Skyepony's WunderBlog

Product: NOAA Vortex Message (URNT12 KWBC)
Transmitted: 26th day of the month at 16:23Z
Aircraft: Lockheed WP-3D Orion (Reg. Num. N42RF)
Storm Number & Year: 18L in 2011
Storm Name: Rina (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 7
Observation Number: 08
A. Time of Center Fix: 26th day of the month at 15:53Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 17°53'N 85°35'W (17.8833N 85.5833W)
B. Center Fix Location: 174 miles (279 km) to the E (81°) from Belize City, Belize.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: Not Available
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 50kts (~ 57.5mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 18 nautical miles (21 statute miles) to the SE (125°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 191° at 65kts (From between the S and SSW at ~ 74.8mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 15 nautical miles (17 statute miles) to the SE (126°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 982mb (29.00 inHg)
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 14°C (57°F) at a pressure alt. of 2,443m (8,015ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 26°C (79°F) at a pressure alt. of 2,445m (8,022ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 8°C (46°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Poorly Defined
M. Eye Shape: Not Available
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind, Pressure and Temperature
N. Fix Level: Other - Not surface, 1500ft, 925mb (if vortex is newer than about mid 90's; see note for more), 850mb, 700mb, 500mb, 400mb, 300mb or 200mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 1 nautical mile
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 1 nautical mile
Remarks Section:
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 81kts (~ 93.2mph) in the northeast quadrant at 14:40Z
Maximum Flight Level Wind Outbound: 78kts (~ 89.8mph) in the northwest quadrant at 15:56Z

Kermit is headed home. The flight pattern posted had 2 more passes..

AF304 is about to make it's first fix.

Recon fix ~17.967N 85.700W, 976.8 mb (~ 28.84 inHg), they may find higher but on the way in highest flight was 73 knots
(~ 83.9 mph), surface 61 knots (~ 70.1 mph).

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 26th day of the month at 18:18Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 304)
Storm Number & Year: 18L in 2011
Storm Name: Rina (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 8
Observation Number: 06
A. Time of Center Fix: 26th day of the month at 17:50:00Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 18°00'N 85°41'W (18.N 85.6833W)
B. Center Fix Location: 169 miles (271 km) to the ENE (78°) from Belize City, Belize.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 2,969m (9,741ft) at 700mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 63kts (~ 72.5mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 3 nautical miles (3 statute miles) to the ENE (63°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 151° at 72kts (From the SSE at ~ 82.9mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 6 nautical miles (7 statute miles) to the ENE (62°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 976mb (28.82 inHg) - Extrapolated
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 11°C (52°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,048m (10,000ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 22°C (72°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,045m (9,990ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 9°C (48°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Not Available
M. Eye Shape: Not Available
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration and Wind
N. Fix Level: 700mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 2 nautical miles
Remarks Section - Remarks That Were Decoded...
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 72kts (~ 82.9mph) in the northeast quadrant at 17:48:00Z
Sea Level Pressure Extrapolation From: 700mb
Remarks Section - Additional Remarks...
SFC WINDS REPORTED ON EYE DROP WERE 31KTS
SFC PRESSURE REPORTED ON EYE DROP WAS 985MB

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 26th day of the month at 19:14Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 304)
Storm Number & Year: 18L in 2011
Storm Name: Rina (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 8
Observation Number: 12
A. Time of Center Fix: 26th day of the month at 18:57:10Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 18°05'N 85°46'W (18.0833N 85.7667W)
B. Center Fix Location: 164 miles (265 km) to the ENE (76°) from Belize City, Belize.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 2,967m (9,734ft) at 700mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 56kts (~ 64.4mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 14 nautical miles (16 statute miles) to the SE (131°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 202° at 63kts (From the SSW at ~ 72.5mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 13 nautical miles (15 statute miles) to the SE (129°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 978mb (28.88 inHg) - Extrapolated
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 15°C (59°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,049m (10,003ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 19°C (66°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,060m (10,039ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 9°C (48°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Open in the south
M. Eye Shape & Diameter: Circular with a diameter of 17 nautical miles (20 statute miles)
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind and Temperature
N. Fix Level: 700mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 4 nautical miles
Remarks Section - Remarks That Were Decoded...
Maximum Wind Outbound: 73kts (~ 84.0mph) in the northwest quadrant at 18:59:40Z
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 73kts (~ 84.0mph) in the northwest quadrant at 18:59:40Z
Sea Level Pressure Extrapolation From: 700mb
Maximum Flight Level Temp: 19°C (66°F) which was observed 8 nautical miles to the SE (140°) from the flight level center
Remarks Section - Additional Remarks...
EYE DROP REPORTED SLP OF 985MB AND 24KT SFC WINDS

