Hurricane Season 2015 – Weather 360

As Atlantic Hurricane Season Winds Down, Western Mexico Faces Major Hurricane Threat

October 22, 2015Posted in Major Storm, Tropical CyclonesTagged Category 4 Hurricane, computer models, Delaware, eastern pacific hurricane season, flooding, GFDL, Hurricane, Hurricane Patricia, hurricane season, Hurricane Season 2015, Hurricane Warnings, HWRF, Mexico, Mexico Hurricane Impact, nhc, Oklahoma, rain, Texas, Texas CoastlineLeave a comment

10/22/15 8:00 PM AST: Hurricane Patricia strengthens rapidly to a Category 4 hurricane, Hurricane Warnings in place.

Although the Atlantic Hurricane Season is winding down, a massive Category 4 Hurricane Patricia is quickly moving towards the Central Mexican Pacific coastline. This monster storm will also help bring massive amounts of rainfall to these areas along with parts of the Southern United States over the next several days.

The Forecast

At this time yesterday, Hurricane Patricia was only a Tropical Depression with sustained winds of only 35 MPH, and the forecast track was only suggesting the landfall at a maximum of a Category Two storm on the Mexican Coastline. So what happened?

Well, since yesterday at this time, the forecast models have shifted as to support massive quick development of the storm due to warm ocean waters, and minimal wind shear. Even though the official forecast track yesterday called for a moderate hurricane impact on the Mexican Coastline, some computer models such as the HWRF and the GFDL (Hurricane Computer Models) suggested that at least a potential Category Three storm impact was possible starting late on Tuesday. These same computer models have steadily suggested a more violent impact since then.

For anyone with interests across along the Central-Pacific Mexican Coastline, please continue to monitor the storm and visit the NHC’s website for more information.

Joaquin Expected to Impact Bermuda, Watches and Warnings Issued

October 3, 2015October 3, 2015Posted in Major Storm, Tropical CyclonesTagged 155 MPH Winds, Bermuda, Bermuda Threat, Category 4 Hurricane, Hurricane, Hurricane Joaquin, hurricane season, Hurricane Season 2015, Hurricane threat, nhc, Weather, Weather 360, weather forecast, Weather NewsLeave a comment

Weather Bulletin – 10/3/2015 2 PM AST

The National Hurricane Center in Miami Florida has issued a Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch for the Islands of Bermuda. The strong Category Four Hurricane Joaquin is now moving quickly to the northeast towards Bermuda. Joaquin’s center is expected to pass within 75 miles to the west of Bermuda in about two days, as a potentially high Category Two, or low-grade Category Three storm. Due to Joaquin’s potential proximity to the island nation, the NHC urges residents to take precautions immediately and to be prepared for the worst.

We’ll keep you posted – Weather 360

Tonight crucial in any future development of Tropical Storm Erika

August 28, 2015August 28, 2015Posted in Tropical CyclonesTagged 3.A.S., Atlantic Hurricane Season, Bahamas, Caribbean Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, ECMWF, Erika, Euro, Florida, GFDL, GFS, Haiti, Hispaniola, Hurricane, hurricane season, Hurricane Season 2015, HWRF, Leeward Islands, nhc, Puerto Rico, Southeastern United States, Tropical Cyclone, tropical depression, Tropical Storm Erika, Tropical Storm Warnings, Tropical Storm Watches, Virgin Islands, Weather, Weather 360, weather forecast, Weather NewsLeave a comment

As of 5:30 PM EDT/AST

With the newest NHC track and intensity update of Tropical Storm Erika rolling out, it is time to really stop and think, what is the single most important factor in Erika’s development, what is most crucial in the short term? The answer is for the most part clear, and cloudy, but it is Hispaniola at the moment…

Hispaniola and the Storm Shredder’s

Sounds like a band, right? Anyways, the mountains spread across central and southern portions of the two-nation island do inhibit development of tropical cyclones by ripping to shreds their center of circulation in the lower levels. The mountains of Hispaniola are anywhere between 6,000 and 10,000 feet, tall enough to disrupt the centers and other clouds at the lower levels. So really it all comes down to the mountains over the next 12 to 18 hours, and if Erika is strong enough to at the least reemerge after its encounter with the land masses.

Official Alerts:

Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the entire length of the coasts of The Dominican Republic and Haiti, along with The Turks and Caicos along with most of The Bahamas.

Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for northeastern parts of Cuba and for locations in the northwestern portions of The Bahamas.

Weather 360 will continue to monitor the progress of Erika over the next several days.

Tropical Storm Erika may impact Southeast Coast, but will it make it there?

August 28, 2015August 28, 2015Posted in Tropical CyclonesTagged Atlantic Hurricane Season, computer models, Cuba, east coast, ECMWF, Euro, Florida, GFDL, GFS, Hispaniola, Hurricane, Hurricane Hunters, Hurricane Season 2015, Invest 98L, Moutains, NAM, nhc, Puerto Rico, SFWMD, Southeastern United States, The Bahamas, The Turks and Caicos, The Virgin Islands, Tropical Storm Erika, Weather 360Leave a comment

As of 11:30 AM EDT/AST

Tropical Storm Erika has sustained winds of about 50 MPH with gusts upwards of 60 MPH. The storm is moving west-northwestward at the moment over the Dominican Republic. Tropical Storm Warnings are still in effect for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, parts of The Turks and Caicos along with The Bahamas, and all of Hispaniola. Hurricane Hunter Aircraft are in the storm.

The Track

This image is made public by the South Florida Water Management District (.gov)

The track seems to be locking in and narrowing down, well, at least compared to yesterday at this time, but nonetheless, the expected track and intensity are still at a state of ‘low confidence’ as mentioned by the NHC in their latest Tropical Forecast Discussion. The general trend though, is that the storm will pass over Hispaniola over the next day, then turn northward toward Florida, then possibly re curving, to go back over the Atlantic and to head up the East Coast. For those in Florida or along the Southeast Coast of the United States, please continue to monitor the situation, as the cone of uncertainty continues to include the possibility of a major storm impacting the Eastern Seaboard.

Intensity, Will She Survive?

Who knows, Erika is seeming to have a mind of her own as she has not followed the official NHC track whatsoever over the last several days. Although this is true, over the past hour or two Erika has seemed to finally get her act together (or the NHC for that matter) in determining the track, because Erika’s center of circulation along with her discombobulated thunderstorms have seemingly begun to shift to the northwest. Erika is expected to strengthen at least to a higher-grade Tropical Storm by the NHC, and by a very consistent computer model, the GFDL, a major Category Four storm off of the Southeast Coast. But what is the driving force behind its intensity? Mountains…

Believe it or not, the only difference in the computer models is if Erika will be torn up enough by the mountains for it not to reform to a well-defined system. According to the NHC, Erika will be so torn up by Hispaniola’s mountains, that it will not be able to strengthen too significantly before potential impact with Florida. This whereas the GFDL computer model along with some others, suggest a less torn-up version of Erika and strengthen her rapidly, causing her to not impact Florida for too long and move her up the US East Coast quickly as a large Major Hurricane (as of 6 UTC.)

Official Alerts:

Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, all of Hispaniola, The Turks and Caicos, The Bahamas.

Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for parts of Cuba, and the northwest portions of The Bahamas.

Weather 360 3.A.S.: Tropical Storm Warning areas are under a Level I Emergency, Locations under Tropical Storm Watches are under a Level II Alert, and a Level III, Be Aware, statement is for the Entire East Coast from Florida to Massachussetts.

Weather 360 will continue to keep you updated on the progress of Erika.

Tropical Storm Erika may pose threat to entire East Coast if models hold through

August 27, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged Atlantic Hurricane Season, east coast, ECMWF, GFDL, GFS, Hispaniola, Hurricane, Hurricane Season 2015, HWRF, Leeward Islands, Mid Atlantic, New England, Puerto Rico, Southeastern United States, The Bahamas, The Turks and Caicos, Tropical Storm Erika, Virgin IslandsLeave a comment

BREAKING WEATHER NEWS: 3:45 PM EDT/AST

It is now almost 4 o’clock across the Eastern Seaboard of the US and with the latest run of the computer model runs, some fairly intriguing information has come out as well.

What’s happening?

As of the 12 UTC update, several computer models that do bring Erika up the East Coast, also bring Erika to Category 4 and Category 5 status while nearing the Outer Banks. This could, if true, mean that a potential catastrophic disaster could be felt anywhere from Florida, to New England, with that in mind, we do remind you that some computer models do still bring a weaker system into Florida, which would avert a potential catastrophe. For anyone from Florida to New England, we do advise to at least be thinking about preparation for this potential storm.

