Maybe it's me but Isabel looks sub tropical

[Stormcenter]

O.K. I'll probably get slammed for saying this but Isabel
sure does look sub tropical. I know she has 110 mph winds and
everything but she no longer has that classic compactb classic eye hurricane look to her. I know this may change with time but this
is the way I see her now. Just my opinion.

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT ... -loop.html

[wxman57]

See my latest post. Isabel is entraining cool, dry air. Squalls are weakening fast and expanding outward. Steve Lyons noted it a few minutes ago as I typed my message. This could be the death of Isabel.

[abajan]

You are correct, it does look subtropical. It may well be transforming itself into such a system.

Hmmm... :?

[Anonymous]

I don't think this means the end of Isabel unless you mean the end as a tropical system. It looks like a different kind of beast to me as well, but I don't think it is any less dangerous. Because it is hitting near the Mid-Atlantic and NE it might actually cause more damage being baroclinic then it would have if it was a tightly wound up tropical system. If you look at the fact that hurricane winds extend out 145 miles and tropical winds extend out 260 miles that is a very significant wind field that could cause damage and interrupt air traffic across the Mid-Atlantic and NE. This storm could really have a huge wide-spread impact rather than just impacting the landfall area and a few miles inland.

Then there is this disturbing comment from the last NHC discussion: "THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE APPROACH OF THE NEXT SHORT WAVE TROUGH HAVING A FAVORABLE EFFECT ON INTENSIFICATION ...PERHAPS FROM BAROCLINIC EFFECTS OR FROM AN IMPROVED OUTFLOW PATTERN."

[Stormcenter]

Jim Cantore noted on his report from the N.C. coast how chilly and dry it felt where he was. This will be the same air drawn into Isabel as she approaches the coast.

[Derecho]

Sheesh...

I didn't think the most-abused buzzword of 2003 would rear its head again....

Every tropical system that isn't absolutely perfectly symmetrical is not "looking subtropical" or "becoming subtropical."

Do some research on what a term means before using it (and note it's NOT the same thing as "Hybrid" or "Extratropical" before people bring THAT up. Subtropicals are totally non-frontal)

The primary definition of a Subtrop has to do with low-level core temperatures.

Reconnaissance clearly shows, due to the warmth of the eye, that Isabel is a fully tropical system in every way. The core is 7 degrees C warmer than the rest of the storm.

[Stormcenter]

Sub tropical or not the point is she doesn't look like a healthy
hurricane right now. Now granted that MAY change but I know right now the dry air intrusion is not favorable for strengthening or maintaining it's strength. Which in my opinion is GREAT news for NC coast upward.

[Pi Master]

I just hope it stays strong enough, long enough to scare professors into cancelling classes on Thursday. I have two tests I'm not really ready for. After they're cancelled, the hurricane can weaken all it wants.

[wayoutfront]

If I am not mistaken.
didn't you guys predict this dry air inflow about this stage, as an afteraffect of leaving the ridge? also i believe it was mentioned a storm of this size can create or enhance this type of enviroment for itself? but would rectified when she encounters the the shortwave?

can you tell I am a amateur?

[alicia-w]

okay, what does that mean exactly? what is it that you're seeing that makes it so. trying to learn here and to understand what it is y'all are talking about. thanks.

[Guest]

yeah Good call

the development of an EYE wednesday morning is a Clear sign of weakening!?!! ! Holy crap... since WHEN!!!

... Been in the TV end of things a bit too long no?

See my latest post. Isabel is entraining cool, dry air. Squalls are weakening fast and expanding outward. Steve Lyons noted it a few minutes ago as I typed my message. This could be the death of Isabel.

[Guest]

the development of an EYE wednesday morning shows that isabel is NOT in anyway anything close to being SUBTROPICAL....

Lets go over the basic hurricanes a have EYEs.

O.K. I'll probably get slammed for saying this but Isabel
sure does look sub tropical. I know she has 110 mph winds and
everything but she no longer has that classic compactb classic eye hurricane look to her. I know this may change with time but this
is the way I see her now. Just my opinion.

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT ... -loop.html

[Mattie]

DT - with all due respect - did you get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Last night we were seeing and hearing from various professional weather forecasters and others about the dry air, so bear with us here please. (BTW - you weren't here) Most of us here aren't professional or we wouldn't have to be getting insight from a "chat board". Even professionals disagree on methods, ideas, and interpret data differently in every aspect of the professional world (as we see a classic example unfolding here). Please give us some slack this morning. I know I appreciate hearing all the viewpoints and discovering why and how the theories come about. Right are wrong - we all learn a little something from each situation.

[Lowpressure]

DT is correct though that it is abit far out to think it is sub-tropical. The stormcenter post however, said it looked sub-tropical which is an opinion, which is fine. But it is in no way subtropical. Warm core closed eye and not yet interacting directly with any feature that would start the process. Dry air around her may have a negative effect on her, but it may increase outflow and venting.