Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Tropical Storm Erika likely soon; a weaker Jimena powers towards Baja
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 07:48 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009 +3
Hurricane Jimena has weakened to a low-end Category 4 hurricane with 135 mph winds, thanks to the collapse of its inner eyewall. The hurricane is undergoing a process common in intense hurricanes called an Eyewall Replacement Cycle (ERC), where the eye shrinks to a size too small to be stable, resulting in the disintegration of the eyewall, and the formation of a new eyewall from one of the outer spiral bands. Once the new eyewall becomes stable tonight, Jimena has an opportunity to re-strengthen.

The latest set of 12Z model runs show little change in Jimena's track. The hurricane is still expected to make landfall Wednesday along Mexico's Baja Peninsula. If the hurricane makes landfall over the southern portion of Baja, it would likely be at major hurricane strength. However, SSTs cool quickly to 23°C at the middle of the Baja Peninsula, and Jimena would likely weaken to a Category 2 or 1 hurricane if it makes a strike towards the middle of Baja. The computer models are split on what might happen once Jimena makes landfall on Baja, with one camp predicting a northeast turn bringing the storm over Mainland Mexico and eventually into Arizona, and the other camp stalling Jimena out over or just west of Baja. Regardless, the main threat from Jimena will be flooding and mudslides due to heavy rains.

Baja's hurricane history
The most powerful hurricane on record to hit the west coast of Baja occurred last year, when Hurricane Norbert made landfall on the central Baja coast with sustained winds of 105 mph (Category 2) . Norbert's central pressure of 956 mb at landfall made it the 3rd strongest hurricane to hit the Pacific coast of Mexico since record keeping began in 1949. Norbert killed eight, knocked out power to 20,000 homes, and damaged or destroyed 40% of the homes on the islands of Margarita and Magdalena. Norbert crossed the Baja Peninsula and made landfall on Mainland Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane with 85 mph winds.

Only two major hurricanes have made landfall on Baja since record keeping began in 1949. Both hurricanes hit the east (Gulf of California) side of Baja. The first was Hurricane Olivia of 1967. Olivia made landfall on October 13, 1967 as a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds. Due to its small size and the unpopulated region of coast it hit, damage was minimal. The second major hurricane was Hurricane Kiko, which made landfall on August 27, 1989, as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph (minimal Category 3). Kiko was a small hurricane and hit a relatively unpopulated area, resulting in no loss of life and only scattered reports of damage.


Figure 1. A plot of all the major hurricanes to pass within 200 miles of Mexico's Baja Peninsula since 1949. Image credit: NOAA Coastal Services Center.

Invest 94L almost Tropical Storm Erika
The Air Force Hurricane Hunters are investigating tropical wave 94L, about 200 miles east of the Lesser Antilles Islands. So far this afternoon, they have found a broad circulation with top winds of 45 - 50 mph in heavy thunderstorms on the east side. The circulation may be too broad for 94L to be considered a tropical storm, but visible satellite imagery shows that the circulation is getting better defined, and 94L's heavy thunderstorms are moving closer to the center of circulation. Recent satellite wind shear analyses by NOAA/Colorado State University and the University of Wisconsin show that wind shear is a moderate 10 - 20 knots over 94L, and this shear is keeping any thunderstorms from developing on the system's west side.

The forecast for 94L
The latest of 12Z model runs are more in tune with the idea that 94L will become a tropical storm, with the latest ECMWF run now on board. The storm will be steered west-northwest to northwest over the next three days thanks to the presence to two upper-level lows to the northwest of the storm. Since most of 94L's heavy thunderstorms and high winds are on the east side, the northern Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico will probably be spared tropical storm force winds from this system. The best guess track for 94L, assuming it does intensify into a tropical storm in the next 24 hours, is on a northwest path between the Bahamas and Bermuda. If 94L stays weak, a more southerly path, along the northern edge of the Bahama Islands, is more likely.


Figure 2. Infrared satellite image taken at 12pm EDT, Tuesday Sep 1, 2009. Five major African tropical waves are apparent. Image credit: Navy Research Lab, Monterey.

Elsewhere in the tropics
It's September, the most active month for hurricane activity in the Northern Hemisphere. There's every indication that the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season will have an active first half of September, since SSTs are 0.5 - 1.0°C above average, wind shear is near average, and the African monsoon is sending a long parade of African waves spinning off the coast of Africa. An IR satellite image from noon today shows this activity well (Figure 2). We can see a line-up of five African waves stretching from the Lesser Antilles to eastern Africa. The GFS model develops the waves numbered "2" and "3" into tropical depressions next week, and the waves labeled "1" and "4" also have a chance to develop into tropical depressions, as well. The wave labeled "1" is mentioned on NHC's Tropical Weather Outlook as having a low (less than 30%) chance of developing into a tropical depression by Thursday. This wave is under a moderate 10 - 15 knots of wind shear, and is over sufficiently warm waters (27 - 28°C) that some development may occur this week. The wave is far enough north that it will be hampered by dry air from the Sahara Desert.

