Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Bill Proenza gone; tropical update
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 8:35 PM GMT on July 09, 2007 +2
With hurricane season fast approaching and internal strife threatening "the effective functioning of the National Hurricane Center", as stated in a letter signed by 23 of NHC's 49 employees, NOAA did the best thing by reassigning director Bill Proenza this afternoon. Conrad Lautenbacher, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, announced Proenza has been placed on leave "until further notice."

The reassignment puts NHC deputy director Ed Rappaport, 49, into the director's hot seat. I greatly respect Dr. Rappaport, who has done a great job as deputy director and is a highly skilled hurricane forecaster. Dr. Rappaport has a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from Texas Tech. He began work in 1988 at NHC, and served as one NHC's Hurricane Specialists before becoming chief of the Technical Support Branch. He is the best choice for director of NHC. He had wide support to become director last year when Max Mayfield retired, but turned down the job due to family reasons.

Tropical update
There are no threat areas in the tropical Atlantic to discuss, and none of the computer models are forecasting tropical storm formation over the coming week. A cold front is expected to push off the U.S. East Coast by Sunday, and we will have to watch the waters off the North Carolina coast then for development when the front stalls out. In the Pacific, an exceptionally large Category 1 typhoon, Man-Yi, is expected to become a major typhoon, and will threaten Japan late this week.

Jeff Masters
Categories: Politics
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801. BahaHurican 5:04 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Hmmm . . .

According to Wikipedia, the Tampa Bay area was hit by two powerful hurricanes in 3 years between 1845 and 1850.
Member Since: October 25, 2005 Posts: 19 Comments: 17620
803. hurricane91 5:08 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
yeah micheal i was looking at that too, i dont like that pocket in the gulf, that wrost than 05
804. bigtrucker 5:08 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
wikipedia is full of inaccurate info so i would not use them for any research.
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805. bobw999 5:11 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
wikipedia is full of inaccurate info so i would not use them for any research.

Theres really no research being done. And you can look at the sources they have listed to see where they got that information.
806. whirlwind 5:12 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
MichaelSTL-- remember when I was trying to make the same comparison, but you corrected me on the dates, a few days ago.
Things have gotten hotter in the GOM, eh?
Only one ingredient, wind shear,is preventing formation.
807. bigtrucker 5:13 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
I know, but most people will just cut and paste stuff from there, but I wouldent put much stock in what they publish.
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809. Ivansurvivr 5:14 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
I don't pay much atention to africa till august.Cold waters around canary islands shred just about everything in that area.
810. nash28 5:14 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Wind shear will not remain in constant high mode forever. All it takes is a couple of weeks of relaxed shear, and BANG!
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811. Patrap 5:14 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
GOM 60 hr Sst model and more

Link
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812. bigtrucker 5:15 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
STL that is frightening.SST's are certainly heating up not only in the carib. but also along the east coast
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814. Ivansurvivr 5:17 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Waters are heating up quick no doubt. When the breeze off the atlantic gives you a morning low of 86 at the coast. No upwelling last year means stronger storms
815. hurricane23 5:19 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Good afternoon...

Finally got a responce from jeff masters on his thoughts on current trofiness of the eastcoast and he pretty much agrees with me on the fact that were seeing the same pattern as last year in place.

I sent him nash's comments on this season looking similar to 04.

What it means is that the A/B High is setting up shop in a similar position to what it did in late July of '04. We were also in an ENSO pattern somewhat similar to where we are now, and actually closer to El Nino.

His answer...

No, we're looking more like last year.
Strong trough over the eastern U.S.

Jeff


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816. Ivansurvivr 5:21 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Wickpedia probably got it's data from the Seminole Indians Meteorological Society:)
817. Tazmanian 5:24 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
wind shear is vary low

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818. MisterPerfect 5:24 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Copy and Paste doesn't always make you look like the valedictorian...


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819. amazinwxman 5:24 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
nothings going to come of the blob/blobs off of the NC coast they'll either drift on out harmlessly to sea or just die down after awhile.
820. Tazmanian 5:25 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
there my wind shear map
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821. mgreen91 5:25 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Does that mean no hurricane for the U.S this year?
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823. nash28 5:26 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
*shakes head again*
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824. hurricane91 5:24 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
yeah taz, shear does look pretty low, a little high around the island, but 25 kts, and we seen thing form in high shear before
826. bigtrucker 5:28 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Ivan LOL
23 thanks for the post. there still is a strong trough in the Atlantic. Hopefully it remains in place. The only thing i see differant from last year is SST's are way warmer than this time last year. winds are starting to subside in the tropical atlantic.
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827. Ivansurvivr 5:28 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Its only the first week in July and some folks make it sound like 4th qtr at the 2minute warning already. I wonder if 06 was slow because too much stormjuice was used up in 05. It needed a year to recharge thats all. In 04 Charlie moved Ne out of Carribean. That to me does not indicate a strong a/b high into early august.
828. hurricane91 5:29 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
i just dont think this is going to be like 2006, its just a gut feeling, i think more like 2004, but i dont see how were going to have 13 -15 storms though, but it only takes one to really screw up someone life
829. hurricane23 5:30 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Posted By: MisterPerfect at 1:24 PM EDT on July 10, 2007. (hide)
Copy and Paste doesn't always make you look like the valedictorian...