For those in the Caribbean Islands, including Hispaniola, The Turks and Caicos, and The Bahamas, we recommend immediate action, as we expect a slight shift in the track by the NHC over the next hour.

Bottom Line: BE PREPARED, Don’t let a storm catch you off guard.

We will continue to keep you updated on the progress of Erika.

Tropical Storm Erika bears down on Caribbean, and may hit the East Coast soon

August 27, 2015Posted in Tropical CyclonesTagged Atlantic Hurricane Season, Bahamas, Caribbean Islands, ECMWF, Euro, Hurricane, Hurricane Season 2015, Invest 98L, Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Southeastern United States, Tropical Storm Erika, Virgin Islands, Weather 360Leave a comment

As of 7:00 AM EDT/AST

Tropical Storm Erika now has winds sustained at 45 knots (50 MPH), and a pressure of about 1003 millibars. The storm will likely continue to west-northwestward track at about 15 mph and impact Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, parts of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, and The Bahamas over the next few days.

Let’s Talk Track

Overnight, the main computer models along with many spaghetti models seem to have locked in on their track for Tropical Storm Erika, the newest main track calls for a turn to the north, as expected, while over the Bahamas, leaving most of the state of Florida likely in the clear. Over the next few days, Tropical Storm Erika will ride over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, skim northeastern parts of Hispaniola, do a direct hit on the Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas, and skim the Eastern Florida coastline.

The Computer Models, What’s New?

As said before, the spaghetti models along with all the global computer models have seemed to lock in their newest projection for Erika’s track to at least parts of the East Coast, but what about intensity? Of course, along with track, the intensity must change as well, and believe us when we say change. One may not think the following change is any more than moderately significant, but in truth, even a difference of about 10 MPH in wind speed can mean the difference between little and major damage. At the same time yesterday, the spaghetti intensity models where still all over the place, but as of last night, more and more computer models became more grouped together, leaving us with two main possibilities, either this storm will strengthen rapidly over the Bahamas, or Erika will strengthen over the next several days slowly. Both of these possibilities do say there would be a hurricane either of above Category Three status, or mid-grade Category One status in about 5 days.

Most Global Computer Models such as the GFS and the ECMWF, will became a bit more infrequently used in the immediate track, meaning that over the next few days, the shorter range and more accurate computer models will be given a bigger shot at Tropical Storm Erika.

Official Alerts: Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the northern Leeward Islands, The Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Tropical Storm Watches remain in effect for southern parts of the Leeward Islands, northern portions of the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos, and the southern parts of the Bahamas.

Weather 360 3.A.S.: Level I Emergency for locations under Tropical Storm Warnings, Level II Alert for locations under Tropical Storm Watches, and a Level III, be aware statement, for locations from Miami to The Outer Banks along with the entirety of the Eastern Seaboard.

Weather 360 will continue to keep you updated on the progress of Tropical Storm Erika, stay safe!

Tropical Storm Erika takes aim on Caribbean Islands, but then what?

August 25, 2015Posted in Tropical CyclonesTagged Atlantic Hurricane Season, Bahamas, Caribbean Islands, ECMWF, Euro, Hurricane, Hurricane Season 2015, Invest 98L, Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Southeastern United States, Tropical Storm Erika, Virgin IslandsLeave a comment

As of 7:00 AM EDT/AST

Tropical Storm Erika has sustained Winds of about 45 MPH, with gusts from 50 to 60 MPH. The storm is moving to the west-northwest at 20 mph towards the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas.

The Track

Tropical Storm Erika is expected to keep a track trough the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Already due to this threat, Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for parts of the Leeward Islands. After skimming parts of Hispaniola with its southern side, Erika will begin to move towards the Bahamas, but it is after here where things get interesting.

Let’s talk computer models

For a start, the European Computer Model (ECMWF or Euro) suggests that Erika will stall just north of the Bahamas due to a somewhat aggravating high pressure, this would happen likely until the high pressure moves to the east, then Erika would be allowed to trek the East Coast as a potentially monster-like storm. Of course, we still have several days to go until we know exactly the final destination for Erika, which is officially expected to become a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida.

