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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951. Levi32 06:42 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting FLWeatherFreak91:
Has this run been developing it from its current location?.... Or does it look like it's developing the one behind 93l?


This is 93L.
Member Since: novembre 24, 2005 Posts: 586 Comments: 25459
952. Tazmanian 06:43 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
ah ok, but I think you were right, what goes into Haiti is the wave approaching the Islands now, not 93L


this what Haiti dos not need
Member Since: Maggio 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111359
953. Floodman 06:43 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting IpswichWeatherCenter:


Why is everyone blaming this on BP when it wasn't just them.


Okay, I'm going to be sorry I did this...

Who decided to replace the drilling mud in the core with seawater?
Who disregarded the maintenance reports for the BOP?
Whose company man repeatedly over ruled the driller and the tool pusher in the three days prior to the blow out?

If your answer to any of these questions is anything other than BP, you fail and are required to reread the materials to pass this class
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 9919
954. animalrsq 06:43 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting leelee75k:
Thanks patrap, that's exactly the type of things I'm looking for, didn't think of either one of those to have.

anyone else?


You can accomplish almost anything with zip ties and duct tape! Lots and lots of paper plates/bowls and plastic silverware.
Member Since: Agosto 4, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 194
955. muddertracker 06:43 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
93L is starting to look like a comma. "The wheels on the bus go round and round..."
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958. TampaSpin 06:44 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
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959. Unfriendly 06:44 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
scary stuff taz.
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960. Tazmanian 06:44 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
if this wave keeps going the way its going we may have 94L be for day ends

Member Since: Maggio 21, 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111359
961. Floodman 06:46 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Patrap:


Brown Shrimp are a species.

So are White Shrimp

And No Shrimp were oiled.

The closure is a precaution,,and everyone dosent get the closure area down to a specific degree.


Thus the warnings and no fine.




Well said, Pat...
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 9919
962. Hurricanes101 06:47 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
AL, 93, 2010062118, , BEST, 0, 135N, 678W, 25, 1010, DB
Member Since: Marzo 10, 2010 Posts: 1 Comments: 6902
963. watchingnva 06:47 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
looking at the current vis/rgb loops...please tell me im not already seeing low level rotation trying to get going around 14/67....and are we really having venting starting to take place on the north and east sides. this is retarded...there was nothing there last night at all...its amazing how conditions change so quickly...wow.
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964. Grothar 06:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
You all happy now. I got NOAA to change 92L to 93L on their site.


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965. FLWeatherFreak91 06:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Tazmanian:
if this wave keeps going the way its going we may have 94L be for day ends

There's no way both will get spinnin' though so either 93l or 94l would develop, in that case.
Member Since: Dicembre 1, 2006 Posts: 2 Comments: 3462
966. Patrap 06:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
We got nuff problems in the Bayou and Marsh ,..we dont need rumor and hearsay flying round Like DNA in a Soap Opera .

Member Since: Luglio 3, 2005 Posts: 372 Comments: 111607
967. Levi32 06:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
The wave behind 93L seems to be confusing the ECMWF, distorting the vorticity field by getting too close and slowing development of 93L's low center on the model.
Member Since: novembre 24, 2005 Posts: 586 Comments: 25459
968. twhcracker 06:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Tazmanian:
ah ok, but I think you were right, what goes into Haiti is the wave approaching the Islands now, not 93L


this what Haiti dos not need


on the news this weekend i saw where they showed an aerial of haiti and all the trees from the hills were gone from the earthquake, so if a storm comes there will be nothing to prevent runoff. They said even one med size tree has the root system to absorb some unbelievable amount of water, i think they said like 60,000 gallons per tree. and without that, the water will just run down and make mudslides and flooding. cause there is nothing on the hills but dirt.
Member Since: Luglio 30, 2007 Posts: 6 Comments: 1448
969. animalrsq 06:48 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting leelee75k:
thanks boyznme!

Another great suggestion and one I didn't think of.


"Old-fashioned" phone. The kind you plug into the jack but doesn't take electricity like those with answering machines. You may have no cell service and no power, but still have landline service.
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970. Floodman 06:49 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
NOLALawyer you have mail
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971. GetReal 06:49 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Here is a ship report directly under 93L:


British Kestrel

Position N 12°48', W 066°42'.


Wind from 100 at 18 knots

Waves 1.5 meters (5 feet), 5 second period


Barometer 1010.3 mb
Air temperature 28.0 ° C
Visibility: greater than 5.4 NM
Dewpoint 23.7 ° C

Member Since: Luglio 4, 2005 Posts: 204 Comments: 8196
972. TampaSpin 06:49 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Tazmanian:
if this wave keeps going the way its going we may have 94L be for day ends



NO WAY! NO WAY! IMO
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973. Patrap 06:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting animalrsq:


"Old-fashioned" phone. The kind you plug into the jack but doesn't take electricity like those with answering machines. You may have no cell service and no power, but still have landline service.