California fire webcams
As I discussed in this morning's post, you can use our wundermap for Los Angeles with the fire layer turned on to see where the fire and smoke are located, and track the temperatures and winds during today's air pollution event. We also have two webcams with views of the fire: Altadena and Tujunga.

Jeff Masters
Backing Down (Fotoguy77)
Part of the massive Station Fire backs down toward Sunland, Ca in this shot taken around 1am. The fire has burned through over 122,000 acres and killed two.
Backing Down
getting out (Fotoguy77)
This fire Chief from El Dorado County in Northern California is chased out of Aliso Canyon by a wall of flames. This was in the Acton area just off the 14 Freeway.
getting out
Categories: Hurricane
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901. A4Guy 10:56 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting WPBHurricane05:


I wonder if that has to do with the fact that you live in South Carolina North Carolina or Virginia.

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, I guess.


Touche!
Member Since: Giugno 23, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 646
902. AllStar17 10:56 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
00Z models shall be interesting.
Member Since: Giugno 29, 2009 Posts: 13 Comments: 5135
903. JUSTCOASTING 10:56 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting 954FtLCane:


Lets see so property values go down, um try selling your house, and then insurance goes up...and so on and so on. Well since I can't afford insurance I'm going to build myself a 15 inch house......


Is it really worth building a 15" house with a 10k impact fee LOL
Member Since: Agosto 15, 2006 Posts: 2 Comments: 666
904. Relix 10:56 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting AllStar17:
Erika is moving more west of west-northwest in last few images.


Another one that sees this. Hopefully not a trend or us in the antilles will have something else to deal with.
Member Since: Agosto 3, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 2358
906. trey33 10:57 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Ossqss:
Wave forecast

Dramamine may be in order on a boat :)


Thanks! lol.... bringing lots of wine though.
Member Since: Agosto 16, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 475
907. JLPR 10:58 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Weather456:
JLPR,

kinda makes it worst for the islands but I would like to see if its a trend, but any short jog affects the islands, not so much those out ahead like the Bahamas, etc.


yep I do hope it is only a jog
but even jogs are bad =\
Member Since: Settembre 4, 2007 Posts: 36 Comments: 5223
908. wcoastfl 10:57 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting boyzNme:
My favorite tip for important papers is to mail them to yourself certified mail US Postal service will hold on to them, until you can get them.


Thank you for that. Another keeper.


What if the post office is destroyed?
909. ProduceBoy 10:57 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting HaboobsRsweet:

Yea you are right but the models have been all over the place esspecially the GFS. I am just forecasting based on how I see it. I have been watching that front and how it has been hanging around the last few days. It will gradually weaken each day but it is a race, will Erika slow down enough for the front to die off or will the front hang on and influence the track? That is the magic question IMO.


You're right, and unfortunately only mother nature really has the answers. Although I always appreciate the fact that you have the balls to say what you think on here. As for the GFS, each runs' operational model hasn't agreed with its ensambles ALL week, and one day there's ridging along the eastern seaboard, the next day it's disappeared. It's actually lost a lot of credibility this year, especially in comparison to the ECMWF.
Member Since: Agosto 10, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 35
910. Patrap 10:57 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting violet312s:
I feel bad for the HHers. They've been out there for nearly 5 hours.


Thats only a Lil Hop,,most HH missions Last 10-12 Hours.
Member Since: Luglio 3, 2005 Posts: 371 Comments: 111503
911. TampaSpin 10:57 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Sorry i messed it up....lol
Member Since: Settembre 2, 2007 Posts: 175 Comments: 19747
912. Cavin Rawlins 10:57 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting AllStar17:
00Z models shall be interesting.


yep
Member Since: Luglio 24, 2005 Posts: 407 Comments: 19076
914. Sfloridacat5 10:58 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Dr. Lyons
"Front will deflect Erica long before it gets to Florida".
Member Since: Settembre 16, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2026
916. CaribBoy 10:58 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Erika is really exploding... just like yesterday at the same time
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917. TreasureCoastFl 10:58 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting flsky:


Pretty much all of FL is at risk for hurricanes. The majority of the population was born here and many of them are quite poor. I think that if they wanted to leave, many would not have the wherewithal to do so. There are narrow visions such as yours. Sometimes it's a good idea to take in the entire picture. (OK done preaching.)


