Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

New Caribbean disturbance 93L a major concern; flooding in Asia kills over 200
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 02:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010 +6
A concentrated region of intense thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave has developed in the central Caribbean, a few hundred miles south of Puerto Rico. This disturbance was designated Invest 93L by NHC this morning, and has the best chance to become Tropical Storm Alex of any system we've seen so far this year. The disturbance is located near Buoy 42059, and this buoy has been reporting winds of 5 - 15 knots this morning. So far, pressures are not falling. Water vapor satellite loops show that 93L is embedded in a large region of moist air. Some dry continental air from North America is over the western Caribbean, but this dry air is too far away to interfere with development today and Tuesday. Wind shear is a low 5 - 10 knots. The high wind shear associated with the strong winds of the subtropical jet stream are over the northern Caribbean, too far north to interfere with development. Sea Surface Temperatures are plenty warm, a record 29 - 30°C. The Madden-Julian oscillation currently favors upward motion over the Caribbean, which will act to increase the chances of tropical storm formation this week. The Madden-Julian oscillation is a pattern of enhanced rainfall that travels along the Equator from west to east. The pattern has a wet phase with large-scale rising air and enhanced thunderstorm activity, followed by a dry phase with large-scale sinking air and suppressed thunderstorm activity. Each cycle lasts approximately 30 - 60 days. When the Madden-Julian oscillation is in its wet phase over a hurricane-prone region, the chances for tropical storm activity are greatly increased. The only negative for 93L would seem to be the lack of spin; the University of Wisconsin 850 mb relative vorticity analysis is showing only meager amounts of spin at 850 mb (roughly 5,000 feet in altitude.)


Figure 1. Morning visible satellite image of the central Caribbean disturbance 93L.

Forecast for 93L
NHC is giving 93L a 20% chance of developing into a tropical depression by Wednesday morning, which is a reasonable forecast. With wind shear expected to drop to low values less than 10 knots over the central and western Caribbean this week (Figure 2), I don't see any major impediments to the storm becoming a tropical depression by Friday. The ECMWF model is the most aggressive in developing this system, taking it into the Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane next week. The NOGAPS model keeps the storm weak and farther south, predicting that 93L will bring heavy rains to northern Honduras as a tropical disturbance or tropical depression on Friday and Saturday. The GFS model does not develop 93L. Expect 93L to bring flooding rains of 3 - 6 inches to Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and extreme southwestern Haiti on Wednesday. These rains will spread to the Cayman Islands and central Cuba by Thursday.


Figure 2. Predicted wind shear for Friday, June 25, as forecast by this morning's 2am EDT run of the GFS model. Shear is given in meters per second; multiply by about two to convert to knots. Low wind shear values less than 6 m/s (12 knots) are predicted for much of the Western Caribbean this week.

Elsewhere in the tropics
The tropical wave (92L) that brought heavy rains of 2 - 5 inches to Puerto Rico on Saturday has weakened and is no longer a threat to bring flooding rains to the Caribbean.

Floods in China and Burma kill over 200
The deadliest and most destructive weather-related disaster on the planet so far this year is occurring in southern China and northern Burma, where a week of heavy rains has caused flooding that has claimed over 200 lives. The death toll stands at 175 in China and 63 in Burma, with more than 100 people still missing in China. Damage so far in China has been estimated at $4.3 billion.


Figure 3. Tree branches hung on a bridge at Taining County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 19, 2010. Taining recorded 225 mm (9 inches) of rain in six hours on Friday. Image credit: Xinhua/Jiang Kehong.

Montana tornado rips roof off entertainment complex
A EF-2 tornado with winds of at least 100 mph ripped the roof of an entertainment complex in Billings, Montana on Sunday, causing up to $15 million in damage. No injuries were reported. It was the strongest tornado to hit the Billings area since 1958.


Figure 4. Video of the Billings tornado shows an impressive debris cloud (and a few expletives not deleted!) The clear slot on the right of the tornado is likely associated with the parent thunderstorm's rear flank downdraft.

Wind and ocean current forecast for the BP oil disaster
Southeast to east winds less than 10 knots will blow in the northern Gulf of Mexico today through Friday, according to the latest marine forecast from NOAA. The resulting weak ocean currents should cause little motion of the oil slick, according to the latest trajectory forecasts from NOAA and the State of Louisiana. The long range outlook is uncertain, as the tropical wave over the central Caribbean could enter the Gulf of Mexico early next week and develop into a tropical storm.

Resources for the BP oil disaster
My post, What a hurricane would do the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
My post on the Southwest Florida "Forbidden Zone" where surface oil will rarely go
My post on what oil might do to a hurricane
NOAA's interactive mapping tool allows one to overlay wind and ocean current forecasts, oil locations, etc.
Gulf Oil Blog from the UGA Department of Marine Sciences
Oil Spill Academic Task Force
University of South Florida Ocean Circulation Group oil spill forecasts
ROFFS Deepwater Horizon page
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery from the University of Miami

Jeff Masters
Billings, MT tornado (StormTeam)
Photo taken from approx. 5-6 miles east. Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8429C0-LSlo
Billings, MT tornado
Categories: Flood Hurricane
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451. Floodman 04:46 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting jasoniscoolman09:
ARE YOU NUTS NO WAY YOU GET A CAT 7...ONLY GO UP TO CAT 5 SILLY.


