Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Invest 91L reorganizing; The heat is on (again)
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 4:16 PM GMT on August 01, 2011 +21
Invest 91L, which is located near 14°N, 57°W, is showing signs of reorganization after a pretty rough weekend. On Saturday, the wave looked ripe to develop with organized convection and the hint of a surface circulation. On Sunday a Hurricane Hunter and NOAA G9 flew into the system only to find it disorganized and negatively influenced by the burst of convection that sprouted on its western edge. Since then, low-level circulation has at least strengthened, if not consolidated, and residents of the Lesser Antilles should be prepared for tropical storm advisories to be posted on short notice. Satellite loops show decent thunderstorm activity and some mid-level circulation, and continued bursts of thunderstorms to the southwest of the invest region. The wave is surrounded by moderately strong wind shear (30-40 knots) on both the north and the south sides, which could delay development. Also, a large mass of dry, Saharan air continues to linger to 91L's north. In a mission this morning, Hurricane Hunters found winds close to tropical storm strength, but no signs of a closed surface circulation—just plenty of winds from the east or southeast. The next mission is scheduled for 2pm EDT, and they will continue every six hours if the system remains a threat.


Figure 1. Visible satellite of Invest 91L at 10:30am EDT as it moves west toward the Lesser Antilles.

Forecast For 91L
Development will probably occur in the next day or two, and the National Hurricane Center is giving the wave a 90% chance in the next 48 hours. The question now is where will it go, and how long will it remain a tropical cyclone. Models are split today, although still leaning toward an Atlantic recurving solution. In the camp of a Gulf of Mexico track are the CMC and the UKMET models. The GFS and the ECMWF are still in favor of the system tracking northwest toward Florida (and coming close) before taking a turn to the northeast. The NOGAPS model is resolving a Florida landfall in this morning's run, and the HWRF hints that it might like that solution, as well, at the end of its run. The GFDL remains conservative and forecasts that the system will turn north and northeast well before making any connection with the U.S. coast. It is notable that although there is still much disagreement on where this system will go, the models have been trending west in their tracks over the past few days. However, it is extremely difficult to nail down a track before a cyclone has even developed. Something we know for sure is that 91L is a threat to the Lesser Antilles and the Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas.

In terms of intensity, both the GFDL and the HWRF are thinking this will eventually get to hurricane strength once it develops, although neither are forecasting it to become stronger than a category 1. SHIPS (which tracks 91L into the far eastern Gulf of Mexico) brings the system up to a category 1 hurricane, and the LGEM does as well, but is slower in its intensification. General consensus this morning is that 91L will max out somewhere between a moderate tropical cyclone and a moderate category 1 hurricane. Again, this is something that is difficult to predict before development itself occurs.

The Heat Is On (Again)

Someone turned the furnace on again in the central U.S., although many would argue that it was never actually turned off after the last heat wave. Heat advisories have been issued from southern Louisiana to North Dakota. Temperatures are expected to climb to 115°F in the central Plains through Wednesday, and heat index values will soar again. Oklahoma has now seen over a month of high temperatures hitting at least 100°. Some reprieve could come later this week.


Figure 2. Weather advisories issued by the National Weather Service. Heat-related advisories are pink.

Angela
Categories: Heat Hurricane
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301. jonelu 6:03 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting texwarhawk:
It's a swan! LOL


or a turkey? LOL....Quite a blob out infront of 91L
Member Since: October 31, 2007 Posts: 2 Comments: 882
302. PRweathercenter 6:03 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting alvarig1263:


http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2008/07/l ive_hurricane_hunter_missions_in_g.html
thank you!!
Member Since: July 21, 2010 Posts: 58 Comments: 916
304. IceCoast 6:04 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
This is why I hate the percentages. They drop it to 80% and everyone starts writing it off. Think of it this way, The chances of Tropical Cyclone Formation over the next 48hrs remains HIGH.
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305. hydrus 6:04 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Member Since: September 27, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 14314
306. RitaEvac 6:04 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
As soon as it gets strong enough to be pulled north the trough will have passed by and missed it, therefore a ridge will build in and force it ever farther west, southern Florida and GOM
Member Since: July 14, 2008 Posts: 1 Comments: 8912
307. ILwthrfan 6:04 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting Levi32:
Checking in for break. It appears that the low-level vortex that was ejected westward out from under the mid-level circulation, noted earlier this morning, is actually the main surface center of 91L. The system is now decoupled due to the apparent influence of an upper trough to the north, shearing the system more than it appeared. Shear from the south due to the ITCZ is also not helping. Both of these areas of shear should relax gradually as 91L moves westward, and an upper anticyclone should be allowed to expand more over the system once again in a couple of days as the longwave trough digs into the western Atlantic.
.