True dat..

My only Line out Post K was the Sound Powered Bell rotary Phone.

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974. kanc2001 06:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Gumbogator:
There are a bunch of bull sharks stirring off of Ft Morgan Ala chasing the bait fish thru the earl(oil) close to shore!! 93L is lurking in the weeds!!


sharkcaster!
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975. FLWeatherFreak91 06:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Levi32:
The wave behind 93L seems to be confusing the ECMWF, distorting the vorticity field by getting too close and slowing development of 93L's low center on the model.
It's going a good 10 mph west faster than 93l is moving. They are going to pile up.
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976. winter123 06:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Tazmanian:
if this wave keeps going the way its going we may have 94L be for day ends


95 and 96L are looking good as well
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977. Tazmanian 06:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting kanc2001:


sharkcaster!



lol
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978. Tazmanian 06:50 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting winter123:

95 and 96L are looking good as well



95 and 96L???
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979. FLWeatherFreak91 06:51 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Tazmanian:



95 and 96L???
It was a joke
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980. twhcracker 06:51 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting RobbieLSU:
Hey everyone. Reporting from Panama City Beach, FL. Water is absolutely gorgeous. It's nice and warm too, like bath water. But not a speck of oil where we're at. Not even any June grass or any seaweed in the water. Pristine!


you must work for the TDC haha
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981. gordydunnot 06:51 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Every frame on satellite looks better going to red at 8pm my bet.
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982. Hurricanes101 06:51 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting winter123:

95 and 96L are looking good as well


Investcaster lol
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983. CaneWarning 06:51 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting animalrsq:


"Old-fashioned" phone. The kind you plug into the jack but doesn't take electricity like those with answering machines. You may have no cell service and no power, but still have landline service.


Landline? LOL I've never had landline.
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984. TampaSpin 06:52 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Grothar:
You all happy now. I got NOAA to change 92L to 93L on their site.




They tend to respect the elderly more.....LMAO
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985. watchingnva 06:52 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting tropicfreak:


Looking healthier and healthier by the minute, I can almost spot an "eye"


did you really just say that....thats a no no...lol...we are looking at an invest...you are possibly seeing a "LLC" LOL...
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986. JDSmith 06:52 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    


Look at the area around 14.25N, 68.75W

I see a vortex.
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987. FLWeatherFreak91 06:53 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting gordydunnot:
Every frame on satellite looks better going to red at 8pm my bet.
I can GUARANTEE you that won't happen. And there won't be any crow involved. They may up it a little bit, but not to red. These model runs that are coming out now will help determine how far they raise the probability.
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988. Tazmanian 06:53 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Hurricanes101:


Investcaster lol



LOL
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989. CaneWarning 06:54 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
The model runs pretty much stink...
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990. Levi32 06:54 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
ECMWF 168...not wanting to recurve as much and weaker.

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991. Hurricanes101 06:54 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
....
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993. twhcracker 06:54 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting CaneWarning:


The guys should be thrown in jail. They endanger the lives of everyone who might have eaten their "brown" shrimp.


i felt it was they were desperately trying to sneak and make a living.
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994. xcool 06:54 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
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995. JDSmith 06:55 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Actually, it looks to me like it's spinning off all kinds of little vortices.
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996. ElConando 06:55 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting CaneWarning:


Landline? LOL I've never had landline.


Had two land lines until 2008 now with the opening of Dad's garage office its gone up to 6.
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997. Tazmanian 06:55 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
i say the mode runs are no good
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998. Hurricanes101 06:55 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
quite a bit weaker Levi

now watch the ECMWF really freak people out and drop development completely on the 00Z run lol
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999. SouthDadeFish 06:55 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting watchingnva:
looking at the current vis/rgb loops...please tell me im not already seeing low level rotation trying to get going around 14/67....and are we really having venting starting to take place on the north and east sides. this is retarded...there was nothing there last night at all...its amazing how conditions change so quickly...wow.
Felix and Gustav were also quite fond of the spot 93L is in... Just saying.
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1000. cyclonekid 06:55 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
Quoting Hurricanes101:
AL, 93, 2010062118, , BEST, 0, 135N, 678W, 25, 1010, DB
Where do you get that info from?
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1001. Levi32 06:56 PM GMT del 21 Giugno 2010    
ECMWF 216 hours....see how it's weaker and more WNW track. These things aren't set in stone and will swing back and forth. Can't put much stock into any of these runs.

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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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