ATL GUSTAV: Tropical Depression - Discussion

[Pebbles]

My power went out at 7:30 a.m., the wind and the squalls started blowing pretty good around 8:30 a.m., the worst of it seemed to come through here around 9:30 a.m., finally got my power back on at 11:30 a.m., the wind is still gusting pretty good at times but the rain for now has tapered off but I just checked radar and noticed a few more strong feeder bands to my east which will be moving through here pretty soon. Quite a bit of tree debris throughout my neighborhood but other than that not much else.

Wow that is pretty amazing that you got your power back so quick. That means the crews were out working in the storm. Got to give credit to the power crews. They are out in cruddy weather so everyone can get their power back on.

[Johnny]

Maybe HOU will get some much needed rainfall from Gustav.

I've been keeping an eye on it. It looks like the moisture field is moving due west, don't you think?


http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid= ... 1&loop=yes

[evalea]

Think we've finally lost power here in Youngsville, although the last few outages came back after a while, this is the longest we've had.
DSL and WiFi running on the UPS for the moment.

Its still gusting pretty hard here, but I really don't think we've had anything worse that weak TS winds. We had it much worse here for Rita. I believe we are experiencing the SW eyewall at the moment and I'm really pleased we ended up on the weaker side of the storm.

Y'all stay safe out there.

[Ed Mahmoud]

Maybe HOU will get some much needed rainfall from Gustav.

I've been keeping an eye on it. It looks like the moisture field is moving due west, don't you think?


http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid= ... 1&loop=yes

Tad North of due West, and NWS HGX AFD mentions they suspect a very sharp cut-off in rain in HOU area. I'm glad at least a few storms have formed from daytime heating ahead of main band, in case my yard is just on the wrong side of the line.

Youngsville, LA had a burger place, IIRC. Very tasty, but messy. The BHI guys preferred the Boiling Point on Highway 90, right on St Martin/Iberia Parish line, IIRC. But sometimes we ate in Youngsville. Highest wind I saw in LFT was a 77 mph gust, I'm surprised people still have electricity and internet.

[jasons2k]

I hope we get some decent rain but I'm not overly optimistic right now. Our best chance is if the storm can expand in size as it weakens. We'll see. I'd say 50/50 right now.

[Ed Mahmoud]

Off to do stuff away from the computer. But I bet LFT doesn't see 972 mb and falling very often...

Current Weather Conditions:
LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT, LA, United States
(KLFT) 30-12N 092-00W 11M

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conditions at Sep 01, 2008 - 04:07 PM EDTSep 01, 2008 - 03:07 PM CDTSep 01, 2008 - 02:07 PM MDTSep 01, 2008 - 01:07 PM PDTSep 01, 2008 - 12:07 PM ADTSep 01, 2008 - 11:07 AM HDT
2008.09.01 2007 UTC
Wind from the NNW (340 degrees) at 49 MPH (43 KT) gusting to 71 MPH (62 KT)
Visibility 1/2 mile(s)
Sky conditions overcast
Weather Fog
Precipitation last hour 0.40 inches
Temperature 73 F (23 C)
Pressure (altimeter) 28.72 in. Hg (972 hPa)
Pressure tendency falling rapidly
ob KLFT 012007Z AUTO 34043G62KT 1/2SM FG SCT008 OVC014 23/ A2872 RMK AO2 PK WND 33062/1959 PRESFR P0040

[rainman]

As the systems continues to move slowly to the northwest...houston shouldnt see hardly any rain. HGX has a good handle with thinking there will be a sharp gradient somewhere in their area.

[evalea]

Youngsville, LA had a burger place, IIRC. Very tasty, but messy.

Mmm. Morvants. Bet they are open tomorrow! We've definitely passed the worst. My dog, who is terrified of a mere rainstorm, just ventured out from her hiding place behind the toilet in the the bathroom (an interior room - we think she learned that trick from watching TWC). Better than a barometer that dog is...

[Johnny]

It must be a VERY sharp gradient. The rain bands are now moving in two counties to the east of me.

[rainman]

Same thing happend with Rita...huntsville, tx had alot of rain and college station didn't have a drop. rainfall in houston its not totally out of the question though.

[senorpepr]

I'm curious senor, why are the SSTs so high in south central TX?

That was because of the one observation off the coast reporting 88.7°F. Because there are no observations for SST overland, the computer software has a field day figuring out what to do in the data void areas. That's why sometimes you'll get weird readings over land.

[mpic]

For what it's worth, I just drove from Splendora, Tx to Dickinson (south of Houston) and there is no hint of rain. The wind is a little higher, though, closer to the Gulf.

[tolakram]

[GoneBabyGone]

posting from my phone on lsus campus. power been out for approx 2.5 hours. shingles ripping off roofs. large portion of the top layer of roof missing from rec center. large branches down. some trees and signs too. this is just in my tiny section of campus. fascinating to watch. my first full on hurricane. winds dying down a bit but still strong gusts

[Ed Mahmoud]

HPC also sees very tight rainfall gradient (as does GFS and GFDL models). Storm ahead of main line ~2 hours from house, although by then, it'll be past peak heating and it may fizzle.

[Ed Mahmoud]

posting from my phone on lsus campus. power been out for approx 2.5 hours. shingles ripping off roofs. large portion of the top layer of roof missing from rec center. large branches down. some trees and signs too. this is just in my tiny section of campus. fascinating to watch. my first full on hurricane. winds dying down a bit but still strong gusts

Stay safe.

I wonder how places closer to coast and farther from media like Gray, Thibodaux and St. Martinville did...

[SoupBone]

posting from my phone on lsus campus. power been out for approx 2.5 hours. shingles ripping off roofs. large portion of the top layer of roof missing from rec center. large branches down. some trees and signs too. this is just in my tiny section of campus. fascinating to watch. my first full on hurricane. winds dying down a bit but still strong gusts

Stay safe.

I wonder how places closer to coast and farther from media like Gray, Thibodaux and St. Martinville did...

I'm trying to get info out of Terrebonne too. I'm sure lower Terrebonne got some heft damage but I haven't had anything confirmed except from watching Jim Cantore on TWC.

[Ed Mahmoud]

This is the current radar/watch box overlay from SPC. Recalling Gustav is moving NW, easy to see how HOU may miss out on rain.

[Enzo Aquarius]

A Plaquemines Parish levee may fail, if I am understanding this correctly on CNN. Door-to-door evacuation is underway and sandbagging is occuring.

I wonder if this was the levee that had the cracks in it? EDIT: Actually, never mind, the area with the cracks is facing towards Ninth Ward, and the levee which may fail is away from the Ward.

[PTrackerLA]

We had quite a rocky time in Lafayette but we're ok at my house. Actually never lost power although many of the neighborhoods around me have. Lots of trees down throughout the city, branches everywhere, sign damage, but nothing too major. Our yard is absolutely wreck with trees and limbs but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The center of Gustav is basically right over us right now so expecting more squalls to wrap around for the rest of the afternoon and night. Hopefully the power stays on and I haven't spoken too soon! Unfortunately there has been one fatality in the city due to a fallen tree on a home. I surely hope this is all we have to deal with for the rest of the year.

Have taken a few pictures in the area and will post later today.