Typhoon Tip Satellite Image

[Category 5]

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/rsad/gibbs/2005/292/img-2005-10-19-18-goe-12-ir.html


I look at this image of Wilma, and all I can say is that she deserves to be listed near Tips for size.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 15 MILES... 30 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 160 MILES...260 KM.

Wait I'm confused, wasn't Tips windfield 1300 miles across? Wilma sounds just a little smaller.

[Cyclone1]

Not by much, though. Only about a mere thousand miles or so.

[RL3AO]

Wilma's wind field was largest when it was over the Bahamas. A storm's wind field is small after rapid intensification. That is the only way the pressure gradient can allow such low pressures.

[Derek Ortt]

A storm's wind field is small after rapid intensification. That is the only way the pressure gradient can allow such low pressures.

Uh, nope!

There have been many large TCs that underwent RI and remained as large TCs. The eye usually contracts (see Shapiro and Willoughby, 1982 for the physical mechanism that explains the contraction) during intensification, but the overall wind circulation does not necessarily contract

[Ptarmigan]

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 15 MILES... 30 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 160 MILES...260 KM.

Wait I'm confused, wasn't Tips windfield 1300 miles across? Wilma sounds just a little smaller.

675 miles vs 160 miles. Wilma at her peak is miniscule compared to Tip.

[Ptarmigan]

A storm's wind field is small after rapid intensification. That is the only way the pressure gradient can allow such low pressures.

Uh, nope!

There have been many large TCs that underwent RI and remained as large TCs. The eye usually contracts (see Shapiro and Willoughby, 1982 for the physical mechanism that explains the contraction) during intensification, but the overall wind circulation does not necessarily contract

Hurricane Katrina comes to mind. In fact when it intensified, it grew.

[Category 5]

A storm's wind field is small after rapid intensification. That is the only way the pressure gradient can allow such low pressures.

Uh, nope!

There have been many large TCs that underwent RI and remained as large TCs. The eye usually contracts (see Shapiro and Willoughby, 1982 for the physical mechanism that explains the contraction) during intensification, but the overall wind circulation does not necessarily contract

Hurricane Katrina comes to mind. In fact when it intensified, it grew.

I believe the EWRC aided that as well

[Ptarmigan]

I believe the EWRC aided that as well

Yes it did. The EWRC also is why Katrina stayed at 115 mph on August 27th. It was also growing that time.

[Category 5]

I believe the EWRC aided that as well

Yes it did. The EWRC also is why Katrina stayed at 115 mph on August 27th. It was also growing that time.

Exactly, then it went off like a bomb when it was done over the loop current.

[HurricaneRobert]

There have been many large TCs that underwent RI and remained as large TCs. The eye usually contracts (see Shapiro and Willoughby, 1982 for the physical mechanism that explains the contraction) during intensification, but the overall wind circulation does not necessarily contract

I think Gilbert was like that, though it gets compared a lot to Wilma. It was already a large Category 3 hurricane with a huge eye, but in the western Caribbean it redeveloped a pinhole eye.



I think I read here that some gales were felt in the Florida Keys.



Here it's covering most of the western GOM. (They don't have any advisories in the archives for Gilbert, so it's actual size at its peak is a mystery to me.)

[Cyclone1]

In my opinion, Wilma has nothing on Gilbert except 6 or so millibars. Gilbert is still more impressive to me.

[Ptarmigan]

In my opinion, Wilma has nothing on Gilbert except 6 or so millibars. Gilbert is still more impressive to me.

Yeah, Gilbert was more impressive. Also, the fact is what got me into weather. In addition, it came close to hitting Texas. I wouldn't be surprised if Gilbert had a central pressure as low as 880 millibars.

[Ptarmigan]

Here it's covering most of the western GOM. (They don't have any advisories in the archives for Gilbert, so it's actual size at its peak is a mystery to me.)

Gilbert was at least 500 miles in diameter.

