Messages

931

Hurricane Central / Re: Hurricane Katia

« on: September 04, 2011, 10:54:40 AM »

WOW.  Talk about a Rapid Intensification episode. Katia just went from a 75 mph Category 1 hurricane to a Category 2 with winds of 100 mph. NHC is forecasting a major hurricane by tomorrow.

932

General Discussion / Re: I am here

« on: September 03, 2011, 08:23:03 PM »

Yeah, high of 61 in Grand Forks for tomorrow. We won't be saying the same thing when Old Man Winter rears his head here in November, though.

933

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Storm Lee

« on: September 03, 2011, 07:44:43 PM »

Lee has weakened, with winds of 50 mph. Pressure has fallen slightly, to 988 mb.

934

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Storm Lee

« on: September 03, 2011, 06:03:42 PM »

Austin's right with the pressure dropping, and winds have stayed steady from the last update. I'm not expecting further strengthening over the short term, primary because it looks like the center of circulation is just about to come ashore. It just looks like a mid-latitude cyclone because of the dry air it is sucking in.  Looks like further weakening is the name of the game from here on out. Not to mention excessive rainfall totals.

EDIT: Doppler estimates 8.75 inches of rain have fallen in downtown New Orleans so far. A closer radar located at the airport, I think, puts rain estimates exactly 5 inches higher.

935

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Storm Lee

« on: September 03, 2011, 04:08:30 PM »

Looking at satellite, Lee is looking less and less like a tropical storm and more like a fairly mature mid-latitude cyclone. We'll have to wait to see what NHC says, and I'm no expert on tropical systems, but I have a feeling Lee will be classified as extra-tropical within the next 24 hours. Anyone else have thoughts on this, or am I just plain wrong? 

936

General Discussion / Re: The Front Porch

« on: September 02, 2011, 05:00:02 PM »

Be sure you have a U.S. passport or passport card.  You can't cross the border with just a driver's license anymore.

Done and done. You could have crossed the border with a driver's license before? 

937

General Discussion / Re: The Front Porch

« on: September 02, 2011, 04:46:48 PM »

It's Labor Day weekend! What are your plans for the weekend? Short trips to the beach, heading out to visit relatives?

I'm heading to Canada on Sunday to visit Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a couple of my suite mates. I've heard stories about the border crossing, especially about the Americans being real pricks when you try to get back into the United States.

938

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Storm Lee

« on: September 02, 2011, 03:36:50 PM »

There are occasions when a United States landfall seems imminent that I'll be thankful that a storm isn't expected to become a hurricane. This is one of those times.

939

General Discussion / Re: The Front Porch

« on: September 02, 2011, 12:17:21 AM »

I almost considered University of Oklahoma, but the fact that they're aviation program was severely lacking, their size, and the tuition scared me away. I'm extremely jealous, though. You're practically working hand in hand with the Storm Prediction Center! Good luck on your degree, WeatherWitness!

940

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Depression 13

« on: September 01, 2011, 11:00:14 PM »

Austin, if you don't mind, could you explain what you mean by "internal server feed?"

941

Hurricane Central / Re: TD-13 (possible-to-be Lee)

« on: September 01, 2011, 07:32:33 PM »

I think there was a problem like this before, and I was involved in it. Austin, just a friendly reminder that until the National Hurricane Center makes a public announcement saying that Tropical Depression 13 has formed (that means internal feeds and servers don't count), we don't have a tropical depression. The National Hurricane Center is the ONLY weather center that can declare a tropical depression. Not anyone else.

942

Hurricane Central / Re: Hurricane Katia

« on: September 01, 2011, 06:21:48 PM »

The shear has really begun to play against Katia over the last few hours, but that shear should begin to weaken by 12 hours out and allow her to reform into a hurricane. The tracks vary quite a bit, since models disagree about whether the subtropical ridge will rebuild or not. The fact that some models are going more westerly than northwesterly at the end of the period should be raising a few red flags, though.

943

Your Local Weather / Re: Grand Forks Weather

« on: September 01, 2011, 10:34:54 AM »

Okay, so climatology has gone out the window. I'll just post here if something of note happened in the region.

Last night, we had a complex of severe thunderstorms and heavy showers move through the region. Estimated arrival time in Grand Forks was approximately 3:20-3:30 AM that morning. Two severe thunderstorm warnings were in effect for our county during the severe episode.

944

General Discussion / Re: The Front Porch

« on: August 31, 2011, 12:06:25 AM »

Officially been in college a week, and I couldn't enjoy it more. Great classes, food that is out of this world (and that isn't an exaggeration), and my suite mates are awesome (yes, I have three roommates). And the TSA finally cleared me to fly, so I start those lessons tomorrow. 

Grand Forks is an incredible city. It has about 50,000 people, but it has the feel of a small southern town. And everyone is so hospitable and friendly! The weather is awesome, too, but that'll change come November. Or maybe earlier than that; I see there is a Winter Weather Advisory in Montana for 1-3 inches of snow above 6500 feet. 

Wishing everyone else starting college (or resuming), or just school in general a great and successful year!

945

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Storm Katia

« on: August 30, 2011, 04:32:08 PM »

I'm waiting on the new advisory in about half and hour, but looking at visible satellite, Katia has improved rather dramatically in organization over the last 6 hours. My estimated wind speed guess stands at around 50-55 mph. 60 mph may not be completely out of the question, though.