Are you serious? Florida has some of the most wealthiest people and those are the ones that tend to live closest to the coastline. Every state has it's percent of poor but come on.. Florida is paradise. I am born and raised and abosolutely love it here and would never move because of that because in reality hurricanes are far a few between from hitting your exact area here.
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918. Patrap 10:58 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
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919. JLPR 10:59 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Relix:


Another one that sees this. Hopefully not a trend or us in the antilles will have something else to deal with.


its already at 17N so a PR landfall seems unlikely but a close call seems very possible
a 50 -100miles encounter =|
Member Since: Settembre 4, 2007 Posts: 36 Comments: 5223
920. cdnbananabelt 10:59 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting PcolaDan:


Have to ask though, have you lived in the same house for 50 years and paid your insurance on it and never had a claim? Rates went up, but gradually over the years. The plan WAS solid until about 5 years ago. Now suddenly, $500 dollars more a month for insurance. May not break the bank for some, but sure can make things tight for retirees. Remember, 40 and 50 years ago, investing was not for the everyday person. That was done by the company for your retirement. And oh yea, that's not sacrosanct anymore either.


Have to wonder if Haboob's going to be challenged a little down the road, possibly beyond what he sees as manageable. It's karmic philosophy, man, and it might come in the form of a nasty cane.
921. CaribBoy 10:59 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Relix:


Another one that sees this. Hopefully not a trend or us in the antilles will have something else to deal with.


Where do you live Relix?
Member Since: Ottobre 6, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 2852
922. Ossqss 10:59 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting trey33:


Thanks! lol.... bringing lots of wine though.


Don't be surprised if your itinerary changes :)

Cozumel for instance ---- ~~~


BTW, I added a link to my post to the NCEP wave models.
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923. HaboobsRsweet 10:59 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Patrap:


Thats only a Lil Hop,,most HH missions Last 10-12 Hours.

and they may take two crews with them.
Member Since: Maggio 20, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 1640
924. homelesswanderer 10:59 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting boyzNme:
And while gutting homes Post K,we were always amazed when opening a dishwasher that was in floodwaters. Clean as a whistle they were on the inside.



Thanks for the info Pat. I knew you wouldn't think I was making this up!! Like I said, this was a keeper tip!!


Yep. The dishwasher tip is a good one. I rescued my favorite set of glasses out of mine. Not a spec of muck on them. Other than being watertight, they are also usually protected under a counter top. So if the roof and the walls come down on op of it its got pretty good chance of making it.
Member Since: Agosto 15, 2008 Posts: 10 Comments: 3665
925. tikikopamsxm 11:00 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Good evening!
I'm waiting for Erika here in St Martin, i hope i will be able to tell you how is it here tomorrow if the electricity is not too early cut (as usual)
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926. VAbeachhurricanes 11:00 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    



jeez it is bombing out with those storms...
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927. Cavin Rawlins 11:00 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Sfloridacat5:
Dr. Lyons
"Front will deflect Erica long before it gets to Florida".


well I agree with him, especially the fact that the front is like draped there.

But how far west it will go could affect where the storm is deflected, that is, North Carolina go north.

Could New England be as unlucky to get another system.
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928. Stormchaser2007 11:00 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Raw T up to 3.5.
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929. Patrap 11:00 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting WXHEAD:

Yes, perhaps you're right! Touchy! Humorous anecdotes can always wait until the bandwidth is not so crowded I suppose. There is a chance I could have interpreted the post a little differently than you ascribed it to be. As long as Erika is being naughty and not obeying the prognosticators, I suppose her mischief will cause turmoil here in the blog. What are we up to almost 1000 in the last 2 hours? The site sure is slow, I suppose the WU server is operating at full capacity.
Point taken.


The Blogs here on a Busy Day, never use more than 3-4 % of the servers capacity.
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930. farhaonhebrew 11:00 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Relix:


Another one that sees this. Hopefully not a trend or us in the antilles will have something else to deal with.
i see it too...8pm update?
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931. stormwatcherCI 11:01 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting wcoastfl:


What if the post office is destroyed?
When Ivan passed over the Cayman Islands most of the post offices had flooding and even sewage in them. Although we are a small country we lost many thousands of letters etc. When Paloma passed Cayman Brac the post office were so damaged they couldn't open for months. I don't think that is a smart idea.
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933. HaboobsRsweet 11:02 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting cdnbananabelt:


Have to wonder if Haboob's going to be challenged a little down the road, possibly beyond what he sees as manageable. It's karmic philosophy, man, and it might come in the form of a nasty cane.

