Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Noel the hurricane becomes Noel the 'Noreaster
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 13:59 GMT le 02 novembre 2007 +4
Hurricane Noel pulled off a surprising burst of intensification last night despite 30 knots of wind shear. The storm's pressure dropped from 993 mb to 981 mb in just a few hours, and the winds cranked up to 80 mph. Noel is the first November hurricane in the Atlantic since Hurricane Michelle of 2001. Fortunately, Noel's intensification burst came after the storm had cleared the Bahama Islands, and wind damage was relatively minor in the islands. The latest Hurricane Hunter eye report at 8am EDT found the pressure holding steady at 981 mb, and weaker surface winds, 70-75 mph.

Noel the hurricane becomes Noel the 'Noreaster
Noel will brush Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, today, bringing winds near tropical storm force and a few rain bands. Strong northerly winds are expected to cause coastal flooding inside Pamlico Sound, with water levels 4-6 feet above normal. Winds at the Diamond Shoals buoy off the coast of Cape Hatteras were sustained at 40 mph, gusting to 47 mph, at 10am EDT. Seas were 15 feet, and 10-12 foot breakers are expected along the Outer Banks today. Noel has expanded significantly in size over the past 24 hours, and is bringing tropical storm force winds over a huge area of ocean (Figure 1). As Noel approaches New England on Saturday, the hurricane will make the transition to a powerful 'Noreaster, as cold air spills into the storm from the northwest. Noel's wind field is expected to expand farther, and the storm will maintain its intensity. Sustained winds of tropical storm force (39 mph) are likely along eastern Long Island and the coasts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Nova Scotia. The latest (06Z) runs of the GFDL and HWRF models intensify Noel to a 954 mb 'Noreaster, and bring sustained winds of hurricane force (75 mph) to Cape Cod and Nantucket. The ECMWF and NOGAPS models also bring Noel quite close to Cape Cod, and foresee a landfall near the Maine/Nova Scotia border. The UKMET and GFS models are farther east, bringing Noel to the western or central coast of Nova Scotia. Due to the wide wind field of Noel, both Massachusetts and Nova Scotia may see hurricane force winds. Due to the cold air invading Noel from the west, the western side of the storm will be the rainy side, and coastal Massachusetts can expect 2-6 inches of rain. About 1-3 inches are likely for Nova Scotia.


Figure 1. QuikSCAT image from 6:47am EDT Friday, 11/02/07. Can you find the hurricane?

Noel's trail of destruction
Noel's death toll now stands at 115, with many hard-hit rural areas yet to be heard from. The Dominican Republic suffered 73 deaths, Haiti 40, the Bahamas one, and Jamaica one. Noel is the deadliest storm this hurricane season. Hurricane Felix's official death toll was 101 people in Nicaragua and Honduras earlier this season (wikipedia puts this toll at 133). Additional rains of 1-2 inches are likely to fall in Haiti, eastern Cuba, and the eastern Bahamas today, due to Noel. Noel brought over 20 inches of rain to some of the Bahamas Islands, such as Rum Cay and San Salvador Island (Figure 2).


Figure 2. Satellite estimated rainfall totals for October 26-November 1, from the NASA TRMM satellite.

Links to follow for Noel
Satellite loop
North Carolina marine weather and buoy reports
Long range radar out of Cape Hatteras, NC
Google Maps interface, zoomed in on Cape Hatteras, NC

I'll have an update Saturday morning.

Jeff Masters
Angry Atlantic (dutch)
High surf as tropical storm Noel passes by the east coast of Florida.
Angry Atlantic
Stupidity (DRWeather)
Not the smartest thing to do in a flash flood!
Stupidity
Categories: Hurricane
  Permalink | A A A
Reader Comments
Display: 0, 50, 100, 200 Sort: Newest First - Order Posted
Viewing: 1551 - 1592

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 — Blog Index

1551. extreme236 15:27 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
As long as you have shear low enough and SSTS above 26 degrees celsius and still some low level features to spark development, the season isnt over. I agree Drak that 1-2 systems are possible, in fact IMO likely. BBL
Member Since: 2 août 2007 Posts: 19 Comments: 19234
1552. Hhunter 15:28 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
At 3:00 a.m. EDT, Friday, Noel had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 70 miles from the storm center, while tropical storm-force winds were being felt as much as 345 miles away. The strongest winds and heaviest rain were on the northern side of the storm.
Member Since: 19 août 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2886
1553. Drakoen 15:28 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Member Since: 28 octobre 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010
1554. Hhunter 15:29 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
i am taking the under.

i think there is a decent chance that the game is postponed..
Member Since: 19 août 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2886
1555. SamTeam 15:30 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Morning all..I see the blob that was discussed last night is our most recent invest.