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 26th day of the month at 20:23Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 304)
Storm Number & Year: 18L in 2011
Storm Name: Rina (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 8
Observation Number: 17
A. Time of Center Fix: 26th day of the month at 20:05:20Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 18°08'N 85°54'W (18.1333N 85.9W)
B. Center Fix Location: 157 miles (252 km) to the ENE (74°) from Belize City, Belize.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 2,937m (9,636ft) at 700mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 76kts (~ 87.5mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 6 nautical miles (7 statute miles) to the W (279°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 33° at 76kts (From the NNE at ~ 87.5mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 8 nautical miles (9 statute miles) to the WNW (282°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 977mb (28.85 inHg) - Extrapolated
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 9°C (48°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,041m (9,977ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 16°C (61°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,060m (10,039ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 12°C (54°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Open in the southeast
M. Eye Shape & Diameter: Circular with a diameter of 17 nautical miles (20 statute miles)
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind and Temperature
N. Fix Level: 700mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 1 nautical mile
Remarks Section - Remarks That Were Decoded...
Maximum Wind Outbound: 79kts (~ 90.9mph) in the northeast quadrant at 20:10:40Z
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 79kts (~ 90.9mph) in the northeast quadrant at 20:10:40Z
Sea Level Pressure Extrapolation From: 700mb
Remarks Section - Additional Remarks...
EYE DROP REPORTED SLP OF 981MB AND 24KT SFC WIND

Kermit is on the way.

Quoting whitewabit:
been watching the 2 little blobs in the Mid Atlantic moving slowly west ...

I'll place my bet on the one higher in latitude.

Light showers off the coast tonight headed this way. They look like they are drying up, but I can hope..

Gonzo is done with his dropsonde run. The GOM drops were last so I don't think those are in the 00Z models.

Kermit is nearly back to Tampa.

AF306 is on the way to Rina.

On this 24hr recon trip I nearly forgot to bake for the Halloween Party tomorrow. Went with Pumpkin cookies.. Loosely followed this recipe, replacing much of the sugar with honey & molasses, add 2 tsp of baking powder, used frozen pumpkin instead of canned, had no cinnamon but molasses makes up for it. Added 1/4 cup shredded coconut too. The dough is really good. Waiting for first batch to come out the oven.

AF306 descending into the storm..

Recon arrived..987.8 mb (~ 29.17 inHg), ~18.650N 86.683W. 58 knots (~ 66.7 mph) was the strongest winds at the surface on the way in..

Dropsonde to the maximium wind band..

Significant Wind Levels...
Level Wind Direction Wind Speed
995mb (Surface) 345° (from the NNW) 59 knots (68 mph)
970mb 360° (from the N) 72 knots (83 mph)
958mb 360° (from the N) 70 knots (81 mph)
937mb 5° (from the N) 73 knots (84 mph)
902mb 15° (from the NNE) 61 knots (70 mph)
889mb 15° (from the NNE) 43 knots (49 mph)
883mb 10° (from the N) 45 knots (52 mph)
877mb 20° (from the NNE) 36 knots (41 mph)
850mb 5° (from the N) 39 knots (45 mph)
757mb 10° (from the N) 28 knots (32 mph)
751mb 360° (from the N) 27 knots (31 mph)
727mb 15° (from the NNE) 28 knots (32 mph)
697mb 355° (from the N) 32 knots (37 mph)

