What is the strongest Hurricane you've been in

[Opal storm]

If HRD is right and Ivan's cat 3 winds never made it to shore,then why do they have Ivan as a 3 at landfall?Looking at that map,Ivan was a strong 2 at landfall.It makes no sense to have ivan at 120mph at landfall when there were no sustained 120mph anywhere on land.

[wxman57]

Cat 3
Frederic in 1979 and Ivan in 2004

If you were in Fairhope, AL for Ivan, then you may have seen Cat 1 winds. Probably 65-75 mph sustained there.. Just being "in" a Cat 3 doesn't assure that you see Cat 3 winds. As for Frederic, I don't have a detailed wind analysis for that one, but I suspect you could have seen Cat 2 and maybe even Cat 3 winds, being so close to Mobile Bay. But, again, no detailed post-storm analysis is available.

[wxman57]

If HRD is right and Ivan's cat 3 winds never made it to shore,then why do they have Ivan as a 3 at landfall?Looking at that map,Ivan was a strong 2 at landfall.It makes no sense to have ivan at 120mph at landfall when there were no sustained 120mph anywhere on land.

Hurricanes are classified according to the winds over a relatively frictionless water surface, not according to the wind speeds over land at landfall. They can have Category 3 winds to the south or southeast of the landfall point over water, but only Cat 1-2 winds over land areas. Surface friction very quickly reduces a hurricane's winds as they move into the coast. In general, a Cat 3 hurricane (over a frictionless water environment) will produce Cat 1 or 2 winds over land. Figure a wind reduction of about 1 category or a little more when a hurricane moves from water to land.

[Derek Ortt]

And here is Jeanne's wind analysis. Some Cat 2 winds brushed the coast, but mostly Cat 1 inland:

There was a small area of 110KT winds at landfall, according to the SFMR. However, this may ahve been either a spot wind or an error

[KWT]

Living in the UK I've never ever been through a hurricane, closest I can come is strong depressions, I remember one about 2 years ago that gave a gust here at 85mph, happened while I waslooking out of the window, had it opened to feel the wind and I held it open against the gust but when that gust came along it actually pushes me back and slammed the thing shut as wlel as slamming every other door in the house, really shocked me!!!

[wxman57]

And here is Jeanne's wind analysis. Some Cat 2 winds brushed the coast, but mostly Cat 1 inland:

There was a small area of 110KT winds at landfall, according to the SFMR. However, this may ahve been either a spot wind or an error

HRD analysis doesn't even show any Cat 3 wind near land, but I'm not sure of the resolution of the data. I would think that they looked at the SFMR data during the analysis process.

[Derek Ortt]

their initial Jeanne map was 112KT, then lowered to 90, leading me to believe that the 112 may have been an error

[wxman57]

their initial Jeanne map was 112KT, then lowered to 90, leading me to believe that the 112 may have been an error

Derek, did you make your reservations for the AMS meeting in Monterrey yet? Looks like I'll be attending with a co-worker again. Quite expensive to fly there from Houston, about $350 round trip IF we leave Friday morning and miss those talks. And if we want to return AFTER the conference ends on Friday, the ticket price goes up to $800. It'll be cheaper for us to spend another $200 and stay an extra night at the hotel.

[Derek Ortt]

havnt made the reservations yet. will do so soon (not sure if UM will make them or if I have to and then be re-embursed)

will also be in atlanta next wed and thu for the annual AMS meeting

[NCHurricane]

Isabel and Diana were probably the strongest of the six or seven that have been close to me. Minimum cat 2 gusts, middle to high cat 1 winds where I was in relation to both storms.

[tornadochaser1986]

I wish i was in a stronger one but im from northern virginia which got hit by hurricane isabel by that time a minimal cat 1 hurricane although the flooding was the worst its been in 100 years some people called it the 100 year flood

[wxman57]

Isabel and Diana were probably the strongest of the six or seven that have been close to me. Minimum cat 2 gusts, middle to high cat 1 winds where I was in relation to both storms.