Member Since: 22 septembre 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 209
1557. Cavin Rawlins 15:36 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Watch buoy 44004 as Noel passes over it during the next couple of hrs



The obs just to the north of of center is buoy 44004


Member Since: 24 juillet 2005 Posts: 407 Comments: 19076
1558. Orcasystems 15:37 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
I am totally confused now. I have been to every site I have bookmarked, including the Navy/trl site, and not one of them has been updated? It would appear that once they stop calling it a Hurricane no one cares where it is going?

Unless I am wrong from what I am reading.. Bascially you are going to have a Cat 2 whatever you want to call it hit a highly populated eastern US seaboard.

Something is wrong with this picture.. or at least it appears to be, am I missing a link somewhere that tells what is happening now with the track?
Member Since: 1 octobre 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 26077
1559. Cavin Rawlins 15:38 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
the buoy is reporting a pressure of 982 mb (29.0in)

BBL
Member Since: 24 juillet 2005 Posts: 407 Comments: 19076
1560. Dropsonde 15:41 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
I'm in Boston and watching Ex-Noel through a bay window. Right now it's nothing spectacular, about 20 mph near-continuous winds and blowing rain. It reminds me a bit of tropical storms that hit when I lived on the Gulf Coast, though colder. But if it has 75kt winds and a sub 980mb core, AND is strengthening, AND is shifting west, then I'm probably going to get hammered in 6 hours or so. I'll get video/photos if anything interesting happens before sunset.
Member Since: 22 août 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 414
1561. stormpetrol 15:41 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
I think Noel looks more tropical than extratropical, but thats just my opinion.
Member Since: 29 avril 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 6404
1562. Hhunter 15:43 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
www.accuweather.com is doing a pretty good job of tracking the storm. The big picture, and then enter your local zip code and pretty good detail on your local forecast conditions. Looks like around cap code we are talking 85-100mph gusts...
Member Since: 19 août 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2886
1563. Hhunter 15:46 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Link

link for Noel info
Member Since: 19 août 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2886
1564. pspredicts 15:46 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
anyone know what kind storm surge around the big apple?
1565. Drakoen 15:47 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
The northeast is on the strong side of the extratropical system. Areas around Boston and Eastern portions of the Northeast states should prepare for heavy winds capable of wide spread power outages. Visible imagery shows that the circulation is moving to the North north east and could be just of shore when it approaches latitude 40N. The Navy NOGAPS model shows the circulation center just of shore while the GFS 12z is further to the east.
Member Since: 28 octobre 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010
1566. Hhunter 15:48 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
more infoLink
Member Since: 19 août 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2886
1567. Tazmanian 15:49 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
if this was winter time and if we had colder air this storm would be a major blizzard right right now
Member Since: 21 mai 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111360
1568. Orcasystems 15:50 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
1563. Hhunter 3:46 PM GMT on November 03, 2007
Link

link for Noel info


Thank you very much :) More info there then I have found in the last hour looking myself.. I also notice something else. Over the last few daysI have heard the "B" name used a lot.. I take it this is where he hangs out.. first thing i saw was his name.


Member Since: 1 octobre 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 26077
1569. WPBHurricane05 15:53 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
I am totally confused now. I have been to every site I have bookmarked, including the Navy/trl site, and not one of them has been updated? It would appear that once they stop calling it a Hurricane no one cares where it is going?

Unless I am wrong from what I am reading.. Bascially you are going to have a Cat 2 whatever you want to call it hit a highly populated eastern US seaboard.

Something is wrong with this picture.. or at least it appears to be, am I missing a link somewhere that tells what is happening now with the track?


Canada hurricane center

Latest advisory
Latest track (note the wind speed forecast is in knots)
Member Since: 31 juillet 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929
1570. Drakoen 15:53 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    

Member Since: 28 octobre 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010
1571. TampaSpin 15:54 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Look at this imiage.....any doubt how strong..wow
Member Since: 2 septembre 2007 Posts: 175 Comments: 19747
1572. iamcanadian 15:55 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Hey all - we're in Halifax and the wind has already started to pick up. How's Noel looking intensity-wise? Has he lost strength at all?

