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August 2012
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Isaac a Dangerous Storm for Hispaniola – U.S. to get Hit After

   Posted by Levi at 3:55pm on August 22, 2012

Tropical Depression #10 has formed well east of Isaac in the central Atlantic, and is forecasted to pass north of the Antilles islands. This storm can be safely ignored for now while we deal with Isaac hitting land.

Tropical Storm Isaac was named yesterday, and has shown a healthy increase in thunderstorm activity, though the center remains under the northern edge of the main convective mass, and the northeast quadrant remains void of thunderstorms due to light wind shear and a lack of low-level convergence in that part of the storm. Isaac has not deepened during the last 12 hours, and is only up to 45mph winds right now. Only gradual strengthening should occur as Isaac crosses into the eastern Caribbean near Guadeloupe today, and the intensity forecast continues to keep Isaac under hurricane strength on approach to Hispaniola due to the time it will take for the large circulation to tighten, and the fast trade winds in the eastern Caribbean. This is still a less aggressive short-term intensification scheme than the NHC, though their forecast has come down several notches over the last couple of days, and is closer to my forecast now. Isaac should weaken while interacting with the high mountains of the Greater Antilles, but once clear of them, should restrengthen faster than it did in the Caribbean, and could quickly become a hurricane in the vicinity of Florida if it gets at least a couple of days of water time.

The track forecast philosophy remains generally unchanged. The trough currently over the eastern U.S. is lifting out to the northeast, but the southern part of this trough is being left behind as a trough-split over the SE U.S. during the next few days. This will be helping to erode the western periphery of the Bermuda High as it retreats eastward over the Atlantic, and the models generally agree that this will create an open weakness north of the Bahamas in 48-72 hours. The models then diverge on whether Isaac will move right into this weakness. The CMC continues to be the easterly outlier, taking Isaac well east of Florida. The GFS has Isaac approach the weakness but get entangled with the greater Antilles and miss it, not recurving until it reaches southwest Florida. The ECMWF remains persistent that the weakness will close off and a rebuilt ridge will direct Isaac into the central Gulf of Mexico as a major hurricane. Thus, there is still a large amount of uncertainty beyond 72 hours. For now, the forecast track remains close to, but just east of the consensus of the non-ECMWF models, and takes Isaac into the Bahamas just east of Florida with the assumption that Isaac’s large circulation will be able to feel the weakness in the ridge north of the Bahamas. However, there is considerable inherent uncertainty to the west and south of the forecast track due to Isaac’s interaction with the greater Antilles. The high mountains there have a tendency to jerk storms around in an unpredictable fashion, and could throw the track off at any time. Additionally, any further entanglement with the islands could reduce Isaac’s intensity and prolong his recurvature, putting Florida and the eastern gulf coast at greater risk. The forecast cone reflects this, and interests from the Carolinas to the central gulf coast should monitor Isaac’s progress closely.

We shall see what happens!


14 comments

   

Comments

  • Carol Mahler says:

    Thanks for another in depth analysis of Isaac and the factors that may influence the future track. My sister just moved to a bit south of the Tampa area, and depends on my information (i.e. YOUR information!) to guide whatever actions they may need to take if Isaac comes their way.

  • Anonymous says:

    IS there a chance that the Euro turns out to be right? Because the GFS and the NHC have shifted a bit west on their track, I know they have barely shifted it but couldn’t they follow in the Euro’s footsteps?

    • Levi says:

      The ECMWF is the best model we have on average, so it cannot be discounted as a possibility, and is another reason why there is more uncertainty west of the current forecast track. The gulf coast should be prepared for the possibility that Isaac comes their way.

  • Jason says:

    Is there any possibility that Isaac could make it to the upper texas coast.

  • chester says:

    levi I live just about 10 minutes from the GOM on the Alabama coast so sometime Sat you might have a better idea on the track and intensity just wondering.

    • Levi says:

      With each passing day we will be able to better hone in on the exact track and strength. There is still uncertainty with it being ~5 days from the United States.

  • Prrollt says:

    Thanks Levi!

  • Anonymous says:

    Do you think the ECMWF will change it’s track eventually, or will it turn out to be right?

  • Jeff H. says:

    Just checked your blog for the first time today. Really interesting and informative. I have also gone on the ECMWF website and it appears that membership is only for member entities from a member state. U.S.A is not a member state. Can a private citizen fill out one of their online applications and get into the website or is it inaccessible in that regard? Any other way to get their info, especially in a case such as this where they are an outlier and folks would like to see their model prediction.

  • Sandi says:

    Your knowledge is highly respected!

    I have a question which basically follows your reasoning…In the following graphics js the basis… The first one follows your logic …http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/medr/9kh.gif But it shifts west the next day:http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/medr/9mh.gif

    Why would Issac not follow “Joyce” out to the northeast? But instead go west into model consencus?

    • Levi says:

      Well the steering for each system would be a little bit different due to their separation from each other, but I still think a slight eastward adjustment for Isaac will be necessary in the end. The west Atlantic ridge clearly isn’t terribly strong if Joyce is carving it out way over at 65W.

  • Chip says:

    Levi,

    How much, if at all, will Isaac and Joyce serve to cool the Atlantic in the wakes of their paths? As I remember from last year’s discussions, this factor may limit the potential of future storms?

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