Ok, I found the Isabel wind swath map and indicated Cat 1-2 winds on it. Unfortunately, the graphic is much lower resolution than those of 2004/2005. Looks like Cat 1 winds were confined to Albemarle Sounde to your east. If the graphic is correct,t hen it indicates somewhere around 65 mph in Williamston. But the map may be +/- 10-15 mph, so you could have seen minimal Cat 1 with Isabel.

http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/IsabelWinds.gif

[ROCK]

It is a vague poll. Someone should edit the question to : what is the strongest TS winds you've been in?


For me it was:

Alicia 83- 50-55 sustained with higher gusts
Rita 05- 30-35 sustained with higher gusts

[Extremeweatherguy]

It is a vague poll. Someone should edit the question to : what is the strongest TS winds you've been in?


For me it was:

Alicia 83- 50-55 sustained with higher gusts
Rita 05- 30-35 sustained with higher gusts

pearland actually reported a sustained wind of 38mph during Rita with a gust to 47mph...and just a bit further north; Hobby reported a sustained wind of 44mph and a gust to 55mph.

[ROCK]

It is a vague poll. Someone should edit the question to : what is the strongest TS winds you've been in?


For me it was:

Alicia 83- 50-55 sustained with higher gusts
Rita 05- 30-35 sustained with higher gusts

pearland actually reported a sustained wind of 38mph during Rita with a gust to 47mph...and just a bit further north; Hobby reported a sustained wind of 44mph and a gust to 55mph.

hmmm, I was reading 30-35 all night with gusts up into the high forties low fifties. Then again I dont have alot of exposure with all these two stories around me.

[Extremeweatherguy]

It is a vague poll. Someone should edit the question to : what is the strongest TS winds you've been in?


For me it was:

Alicia 83- 50-55 sustained with higher gusts
Rita 05- 30-35 sustained with higher gusts

pearland actually reported a sustained wind of 38mph during Rita with a gust to 47mph...and just a bit further north; Hobby reported a sustained wind of 44mph and a gust to 55mph.

hmmm, I was reading 30-35 all night with gusts up into the high forties low fifties. Then again I dont have alot of exposure with all these two stories around me.

were you taking your own wind measurements? b/c if so, then they may have been accurate for your location. The wind reports I had stated came from the NWS summary of Rita. Here is the link: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/climate/rev ... ta2005.txt

[ROCK]

It is a vague poll. Someone should edit the question to : what is the strongest TS winds you've been in?


For me it was:

Alicia 83- 50-55 sustained with higher gusts
Rita 05- 30-35 sustained with higher gusts

pearland actually reported a sustained wind of 38mph during Rita with a gust to 47mph...and just a bit further north; Hobby reported a sustained wind of 44mph and a gust to 55mph.

hmmm, I was reading 30-35 all night with gusts up into the high forties low fifties. Then again I dont have alot of exposure with all these two stories around me.

were you taking your own wind measurements? b/c if so, then they may have been accurate for your location. The wind reports I had stated came from the NWS summary of Rita. Here is the link: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/climate/rev ... ta2005.txt

Yes, I have a nice little LaCrosse Weather station but like I said I don't have great exposure. I am wondering after looking at that report where LVJ is in Pearland. If it is the reading from the helicopter port ( NWS calls it our regional airport...ha ha) I can believe the 38 sustained. Its in a huge open field....

[Extremeweatherguy]

It is a vague poll. Someone should edit the question to : what is the strongest TS winds you've been in?


For me it was:

Alicia 83- 50-55 sustained with higher gusts
Rita 05- 30-35 sustained with higher gusts

pearland actually reported a sustained wind of 38mph during Rita with a gust to 47mph...and just a bit further north; Hobby reported a sustained wind of 44mph and a gust to 55mph.

hmmm, I was reading 30-35 all night with gusts up into the high forties low fifties. Then again I dont have alot of exposure with all these two stories around me.

were you taking your own wind measurements? b/c if so, then they may have been accurate for your location. The wind reports I had stated came from the NWS summary of Rita. Here is the link: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/climate/rev ... ta2005.txt

Yes, I have a nice little LaCrosse Weather station but like I said I don't have great exposure. I am wondering after looking at that report where LVJ is in Pearland. If it is the reading from the helicopter port ( NWS calls it our regional airport...ha ha) I can believe the 38 sustained. Its in a huge open field....

