ATL : TROPICAL DEPRESSION ALEX - RECON DISCUSSION

[brunota2003]

They probably turned off comms...it isnt the first flight I noticed the data stop flowing way before landing. I think they have two, one in the nose and one under the belly.

Okay...maybe that was the older versions that have two (either under the belly/nose, or tail/nose)...I think the current ones only have the nose radars now, not entirely sure. Pojo?

[brunota2003]

In reply to a comment I left on facebook:

AF Reserve Hurricane Hunters
Their radar did fail in the first pass through the eye last mission. No worries though--another plane is headed there shortly.
24 minutes ago

[cycloneye]

In reply to a comment I left on facebook:

AF Reserve Hurricane Hunters
Their radar did fail in the first pass through the eye last mission. No worries though--another plane is headed there shortly.
24 minutes ago

It looks like the next plane will depart more early than the 3 AM time that was in the POD.

[brunota2003]

I'm trying to find out when they will depart, if the flight did indeed get bumped forward (or if a separate flight will be on station until then). Glad to see the NHC/AF Reserve are taking this very seriously and that there are resource permitting planes they can task in such an event.

[brunota2003]

AF Reserve Hurricane Hunters
The next mission will leave earlier than was originally scheduled. SMFR http://www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/library/fa ... sp?id=8314 The radar failed, not the SFMR.
2 minutes ago



Assuming they cannot release the "exact" time because for 1. they probably are not exactly sure, and 2. OPSEC

[cycloneye]

Good news there.Lets hope that finnally Alex can be sampled in all quadrants without any other delay.

[SunnyThoughts]

Brunota, thats great news...thanks for relaying it to all of us.

[brunota2003]

AF Reserve Hurricane Hunters
Rest assured, Hurricane Hunters are working with the National Hurricane Center to get a plane out to the storm ASAP--we'll keep you updated.
9 minutes ago

[americanre1]

URNT15 KNHC 300725
AF306 1101A ALEX HDOB 08 20100630
071530 2729N 09140W 3929 07728 0418 -145 -157 149022 022 024 001 00
071600 2728N 09142W 3925 07736 0418 -145 -158 153023 024 025 002 00
071630 2726N 09143W 3927 07728 0417 -141 -158 156024 024 031 005 00
071700 2724N 09145W 3923 07733 0415 -138 -158 157026 036 040 013 03
071730 2722N 09147W 3946 07693 0417 -131 -155 140041 046 039 017 03
071800 2720N 09148W 3931 07726 0420 -129 -152 133028 031 037 008 00
071830 2718N 09150W 3927 07731 0418 -135 -147 117025 025 026 001 00
071900 2717N 09151W 3921 07740 0417 -136 -143 126022 023 022 002 00
071930 2715N 09153W 3925 07734 0418 -140 -140 131028 029 023 001 00
072000 2715N 09153W 3925 07734 0417 -140 -140 143031 034 024 001 00
072030 2711N 09156W 3926 07731 0415 -139 -141 139035 036 023 002 00
072100 2709N 09158W 3927 07729 0415 -140 -142 147034 035 024 002 00
072130 2707N 09200W 3925 07733 0415 -142 -144 151032 034 027 000 00
072200 2706N 09201W 3926 07729 0414 -141 -146 145032 034 026 002 00
072230 2704N 09203W 3926 07728 0413 -140 -147 152030 030 024 003 00
072300 2702N 09205W 3926 07727 0412 -139 -148 155026 029 024 002 00
072330 2700N 09207W 3926 07729 0413 -138 -149 149021 022 026 001 00
072400 2658N 09208W 3926 07727 0412 -140 -149 143022 022 024 002 00
072430 2656N 09210W 3926 07724 0411 -140 -150 136024 026 025 001 00
072500 2654N 09212W 3926 07724 0410 -138 -150 130025 027 024 001 00
$$
;

Am I reading this right, already reading some tropical depression force winds and it is just south of New Orleans???

That must mean there is a very large wind field involved with this storm???

[gotoman38]

they're still at cruising altitude - doesn't really tell us anything about surface conditions.

I think?

[somethingfunny]

Tropical Depressions don't really have a set criteria for windspeeds aside from being less than 39mph - I've seen them listed as low as 25mph sustained before. The plane just flew through that big mass of convection riding Alex's feeder bands.

[americanre1]

Tropical Depressions don't really have a set criteria for windspeeds aside from being less than 39mph - I've seen them listed as low as 25mph sustained before. The plane just flew through that big mass of convection riding Alex's feeder bands.

Tropical Depressions must have at least 23 mph winds to be classified, so any winds between 23 mph and 38 mph are considered Tropical Depression strength winds.

[djones65]

I cannot believe the current aircraft in Alex is still not in the center, but getting very close and the pressure is already down to 963 mb. Incredible! However, highest SFMR winds are only 71 knots and highest flt level winds are only 82 knots which equates to 64 to 70 knot winds depending on your conversion from the 850 mb level. This is the deepest June storm since.... I believe Alma in 1966 got down to 966 mb, so I have to go do some digging... I would expect the central pressure when they finally get the vortex fix will be around 960, maybe 959...

[Texashawk]

This thing dropped 15 millibars in 6 hours?? Incredible. Good thing it's about to land!!

[Time_Zone]

This thing dropped 15 millibars in 6 hours?? Incredible. Good thing it's about to land!!

Not supposed to hit land for another 15 hours or so.

[TexasF6]

The storm stair-stepped to NNW and N briefly, but seems back on course, so this bought him some extra time over water......

[djones65]

I believe Alex's 961 mb reading measured by dropsonde is the lowest central pressure in a tropical cyclone during the month of June since Hurricane Audrey in 1957. Alex has a very atypical structure with two wind maximas.. The semi-permanent huge band to its north has flt level winds of hurricne force and SFMR values of near 60 knots, then as it goes through the dry slot winds drop off substantially, and then picked up to 82 knots and SFMR 71kt very near the eye. I am like Aric, I have never seen such a low pressure for a minimal hurricane. However, in 2005 Katrina had a pressure of near 940 mb and max winds were estimated at 100 knots, but recon data could only find 80 to 85 knots, but that was during an eyewall replacement cycle which is not something Alex is doing... Very interesting, I imagine that this storm will be the source of many studies and articles in the future.

[KWT]

This system has amazingly low pressure it has to be said, a 960mbs low pressure really is insane for June, yet alone a systemv only currently at 70kts...

Something has to give in relation to that pressure I'd have thought, unless this is trying to pull an Ike with the monster low pressure but winds only around 90-95kts.

[cycloneye]

959.0 mbs the lowest at this pass. Winds for sure will catchup.

[Thunder44]

959.0 mbs the lowest at this pass. Winds for sure will catchup.

Also 73kt FL wind max in the NW Quad. Highest winds so far in that quad. This is probably near a Cat 2 now.