Recon Reports Dennis

[NC George]

Just downgraded windspeed to 145 mph. Also, speed picked up to 17 (less time over Cuba) and it's passing over flatland in Cuba.

[clfenwi]

Observation: Number 28
Time: 1735Z
Position:23.2 North // 81.8 West
Flight level: 3070 meters
Flight level winds 43 knots // 070


LAST REPORT

And with that folks, I am out of here for now.

Shortly the Gulfstream IV will be taking off to do upper-air sampling, presumably same area it covered yesterday. Also, a WC-130 will be taking off; it appears that is doing the same as yesterday, i.e. sampling the enviroment in the Gulf of Mexico.

The next low-level mission is scheduled to take off at 1930Z // 3:30 EDT.
It is scheduled to be on station in time to provide a fix at 0000Z/ 8:00 PM EDT.

[cycloneye]

Observation: Number 28
Time: 1735Z
Position:23.2 North // 81.8 West
Flight level: 3070 meters
Flight level winds 43 knots // 070


LAST REPORT

And with that folks, I am out of here for now.

Shortly the Gulfstream IV will be taking off to do upper-air sampling, presumably same area it covered yesterday. Also, a WC-130 will be taking off; it appears that is doing the same as yesterday, i.e. sampling the enviroment in the Gulf of Mexico.

The next low-level mission is scheduled to take off at 1930Z // 3:30 EDT.
It is scheduled to be on station in time to provide a fix at 0000Z/ 8:00 PM EDT.

Wow it has been a long journey for you since early in the morning hours.Great work. Now get a well deserved rest.

[HURAKAN]

Now that the hurricane is moving over land, I guess more RECON flies are not possible, right?

[Hurricaneman]

Right

[senorpepr]

Storm Name: DENNIS (04L)
Mission Number: 10
Flight ID: AF305
Observation Number: 01
Time: 1927Z
Latitude: 28.0°N
Longitude: 87.7°W
Location: 166 mi ESE of Grand Isle, Louisana
Turbulence: None
Flight condition: Clear
Pressure Altitude: 27000 feet
Flight level wind: SSE (160°) @ 21 mph
Temperature: -11°F
Dewpoint: N/A°F
Weather: Thunderstorm
D-value: 1600 feet
Surface Wind: N/A
Remarks: None

[senorpepr]

Storm Name: DENNIS (04L)
Mission Number: 10
Flight ID: AF305
Observation Number: 06
Time: 2031Z
Latitude: 23.7°N
Longitude: 89.0°W
Location: 229 mi NW of Cancun, Mexico
Turbulence: None
Flight condition: Clear
Pressure Altitude: 28000 feet
Flight level wind: SE (140°) @ 13 mph
Temperature: -15°F
Dewpoint: -27°F
Weather: Scattered Skies
D-value: 1700 feet
Surface Wind: N/A
Remarks: None

[Cape Verde]

Does Cuba allow us to do recon flights for hurricanes in their airspace?

[soonertwister]

They haven't in the past. Someone who's been monitoring the recon reports could tell you if they've been flying around Cuba, or have been granted temporary overflights for this hurricane.

[Pebbles]

I could swear they did for Ivan

[Brent]

I could swear they did for Ivan

Ivan didn't make landfall in Cuba.

[senorpepr]

Occasionally Cuba will grant access to airspace for AF recon, but normally they are denied. NOAA always has access unless Cuba specifically denies it.

I haven't seen any AF recon fly through Cuban airspace during Dennis. The active AF mission is doing an upper-level synoptic mention which would keep it out of Cuban airspace.

Most likely, recon will not do a fix until this leaves land.

With that said... here's another recco...

Storm Name: DENNIS (04L)
Mission Number: 10
Flight ID: AF305
Observation Number: 13
Time: 2231Z
Latitude: 25.0°N
Longitude: 94.9°W
Location: 156 mi ESE of Brownsville, Texas
Turbulence: None
Flight condition: Clear
Pressure Altitude: 28000 feet
Flight level wind: VRB @ 6 mph
Temperature: -18°F
Dewpoint: N/A°F
Weather: Scattered Skies
D-value: 1700 feet
Surface Wind: N/A
Remarks: None

[Pebbles]

Didn't they fly a mission over cuba airspace last year Senorpepr...seems I am getting my storms mixed up *feels silly*

[senorpepr]

Didn't they fly a mission over cuba airspace last year Senorpepr...seems I am getting my storms mixed up *feels silly*

Yes, Cuba specifically authorized the AF to fly during Ivan. Fidel Castro has yet to do the same with Dennis.

