Archive for August 30th, 2010

A very nice sunset that took place after the lingering rain dissipated across Talladega County this evening.  After a dreary day, this was a nice way to end it.  We begin warming back up for the rest of the week and into the mid – upper 90’s by the weekend.

The latest from the NHC was very interesting on 97L….

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
LOCATED ABOUT 900 MILES EAST OF THE LESSER ANTILLES HAVE CHANGED
LITTLE IN ORGANIZATION DURING THE DAY.  HOWEVER...AIRCRAFT DATA
FROM A RESEARCH MISSION BEING CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH...AS WELL AS SATELLITE DATA...SUGGEST THAT
THIS SYSTEM IS ALREADY PRODUCING TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN A
SMALL AREA NORTH OF THE CENTER.  ONLY A SMALL INCREASE IN
ORGANIZATION OF THE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WOULD RESULT
IN THE FORMATION OF A TROPICAL STORM...AND ADVISORIES COULD BE
INITIATED LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT.  THERE IS A HIGH
CHANCE...90 PERCENT...OF THIS SYSTEM BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE
DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS AS IT MOVES GENERALLY WESTWARD AT ABOUT 20
MPH.

Good morning, Earl!  He is nearing major status over the northern Leeward Islands this morning where some hurricane conditions are being felt.  Earl has continued to intensify overnight and is becoming very symmetric.  Very cold cloud tops surround the warm and deep center of Earl this morning as he continues to generally track toward the WNW with a wobble due W at times. 

Above is a very good presentation of Earl and his outflow pattern getting better over time as the shear decreases north of the system.  Earl and his wind field continue to expand this morning with TS force winds being felt as far south as the Central islands and almost into Puerto Rico now as the outer bands rapidly approach.  This trend is expected to continue throughout the day and Earl could be a major category 4 or better storm by this evening.

Earl is still expected to turn toward the NNW into a weakness very evident on the image above.  The line of clouds extending from the Central Gulf of Mexico to off the SE coast of Florida is indicative of this weakness on the satellite.  This upper level trough that is shearing out over the area should open the door for Earl to move directly into it and hopefully stay off of the east coast of the US.  It will be a close call.  More later…