Let’s bring in some of our spaghetti models now… Let’s start with some of the intensity computer models. At the moment, the majority of the computer models seem to bring Erika to hurricane strength in about 3-5 days, and continue it on a strengthening path after that. So there is limited disagreement between the current intensity models, but the spaghetti computer track models do have some disagreement on whether Erika will trek into the Gulf, or track up the coast at least to some degree.

Official Alerts: Tropical Storm Watches in effect for the Leeward Islands.

Weather 360 3.A.S.: Level III Alert, be aware that the potential for hazardous weather over the next two weeks may be felt along the US Southeast Coastline due to Tropical Storm Erika.

We here at Weather 360 will continue to keep you updated.

HURRICANE DANNY QUICKLY STRENGTHENS WHILE KEEPING ITS EYE SET ON THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

August 21, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged Atlantic cyclone, Atlantic Hurricane Season, Bahamas, Hispaniola, Hurricane Danny, Hurricane Season 2015, Leeward Islands, Potential Landfall, Potential US Landfall, Puerto RicoLeave a comment

As of 11 AM this morning, Hurricane Danny is a 105 MPH wind, category two hurricane, with a pressure of about 980 millibars, and is making its way slowly to the west-northwest at about 12 MPH.

Not only was this not expected at this time, but due to this rapid strengthening, the intensity models have been steadily increasing the forecasted strength of Danny over the next week or so.

This is the intensity spaghetti model forecast provided by Tropical Tidbits.

Where is Danny Heading?

Locations that may be impacted by Danny over the next five days are the following: The northern Leeward Islands, The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, The Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas.

At the moment we are not ruling out a US impact by any means.

Visit our Hurricanes page for more information on the intensity and path of Hurricane Danny.

Tropical Depression Four expected to strengthen and move towards Caribbean

August 18, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged Atlantic Hurricane Season, Atlantic Hurricane Season 2015, Hurricane, Hurricane Season 2015, Lesser Antilles, Potential Landfall, Tropical Depression 4, Tropical Storm DannyLeave a comment

This morning at 8 AM Eastern Time, the NHC declared former Invest 96L a Tropical Depression, the fourth of the season in the Tropical Atlantic Basin. With a tightening circulation and strengthening winds, we here at Weather 360 can start to assume that this system will become Tropical Storm Danny shortly. Although this system is moving slowly, and any impact to land is days out, many computer models are not ruling out the potential for a full-scale hurricane to form briefly before impacting the Lesser Antilles over the next several days to a week.

The most recent satellite image from the NOAA of TD Four

We’ll keep you posted

Guillermo closes in on Hawaii, Tropical Storm Watches issued for The Big Island and Maui

August 4, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged central pacific, eastern pacific hurricane season, Guillermo, hawaii, Hurricane in Hawaii, Hurricane Season 2015, Maui, The Big Island, Tropical Storm GuillermoLeave a comment

As newly downgraded (but still threatening) Tropical Storm Guillermo makes its way closer to the Hawaiian Islands, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) in Honolulu has been cranking away its newest advisories.

WEATHER 360 ISSUES A LEVEL II, ELEVATED ALERT FOR THE BIG ISLAND AND MAUI AS CPHC ISSUES TROPICAL STORM WATCHES.

The newly issued Tropical Storm Watches for the two furthest east counties in Hawaii mean there is a potential for Tropical Storm conditions to occur in this area over the next 48 hours. A Tropical Storm Warning means there is a certain level of certainty (normally fairly high…) that a Tropical Storm will impact said area within 36 hours of the statement made.

The following is the Tropical Storm Watch issued by the CPHC for The Big Island and Maui County:

TROPICAL STORM GUILLERMO LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
545 PM HST MON AUG 3 2015

...GUILLERMO MOVING NORTHWEST...TROPICAL STORM WATCH ISSUED...

.NEW INFORMATION...
UPDATED TO INCLUDE LOCAL DETAILS REGARDING THE TROPICAL STORM
WATCH.

.AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR PORTIONS OF
LOCATIONS WITHIN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.

.WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MOLOKAI...LANAI...
KAHOOLAWE...MAUI...THE BIG ISLAND.

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EAST FACING SHORES OF
THE BIG ISLAND THROUGH 6 PM HST TUESDAY.