[Pebbles]

Ok.. I wasn't off then! LOL *feels better*

[senorpepr]

Storm Name: DENNIS (04L)
Mission Number: 10
Flight ID: AF305
Observation Number: 18
Time: 2359Z
Latitude: 27.1°N
Longitude: 93.2°W
Location: 181 mi SE of Galveston, Texas
Turbulence: None
Flight condition: Clear
Pressure Altitude: 28000 feet
Flight level wind: WSW (240°) @ 20 mph
Temperature: -17°F
Dewpoint: N/A°F
Weather: Scattered Skies
D-value: 1600 feet
Surface Wind: N/A
Remarks: None

[senorpepr]

Flight Plan - Dennis

Mission XI - AF Fix Flight (***active-comm problems***)
Take off: 08/3:30pm EDT
Time on target: 08/7:00pm EDT - 09/2:30am EDT
FL: 0-10kft

Mission XII - NOAA Fix Flight
Take off: 09/1:00am EDT
Time on target: 09/4:30am EDT - 09/8:30am EDT
FL: 0-10kft

Mission XIII - NOAA Synoptic Flight
Take off: 09/2:00am EDT
FL: 41-45kft

Mission XIV - AF Fix Flight
Take off: 09/7:30am EDT
Time on target: 09/10:00am EDT - 09/5:30pm EDT
FL: 0-10kft

Mission XV - NOAA Synoptic Flight
Take off: 09/2:00pm EDT
FL: 41-45kft

Mission XVI - AF Fix Flight
Take off: 09/5:30pm EDT
Time on target: 09/7:00pm EDT - 10/2:30am EDT
FL: 0-10kft

Mission XVII - AF Fix Flight
Take off: 10/2:15am EDT
Time on target: 10/4:00am EDT - 10/11:30am EDT

Outlook: Continue 3-hourly fixes.

[senorpepr]

Storm Name: DENNIS (04L)
Mission Number: 10
Flight ID: AF305
Observation Number: 22
Time: 0053Z
Latitude: 28.8°N
Longitude: 95.0°W
Location: 22 mi ESE of Freeport, Texas
Turbulence: None
Flight condition: Clear
Pressure Altitude: 16000 feet
Flight level wind: NNW (340°) @ 16 mph
Temperature: 25°F
Dewpoint: 16°F
Weather: Rainshowers
D-value: 900 feet
Surface Wind: N/A
Remarks: LAST REPORT

[senorpepr]

Flight Plan - Dennis

Mission XI - AF Fix Flight (***active-comm problems***)
Take off: 08/3:30pm EDT
Time on target: 08/7:00pm EDT - 09/2:30am EDT
FL: 0-10kft

Mission XII - NOAA Fix Flight
Take off: 09/1:00am EDT
Time on target: 09/4:30am EDT - 09/8:30am EDT
FL: 0-10kft

Mission XIII - NOAA Synoptic Flight
Take off: 09/2:00am EDT
FL: 41-45kft

Mission XIV - AF Fix Flight
Take off: 09/7:30am EDT
Time on target: 09/10:00am EDT - 09/5:30pm EDT
FL: 0-10kft

Mission XV - NOAA Synoptic Flight
Take off: 09/2:00pm EDT
FL: 41-45kft

Mission XVI - AF Fix Flight
Take off: 09/5:30pm EDT
Time on target: 09/7:00pm EDT - 10/2:30am EDT
FL: 0-10kft

Mission XVII - AF Fix Flight
Take off: 10/2:15am EDT
Time on target: 10/4:00am EDT - 10/11:30am EDT

Outlook: Continue 3-hourly fixes.

Okay, according to the latest Dennis discussion...

There is an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft flying along
the north coast of Cuba waiting for Dennis to emerge. However...
the aircraft is experiencing major communication problems and only
limited data can be transmitted at this moment. A vortex message
may be available once Dennis moves back over the water.

With that said, I've renumbered the missions and changed the canx mission back to active. If I see any observations, I'll post them.

[senorpepr]

Storm Name: DENNIS (04L)
Mission Number: WX
Flight ID: AF307
Observation Number: 02
Time: 0430Z
Latitude: 23.9°N
Longitude: 75.8°W
Location: 131 mi SE of Nassau, Bahamas
Turbulence: Occasional Moderate
Flight condition: In cloud
Pressure Altitude: 22000 feet
Flight level wind: ESE (120°) @ 14 mph
Temperature: 7°F
Dewpoint: 7°F
Weather: Unknown
D-value: 1400 feet
Surface Wind: N/A
Remarks: None