Which circulation center you think will become dominate. I would think it would have to be the MLC. Thats where the anit cyclonic flow is and the other llc are getting sheared out by that MLC.
Member Since: February 2, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 1029
308. Bretts9112 6:05 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting CybrTeddy:
No shock with the 80%, tbh it never should have been at near 100%. That's why I think this whole number by number increase should be discarded. Its red and it could become a TS at anytime.

agree, doesnt matter if its at 70% or 100% its still has the potential of becoming a TD or TS at anytime
Member Since: June 22, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 140
309. PintailKiller 6:05 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting PRweathercenter:
Does anyone have the link for Google Earth and the Hurricane Hunters ?


http://tropicalatlantic.com/recon/
Member Since: August 2, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 84
310. ncstorm 6:05 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
zig zag across florida..12Z NOGAPS..

Link
Member Since: August 19, 2006 Posts: 7 Comments: 8462
313. NICycloneChaser 6:06 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting IceCoast:
This is why I hate the percentages. They drop it to 80% and everyone starts writing it off. Think of it this way, The chances of Tropical Cyclone Formation over the next 48hrs remains HIGH.


I agree. I wasn't writing it off, I'm just wondering why the NHC thinks it's now less likely to develop than it was three hours ago. The percentage thing doesn't work.
Member Since: August 10, 2010 Posts: 2 Comments: 1957
314. metwombly 6:06 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting Waltanater:
It would be cool if they (NHC) would pick a year (some year in the future) and make a "Hall of Fame" list of those Hurricane Names that have been since retired, and see which ones truely stand the "test of time." This would be the BEST OF THE BEST Hurricane Season! They can do this on an "Anniversary year" or something to that effect.

Example: Every 25 years or Every 50 years!

Any thoughts on this? I think it would be neat to see.
For those people who lived through these epic storms, methinks they don't necessarily want to be reminded. For us weather junkies I think it would be awesome!
Member Since: June 11, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 47
315. BoroDad17 6:06 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Is there a chance that there are W winds in the naked LLC right now. The recon plane is looking at the area with the MLC, But by far the lowest pressure was at the beginning of the run, nearest the visible LLC. Seems like they might possibly be missing that feature, and the W winds that would classify it and allow them to post warnings. Especially with that convection firing up now over it.
Member Since: September 5, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 121
316. PRweathercenter 6:07 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting TxHurricanedude11:
80 but check the wording...doht understand shouldve left it at 90 sir stewart
The NHC has to give an update at 2:00 regardless, however the HH is just aproaching some areas of this system, we have to wait and see what they find
Member Since: July 21, 2010 Posts: 58 Comments: 916
317. reid221 6:07 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
HH approaching - 57.5 mph winds found

Time: 17:31:00Z
Coordinates: 14.8833N 58.9667W
Acft. Static Air Press: 975.5 mb (~ 28.81 inHg)
Acft. Geopotential Hgt: 303 meters (~ 994 feet)
Extrap. Sfc. Press: 1010.3 mb (~ 29.83 inHg)
D-value: -
Flt. Lvl. Wind (30s): From 131° at 29 knots (From the SE at ~ 33.3 mph)
Air Temp: 19.6°C (~ 67.3°F)
Dew Pt: 14.4°C (~ 57.9°F)
Peak (10s) Flt. Lvl. Wind: 31 knots (~ 35.6 mph)
SFMR Peak (10s) Sfc. Wind: 50 knots (~ 57.5 mph)
SFMR Rain Rate: 30 mm/hr (~ 1.18 in/hr)
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318. Hugo7 6:07 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
hey hydros, is that a water vapor model?
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319. tropicfreak 6:08 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting deaddude21:
91L still moving due west. Apparantly though we're stuck in the 2007 pattern where the blocking high over the Central South CONUS forces everything in the ATL at a high enough latitude out to sea and everything else southwards into Mexico and Central America. 91L is moving briskly westward and it has about half a day or so left to develop if it wants any chance of going out to sea, otherwise it's going into the Yucatan and Mexico.