The massive storm system - Gilbert spanned 500 miles - continued to grow during the night and showed all signs of continuing to intensify with wind speed picking up as the storm barreled toward Mexico. It was expected to reach the area around Cancun and Cozumel early today, forecasters said.

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archi ... 988_570095

Gale force winds in Gilbert extending at least 250 miles.

Tropical storm force winds extended 250 miles north from the storm center, and the hurricane was dumping 5 inches to 10 inches of rain along its path.

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archi ... 988_570547

Gilbert was certainly larger than Katrina.

[wxman57]

A storm's wind field is small after rapid intensification. That is the only way the pressure gradient can allow such low pressures.

Uh, nope!

There have been many large TCs that underwent RI and remained as large TCs. The eye usually contracts (see Shapiro and Willoughby, 1982 for the physical mechanism that explains the contraction) during intensification, but the overall wind circulation does not necessarily contract

Hurricane Katrina comes to mind. In fact when it intensified, it grew.

Actually, when Katrina intensified from a Cat 2 at 7pm Saturday to a Cat 5 at 7am Sunday there was very little change in wind field size. The wind field expanded after Katrina reached Cat 5 and eyewall replacement cycles began.

[wxman57]

.... snip

Gilbert was certainly larger than Katrina.

Correct. I have wind radii data for both. Here are some averages for Gilbert vs. Katrina:

Katrina:
39 mph - 185 nautical miles
58 mph - 110 nautical miles
74 mph - 80 nautical miles

Gilbert:
39 mph - 240 nautical miles
58 mph - 175 nautical miles
74 mph - 115 nautical miles

[Ptarmigan]

Correct. I have wind radii data for both. Here are some averages for Gilbert vs. Katrina:

Katrina:
39 mph - 185 nautical miles
58 mph - 110 nautical miles
74 mph - 80 nautical miles

Gilbert:
39 mph - 240 nautical miles
58 mph - 175 nautical miles
74 mph - 115 nautical miles

Thanks! I wonder what the maximum extent was for Gilbert? I can't find any info on that.

[MiamiensisWx]

Thanks! I wonder what the maximum extent was for Gilbert? I can't find any info on that.

This video is a treasure. It's the tropical update for September 14, 1988 when Gilbert struck the Yucatan Peninsula at Category 5 intensity. At the time of landfall, the intensity was 140 kt/900 mb, and it occurred some hours after its peak over the western Caribbean Sea. This is the closest clip to the tropical cyclone's peak intensity. In this old film, the storm was weakening as it moved inland. The great John Hope is featured here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY-boNkNC2g

Note the wind radii graphic (2:46).

On another note, Gilbert was probably one of the stronger landfalling tropical cyclones of the 20th century.

[Ptarmigan]

This video is a treasure. It's the tropical update for September 14, 1988 when Gilbert struck the Yucatan Peninsula at Category 5 intensity. At the time of landfall, the intensity was 140 kt/900 mb, and it occurred some hours after its peak over the western Caribbean Sea. This is the closest clip to the tropical cyclone's peak intensity. In this old film, the storm was weakening as it moved inland. The great John Hope is featured here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY-boNkNC2g

Note the wind radii graphic (2:46).

On another note, Gilbert was probably one of the stronger landfalling tropical cyclones of the 20th century.

I saw that video and even posted it here. I remember Gilbert well and it was a scary time.

[CrazyC83]

In my opinion, Wilma has nothing on Gilbert except 6 or so millibars. Gilbert is still more impressive to me.

Yeah, Gilbert was more impressive. Also, the fact is what got me into weather. In addition, it came close to hitting Texas. I wouldn't be surprised if Gilbert had a central pressure as low as 880 millibars.

My guess is 885mb, as the midpoint of different unconfirmed measurements plus the fact that it is listed at 888 in the best track followed by 889 - it is likely that Gilbert was still strengthening at the point of the 888.