. BaltimoreBrian 3:52 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
The 00Z GFS run at 36 hours showing the trough beginning to capture Maria. She is heading NNW now near 23N 69.5W

Maria's strengthening has paused.
Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345
826. will40 3:52 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:
I'm looking at both the raleighwx and ncep graphics. I like the raleigh graphics better, they show the ridge hieghts and are less 'busy' But can't post images from there.


not sure but i think Allan allows hot linking anymore i may be wrong but think you have to host the image
Member Since: September 19, 2005 Posts: 2 Comments: 3439
828. will40 3:54 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Sorry i didnt see last line of your post
Member Since: September 19, 2005 Posts: 2 Comments: 3439
829. BaltimoreBrian 3:54 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
I can't be bothered with hosting model images ;) I'd rather write about them.
Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345
830. Tazmanian 3:56 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:
The 00Z GFS run at 36 hours showing the trough beginning to capture Maria. She is heading NNW now near 23N 69.5W

Maria's strengthening has paused.




that did not take long
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111354
831. pipelines 3:56 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
what's going on with maria? convection isn't moving, no sign of a LLC ejecting to the west, radar out on San Juan is just confusing, did the circulation decouple and maybe ejected the surface center north earlier in the day?
Member Since: July 10, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 222
832. CaribBoy 3:57 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    


I just can't believe what I'm seeing now!!!! there are continuous lightnings, continuous thunder!!! First time of my life here in St Martin!

INCREDIBLE LIGHTNING SHOW!!
Member Since: October 6, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2852
835. BaltimoreBrian 3:58 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
The 00Z GFS run at 48 hours shows Maria moving very slowly due north at 24N 69.5W and strengthening some, probably on the border between tropical storm and hurricane strength.
Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345
837. JLPR2 4:01 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Not much to watch besides maria.
Member Since: September 4, 2007 Posts: 7 Comments: 7487
840. will40 4:05 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
GFS has that ridge comming down way to fast imo. looks like she headed for Bermuda on this run
Member Since: September 19, 2005 Posts: 2 Comments: 3439
841. BaltimoreBrian 4:05 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
The 00Z GFS run at 60 hours show Maria scraping just east of 70W at 26N and probably now a Cat 1 hurricane.
Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345
842. Tazmanian 4:07 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:
The 00Z GFS run at 60 hours show Maria scraping just east of 70W at 26N and probably now a Cat 1 hurricane.



cool
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111354
843. BenBIogger 4:07 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
NAO Forecast


Member Since: March 19, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 1419
847. BaltimoreBrian 4:12 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
The 00Z run of the GFS at 72 hours shows Maria a little stronger, but still a Cat 1 hurricane I think. She is beginning to move NNE and is at 29.5N 69W.

A deep low over west central Texas. Rain?
Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345
848. Tazmanian 4:13 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
Quoting BaltimoreBrian:
The 00Z run of the GFS at 72 hours shows Maria a little stronger, but still a Cat 1 hurricane I think. She is beginning to move NNE and is at 29.5N 69W.

A deep low over west central Texas. Rain?




that would be some in too see
Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111354
849. BaltimoreBrian 4:14 AM GMT on September 12, 2011    
78 hours shows heavy rain overspreading much of Oklahoma.
Member Since: August 9, 2011 Posts: 25 Comments: 3345

Viewing: 801 - 851

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21Blog 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.

Local Weather
Partly Cloudy
60 °F
Partly Cloudy
Community Activity