You never know...I might. I built north of I10 where no flooding occured during Katrina. Hopefully the next storm my house can take it but if not I have insurance and can take the money and go build else where where the rates may be lower and not go up as much.
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934. stormsurge39 11:02 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting TampaSpin:
Sorry i messed it up....lol
Is this cone going to shift to the left if Erika keeps going WNW. Because it looks like to me that it has to start turning more N right now to line up with that cone.Then again what do i know?LOL
935. hunkerdown 11:02 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting TampaSpin:
Sorry i messed it up....lol
52, 58, 63 69 mph...sure aren't trying to cut an corners...
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936. TampaSpin 11:03 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Weather456:


well I agree with him, especially the fact that the front is like draped there.

But how far west it will go could affect where the storm is deflected, that is, North Carolina go north.

Could New England be as lucky to get another system.


456 i agree.....Looks like a North Carolina strong possiblity to me.
Member Since: Settembre 2, 2007 Posts: 175 Comments: 19747
937. Relix 11:03 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting CaribBoy:


Where do you live Relix?


Puerto Rico. On the north edge, a few miles west of San Juan. The beach is literally a mile away from me.

@JLPR: It's still under our latitude =P. A purely west movement could still get us, though that's very VERY doubtful to happen.
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938. Grothar 11:03 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Patrap:


The Blogs here on a Busy Day, never use more than 3-4 % of the servers capacity.


Hey Patrap, you have urgent mail.
Member Since: Luglio 17, 2009 Posts: 56 Comments: 19542
939. mobilegirl81 11:03 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting HaboobsRsweet:

Nope, live right down the road from you. About 20 miles.

For some reason I do not believe that. LOL
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940. Cavin Rawlins 11:04 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
I remember the last Erika in 2003. I think she was Texas bound
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942. Mikla 11:04 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Erika w/ 18Z models... all over the place... models will need another day with a few more center fixes before they start to converge or can be trusted... IMHO...

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943. HaboobsRsweet 11:04 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting ProduceBoy:


You're right, and unfortunately only mother nature really has the answers. Although I always appreciate the fact that you have the balls to say what you think on here. As for the GFS, each runs' operational model hasn't agreed with its ensambles ALL week, and one day there's ridging along the eastern seaboard, the next day it's disappeared. It's actually lost a lot of credibility this year, especially in comparison to the ECMWF.

You just have to call it as you see it. That is what forecasters do for a living. You live and die by your forecast. I try to ignore the models if they are not in agreement. yes you have less tools to use but there are a lot of facts sitting in front of you from a simple satellite image.
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944. thebandman 11:04 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
NBC 6 out of Miami just proudly announced that south Florida was note in the 5 day cone. Needless to say that means nothing and gives the public the sense that they don't need to watch this storm.
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945. amd 11:05 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Weather456:


I'm here theorize 2 things:

Erika is being steered by the shallow-mid layer flow which has become more westerly as some upper level features advances west and north.

The TAFB surface anlysis from 12Z to 18Z show ridge heights have increased (surface ridging expanding).

I still expect a general wnw to nw motion to resume.


1st theory: that makes sense. Movement and shear do not appear out of thin air. There must be a kicker for both, and since the ULL in the central atlantic continues to move out and weaken, it will not affect either movement or shear.

Therefore, the low-level flow which pushes storm must take over, but this flow doesn't look all that strong. In fact, the latest CIMSS steering maps suggests that Erika would have to be a strong cat 2 to gain any poleward movement or speed in general.

2nd theory: I don't have access to the TAFB ridging patterns currently, but the ridging makes sense. The ULL's couldn't be pulled out of the central atlantic and moving to the north without a multi-level ridge to guide it (I think the ridge is not just a surface feature, hence the term multi-level).

So, in this case, IMHO, both theories lead to the same conclusion and that is this: Erika will continue to NOT gain that much latitude until it strengthens dramatically, or a kicker emerges that can deflect the westerly flow.
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946. HaboobsRsweet 11:05 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting mobilegirl81:

For some reason I do not believe that. LOL

haha i live in gautier and only someone from southern MS or AL knows where that is.
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947. stormpetrol 11:05 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
THose watches should go to warnings imo.
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948. hunkerdown 11:06 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting TampaSpin:


456 i agree.....Looks like a North Carolina strong possiblity to me.
and you were in the Florida not that long ago, posting the prrof...thats how fast/often weather changes with a lot of unpredictability.
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949. CybrTeddy 11:06 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Some of the deepest convection we've seen all year.


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950. Patrap 11:06 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting HaboobsRsweet:

haha i live in gautier and only someone from southern MS or AL knows where that is.



Gautier,,small but Nice folks.
Member Since: Luglio 3, 2005 Posts: 371 Comments: 111503
951. stormsurge39 11:06 PM GMT del 01 Settembre 2009    
Quoting Weather456:
I remember the last Erika in 2003. I think she was Texas bound
How fast will Erika have to go to be effected by the front? Is that why the models are split?

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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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