Hurricane Gustav Recon

[WindRunner]

URNT15 KNHC 301839
AF308 1507A GUSTAV HDOB 21 20080830
182900 2143N 08242W 6968 02651 9403 +192 +060 010018 021 999 999 03
182930 2144N 08243W 6976 02646 9412 +185 +060 008029 031 999 999 03
183000 2145N 08245W 6970 02655 9420 +180 +060 012040 045 999 999 03
183030 2146N 08246W 6968 02673 9446 +170 +060 018056 066 999 999 03
183100 2147N 08247W 6953 02707 9476 +151 +060 022071 077 999 999 03
183130 2148N 08248W 6972 02698 9540 +104 +060 040081 093 999 999 03
183200 2149N 08249W 6953 02766 9614 +078 +060 041115 123 999 999 03
183230 2150N 08251W 6978 02772 9663 +072 +060 030117 118 999 999 03
183300 2151N 08252W 6962 02808 9681 +077 +060 034112 113 999 999 03
183330 2152N 08253W 6971 02823 9714 +071 +060 033112 113 999 999 03
183400 2153N 08254W 6971 02842 9740 +070 +060 038108 112 999 999 03
183430 2154N 08255W 6967 02875 9769 +067 +060 040104 105 999 999 03
183500 2155N 08256W 6969 02886 9779 +073 +060 046099 103 119 000 03
183530 2157N 08257W 6960 02917 9782 +087 +060 048093 094 101 002 00
183600 2158N 08258W 6971 02918 9802 +085 +060 049090 090 080 012 00
183630 2159N 08300W 6967 02940 9840 +069 +060 049086 086 074 012 00
183700 2200N 08301W 6969 02951 9841 +079 +060 049083 084 071 010 00
183730 2201N 08302W 6964 02969 9852 +081 +060 052081 082 069 010 00
183800 2203N 08304W 6969 02974 9850 +093 +060 055079 080 068 010 00
183830 2204N 08305W 6963 02993 9870 +086 +060 056080 083 067 010 00
$$

Peak FL winds in the NW quad were only 123kts, and sadly the SFMR was off coming out of the eye. Highest reliable SFMR value was only 101kts.

EDIT: dropsonde from eye is on previous page...

[HURAKAN]

[WindRunner]

URNT15 KNHC 301849
AF308 1507A GUSTAV HDOB 22 20080830
183900 2205N 08306W 6967 02993 9883 +083 +060 054078 081 064 011 00
183930 2207N 08308W 6969 02998 9899 +076 +060 056072 073 062 012 00
184000 2208N 08309W 6968 03005 9894 +086 +060 056069 071 061 010 00
184030 2209N 08310W 6963 03024 9900 +090 +060 056066 067 061 007 00
184100 2210N 08312W 6966 03024 9911 +086 +060 054069 072 057 007 00
184130 2212N 08313W 6969 03030 9911 +093 +060 053061 064 056 006 00
184200 2213N 08314W 6960 03044 9923 +090 +060 053063 064 056 007 00
184230 2214N 08316W 6966 03039 9946 +074 +060 053058 059 055 009 00
184300 2216N 08317W 6967 03046 9951 +076 +058 056056 057 051 009 00
184330 2217N 08319W 6969 03047 9937 +090 +060 057057 057 059 001 03
184400 2218N 08320W 6964 03056 9947 +085 +060 060060 061 999 999 03
184430 2219N 08321W 6964 03060 9955 +080 +060 061063 067 999 999 03
184500 2221N 08323W 6968 03055 9973 +068 +060 060064 065 999 999 03
184530 2222N 08324W 6971 03056 9984 +063 +060 050061 065 999 999 03
184600 2223N 08326W 6962 03070 9988 +063 +060 043059 061 999 999 03
184630 2225N 08327W 6963 03071 9984 +067 +060 043056 059 999 999 03
184700 2226N 08328W 6960 03076 9984 +070 +060 042050 052 999 999 03
184730 2227N 08329W 6969 03067 9977 +078 +060 041051 052 999 999 03
184800 2228N 08331W 6963 03077 9981 +077 +060 040053 054 999 999 03
184830 2229N 08332W 6969 03075 9993 +070 +060 041053 053 999 999 03
$$

Continuing on out...

[WindRunner]

URNT12 KNHC 301850
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE AL072008
A. 30/18:28:00Z
B. 21 deg 41 min N
082 deg 39 min W
C. 700 mb 2616 m
D. 98 kt
E. 127 deg 13 nm
F. 227 deg 115 kt
G. 128 deg 015 nm
H. 943 mb
I. 13 C/ 3050 m
J. 20 C/ 3046 m
K. 5 C/ NA
L. CLOSED WALL
M. C24
N. 12345/7
O. 0.02 / 1 nm
P. AF308 1507A GUSTAV OB 09
MAX FL WIND 140 KT NE QUAD 16:49:30 Z
MAX OUTBOUND FL WIND 119 KT NW QUAD 1833Z
EYE CENTER MOVING ONSHORE

This is probably why the SFMR was "off" for the part of the outbound leg through the eyewall.

