ATL: IKE Discussion

[JonathanBelles]

I found a great Irony in Jeff Masters Blog. A new scale to rate hurricane: Integrated Kinetic Energy or IKE is now rating...Ike! lol

Here's the blog: http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMa ... amp=200809

[tallywx]

the Oriental rug on top is easily worth more than that vehicle

I think I had one exactly like it in college (from Waccamaw, that now-defunct home furnishings store). Cost me $79. So yeah, you're right.

[dhweather]

Tracking on radar - houston and lake charles - Ike looks to be moving close to 270/275 right now.

[MGC]

Radar eye looks to be contracting a bit.....a push to cat-3? Anyway, the winds should start picking up real soon. Gonna be a very long night in Texas.....MGC

[Raebie]

For those with access to a surge map...

What does the flooding look like for Sante Fe? Have a good friend with relatives there.

Thanks in advance...

Per the NOAA surge maps, Sante Fe (northwest of Galveston) seems to be under the 17 to 20 feet of surge above normal tide levels zone.

http://www.noaawatch.gov/2008/active_e10_y4.png

- Jay

Ugh. Thanks Jay.

[BayouVenteux]

Jim Cantore expects 'power-loss causing' band is about 1-2 hours offshore.

Charge those cell phones asap if you have to in se tx!

And keep those texting fingers/thumbs nimble. My experience after both Katrina and Gustav was that it was MUCH easier to send or receive a text message than a phone call.

[jlauderdal]

khou reporter just stated that 80 knot winds are about 130 winds. Houston better get ready for some huge winds based on the KHOU knots to mph conversion.

[jinftl]

i pay a few bucks a month for weather on my cell...during wilma the radar on my phone was only way i had to see bands approaching....very very useful

Jim Cantore expects 'power-loss causing' band is about 1-2 hours offshore.

Charge those cell phones asap if you have to in se tx!

And keep those texting fingers/thumbs nimble. My experience after both Katrina and Gustav was that it was MUCH easier to send or receive a text message than a phone call.

[KWT]

The thing is from what I've heard a lot of the main reason people aren't leaving is because of the Rita situation a few years ago, not becuase of hardship, and thats a silly move IMO that will lead to many deaths.

[HURAKAN]

[dhweather]

AT&T is encouraging people to use text messages instead of phone calls.

[mf_dolphin]

STOP with the IDIOT posts! I've already suspended several people for doing it. We've asked nicely that these types of posts stop and now I'm demanding it. What's done is done so let's trying a little prayer for these folks. They're going to need it.....

[dhweather]

I really don't see any major structural changes in Ike. He's had flare ups and down since he left Cuba, but the core has not gotten its act together. The eyewall is open to the north.

[jinftl]

CNN Reporter at San Luis hotel in Galveston just said he did not want his crew staying on Galveston but got overruled and is here against his objection. Wow.

[funster]

I really don't see any major structural changes in Ike. He's had flare ups and down since he left Cuba, but the core has not gotten its act together. The eyewall is open to the north.

It has shrunk a little over the past 6 to 12 hours but relatively similar.

[CYCLONE MIKE]

Don't know if this has been asked today or not. But why is the NHC and others having such a hard time forecasting intensity of these gulf storms this year. Not complaining at all, but with Gustav, Edouard, Fay, and now Ike they were preaching about cat 4 sometimes even cat 5 coming through the gulf. Upon landfall they have been a lot weaker then predicted. Are the conditions just not as favorable as thinking, water temps lower than normal, shear, dry air, etc. etc???? Just trying to figure out what is going in the gulf this year. For instance over here in SE LA we only got about 1 inch of rain since midnight. Forecast was for 3-4 with higher isolated amounts through today. Winds have only been in low 30's tops, now almost dead calm. That is way less than what we usually receive from a hurricane making landfall just to the west of us(rain wise)

[NEXRAD]

Strong squall bands are quickly intensifying and approaching the NE Texas and SW Lousiana coastline. Areas along the coast from Cameron, Lousiana to Sabine Pass to Galveston Island can expect quickly deteriorating conditions over the next hour. Winds will become sustained at 40 to 50 mph along the coast with gusts to 75-mph. As these strong bands work inland towards Lake Charles, Beaumont, and Baytown they will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts of 58-mph or greater. These bands will rotate southwest around Ike's circulation, and will eventually impact areas near Freeport.

(Note: this is not an official product.)

- Jay

[JenBayles]

CNN Reporter at San Luis hotel in Galveston just said he did not want his crew staying on Galveston but got overruled and is here against his objection. Wow.

Doesn't the San Leon have an old WWII bunker underneath? I believe that's where Galveston EOM is riding out the storm. It might just be one of the safest places around at this point.

[MBryant]

khou reporter just stated that 80 knot winds are about 130 winds. Houston better get ready for some huge winds based on the KHOU knots to mph conversion.

Just off the top of my head, it sounds like 130 KPH is about right for the foreign press.

[6SpeedTA95]

The last couple frames on the rainbow loop seem to indicate the shear went from quite strong to very little.