ATL: DORIAN - Post-Tropical - Discussion

[SconnieCane]

One thing I've noticed, even with all of these high-end cyclone landfalls with HD camera-equipped chasers intercepting the cores in the last couple years, you still can't see much of what's going on in the eyewall. It's all a white blur beyond 10 feet (or less). The brick walls collapsing, transmission towers being crumpled to the ground, etc are all hidden. This has tempered my long-time fascination with the idea of, "What would the footage look like if Andrew made landfall during daylight, and people with video cameras in Cutler and Homestead kept shooting?"

To actually get footage of damage in progress, you need to find a less well-built structure in a weaker part of the storm, or have a weaker cyclone overall. I find the widely distributed clip of a roof blowing off and splitting in two halves, which go in opposite directions during Iniki to remain one of the most impressive pieces of hurricane footage ever taken. I have yet to see anything similar from the 130kt+ landfalls of Irma, Maria, Michael or Dorian over the last 2-3 years.

[ncforecaster89]

What I noticed fron Dorian's footage Was The winds seemed more gusty where as your Micheal footage the winds seemed more sustained. Also, I thought the Dorian footage was more the northwest eyewall followed by the southeast eyewall which he didn't get much footage. It's really amazing to see two category 5 hurricanes footage from just two years apart .

Hi Dave! Thanks for the comment. I agree that the MB Michael footage is more sustained as it should be given it was right at the immediate coastline within 400 yards of the Gulf. The frictional effects of land caused the sustained winds in MH with Dorian to slow, but still retained the gusts expected with 140 kt Cat 5 wind speeds.

The winds in both MH and Elbow Cay had a westerly component consistent with their locations in the SW portion of the eyewall. As can be seen on an IR satellite image posted in comment #6002 on pg 301 of this thread, it's definitely the SW eyewall that was blasting MH...well away from the 185 mph winds that avoided both locations, fortunately.

It's really hard to believe, as you noted, that we were able to document Cat 5 landfalls in consecutive years...and...during daylight hours, no less! As such, both Jim Edds in MH and Doug Keisling 3 nm WNW of MB captured incredible images of the stadium effect and clear eye of these Cat 5 hurricanes, as well.

[ncforecaster89]

One thing I've noticed, even with all of these high-end cyclone landfalls with HD camera-equipped chasers intercepting the cores in the last couple years, you still can't see much of what's going on in the eyewall. It's all a white blur beyond 10 feet (or less). The brick walls collapsing, transmission towers being crumpled to the ground, etc are all hidden. This has tempered my long-time fascination with the idea of, "What would the footage look like if Andrew made landfall during daylight, and people with video cameras in Cutler and Homestead kept shooting?"

To actually get footage of damage in progress, you need to find a less well-built structure in a weaker part of the storm, or have a weaker cyclone overall. I find the widely distributed clip of a roof blowing off and splitting in two halves, which go in opposite directions during Iniki to remain one of the most impressive pieces of hurricane footage ever taken. I have yet to see anything similar from the 130kt+ landfalls of Irma, Maria, Michael or Dorian over the last 2-3 years.

I don't disagree with your observation, as the TV networks are usually not interested with the footage captured in the Cat 5 winds due to all the white-out conditions. They typically prefer video of much weaker wind speeds with much clearer visibility.

Having documented all of the east coast blizzards since 2014 and three separate huge Lake Effect Winter Storms beforehand...that's another thing that amazed me about the worst of Michael's eyewall; looked just like the same 0 sm "white-out" conditions...with horizontal rain instead of snow!

[cycloneye]

I'm absolutely speechless after witnessing what Dorian has done today, dang!!!

Josh Morgerman and Jim Edds must be having the storm of their lifetimes, I pray for their safety and for the people of the Bahamas!

Indeed, Josh story was bad what he went thru, but the most important thing is that he survived. In case you have not seen his video, here it is.

https://youtu.be/DV-PLJq4HD4

[FireRat]

I'm absolutely speechless after witnessing what Dorian has done today, dang!!!

Josh Morgerman and Jim Edds must be having the storm of their lifetimes, I pray for their safety and for the people of the Bahamas!

Indeed, Josh story was bad what he went thru, but the most important thing is that he survived. In case you have not seen his video, here it is.

https://youtu.be/DV-PLJq4HD4

That was quite a wild ride for Josh, wow, glad he and the others made it through safe! Those cars were troopers too, surprised they didn't get thrown around with those crazy winds! Imagine if he had chased Otis
That one was so destructive and dangerous too.

[Hurricane2022]

OTD, 5 (FIVE!!!!!) years ago, Hurricane 05L (DORIAN) reached this historic peak over the Abaco Islands.
Time has flew by.
 https://x.com/BackpirchCrew/status/1830213550175916273