Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Tropical Storm Don close to landfall; 91L tracks west
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 23:42 GMT le 29 juillet 2011 +11
Tropical Storm Don continues to make its way west-northwest toward the Texas coast this evening. Don has increased steadily in pressure over the past 18 to 24 hours. Wind speed remained 45 knots in the 5pm EDT advisory. The strongest thunderstorm activity continues to be south of the center, southeast of Brownsville, Texas, but the strongest winds are to the north according to Hurricane Hunter data. A mesoscale vortex developed on the southern end this afternoon with high radar reflectivity. Radar estimated rainfall rates are as much as 5 inches per hour to the south, and around 2 inches on the north side of the storm, but these are likely an overestimate, although rainfall rate is definitely higher on the southern end of this storm. It began raining in Brownsville, Texas in the 2pm CDT hour, and so far the airport has received 0.3 inches of rain. The heaviest thunderstorms still look to be to Brownsville's southeast.


Figure 1. Radar reflectivity from Brownsville, Texas at 5pm CDT.

Forecast for Tropical Storm Don
A Hurricane Hunter is currently in the storm, and center fixes suggest Don will make landfall south of Baffin Bay, Texas, in the next couple of hours. Tropical storm-force winds, should there be any, will most likely be seen in a swath from Baffin Bay to Corpus Christi. Once Don moves inland it is expected to dissipate quickly, and without having produced enough meaningful rainfall to impact any drought conditions. The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center isn't predicting any rainfall that would exceed flash flood guidance, and no flood watches or warnings are in effect.

NHC Invest 91L

Moderate thunderstorm activity continues in Invest 91L this afternoon, and the Hurricane Center estimates that the axis of the wave is located near 42W. Estimates from satellites show that 91L has a moderate circulation at all levels, and the Advanced Scatterometer resolved a surface circulation early this morning.


Figure 2. Advanced Scatterometer pass over 91L at 7am EDT this morning. The wind barbs show a low-level circulation had formed near the most intense thunderstorms—a good sign of potential development.

Some of the reliable models—GFS, UKMET, and CMC—are developing 91L into at least a weak tropical cyclone. The ECMWF continues to show no development, but a more interesting solution, one that takes the wave on a southerly track. The GFDL does not develop Invest 91L, but the HWRF forecasts category 1 hurricane strength by August 1st. The track for 91L is likely a turn to the northwest when it reaches the Caribbean and a curve to the northeast around the Bahamas. The models that are developing the system do not suggest this is a U.S. landfall threat, although it's pretty early in the game to predict that, and I imagine the track will fluctuate over the next few days. Today the Hurricane Center gives the wave a 30% chance of development (now 50% in the 8pm EDT outlook) over the next 48 hours, and I'm around 40-50% over its lifetime.

I'll have a post tomorrow afternoon on the aftermath of Don as well as NHC Invest 91L.

Angela
Categories: Hurricane
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201. ProgressivePulse 01:08 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
91L looks primed for development. Still some tightening up to do as the 500mb circulation is south of the 850 a bit and the 850mb is rather broad ATM. However, convection is building quite nicely. Should make some substantial organizational gains overnight.

Member Since: 19 août 2005 Posts: 5 Comments: 4443
202. Abacosurf 01:08 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting FLWeatherFreak91:
Where do you get that opinion? I lived 4 years in the Dominican Republic and there were little to no evacuation plans. But I do admit that natives to the islands are much better at personally surviving a storm. The buildings are usually built walls and roofs of poured concrete, and no one builds too close to the water.

The locals don't build close to the water. They save that for the Americans....lol
Member Since: 28 août 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 916
203. Gaea 01:08 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting FrankZapper:
They're staying at the St Thomas Ritz. Surely they will be safe there?

They will have excitement, fun, and adventure. They will have beautiful skies, and delicious food. They will laugh and hold hands. And best of all, they will enjoy your worry, as they have worried over you these years.
Member Since: 19 octobre 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 14
204. floridaboy14 01:09 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Let compare these tropical storms in terms of how strong they looked when the made landfall with number 1 being the strongest looking and devasting: Barry 2007, Bonnie 2010, Don 2011 (All have hit the US)
Member Since: 25 juillet 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 978
206. TropicalAnalystwx13 01:09 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting ProgressivePulse:
91L looks primed for development. Still some tightening up to do as the 500mb circulation is south of the 850 a bit and the 850mb is rather broad ATM. However, convection is building quite nicely. Should make some substantial organizational gains overnight.