Wow...you really need to unclench a little...life is too short
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 9919
452. Patrap 04:46 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
oooooffh..

Current Conditions

Uptown, New Orleans, Louisiana (PWS)
Updated: 44 sec ago
Haze

95.0 °F

Haze
Humidity: 58%
Dew Point: 78 °F
Wind: 1.7 mph from the SE
Wind Gust: 8.1 mph
Pressure: 30.06 in (Rising)

Heat Index: 111 °F

Visibility: 7.0 miles
UV: 6 out of 16
Pollen: 3.60 out of 12
Pollen Forecast new!
Clouds:
Few 3500 ft
Scattered Clouds 4200 ft
Mostly Cloudy 25000 ft
(Above Ground Level)
Elevation: 20 ft
Member Since: Luglio 3, 2005 Posts: 371 Comments: 111464
455. tropicfreak 04:46 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting reedzone:


No no you must of misunderstood what I was saying.. I said they might bump chances up on the TWO later this afternoon, POSSIBLY but not likely at orange code. More like 30% r something like that. I also said that a TD will likely form in a few days, not tonight. Trust me, I'm not going over myself here lol.


Like I said borderline yellow/orange.
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456. Thunderground 04:47 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
T & L= Thunder and Lightning

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457. Hurricanes101 04:47 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting reedzone:


No no you must of misunderstood what I was saying.. I said they might bump chances up on the TWO later this afternoon, POSSIBLY but not likely at orange code. More like 30% r something like that. I also said that a TD will likely form in a few days, not tonight. Trust me, I'm not going over myself here lol.


That wasn't directed at you, I think what you said made a lot of sense
Member Since: Marzo 10, 2010 Posts: 1 Comments: 6902
458. tropicfreak 04:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Its ok to have disagreements, we just have to understand the persons point of view, just as long as we don't get involved in arguements.
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459. Stormchaser2007 04:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
93L analog tracks:
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460. PolishHurrMaster 04:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
My forecast for 93L is:
80mph hurricane
landfall at yucatan(55% probablity) or:
100mph hurricane
Texas landfall(40% probablity)
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461. PanhandleChuck 04:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
looks like at least a 3000 post blog by tomorrow morning... Unless the Doc updates later today
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462. TampaSpin 04:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    


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463. CaneWarning 04:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
The blog is moving too fast. I'll be back later.
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464. Patrap 04:49 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
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465. scott39 04:49 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Where on the Gulf coast does this potiential TC need to hit, not to stop progress for long for BP?
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466. AllStar17 04:49 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    


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467. Stormchaser2007 04:49 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Intensity guidance calls for a Hurricane:

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468. scott39 04:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Tampa dont draw that line again! LOL
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469. IKE 04:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting TampaSpin:




Thanks...you pointed it right at me. You hate me that much? J/K
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470. Patrap 04:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Way west of 90 West
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471. Floodman 04:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting biloxidaisy:


errr, it's called sarcasm..lol


Thanks, daisy...LOL
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472. PanhandleChuck 04:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting TampaSpin:




What the *($%$%^ &&$@^^ &!@%$ is your problem man? LOL..... Hope you're wrong dude
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474. AllStar17 04:51 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
LOL.....TWC still says the wave has to get through shear. Obviously they have not looked at shear maps recently. God are they awful.
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475. Drakoen 04:51 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Stormchaser2007:
Intensity guidance calls for a Hurricane:



The LGEM which the NHC likes to use takes this to TS strength in 36hrs which is reasonable.
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476. nrtiwlnvragn 04:51 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Latest ASCAT a little too far west


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478. Levi32 04:52 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
ASCAT missed the east side but there is obviously no defined circulation yet.

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479. tropicfreak 04:52 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting AllStar17:
LOL.....TWC still says the wave has to get through shear. Obviously they have not looked at shear maps recently. God are they awful.


unless they call 5-15kt shear high.
Member Since: Settembre 2, 2006 Posts: 110 Comments: 6566
482. ecflweatherfan 04:53 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Speaking of getting ahead of ourselves... the darn thing doesn't even have a defined LLC as of yet, and we are talking about a major hurricane in the GOMEX???
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483. gator23 04:53 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting AllStar17:
LOL.....TWC still says the wave has to get through shear. Obviously they have not looked at shear maps recently. God are they awful.

no, see, they are talking about 91L still. 91L still has to get through shear! LOL
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484. TampaSpin 04:53 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting IKE:


Thanks...you pointed it right at me. You hate me that much? J/K
Quoting PanhandleChuck:


What the *($%$%^ &&$@^^ &!@%$ is your problem man? LOL..... Hope you're wrong dude
Quoting scott39:
Tampa dont draw that line again! LOL


YOU BOYS UP THERE ARE USE TO IT.....it just seemed like the logical place to send one since you are such PROS at this stufff.....LOL...SORRY!
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486. Hurricanes101 04:54 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Levi32:
ASCAT missed the east side but there is obviously no defined circulation yet.



agreed,
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487. PanhandleChuck 04:55 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting TampaSpin:


YOU BOYS UP THERE ARE USE TO IT.....it just seemed like the logical place to send one since you are such PROS at this stufff.....LOL...SORRY!