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 27th day of the month at 06:15Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 306)
Storm Number & Year: 18L in 2011
Storm Name: Rina (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 11
Observation Number: 05
A. Time of Center Fix: 27th day of the month at 5:56:30Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 18°40'N 86°44'W (18.6667N 86.7333W)
B. Center Fix Location: 103 miles (165 km) to the E (83°) from Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 3,041m (9,977ft) at 700mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 53kts (~ 61.0mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 15 nautical miles (17 statute miles) to the ENE/E (79°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 133° at 66kts (From the SE at ~ 76.0mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 19 nautical miles (22 statute miles) to the ENE (72°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 993mb (29.32 inHg) - Extrapolated
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 8°C (46°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,049m (10,003ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 17°C (63°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,041m (9,977ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 4°C (39°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Not Available
M. Eye Shape: Not Available
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Wind, Pressure and Temperature
N. Fix Level: 700mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 5 nautical miles
Remarks Section - Remarks That Were Decoded...
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 66kts (~ 76.0mph) in the east quadrant at 5:50:30Z
Sea Level Pressure Extrapolation From: 700mb
Remarks Section - Additional Remarks...
NO EYE SONDE RELEASED SFMR INDICATED SFC WINDS OVER 40 KTS AT FL FIX POSN
GOOD RAIN SHIELD ON RADAR TO THE NORTH BUT NO CLEAR EYEWALL EVIDENT

Rina has consolidated a bit. Smaller but round again, running right of the forecast track & much faster.

AF306 is home. Last vortex message~

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 27th day of the month at 07:52Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 306)
Storm Number & Year: 18L in 2011
Storm Name: Rina (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 11
Observation Number: 17
A. Time of Center Fix: 27th day of the month at 7:37:00Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 18°43'N 86°52'W (18.7167N 86.8667W) (View map)
B. Center Fix Location: 95 miles (152 km) to the E (81°) from Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 3,034m (9,954ft) at 700mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 57kts (~ 65.6mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 8 nautical miles (9 statute miles) to the WSW (250°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 14° at 42kts (From the NNE at ~ 48.3mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 11 nautical miles (13 statute miles) to the WSW/W (259°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 991mb (29.26 inHg)
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 10°C (50°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,046m (9,993ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 16°C (61°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,050m (10,007ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 5°C (41°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Not Available
M. Eye Shape: Not Available
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Wind, Pressure and Temperature
N. Fix Level: 700mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 3 nautical miles
Remarks Section - Remarks That Were Decoded...
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 66kts (~ 76.0mph) in the east quadrant at 5:50:30Z
Maximum Flight Level Wind Outbound: 56kts (~ 64.4mph) in the north quadrant at 7:43:10Z
Remarks Section - Additional Remarks...
SFC WINDS ON SONDE WERE 035 DEG 21 KTS

Kermit is about to Rina.

Thanks Wabit:)

Ah yes, Kermit is home, AF308 just made their 2nd fix.

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 27th day of the month at 19:30Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 308)
Storm Number & Year: 18L in 2011
Storm Name: Rina (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 13
Observation Number: 12
A. Time of Center Fix: 27th day of the month at 18:56:40Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 19°33'N 87°06'W (19.55N 87.1W)
B. Center Fix Location: 107 miles (172 km) to the NE (47°) from Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 1,372m (4,501ft) at 850mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 37kts (~ 42.6mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 16 nautical miles (18 statute miles) to the SE (134°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 207° at 47kts (From the SSW at ~ 54.1mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 11 nautical miles (13 statute miles) to the SE (137°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 993mb (29.32 inHg)
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 19°C (66°F) at a pressure alt. of 1,523m (4,997ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 24°C (75°F) at a pressure alt. of 1,518m (4,980ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp & Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Not Available
M. Eye Shape: Not Available
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Wind, Pressure and Temperature
N. Fix Level: 850mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 1 nautical mile
Remarks Section - Remarks That Were Decoded...
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 55kts (~ 63.3mph) in the northeast quadrant at 18:03:00Z
Remarks Section - Additional Remarks...
BKN CLDS BLO
SFC CTR NOT VISIBLE

Rina is a naked swirl. Should be going right over Cozumel. She keeps fighting. Another blow up just northeast of Cozumel is occurring this evening.