.STORM INFORMATION...
AT 5 PM HST...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM GUILLERMO WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 18.1N...LONGITUDE 147.4W...OR ABOUT 515 MILES EAST
OF HILO AND ABOUT 715 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF HONOLULU. TROPICAL
STORM GUILLERMO IS MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MPH.

.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
TROPICAL STORM GUILLERMO IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE MOVING TOWARD THE
NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE LATEST CENTRAL
PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER FORECAST ESTIMATES THE CENTER OF
GUILLERMO WILL PASS APPROXIMATELY 140 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE BIG
ISLAND ON WEDNESDAY...AND APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES NORTHEAST OF
MAUI WEDNESDAY NIGHT. STEADY WEAKENING IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS.

WHILE THIS FORECAST TRACK KEEPS THE WORST WEATHER AWAY FROM THE
ISLANDS...ANY DEVIATION TO THE LEFT OF THE EXPECTED TRACK COULD
BRING TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS TO PORTIONS OF THE BIG ISLAND OR
MAUI. THUS A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT AS A PRECAUTION FOR
THOSE AREAS.


.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IT IS VITAL THAT YOU DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT FORECAST TRACK.
FORECAST MOVEMENT...DIRECTION...AND SPEED ARE ONLY ESTIMATES.
EVEN SMALL ERRORS IN THE FORECAST TRACK CAN MEAN MAJOR
DIFFERENCES IN WHERE THE WORST CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR. DAMAGING
EFFECTS CAN EXTEND FAR FROM THE CENTER.

FOR THOSE UNDER A WATCH...NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE. SECURE OR
BRING INDOORS ANY LOOSE OUTDOOR OBJECTS LIKE LAWN FURNITURE...
CHILDRENS TOYS...HANGING PLANTS...BARBECUE GRILLS...OR ANY ITEM
THAT COULD BECOME A DESTRUCTIVE PROJECTILE IN STRONG WINDS. DO
NOT WAIT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE.

STAY CALM AND KEEP INFORMED. CLOSELY MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO
OR OTHER LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION.
LISTEN FOR WARNINGS OR CHANGES TO THE FORECAST.

BE READY TO EVACUATE IF NECESSARY. HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL
OFFICIALS AND COMPLY WITH ANY ORDERS THAT ARE ISSUED. PERSONS
LIVING NEAR THE SHORE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO EVACUATE QUICKLY
SHOULD BUILDING SURF THREATEN.

&&

.NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 1230 AM HST...OR
SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.

HIZ012>028-041100-
/O.CON.PHFO.TR.A.2009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-LANAI MAKAI-LANAI MAUKA-
KAHOOLAWE-MAUI WINDWARD WEST-MAUI LEEWARD WEST-
MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-LEEWARD HALEAKALA-
HALEAKALA SUMMIT-KONA-SOUTH BIG ISLAND-BIG ISLAND NORTH AND EAST-
KOHALA-BIG ISLAND INTERIOR-BIG ISLAND SUMMITS-
545 PM HST MON AUG 3 2015

...TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

LOOSE OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN FURNITURE...GARBAGE CANS...AND OTHER
ITEMS SHOULD BE SECURED OR STORED INDOORS.

&&

...PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE CONDITIONS...
THE CHANCE FOR TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IS 14 PERCENT AT
HILO AND 17 PERCENT AT KAHULUI.

...WINDS...
ALTHOUGH THE LATEST FORECAST IS FOR SUSTAINED WINDS TO REMAIN
BELOW TROPICAL STORM FORCE OF 39 MPH...34 KNOTS...ONLY A SMALL
CHANGE IN THE TRACK OF GUILLERMO COULD RESULT IN HIGHER WINDS.

...INLAND FLOODING...
THERE IS A CHANCE OF LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL AND THUNDERSTORMS
AS GUILLERMO PASSES NORTHEAST OF THE ISLANDS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF
1 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE IN SOME AREAS...WITH ISOLATED
LOCAL MAXIMUM AMOUNTS TO 7 INCHES POSSIBLE MAINLY IN HIGHER
TERRAIN. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WOULD BE LOWER IF GUILLERMO TRACKS
FARTHER AWAY FROM THE ISLANDS THAN CURRENTLY FORECAST.

$$
R BALLARD

Weather 360 will bring you more information on Tropical Storm Guillermo and its potential effects on Hawaii after the next CPHC update at 8:00 AM HST (2:00 PM EDT)

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