The pattern is obvious if you know what your looking at but much here disagree so i thought i would let everyone know what jeff masters has been saying to me for weeks now.

Another trof of low pressure is set to move into the southeast this upcoming weekend and actually looks quite strong.My point is if this continues and remain at the same intensity it would play out in are favor as it would to turn away most tropical cyclones similar to 06.
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830. Pachanga 5:30 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
"pretty much agrees"

23, that's pretty vague.

Why don't you post exactly what Dr. M said so that we can all benefit from it! Thanks
831. nash28 5:31 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Only if the storms form well out in the EATL at a high latitude.
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833. Patrap 5:32 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Our people are working on it as we Blog.



5
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834. hurricane23 5:33 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Posted By: Pachanga at 1:30 PM EDT on July 10, 2007. (hide)
"pretty much agrees"

23, that's pretty vague.

Why don't you post exactly what Dr. M said so that we can all benefit from it! Thanks

Thats exactly what he said!!

I hope he is watching the blog so he can come in here and personally say it himself.I have no reason to make anything up and iam yes hoping for another quiet season this year and i will take any good news especially when it comes from jeff masters.
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835. Tazmanian 5:34 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
thats what i been saying STL
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836. Bamatracker 5:32 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
What happens in the tropics will happen when it happens. All the factors will cometogether soon. Only God knows what this season holds so relax and enjoy!!
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837. Patrap 5:37 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Atlantic Tropical BAsin...WV

Link
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839. Ivansurvivr 5:38 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
If i recall it was a strong east coast trough that pulled Charlie n then ne over Florida. I recall it being a clear dry coolish day in Pensacola. It was very unusual for early august.
840. BahaHurican 5:39 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
So the 74 year thing obviously doesn't work well. I think it's better to be prepared for the worst (more than 23 named systems) and hope for the best (considerably fewer, all of which stay out to sea).

On the 1887 and 1995 seasons, I noted some interesting similarities and differences. First, while both were high in storm numbers, both were also relatively low in landfall impacts. Only about a third of the storms in both years made landfall. The other interesting thing about both seasons is that they each had five "named" systems form before July 30th. Apparently 1887 still holds a record for number of storms forming outside the regular season, and had seen 3 tropical storms before the end of June.

However, they were very different in origin, track and impact of storms. In 1995, the bulk of the storms were Cape Verde originating, and (fortunately for the US) these curved out to sea. A smaller number of storms formed in the WCar, and these generally impacted land. In 1887, however, the Caribbean was a major formation area, with fewer than 1/2 the storms forming over the waters of the open Atlantic. This meant that land impacts (even when storm centres stayed offshore) were more frequent. Fortunately, most of the 1887 storms were much less powerful than those in 1995, which meant that the impacts were not as devastating. Frankly, the 1887 map looks like a serious high set up over the SW portion of the Atlantic hurricane basin. Good thing they didn't have the Allisons, Erins and Opals of the 1995 season.
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841. hurricane23 5:40 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Patrap those kinda things can happen every once in a while when your tired from work.
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843. stormybil 5:42 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
whats up with the blob off the east coast? . too many blobs in the atl. pick your favoite now
845. nash28 5:42 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
Well, Dr. Masters explanation was a little vague, but I digress....

Yes, Charley curved due to a shortwave trough that eroded the ridge and created the weakness that Charley followed.

Sure didn't really matter though. For the four hundredth time now..... Troughiness only matters if the storms form well out in the EATL. Anything forming in the Caribbean or Gulf will not be recurved.
Member Since: July 11, 2005 Posts: 190 Comments: 16972
846. hurricane23 5:42 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
The real message here is no matter what the pattern is you must prepare and have a hurricane plan in place which should have been completed since june1.

It only takes ONE storm to ruin lives.
Member Since: May 14, 2006 Posts: 8 Comments: 13276
847. hurricane91 5:44 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
the blob of the nc coast looks pretty gd to me, does it have a low, and what about the wave approching the islands, anything to it, does anyone know??!?!?!?
849. hurricane91 5:45 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
yes michael it was, except two mets in swfl and a met in orlando, who said it was a swfl storm, and they were right the whole tine
850. Tazmanian 5:46 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
this what we dont not need dry t-storm we have Extremely dry fuels right now the grass is so Extremely dry that you can this ues your feet to kick up the grass and take it a way
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851. nash28 5:46 PM GMT on July 10, 2007    
I'd like to know Dr. Masters thoughts on the state of the NAO right now... That would be a factor in steering currents.
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About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

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