Gladys 1975

[mitchell]

Strengthened from Cat 1, 90 mph, 975 mb, to Cat 4, 140 mph, 939 mb while between 30N. and 35N. (Basically this transformation took place east of the Carolinas. I just wondered if anyone else thought this was a pretty unique storm in that regard and if any factors (other than SST) were at play.

Happy New Year.

[FLguy]

Yes ...and cooler SSTA in the Gulf of mexico courtesy of upwelling induced by TS isidore helped weaken hurricane Lili prior to landfall along the louisiana coast in 2002. Saving that area from a major hit.

the following figure shows the track of isidore was it made its way into the gulf:



Now notice how once Lili crossed over isidore/s path...the system weakened RAPIDLY from a CAT 4 to a CAT 2...just prior to making landfall:



heres some tracking data on Isidore and Lili

http://www.weather.unisys.com/hurricane ... /track.dat

http://www.weather.unisys.com/hurricane ... /track.dat

[mitchell]

interesting what does that have to do with Gladys?

[Hurricanehink]

LOL at FLguy. I think Gladys may have been the furthest north a hurricane became a catagory 4. At one point, it was a hurricane with a pressure of 1000, rather unusual.

[Derek Ortt]

This is a GPS dropsonde comparison plot that I made while doing some research on Hurricane Lili. I have since moved on to other projects However, these results have been confirmed by preliminary model runs indicating that there was significant westerly shear present over Lili during the time of the weakening[/img][/url]