Stormcenter wrote:wxman57 wrote:Here's a new surface plot. The mid-level circulation center is moving over a buoy now. That buoy still h as SE winds at 15 kts. No evidence of anything but SE winds in the buoy reports offshore. Lowest pressure remains inland over S. Carolina. I agree, it LOOKS better than it ever did. If not for the surface observations which indicate that there appears to be no LLC, the satellite animations make it look like a TD.
http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/91Lb.gif
wxman57 how would you explain it if they do classify it a TD or TS?
I'd say that in order for the NHC to classifiy it as a TD, they'd have to find a closed LLC, but that's not true. They upgraded Grace a few years ago in the NW Gulf and the plane could never find a center. But Grace was producing TS force winds in squalls to the northeast of theh wave axis.
In this case, I think that the NHC may be under tremendous pressure from local emergency officials to call this a TD so that they can enact their emergency plans for the heavy rain expected. Certainly, it's not a wind or a surge threat, but it is going to dump a lot more rain on areas that are already in trouble. So if calling it a TD will enable local officials to enact their plans, then I think the NHC may well do that even if the plane can't find a circulation.
Stacy Stewart is certainly a good forecaster, and I'm sure he'll do whatever is needed to accomplish the NHC's primary goal - protecting the public.