Think it will be declared tomorrow?
Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25992
207. weathermanwannabe 01:10 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Another good example of shifting short-term conditions that change the track was Katrina in 2005. We all know the ultimate landfall location but over the 24-72 hour period prior to landfall, the short term tracks kept shifting towards the West and everyone was in the cone (the center line) as it moved from the Bahamas to Florida and then on to MS and LA.
Member Since: 8 août 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 6863
208. prtr4192 01:11 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
long time watcher of this blog i have learned much

just a question as it appears right now there will be

northerly component what would be the chances of a/b

building back and causing track like dora 1964 ??

yes i live in florida
Member Since: 7 mai 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 55
209. ProgressivePulse 01:11 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13:


Think it will be declared tomorrow?


Based on how it looks right now, no. We'll see what it looks like in the morning.
Member Since: 19 août 2005 Posts: 5 Comments: 4443
210. TropicalAnalystwx13 01:12 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting ProgressivePulse:


Based on how it looks right now, no. We'll see what it looks like in the morning.


I think there is a good chance it is named on Sunday, especially with recon going out in the system. I agree, we'll see how it looks in the AM.
Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25992
212. JLPR2 01:13 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting ProgressivePulse:


Based on how it looks right now, no. We'll see what it looks like in the morning.


I'm leaning more on a Sunday renumber.
I believe tomorrow will be the day for 91L to pull itself together.
Member Since: 4 septembre 2007 Posts: 7 Comments: 7534
213. ProgressivePulse 01:13 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
3 days from the islands however, NHC should take an aggressive stance with it should organization continue.
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214. MiamiHurricanes09 01:13 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Models have shifted northward, not really pointing to a recurvature just yet though.

Member Since: 2 septembre 2009 Posts: 129 Comments: 20012
215. IKE 01:14 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Talk about drying up!


Member Since: 9 juin 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070
216. IceCoast 01:14 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting WeatherNerdPR:

Why did he poop out? Also, that was a mid-level vortex, Don's center is that very small area of spinning, strong-ish thunderstorms to the NNE of Brownsville.


Don's center was hard to distinguish as it neared landfall. The area down by brownsville was likely in the mid levels. The surface circulation was farther up the coast. I'm guessing the NE shear caused the mid and low level centers to become decoupled and that's what we saw on radar. Not sure why the convection collapsed so quickly like that. Maybe unfavorable conditions overland for thunderstorms to be sustained.
Member Since: 17 octobre 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 1260
217. Patrap 01:15 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
00z Early Cycle NHC model tracks
Invest91 Statistical/Simple Models (CLIPER,BAMs,LBAR,other Statistical Models)




Dynamic Models (More sophisticated models)




Member Since: 3 juillet 2005 Posts: 377 Comments: 113014
218. tiggeriffic 01:15 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting IKE:
Talk about drying up!




OMG...IKE...finally a voice of reason that I understand...btw...how the heck are ya?
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219. Gearsts 01:16 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting Levi32:
Levy can i have the link to that? thanks^^
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220. tiggeriffic 01:16 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Hey Patrap...didn't see ya...just popped on...how goes it?
Member Since: 16 septembre 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 3598
222. java162 01:17 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Hello everyone.. I live on the island of dominica in the lesser antillies and the current model tracks tahe emily right over us..we can't deal with any more rainfall on this island. We have had close to 20 inches of rain in july along the coast areas with a lot more in the interior... Part of the island was declared a disaster zone after a huge damn collapsed causin major river flooding. Emily wud really put a nail in our coffin!
Member Since: 24 juillet 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 266
223. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 01:17 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
POSS T.C.F.A.
XXL/INV91/XX
MARK
10.55N/44.15W
Member Since: 15 juillet 2006 Posts: 147 Comments: 41332
224. IceCoast 01:17 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Lol, the lady on TWC just asked an EM responder from texas like 4 times if there has been any evacuations. For what a 50mph tropical storm? Guess i should evacuate every time i see a severe thunderstorm on radar.
Member Since: 17 octobre 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 1260
225. TropicalAnalystwx13 01:17 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting MiamiHurricanes09:
Models have shifted northward, not really pointing to a recurvature just yet though.



You mean southward? Models have definitely shifted southward.
Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25992
226. IKE 01:18 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    

Quoting tiggeriffic:


OMG...IKE...finally a voice of reason that I understand...btw...how the heck are ya?
Doing fine. Eating a KFC dinner. How r u?
Member Since: 9 juin 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070
228. emcf30 01:19 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting IKE:
Talk about drying up!



What a shame for the folks in TX who need the rain so bad
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229. xtremeweathertracker 01:20 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Member Since: 31 mai 2011 Posts: 57 Comments: 555
230. Patrap 01:20 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
220. tiggeriffic

Watching Kabuki theater on C-Span.