Have you looked at the models yet?
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320. PRweathercenter 6:08 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting PintailKiller:


http://tropicalatlantic.com/recon/

thank you!!
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321. nrtiwlnvragn 6:08 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
ASCAT from this morning


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322. Seflhurricane 6:08 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
looking at visible images from space 91L looks to be attempting to consolidate near the LLC that was ejected near 16 N and 60 W while the MLC near 15N and 57 W is what looks to me being absorbed by the LLC
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323. Hurricanes12 6:08 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
How come high winds are being found, yet pressures aren't matching the high winds? All I see from the vortex messages is 1010 - 1013 mb.
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324. Jax82 6:08 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Maybe we should RIP 91L, we did that with Don and look what happened ;)
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326. Angela Fritz, Atmospheric Scientist (Admin)
6:09 PM GMT on August 01, 2011
   
Recon doesn't look promising so far.
327. chevycanes 6:09 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting deaddude21:
91L still moving due west. Apparantly though we're stuck in the 2007 pattern where the blocking high over the Central South CONUS forces everything in the ATL at a high enough latitude out to sea and everything else southwards into Mexico and Central America. 91L is moving briskly westward and it has about half a day or so left to develop if it wants any chance of going out to sea, otherwise it's going into the Yucatan and Mexico.

nah. you can already see the break in the ridge. there's a low moving off the GA/SC coast and it's only gonna dig deeper.

the forecast winds in S. FL tomorrow are out of the SW.
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328. IceCoast 6:09 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
It actually looks like the circulation to the west might win out. Looks a lot better defined then the MLC back east. I wasn't expecting that. Not sure if recon got a good sample of that area.
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329. nigel20 6:09 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    

Eugene is looking really good.
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330. Levi32 6:09 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting ILwthrfan:
.

Which circulation center you think will become dominate. I would think it would have to be the MLC. Thats where the anit cyclonic flow is and the other llc are getting sheared out by that MLC.


The one that got ejected actually looks dominant right now, as a convective band is developing and wrapping around its east side. The MLC still has some surface reflection with it, so there are again two centers (oh joy). If the western center doesn't run away in the eastern Caribbean trade winds, then it will probably stay dominant.
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331. NICycloneChaser 6:10 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting IceCoast:
It actually looks like the circulation to the west might win out. Looks a lot better defined then the MLC back east. I wasn't expecting that. Not sure if recon got a good sample of that area.


I agree, they need a better look at the south side of that area.
Member Since: August 10, 2010 Posts: 2 Comments: 1957
332. trey33 6:10 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting ncstorm:
zig zag across florida..12Z NOGAPS..

Link


Not good for Tampa.
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333. 7544 6:10 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
no west winds yet ?
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334. 7544 6:11 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
updated WEST WIND FOUND
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336. NICycloneChaser 6:12 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting 7544:
updated WEST WIND FOUND


Serious?
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337. NOLALawyer 6:12 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting ncstorm:
zig zag across florida..12Z NOGAPS..

Link


That is the Tampa hit I was joking about yesterday.

Wow.
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338. IceCoast 6:12 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Euro is running
48Hrs

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339. hydrus 6:12 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
HWRF model...Link
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340. MississippiWx 6:13 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
This really is a Dolly type situation (organization-wise, not track), where the MLC and LLC consistently stay decoupled and fight against one another to become dominant. I doubt this situation fixes itself today and I'm afraid we'll just have to wait another day.
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342. PRweathercenter 6:13 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting 7544:
updated WEST WIND FOUND
When?
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343. wunderkidcayman 6:13 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
they should of just kept it at 90%
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344. PRweathercenter 6:13 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting 7544:
updated WEST WIND FOUND
can you provide the source of the information?
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345. IceCoast 6:14 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
I see no West winds found.
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346. Seflhurricane 6:14 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting 7544:
updated WEST WIND FOUND
where, post the info
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347. 7544 6:14 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting PRweathercenter:
When?


not good at reding these sorry but i think they found it can someone else check thanks and sorry if im wrong
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349. WxLogic 6:15 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
TBPB has been reporting a SSW to SW WND so far. So it appears the exposed LLC which is now developing TSTMs around it is becoming better established at low levels.
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350. ILwthrfan 6:15 PM GMT on August 01, 2011    
Quoting Levi32:


The one that got ejected actually looks dominant right now, as a convective band is developing and wrapping around its east side. The MLC still has some surface reflection with it, so there are again two centers (oh joy). If the western center doesn't run away in the eastern Caribbean trade winds, then it will probably stay dominant.


You think it would help the western circulation if it absorbs that convection to it's southwest? It looks like it's trying too.
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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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