[cycloneye]

Detailed VDM:

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 30th day of the month at 18:50Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 308)
Storm Number & Year: 07L in 2008
Storm Name: Gustav (in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 15
Observation Number: 09
A. Time of Center Fix: 30th day of the month at 18:28:00Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 21°41'N 82°39'W (21.6833N 82.65W) (View map)
B. Center Fix Location: 84 miles (135 km) to the SE (128°) from Pinar del Río, Cuba.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 2,616m (8,583ft) at 700mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 98kts (~ 112.8mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 13 nautical miles (15 statute miles) to the SE (127°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 227° at 115kts (From the SW at ~ 132.3mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 15 nautical miles (17 statute miles) to the SE (128°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 943mb (27.85 inHg)
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 13°C (55°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,050m (10,007ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 20°C (68°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,046m (9,993ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 5°C (41°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Closed Wall
M. Eye Shape & Diameter: Circular with a diameter of 24 nautical miles (28 statute miles)
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind, Pressure and Temperature
N. Fix Level: 700mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 1 nautical mile
Remarks Section - Remarks That Were Decoded...
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 140kts (~ 161.1mph) in the northeast quadrant at 16:49:30Z
Maximum Flight Level Wind Outbound: 119kts (~ 136.9mph) in the northwest quadrant at 18:33Z
Remarks Section - Additional Remarks...
EYE CENTER MOVING ONSHORE

[HURAKAN]

[WindRunner]

URNT15 KNHC 301859
AF308 1507A GUSTAV HDOB 23 20080830
184900 2231N 08333W 6965 03081 9988 +075 +060 039049 050 999 999 03
184930 2232N 08335W 6966 03082 9997 +071 +060 042050 051 999 999 03
185000 2233N 08336W 6973 03080 0005 +070 +060 049046 048 999 999 03
185030 2234N 08337W 6968 03087 9993 +081 +060 046044 044 999 999 03
185100 2236N 08339W 6969 03088 9988 +087 +060 045045 047 999 999 03
185130 2237N 08340W 6963 03100 0000 +082 +060 049046 047 999 999 03
185200 2238N 08341W 6968 03095 0004 +078 +060 050045 046 999 999 03
185230 2239N 08343W 6966 03095 9995 +084 +060 052046 047 999 999 03
185300 2241N 08344W 6963 03098 0008 +072 +060 056055 060 999 999 03
185330 2242N 08345W 6969 03087 9997 +077 +060 056058 059 999 999 03
185400 2243N 08347W 6971 03094 0001 +082 +060 056059 060 999 999 03
185430 2245N 08348W 6961 03105 0009 +078 +060 051056 057 999 999 03
185500 2246N 08350W 6966 03102 0023 +067 +060 048051 055 056 002 03
185530 2247N 08351W 6968 03100 0037 +058 +058 051049 051 046 010 00
185600 2248N 08352W 6973 03097 0035 +062 +060 047051 053 044 007 00
185630 2250N 08354W 6964 03110 0034 +064 +060 046049 050 042 008 00
185700 2251N 08355W 6968 03109 0039 +063 +060 042052 052 043 007 00
185730 2252N 08356W 6963 03115 0038 +065 +065 042046 048 043 007 00
185800 2253N 08358W 6971 03109 0035 +070 +030 041043 044 042 006 00
185830 2254N 08359W 6967 03111 0032 +072 +030 039044 045 041 006 00
$$

SFMR is back on, so they should be back out over the water now. Will be interesting to see how they handle this next pass.

[HURAKAN]

[WindRunner]