..and Don Tejas' death Spiral as well.
Member Since: 3 juillet 2005 Posts: 377 Comments: 113014
231. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 01:20 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
04L/XX/D/XX


RAPID DISAPATION FLAG ON
Member Since: 15 juillet 2006 Posts: 147 Comments: 41332
232. Levi32 01:20 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting Gearsts:
Levy can i have the link to that? thanks^^


I create it with a BASH script. It isn't found on the web - only the frames for it.
Member Since: 24 novembre 2005 Posts: 593 Comments: 25612
233. tiggeriffic 01:20 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting IKE:

Doing fine. Eating a KFC dinner. How r u?


exhausted lol...worked a 12 today...yesterday my sitter had emerg surg so i had mine plus her 3, today during my 12 Mom in law went to ER...lets just say...the last 28 hours have laid me out...
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234. IceCoast 01:20 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Poor Texas.

Member Since: 17 octobre 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 1260
235. cycleranger 01:20 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting IKE:
Talk about drying up!




We can't even get tropical storm with rain bands producing 5-10 inches earlier this afternoon to 'spread the love' once it lands!

My state is cursed.
Member Since: 1 juillet 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 111
236. IKE 01:21 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    

Quoting jasonweatherman2011:
we got a tropical storm on land with no rain!! its that little crazy!! its a dry tropical storm now!!
I see that.
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237. MiamiHurricanes09 01:22 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
.
Member Since: 2 septembre 2009 Posts: 129 Comments: 20012
238. IKE 01:22 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    

Quoting tiggeriffic:


exhausted lol...worked a 12 today...yesterday my sitter had emerg surg so i had mine plus her 3, today during my 12 Mom in law went to ER...lets just say...the last 28 hours have laid me out...
Jeez...hope it gets better.
Member Since: 9 juin 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070
239. TropicalAnalystwx13 01:22 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Don is the worst drought buster in the history of drought busters!

This is even more pathetic than Bonnie!
Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25992
240. wxmobilejim 01:22 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting Tazmanian:
DON has made land fall it looks like 1st of 2011

Arlene was first landfall this year.
Member Since: 11 mai 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 230
241. SubtropicalHi 01:23 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
I guess you could point to "lack of soil moisture" for Don's sudden vaporization, but Brownsville got 5 inches of rain in the last month. Go figure. Only in Texas
Member Since: 27 juin 2010 Posts: 1 Comments: 354
242. TropicalAnalystwx13 01:23 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting MiamiHurricanes09:
That's weird, the RaleighWX site and SFWMD site show different plots but both initialize at the same time.

Based on the image I showed though, it is a northward shift in guidance between the 18z plots and 0z plots.


Well, the one Keeper posts also shows a southward shift. I don't think the site where you got that image is reliable in this case.
Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25992
243. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 01:23 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
don is gone nothing but some numbers in a book
Member Since: 15 juillet 2006 Posts: 147 Comments: 41332
244. tiggeriffic 01:24 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting IKE:

I see that.


what do you think the probability is that the rain was there but due to the extreme dryness it evaporated before it could reach the ground?
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245. PrivateIdaho 01:24 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Texas is so dry it sucked all the water (not to mention the fun) right out of Don.
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246. MiamiHurricanes09 01:24 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13:


Well, the one Keeper posts also shows a southward shift.
Never mind, statistical plots shifted northward, dynamic plots shifted southward.
Member Since: 2 septembre 2009 Posts: 129 Comments: 20012
247. jpsb 01:24 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting jasonweatherman2011:
i nevere saw a tropical storm on land with no rain!! tropical storm don with winds 50 mph got no more rain with it!! crazy!!!!
Moisture does not last long in Texas. Radar says it's raining well maybe 10,000 feet up but at ground level? Not a drop.
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248. xtremeweathertracker 01:25 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
I think 91L misses the connection with the trough and continues on a west to west north west path in to the Carribean or the GOM!!!
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249. tiggeriffic 01:25 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting Patrap:
220. tiggeriffic

Watching Kabuki theater on C-Span.


..and Don Tejas' death Spiral as well.


PeeWee has Dual Survivor on in the background...lol... almost like Kabuki theatre...snicker snicker
Member Since: 16 septembre 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 3598
251. TropicalAnalystwx13 01:26 GMT le 30 juillet 2011    
Quoting MiamiHurricanes09:
Never mind, statistical plots shifted northward, dynamic plots shifted southward.


Could you explain the difference between the two?
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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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