Was Camille a Cat 4 at landfall?

[donsutherland1]

Logybogy,

It is highly unlikely that the Re-Analysis will downgrade Camille to a Category 4 hurricane at landfall. Several thoughts:

1) There is precedent for hurricanes to make landfall in the affected region with little or no weakening e.g., the Last Island Hurricane of 1856.

2) The foremost experts at the time judged Camille's wind damage--as opposed to storm surge damage--as consistent with an F3 tornado.

3) Storm surge is not solely a function of wind speed. A large hurricane can pile a larger volume of water near the shore. So long as it is sufficiently strong, it can deliver that storm surge as it makes landfall. Hence, it is entirely possible that Katrina--which was very large--could deliver a bigger storm surge than the tiny but more intense Camille.

[wxmann_91]

Hmmm, I remember on another thread in which someone wrote that Camille was a large storm, with hurricane-force winds felt all the way to Mobile. Obviously Katrina was larger, but I guess if Camille was small then you've a good point there.

Thanks for clearing that up southernwx and Don! I guess then I was wrong.

[Derek Ortt]

one good way the debate can be settled... run the SLOSH model to see what type of wind speed in accordance with its size will produce the observed tidal surge

[seflcane]

one good way the debate can be settled... run the SLOSH model to see what type of wind speed in accordance with its size will produce the observed tidal surge

I've thought I've seen slosh models ran on Camille?

[NC George]

I think what we are seeing is the inadequacy of the S-S scale to predict the effects of the storm, particularly in respect to rainfall (Floyd, Allison) and storm surge (Katrina.) Since it's a scale derived exclusivly from wind speed, should it be no surpise that it only describes damage from wind adequately?

[seflcane]

I think what we are seeing is the inadequacy of the S-S scale to predict the effects of the storm, particularly in respect to rainfall (Floyd, Allison) and storm surge (Katrina.) Since it's a scale derived exclusivly from wind speed, should it be no surpise that it only describes damage from wind adequately?

I see nothing wrong with the SS scale. It has rankings on storm surge and what to expect. It's the NHC who does not use it properly I think. Such as the pressure to surface windspeed which in alot of cases the past two seasons NHC has been going on the low end of the winds.