URNT15 KNHC 301909
AF308 1507A GUSTAV HDOB 24 20080830
185900 2256N 08400W 6959 03124 0030 +075 +030 041044 045 042 006 00
185930 2257N 08402W 6970 03106 0030 +075 +030 042042 043 041 005 00
190000 2258N 08403W 6966 03115 0027 +078 +030 046044 045 039 006 03
190030 2258N 08405W 6960 03121 0023 +081 +030 047043 044 999 999 03
190100 2257N 08406W 6965 03114 0019 +084 +030 042040 041 999 999 03
190130 2255N 08406W 6968 03110 0021 +083 +030 040040 040 042 004 03
190200 2253N 08406W 6967 03114 0024 +080 +030 037040 040 043 005 00
190230 2251N 08406W 6968 03111 0026 +080 +030 035040 040 045 004 00
190300 2249N 08406W 6965 03114 0026 +080 +030 032039 039 044 005 00
190330 2247N 08406W 6968 03111 0019 +083 +030 036038 039 045 004 00
190400 2244N 08407W 6967 03111 0015 +085 +030 039040 041 045 004 00
190430 2242N 08407W 6966 03110 0015 +085 +030 034040 041 044 005 00
190500 2240N 08407W 6968 03106 0015 +085 +030 031039 039 046 003 00
190530 2238N 08407W 6966 03115 0017 +086 +030 031039 040 053 001 03
190600 2236N 08408W 6967 03110 0011 +089 +030 036040 041 078 000 03
190630 2234N 08408W 6963 03120 0012 +089 +030 041044 045 999 999 03
190700 2232N 08408W 6966 03110 0008 +088 +030 036047 048 999 999 03
190730 2230N 08408W 6967 03106 0006 +087 +030 025045 047 999 999 03
190800 2228N 08409W 6969 03104 0008 +085 +030 024042 044 999 999 03
190830 2226N 08409W 6967 03104 0007 +085 +030 024042 043 999 999 03
$$

[HURAKAN]

[WindRunner]

URNT15 KNHC 301919
AF308 1507A GUSTAV HDOB 25 20080830
190900 2223N 08409W 6967 03103 0004 +086 +030 022044 045 999 999 03
190930 2221N 08409W 6965 03105 0001 +090 +030 021044 044 999 999 03
191000 2219N 08410W 6969 03100 9999 +092 +030 019043 045 999 999 03
191030 2217N 08410W 6967 03104 9997 +095 +030 016042 043 999 999 03
191100 2215N 08410W 6964 03109 0001 +091 +030 014042 042 999 999 03
191130 2213N 08410W 6967 03108 0005 +090 +030 010041 042 999 999 03
191200 2211N 08411W 6967 03109 0008 +089 +030 006038 039 999 999 03
191230 2209N 08411W 6965 03110 0007 +090 +030 002038 039 999 999 03
191300 2206N 08411W 6967 03108 0006 +090 +030 359039 039 999 999 03
191330 2204N 08411W 6965 03109 0007 +090 +030 358039 039 999 999 03
191400 2202N 08411W 6967 03100 9999 +090 +030 355038 039 999 999 03
191430 2200N 08412W 6968 03095 9992 +089 +030 357040 042 999 999 03
191500 2158N 08412W 6967 03095 9992 +090 +030 001042 042 999 999 03
191530 2156N 08412W 6966 03093 9989 +089 +030 356041 041 999 999 03
191600 2154N 08412W 6967 03090 9988 +089 +030 354043 044 039 000 03
191630 2151N 08413W 6966 03093 9989 +089 +030 352045 045 035 002 00
191700 2149N 08413W 6967 03093 9990 +087 +030 351044 045 037 001 00
191730 2147N 08413W 6967 03089 9987 +087 +030 352044 044 036 001 00
191800 2145N 08413W 6967 03087 9986 +085 +030 352044 044 034 002 00
191830 2143N 08414W 6966 03084 9993 +081 +030 349043 044 034 001 00
$$

Back out over water on the south side of Cuba...

[HURAKAN]

Getting ready for the SW-NE pass.

[WindRunner]

URNT15 KNHC 301929
AF308 1507A GUSTAV HDOB 26 20080830
191900 2141N 08414W 6968 03084 9992 +081 +030 350043 044 032 002 00
191930 2139N 08414W 6967 03084 9988 +081 +030 350042 042 033 001 00
192000 2137N 08414W 6967 03088 9992 +083 +030 349043 044 036 000 00
192030 2134N 08415W 6967 03087 9992 +082 +030 350043 045 033 001 00
192100 2132N 08415W 6967 03084 9989 +085 +030 348044 044 034 000 00
192130 2130N 08415W 6968 03084 9988 +084 +030 347045 046 034 000 00
192200 2128N 08415W 6964 03086 9992 +080 +030 350046 046 033 002 00
192230 2126N 08416W 6969 03081 9989 +081 +030 349046 046 032 002 00
192300 2124N 08416W 6967 03083 9990 +080 +030 350046 047 030 001 00
192330 2121N 08416W 6967 03083 9986 +085 +030 348045 046 030 002 00
192400 2119N 08416W 6965 03084 9986 +085 +030 348046 047 030 002 00
192430 2117N 08417W 6967 03083 9987 +085 +030 351047 047 029 001 00
192500 2115N 08417W 6969 03082 9990 +083 +030 350045 047 027 002 00
192530 2113N 08417W 6964 03089 9994 +080 +030 351044 045 028 001 00
192600 2111N 08417W 6965 03093 0000 +081 +030 349041 042 027 001 00
192630 2109N 08418W 6967 03093 0001 +080 +030 347042 042 024 002 00
192700 2107N 08418W 6968 03094 0007 +077 +030 345041 042 026 002 00
192730 2104N 08418W 6964 03098 0001 +083 +030 345045 046 025 002 00
192800 2102N 08418W 6967 03095 9999 +086 +030 344044 045 027 002 00
192830 2100N 08419W 6963 03102 9997 +091 +030 342042 043 027 001 00
$$

