Hurricane Dean

[Marcus Opitz]

000
UZNT13 KNHC 210748
XXAA 71077 99188 70873 04587 99931 26000 ///// 00/// ///// /////
92059 26004 03673 85804 22200 08648 70492 14800 11157 88999 77999
31313 09608 80728


northern eyewall drop, 173knots 59 meters up.


Is that approx 198 mph, roughly 150-200 feet off the ground?!!??

[MClarkson]

I double and tripple-checked, that is decoded correctly


a gust to near 190mph at the surface is not unreasonable in a storm like this.


part of the eye in onshore.

[Jason A.C. Brock]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxFOm8BC4GE

SOME VIDEO AS SEEN FROM SPACE OF DEAN FROM SPACE STATION AND SHUTTLE.

Seems like Dean made a wobble toward the NW almost at landfall. I cant even imagine how eiry and yet even almost beautiful it would be inside the eye right now at landfall as the sun is rising. youd be scared to death after what you jsut went through and then having to do it all over again. WOW

[MClarkson]

Through the eye again, 164 knots flight level, xtrap 904mb.


This is should be the last pass through the eye as the storm is landfalling and the recon planes generally dont fly over land

[MClarkson]

the center of circulation is onshore according to latest IR imagery.

[Marcus Opitz]

I double and tripple-checked, that is decoded correctly


a gust to near 190mph at the surface is not unreasonable in a storm like this.


part of the eye in onshore.


wow, truly amazing. I am sure there are all kinds of nasty gusts like this. Not sure I would want to be anywhere short of an underground shelter (far from the ocean and high up!) during this.

[MClarkson]

"CONTINUOUS LIGHTING AND SEVERE TURBULENCE SOUTH EYEWALL"


Imagine seeing an eyewall lit up by lightning at night. How sweet would that be.

[Jason Boggs]

Here is some good live streaming video:

http://www.hurricanecity.com/live1.htm

[B Ozanne]

NBC is live in Chetumal.

So far, like Jamaica, Chetumal is still on the map.

[Marko Korosec]

any reports of measured winds there? It looked pretty nasty at landfall, 165mph sustained it seems. I couldn't find any Mexico working stations around there.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293876,00.html

Dean is now a CAT 3 already...

[HAltschule]

Charleston, Yucatan... they sound similar at least ;> What's a few thousand miles when it comes to forecasting...

Alright, I did not plan on tooting my own own horn or that of the GFS model but, since you brought it up.....

You are forgetting the 2000+ miles of ocean that the model correctly forecast this storm to traverse. Sure, tracks change as the synoptic and global scale features change and adjust...that's the way it is. So yes, the track forecast did change but the GFS did a remarkable job in forecasting this system to develop...and it's intensity. You'll recall my post around 2 weeks ago or more calling for a MAJOR hurricane based on the appearance of the GFS tropical system it was persistently developing in the models.

C'mon RDale, can't you finally admit that the GFS model (and my own forecast 2 weeks ago) did a very good job in forecasting this event...or is it too upsetting to admit that your doubts and criticisms of the model was wrong? :cool:

[Gawain Charlton-Perrin]

Did Dean come ashore as a Category 5? Does anyone have any damage reports from such a strong hurricane coming ashore?

[John Peters]

Did Dean come ashore as a Category 5? Does anyone have any damage reports from such a strong hurricane coming ashore?

Dean came ashore with a central pressure of 906 mb and sustained winds of 165 mph, making it the 3rd most intense cat 5 hurricane ever to landfall in the atlantic basin. Actually, the lowest central press. observed in the system occurred as the western eyewall was moving onto land. This means that the system was in the process of deepening as it made landfall.

[cdcollura]

Good day all,

Really cool picture of close-up of eye (and annotated by myself) of Dean while intensifying in W Caribbean (taken by shuttle Endeavor STS-118)...

http://www.sky-chaser.com/data/misc/dn07sts.jpg

The view of the eye of hurricane Dean is at an angle, and although does not give a straight-down shot into the eye, it does reveal some "structure" of the massive and majestic clear eye of the storm.

The very interesting feature is the huge cluster of thunderstorms with rock-hard appearance nearly covering half the eye ... Very impressive indeed!

The storm "complex" is so high up it rises above and casts a shadow on the "top" of the rest of the hurricane!!

[MatthewCarman]

Chris may I ask where you found that image at? Very inpressive and would like to save a few images of Dean to my computer.

[cdcollura]

Good evening...

Chris may I ask where you found that image at? Very inpressive and would like to save a few images of Dean to my computer.

Link is below (for STS-118) NASA

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/HurricaneDean.jpg

This shot is wild ;-)

[Bob Schafer]

This link is to a Playa del Carmen forum. Lots of pics. The link takes you to page 4 of 14 (14 attm, anyway):

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carmen-forum/35443-hurricane-assistance-needed-majahual-asap-playa-folks-4.html

Bob