re: Hurricane Irma - Spinning Down

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I think we all need to get a drink and do a little calm down currently. I think NOAA has an upper atmosphere plane doing some data gathering and those extra soundings going today. All that data should get fed into the 00z models tonight.

Those will helpfully clarify the picture hopefully.

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plane already in the storm is doing low-level work

the plane that just took off... its mission is unknown

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It will be the same as Mission 3 i am betting Low-level Reconnaissance

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have 2 planes doing the same recon at the same time?

...IRMA STRENGTHENS AS IT HEADS TOWARD THE LEEWARD ISLANDS... ...PREPARATIONS WITHIN THE WARNING AREA SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION...
5:00 PM AST Mon Sep 4
Location: 16.7°N 54.4°W
Moving: W at 13 mph
Min pressure: 944 mb
Max sustained: 130 mph

000
WTNT41 KNHC 042037
TCDAT1

Hurricane Irma Discussion Number 22
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017
500 PM AST Mon Sep 04 2017

Irma remains an impressive hurricane in satellite imagery. The
eye has become a little smaller and cloud filled this afternoon,
perhaps the result of an ongoing eyewall replacement. An Air Force
reserve reconnaissance aircraft reported a double-eyewall structure
and double wind maximums during the first pass through Irma but
noted that the eyewalls had consolidated somewhat during their
second pass through the center. The aircraft measured
flight-level wind of 121 kt in the northeast eyewall and SFMR winds
of 113 kt. Based on these reports, the peak intensity has been
increased to 115 kt, making Irma a category four hurricane.

The hurricane will be moving through an environment of low vertical
wind shear, a moist mid-level atmosphere, and increasing upper-ocean
heat content. These conditions favor intensification and the
intensity guidance continues to call for some additional
strengthening during the next couple of days. However, there are
likely to be eyewall cycles that are difficult to predict, which
could result in some fluctuations in intensity. Barring land
interaction with the islands of the Greater Antilles, Irma is
forecast to remain a powerful hurricane throughout the 5-day
forecast period.

Irma has been moving a little south of due west today, and the
longer-term motion estimate is 265/11 kt. The hurricane will
reach the southwestern portion of a strong mid-level ridge that is
centered over the central Atlantic later today or tonight. This
should result in a westward, then west-northwestward turn over the
next 24 to 36 hours. This motion is expected to bring the hurricane
near or over the northern Leeward Islands on Tuesday night or early
Wednesday. A large mid-latitude trough that is predicted to deepen
over the eastern U.S. during the next few days is forecast to lift
northeastward late in the week, which is expected to cause the
subtropical ridge over the western Atlantic to build westward.
As a result, Irma is predicted to remain on a general
west-northwestward heading on days 3 through 5. The dynamical
model guidance is in excellent agreement through 72 hours, with
some increase in spread late in the period, however the typically
more reliable ECMWF and GFS are in very good agreement through day
5, and the new NHC track forecast lies very close to those models.

Six hourly upper-air soundings began at 1800 UTC today over the
central United States to better sample the upstream mid-latitude
trough. In addition, the NOAA G-IV aircraft is currently sampling
the environment around Irma, and these data will be included in
tonight's 0000 UTC model runs.

Users are reminded to not focus on the exact forecast track since
strong winds and heavy rainfall extend well away from the center.
In addition, average NHC track errors are about 175 and 225 statute
miles at days 4 and 5, respectively.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. Irma is expected to affect the northeastern Leeward Islands a
dangerous major hurricane, accompanied by life-threatening wind,
storm surge, and rainfall impacts. Hurricane warnings are in effect
for portions of the Leeward Islands. Preparations should be rushed
to completion, as tropical-storm force winds are expected to first
arrive in the hurricane warning area by late Tuesday.

2. Irma could directly affect the British and U.S. Virgin Islands
and Puerto Rico as a dangerous major hurricane later this week.
Hurricane watches have been issued for these areas, and tropical-
storm-force winds could arrive in these areas by early Wednesday.

3. Irma could directly affect Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, the
Bahamas, and Cuba as a dangerous major hurricane later this week.
Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of Irma and
listen to advice given by officials.

4. There is an increasing chance of seeing some impacts from Irma in
the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys later this week and this
weekend. Otherwise, it is still too early to determine what direct
impacts Irma might have on the continental United States. However,
everyone in hurricane-prone areas should ensure that they have their
hurricane plan in place.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 04/2100Z 16.7N 54.4W 115 KT 130 MPH
12H 05/0600Z 16.6N 56.2W 125 KT 145 MPH
24H 05/1800Z 17.0N 58.7W 130 KT 150 MPH
36H 06/0600Z 17.8N 61.3W 130 KT 150 MPH
48H 06/1800Z 18.7N 64.1W 125 KT 145 MPH
72H 07/1800Z 20.4N 69.7W 120 KT 140 MPH
96H 08/1800Z 21.6N 74.8W 115 KT 130 MPH
120H 09/1800Z 23.0N 79.0W 115 KT 130 MPH

$$
Forecaster Brown

Only the gfs and euro are worth a crap.

And even those are iffy >5 days out

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I still think it gets in the central gulf and landfall will be between Nola and Destin

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Get out of here with that! Wife is due within 2-3 weeks and I'm smack dab between the gulf and Pensacola bay with less than a year to go in this house!

woah.. there's actually 3 missions in progress

mission #3... plane AF309... low level recon

mission #4... plane NOAA9... upper level recon... not in storm and was actually sampling the upper level low that's NW of Irma

mission #5... plane NOAA2... unknown mission and currently en route to Irma

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mission #5... plane NOAA2... unknown mission and currently en route to Irma

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Thats the plane carrying the H bomb. We are doing it