Yes open fields do usually see higher winds. That must have been where that was taken. We got 45mph sustained and gusts to 61mph in N. Houston (although I think I saw 65-70mph gusts at my house as there was lots of tree damage in my neighbors yard and one of my palm trees was completely bent)...it's weird to think that we got it worse up here than you did down there closer to the coast...it is usually the other way around.

[ROCK]

It is a vague poll. Someone should edit the question to : what is the strongest TS winds you've been in?


For me it was:

Alicia 83- 50-55 sustained with higher gusts
Rita 05- 30-35 sustained with higher gusts

pearland actually reported a sustained wind of 38mph during Rita with a gust to 47mph...and just a bit further north; Hobby reported a sustained wind of 44mph and a gust to 55mph.

hmmm, I was reading 30-35 all night with gusts up into the high forties low fifties. Then again I dont have alot of exposure with all these two stories around me.

were you taking your own wind measurements? b/c if so, then they may have been accurate for your location. The wind reports I had stated came from the NWS summary of Rita. Here is the link: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/climate/rev ... ta2005.txt

Yes, I have a nice little LaCrosse Weather station but like I said I don't have great exposure. I am wondering after looking at that report where LVJ is in Pearland. If it is the reading from the helicopter port ( NWS calls it our regional airport...ha ha) I can believe the 38 sustained. Its in a huge open field....

Yes open fields do usually see higher winds. That must have been where that was taken. We got 45mph sustained and gusts to 61mph in N. Houston (although I think I saw 65-70mph gusts at my house as there was lots of tree damage in my neighbors yard and one of my palm trees was completely bent)...it's weird to think that we got it worse up here than you did down there closer to the coast...it is usually the other way around.

True. I seem to recall her angle of approach was more NW which would cause you to get her NE quad. So as she moved inland her main rainbands were actually moving north of me....and towards you....

[Extremeweatherguy]

It is a vague poll. Someone should edit the question to : what is the strongest TS winds you've been in?


For me it was:

Alicia 83- 50-55 sustained with higher gusts
Rita 05- 30-35 sustained with higher gusts

pearland actually reported a sustained wind of 38mph during Rita with a gust to 47mph...and just a bit further north; Hobby reported a sustained wind of 44mph and a gust to 55mph.

hmmm, I was reading 30-35 all night with gusts up into the high forties low fifties. Then again I dont have alot of exposure with all these two stories around me.

were you taking your own wind measurements? b/c if so, then they may have been accurate for your location. The wind reports I had stated came from the NWS summary of Rita. Here is the link: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/climate/rev ... ta2005.txt

Yes, I have a nice little LaCrosse Weather station but like I said I don't have great exposure. I am wondering after looking at that report where LVJ is in Pearland. If it is the reading from the helicopter port ( NWS calls it our regional airport...ha ha) I can believe the 38 sustained. Its in a huge open field....

Yes open fields do usually see higher winds. That must have been where that was taken. We got 45mph sustained and gusts to 61mph in N. Houston (although I think I saw 65-70mph gusts at my house as there was lots of tree damage in my neighbors yard and one of my palm trees was completely bent)...it's weird to think that we got it worse up here than you did down there closer to the coast...it is usually the other way around.

True. I seem to recall her angle of approach was more NW which would cause you to get her NE quad. So as she moved inland her main rainbands were actually moving north of me....and towards you....

We actually got the NW quad which is not quite as strong as the NE (it is more like recycled winds that are less intense), but yes I can see what you mean. Since it was moving NW the bands hit us before they reached you meaning that they were over land longer and shear weakend the winds before reaching you. You were just out of the range of damaging winds though. Galveston got gusts over 60mph, Houston got gusts over 60mph and pearland got gusts to 40mph. you guys lucked out. Did you even lose power during Rita?