That's like telling a prisoner, don't worry about it, you're use to it.
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488. gator23 04:56 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting TampaSpin:


YOU BOYS UP THERE ARE USE TO IT.....it just seemed like the logical place to send one since you are such PROS at this stufff.....LOL...SORRY!

I hate to be a calmcaster as I am excited about this too, but realisitcally these models mean nothing without a LLC circulation to track from. So we can throw out all ideas of where its going until that happens.
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489. Stormchaser2007 04:56 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Based on climo, heres what would happen if the BAMM suite was extrapolated.

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490. 69Viking 04:56 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting IKE:


Thanks...you pointed it right at me. You hate me that much? J/K


Tampa is always pointing the threats our way! One of these days it's going to backfire and one of our storms as he likes to call them is going to make a right turn and enter Tampa Bay, they been lucky for a long time! Back at you Tampa LOL!
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491. scott39 04:56 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Patrap:
Way west of 90 West
I hate the term " take one for the team", because if anyone gets this its bad, but i will say the N Gulf Coast needs it the least!
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492. tropicfreak 04:56 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    


Still consistently popping up thunderstorms, that is one little part that will keep this thing alive.
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493. 1900hurricane 04:57 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Stormchaser2007:
93L analog tracks:

Cool map! Where did you find that one?
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494. IKE 04:57 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting 69Viking:


Tampa is always pointing the threats our way! One of these days it's going to backfire and one of our storms as he likes to call them is going to make a right turn and enter Tampa Bay, they been lucky for a long time! Back at you Tampa LOL!


LOL.
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495. reedzone 04:57 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Hurricanes101:


That wasn't directed at you, I think what you said made a lot of sense


Oh, ok.. Looks like the latest GFS develops the storm too far north and rams it into Florida, then out into the Atlantic, I don't really buy it, but now it develops the system.
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496. TexasGulf 04:57 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Floodman:


Apples to oranges...BP is liable for all damages due to oil (or at least, should be). Storm surge comes in and leaves a 6' oil line on your house, it doesn't matter that the water carried it or the wind whipped it up...BP isn't an insurance company and their liability is for OIL...they don't have a policy in place with exclusionary language...now, if the insurance carrier is required to pay something up front for damages directly due to the storm, there may be some lattitude as to the split, carrier to BP for payment


Good analogy. Let's just run with that thought.

If a hurricane & storm surge comes in and leaves a 6' oil line on your house, then obviously you had wind damage, flooding and oil. When the water recedes, everything from that 6' line down to grade should have some amount of oil residue.

Carpet, sheetrock, floor tile, furniture all will need to be replaced anyway. Chances are that all windows will need to be replaced. Exterior siding will either need replaced or blasted, primed and painted. Even brick will need to be water blasted to clean.

BP can argue that the carpet, interior furnishings, etc... would need to be replaced anyway under flood insurance. Fed can argue that the damage wouldn't have been so bad without the oil residue. People without flood insurance (there are still those who don't) can argue that flooding caused part of their damage, but flooring & furniture might have been cleaned & salvageable if it weren't for the oil.

Normally, storm surge or wind is a cut & dried case. Either such-n-such was damaged and needs replaced or it is salvageable. Replacement is covered under flood insurance. However, the argument comes in that "part" of the reason it needs replacing is because it's covered in oil. It "might" have been salvageable if not for that.

That's where the lines will get blurred. Would your fence need to be replaced anyway due to surge & wind... or partially because it is coated with oil? If that's the case, why would your insurance company agree to pay for BP's portion of the damages? It sounds like a small question, but we're potentially talking about $500 Million or more in claims that could be filed against BP by insurance companies claiming partial liability on their part. The law would be on the insurance company's side due to partial responsibility by BP. Even if only 10% or 5% of the damages are from oil... that's a LOT of money insurance companies won't have to pay out. BP will not be pleased about paying for something that would have needed replaced anyway regardless of the oil.

In many different instances, from marshland cleanup to residential neighborhoods to businesses and public infrastructure... there will be claims galore if there is an oil sheen question. BP's liability in this is really a gray area.
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498. gator23 04:57 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting scott39:
I hate the term " take one for the team", because if anyone gets this its bad, but i will say the N Gulf Coast needs it the least!

Gets what Scott? We have nothing to get right now. No LLC
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499. RJT185 04:58 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Oy. This system couldn't complete a cart-wheel despite all of the closet wish-caster in the planet. How can people be so hyped up when we're looking at computer models which don't have an LLC to lock onto? Yes this while setting is RIPE for a major or at least considerable storm to brew ... but there's a possibility the closed low might never materialize. Until the LLC forms and persists ... this is a wait & see system.
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500. scott39 04:59 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting gator23:

Gets what Scott? We have nothing to get right now. No LLC
See the word "IF"?
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501. Drakoen 04:59 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Ascat shows a sharp tropical wave but no closed low.
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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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