Tropical Storm Alma has dissipated over the high mountains of Honduras, and thankfully did not dump enough rain to cause a major flooding disaster in Central America. At 3pm EDT yesterday, Alma became the first tropical storm since records began in 1949 to make landfall on the Pacific coast of Central America. All previous Eastern Pacific storms have hit Mexico, which is considered part of North America. Alma came ashore in Nicaragua, near the Honduras border, as a tropical storm with 65 mph winds. So far, one person has been killed in Nicaragua, due to a fallen power cable. However, Alma has not dumped enough rain to cause widespread flooding--rainfall amounts in Nicaragua the past two day have been 3-8 inches. Costa Rica has had rains of similar magnitude, which have caused isolated mudslides that have blocked roads. Additional rain from Alma's remnants should total less than two inches in Costa Rica and four inches in Nicaragua. However, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula are likely to get 4-8 inches of rain over the next two days from this system, which could cause significant flooding and mud slides.
Figure 1. Current satellite image of Alma's remnants.
There is a large area of disturbed weather that has developed in the Western Caribbean between Jamaica and the Yucatan Peninsula in the past few hours, in association with a trough of low pressure extending from the center of Alma. This morning's 7:37am EDT QuikSCAT pass showed winds of up to 50 knots (58 mph) in this region, but no hint of a circulation or wind shift. It is possible that this disturbed area could start to develop on its own later today, as a westward-moving tropical wave currently near Jamaica interacts with it. This area should expand and spread into Honduras, Belize, and Mexico's Yucatan by Saturday. However, I'm not expecting a major flooding disaster with heavy loss of life anywhere in Central America from Alma's remnants. The GFS model is predicting that moisture from Alma will eventually work its way north and bring heavy rains to Florida by June 7. No models are predicting a tropical storm in the Atlantic during the coming week.
Figure 2. Doppler radar winds from the Kearney, Nebraska tornadoes of May 29, 2008. Note that a twin set of vorticies appears in this image, denoting that two adjacent tornadoes may have hit.
Tornadoes rip the Midwest again Thursday; tornadoes expected today in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri
Numerous strong tornadoes raked the Midwest last night, adding to the extensive damage already wreaked by one of the worst months of tornado damage in U.S. history. Last night's most significant destruction occurred in Jewell, Kansas, and Kearney, Nebraska. In Jewell, numerous businesses were destroyed and the town water tower toppled. In Kearney, multiple twisters hit, and a 90-car train was knocked off of its tracks. Wunderblogger Mike Theiss caught up to the Kearney tornado, and describes his experience in his blog today. All told, there were 55 tornado reports Thursday, but no deaths or injuries.
The Storm Prediction Center is calling for a "Moderate" risk of severe weather across Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri this afternoon---one level below their "High" risk level that was posted yesterday. Expect another significant tornado outbreak today. The Weather Underground Severe Weather page and Tornado page are good places to go to follow the severe weather. Also, tune in to the chase accounts and awesome storm photos from Wunderblogger Mike Theiss. Mike is in Tornado Alley this week, performing his annual chase efforts.
Jeff Masters
Photo of the original TIV (Tornado Intercept Vehicle) driving out from underneath thunderstorm. Photo copyright Mike Theiss
Blurry photo of the Osbourne Kansas tornado taken while driving. Photo copyright Mike Theiss
Photo of Cloud 9 Tours members parked underneath some really eerie looking skies. Photo copyright Mike Theiss
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31.05.08 00:01
At least two people died and several more remained missing Friday in Nicaragua as a result of tropical storm Alma, which also caused abundant damage to buildings, power lines and roads.
Coronel Ramon Arnesto Sosa, director of the National System for Disaster Prevention (Sinapred), said heavy rain caused flooding as rivers overflowed banks throughout the Central American country's Pacific coast, especially in the cities of Leon, Chinandega and Managua.
Two people were electrocuted, Civil Defence officials said. Media reports pointed to a third person killed in a car crash.
Sinapred said almost 25,000 people were evacuated in the provinces of Leon and Chinandega, where lessons were called off after Alma arrived in Nicaraguan territory on Thursday. The Nicaraguan Army deployed thousands of its officers for rescue missions.
Strong winds ripped the roofs off of at least 200 homes in western Nicaragua, and trees and light posts were uprooted.
In Managua, rain caused flooding in many neighbourhoods on Lake Xolotlan. A bridge over the Pista Suburbana - one of the city's main streets - was damaged.
In Costa Rica, Alma caused damage to property of at least 5,400 people - including 1,000 homes - and to infrastructure including roads and bridges.
Several mudslides cut off road links between Costa Rican capital San Jose and the south of the Central American country. Parrita and Guanacaste, on the Pacific, and San Isidro de El General, in southern Costa Rica, were particularly badly affected by the effects of the storm.
Costa Rican authorities promised aid to victims of Alma, hundreds of whom remained in emergency accommodations Friday.
Alma took Central American authorities by surprise, having formed at an unusual location and time of year and surging in strength from a tropical depression to a powerful, well-organized storm system within a few hours.
The storm dumped heavy rains across Central America, although it was considerably weakened by late Thursday, over Nicaraguan territory. Downgraded to a tropical depression, it proceeded to cross into Honduras, towards Guatemala and Belize, dpa reported.
However, as I former member of the real estate profession it is interesting to see the number of people in the keys wanting to move out... due to a combination of ridiculous property insurance ($10k ++ per house) and the mandatory evacuations that we must obey. People around here are plain fed up with the way hurricanes are dominating life in the summer and autumn, but finding a buyer around here is as difficult as it must be in New Orleans.
Boy has the attitude in the FL Keys changed. In 2005, we couldn't find a major hotel in the lower keys that wasn't being converted into condos. Everyone wanted to own their own piece of property there. Charter boat captains and bartenders were all part-time realtors workin' deals and flippin' condos and houses. Now everyone wants out. Too expensive to keep a place there, values going down fast instead of always up like the 'realtor' promised. Soon the converted condos be turned *back* into hotels otherwise it's vacant property with negative cash flow.
456 I was thinking still on shore a bit. The center is difficult to find now and there seems to be several areas of rotation.
Check it out
Sorry, don't have time to read back very far.
From what I have been seeing is the Models are picking something up but just not sure what yet.... Hopefully just a rain maker and nothing else, if you know what I mean....
202. 456, is that some rotation?
Yep....no doubt...well define mid-level rotation. I posted some info in ma blog and also updates in the comment section about the feature.
Just Venting sorry.....
Observations for ROATAN, Honduras (MHRO)
Observation time: 30 May 2008 21:00 UTC
Altimeter Setting 1007.1 hPa
Station Pressure 1006.5 hPa
Temperature 29 C
Dew Point 24 C
Relative Humidity 74 %
Wind Direction 230 deg (SW)
Wind Speed 8 m/s
Visibility 10.0 km
Clouds Broken at 610 meters
Overcast at 2130 meters
Air Density 1.147 kg/m3
It might just cost us $6.00 a gallon before its done.
Gulf of Mexico looks dry.
There is some definite organization and tropical development occuring in the Gulf of Honduras. Very interesting situation developing now. Wonder what the next discussion will say regarding this.
Link
kman, could this just be thunderstorms?
Link
on these places that there is rice
some seasonal rain would be nice
but not so much the rain should flood
or those in need would drown in mud
Anu and Lou blessed be
and as my will so mote it be
It looks like the steering pattern is favoring a NNW motion. If this travels slows enough, we may have to watch for some troughs.
Macbeth | Act IV, Scene 1
Amazing how you can go from Star Wars to Shakespeare during the day. You must be a very learned person.
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