Environment Canada indicated the storm will lose some of its intensity, but we still can expect wind gusts up to 148 km/hr in some areas.
Member Since: 8 septembre 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 36
1573. TampaSpin 15:57 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Look at the latest track.
Member Since: 2 septembre 2007 Posts: 175 Comments: 19747
1574. listenerVT 15:57 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Well, I've called most of the loved ones on the NE coast and just spoke with my sis-in-law on Nantucket.
She said one of the locals called her last night and said "We're gonna have a blow" so she went out in the dark and took in all her lawn furniture. But my brother near Boston hadn't heard it was going to be more than a rainstorm!
The NWS may have to eat crow at the end of this storm. I wish it would swallow hard and do something helpful NOW instead.
Member Since: 11 juillet 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 4790
1575. OUFan919 15:57 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Wow, Noel looks like a BEAST. Jeez
Member Since: 31 juillet 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 329
1576. WPBHurricane05 15:58 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Hey all - we're in Halifax and the wind has already started to pick up. How's Noel looking intensity-wise? Has he lost strength at all?

Environment Canada indicated the storm will lose some of its intensity, but we still can expect wind gusts up to 148 km/hr in some areas.


Thats what I read from the Canadian Hurricane Center.
Member Since: 31 juillet 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929
1578. WPBHurricane05 15:59 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Hurricane force wind warning for Cape Cod Bay Link
Member Since: 31 juillet 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929
1579. Drakoen 16:00 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Nantucket island and Barnstable will probably see the worst impact, as the right front quadrant of the system could come close to that region. Radar already shows moderate to heavy precipitation in the area.
Member Since: 28 octobre 2006 Posts: 57 Comments: 29010
1580. 900MB 16:00 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Looks like a "Cape Scrape" to me!
Member Since: 11 juin 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 609
1581. TampaSpin 16:00 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Hello StormW, looking bad for our friends in New England it appears.
Member Since: 2 septembre 2007 Posts: 175 Comments: 19747
1582. WPBHurricane05 16:01 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
new blog
Member Since: 31 juillet 2006 Posts: 56 Comments: 7929
1583. primez 16:03 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
I live on central long island along the south shore. What can I expect from this storm? Will I get TS winds or not?
Member Since: 18 septembre 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 195
1584. TampaSpin 16:03 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
New pic just updated.
Member Since: 2 septembre 2007 Posts: 175 Comments: 19747
1585. Orcasystems 16:04 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
1569. WPBHurricane05 3:53 PM GMT on November 03, 2007

I should have asked earlier, lots of information there, looks like it will come ashore around St John NB from that map.

Here is a cbc webcam from there

Link
Member Since: 1 octobre 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 26077
1586. listenerVT 16:05 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
TampaSpin...
Any thoughts on why the vapor loop indicates a westward jog, while the track is still posted with what seems to be an easterly jog?
Member Since: 11 juillet 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 4790
1587. listenerVT 16:08 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
Here's the Nantucket Harbor Cam!

http://nantucket.net/live/newharbor.php
Member Since: 11 juillet 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 4790
1588. Hhunter 16:22 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
your right mr b hangs out at accuweather.com

he is not a big fan of how nhc has handle this noel situation.

by removing the name correct in the class room but not given people in the NE the appropriate respect for what is about to occur. Long island. tropical storm force winds that is a yes...
Member Since: 19 août 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2886
1589. stormybil 16:25 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
is 91L moving nw now
1590. Hhunter 16:30 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
the 100mph storm formally known as nothing looks to be moving slightly west of north now. Say 350 or 355 degrees. Man talk about getting caught with your pants down. check out the forming eye!Link
Member Since: 19 août 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2886
1591. TampaSpin 16:47 GMT le 03 novembre 2007    
HHunter new blog up
Member Since: 2 septembre 2007 Posts: 175 Comments: 19747
1592. sporteguy03 00:26 GMT le 04 novembre 2007    
old blog up
Member Since: 7 juillet 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 4824

Viewing: 1551 - 1592

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 — Blog 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
Clear
37 ° F
Ciel dégagé
Community Activity