AF307 is almost there.

96W is new.

Thanks Finn~ It was...time for me to catch up on some sleep.

Looks like the good part of Rina is coming (the rain). Orlando south should get more rain than north. Maybe some thunderstorms. Not expecting a widespread severe weather event.

Looking in on the invest in the Arabian sea..


Latest loop here..

Pretty unorganized. Pretty high PWat..

Anyone know anything about that rocket engine testing sound coming from the general area of Melbourne Airport this morning?

Had a few sprinkles so far:)

Lightning in 3-D


Got side tracked looking for the source of the rocket sound. Maybe F.I.T. This was neat too.

Because the system typically picks up 60-megahertz signals in very high frequency, or VHF, bands, it became a lot easier to detect lightning signals when overlapping television broadcasts in the United States moved to digital, Krehbiel says. Other tweaks have also improved the array%u2019s sensitivity over time, allowing the scientists to see lightning in better detail than ever before. Already, the researchers have spotted many more %u201Cprecursors,%u201D or attempts to get intracloud lightning discharges started. Many flashes try multiple times to discharge before they make it, Rison says.

F.I T. is off in that direction. Lockheed has something that way too. Nothing in the news, nothing to be found. It shook the town near 1/2 the day. Test after test or what ever. It started a few years ago. Really loud today. Shook the house.

Thanks for looking LowerCal.

Dragonfly enjoyed that rocket test.

Hey Wab!

Finn~ Some places way south down by you have had 6-8inches already! Be safe..

It's starting to sound like great sleeping weather here.

0.33" so far.

Ran off to Maitland for the day. Water is standing on both sides of I-95 around the sheriff farm area for miles. St Johns is up, but not epic or anything in Brevard.

Wabit~ I got most my rain today. 1.00" exactly, yesterday only got .13". Highest wind was 16mph. It's been great having the PWS near 30'.

Finn~ I couldn't watch the whole thing. Flashback to being a teen. Over two years one guy rode his old mare into the sewage treatment pit. The top looked like a dry desert. & two others into quicksand. My mare could sense weak footing & would refuse or skirt around. I learned to trust her. We always got them out.

All the horses were fine..I found an article.

One of the heroes of the day was Fjölnir Thorgeirsson, a journalist for Hestafréttir horse news, who jumped into the pond and took control. He made the horses step on his thigh for footing because they slipped on the silt on the bottom of the pond.

Random wunderwebcam of the Panama canal..(kids got to see this).

A storm survey was conducted in Indian River and Martin Counties by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Melbourne. The survey determined that EF-0 tornados hit the Vero Beach and Indiantown areas on the evening of October 18, 2011.


Finn~ I was so glad to see them okay.

Light rain & windy, 73%uFFFDF.

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!! ...if you still have electricity & aren't underwater. Some poor souls have had their Halloween canceled due to weather...BOOO!

Getting a few coastal sprinkles.. as good as anyway to start a new day.

Halloween sucked..Death visited & took my favorite Lemon Chicken. Well as far as we can gather maybe a pair of foxes killed her, Alice lost alot of feathers but looks pretty good, Angel has some holes in her skin & is caged separate but where they can hang out, out of the dirt, intensive care & such. She's even in the shop tonight, in the AC & out of the mosquitoes.

Trick or Treating, seeing everyone & Halloween Party was all good.

Also had a cockatiel fly down out of the storm onto one of the kid's head this morning. Was hungry & looking for a dry cage. I found it a great home in 45mins. If anyone is looking for their male with one clipped wing I can get him for you. Another was found in the area. Either a pair got loose together or someone let birds go. Kids were pretty sad we weren't keeping him, but my plate is full.

Pretty manic day for the kids. Either crying or screaming Halloween Happy. They loved the Halloween gifs.. Thanks so much everyone:)

Gamma~ My total was only .65".

plap~ I've posted in your blog before. You just hadn't seen me since before 'cane season..