[HURAKAN]

[WindRunner]

URNT15 KNHC 301939
AF308 1507A GUSTAV HDOB 27 20080830
192900 2058N 08419W 6968 03098 9996 +090 +030 341042 042 027 002 00
192930 2056N 08419W 6967 03101 0001 +089 +030 340042 043 028 001 00
193000 2054N 08419W 6967 03102 0004 +085 +030 342044 044 029 002 00
193030 2052N 08420W 6967 03102 0005 +085 +030 343042 044 032 001 00
193100 2050N 08420W 6967 03105 0013 +083 +030 341040 040 033 002 00
193130 2048N 08420W 6965 03107 0018 +080 +030 340041 041 035 001 00
193200 2045N 08420W 6968 03106 0014 +084 +030 342040 042 033 003 00
193230 2043N 08421W 6967 03106 0017 +081 +030 341039 040 030 003 00
193300 2041N 08421W 6968 03106 0021 +079 +030 342039 040 029 001 00
193330 2039N 08421W 6965 03108 0018 +080 +030 344037 037 027 002 03
193400 2037N 08421W 6965 03106 0005 +090 +030 343035 036 999 999 03
193430 2037N 08419W 6970 03102 0009 +087 +030 341033 034 999 999 03
193500 2038N 08418W 6973 03099 0007 +088 +030 341032 032 025 001 00
193530 2039N 08417W 6963 03110 0016 +078 +030 338032 033 026 001 00
193600 2040N 08415W 6964 03106 0006 +085 +030 339033 034 024 002 00
193630 2041N 08414W 6965 03104 0010 +082 +030 343033 034 012 005 03
193700 2043N 08413W 6969 03099 0007 +084 +030 341033 035 027 004 03
193730 2044N 08412W 6962 03108 0010 +082 +030 333032 034 026 004 03
193800 2045N 08411W 6967 03100 0007 +085 +030 332036 036 025 002 03
193830 2046N 08409W 6965 03101 0005 +085 +030 331036 036 023 002 00
$$

Made the turn to start the SW-NE pass...

[HURAKAN]

[Dave]

000
URNT15 KNHC 301949
AF308 1507A GUSTAV HDOB 28 20080830
193900 2047N 08408W 6971 03095 0004 +085 +030 330036 037 028 001 00
193930 2049N 08407W 6965 03100 0003 +084 +030 328036 037 027 002 00
194000 2050N 08406W 6964 03099 0005 +079 +030 328035 036 029 001 00
194030 2051N 08404W 6968 03093 0005 +080 +030 325034 035 030 000 00
194100 2052N 08403W 6967 03093 0000 +081 +030 323033 033 029 002 00
194130 2054N 08402W 6964 03093 9991 +085 +030 321033 033 028 002 00
194200 2055N 08400W 6969 03084 9987 +088 +030 323034 035 029 001 00
194230 2056N 08359W 6967 03090 9988 +086 +030 324033 034 030 001 00
194300 2057N 08358W 6965 03089 9987 +090 +030 325033 033 030 001 00
194330 2058N 08357W 6965 03089 9984 +091 +030 325034 035 030 002 00
194400 2100N 08355W 6969 03083 9979 +091 +030 326039 040 030 002 00
194430 2101N 08354W 6967 03083 9978 +090 +030 328042 042 030 003 00
194500 2102N 08353W 6964 03085 9975 +093 +030 327041 042 030 002 00
194530 2103N 08351W 6968 03079 9974 +095 +030 328039 040 034 002 00
194600 2104N 08350W 6968 03077 9972 +092 +030 325037 038 033 003 00
194630 2106N 08349W 6964 03082 9970 +092 +030 323038 038 037 002 00
194700 2107N 08348W 6968 03074 9967 +094 +030 319038 038 037 004 00
194730 2108N 08346W 6967 03073 9967 +090 +030 318038 038 038 003 00
194800 2109N 08345W 6968 03072 9971 +087 +030 319039 040 039 003 00
194830 2111N 08344W 6969 03072 9974 +085 +030 316038 039 037 004 00
$$

[HURAKAN]

[Dave]

Windrunner or someone pick it up for again, I have to leave for a couple hours.

[WindRunner]

Yeah, I just got distracted and didn't see that one set flash in on my software, no worries.