ATL : TROPICAL DEPRESSION ALEX - RECON DISCUSSION

[clfenwi]

Last center pass for this flight coming up... doing their best imitation of a southwest-northeast pass possible given the coastline limitations.

[brunota2003]

Is it still a 75% reduction?

[KWT]

Well recon found winds high enough to justify a TS system, will be interesting to see what the next recon finds in the deeper convection.

[cycloneye]

Plane approaching Alex.Lets see how much stronger he is.

[cycloneye]

Plane starting to decend.

[cycloneye]

The reduction is 75%.

[cycloneye]

Some 56-57 kt FL readings at last set.

[HURAKAN]

113230 2002N 09134W 9246 00595 9897 +224 +165 292002 005 020 003 0

990 mb

[cwachal]

what do you think of the fact that winds go almost calm at the center??

[HURAKAN]

what do you think of the fact that winds go almost calm at the center??

That's how its supposed to be.

[cycloneye]

There is a NOAA plane doing research apart from the mission that is right now by the AF306 plane.

From Yesterday's POD.

NOAA 42 WILL BE DOING RESEARCH FLIGHTS INTO
ALEX WITH TAKEOFFS EVERY 12 HRS FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS.
(28/0800Z, 28/2000Z ETC.) OPERATING ALTITUDE 12,000 FT.

[cycloneye]

The second pass lowest pressure was 989.7 mbs,same as first one.

[cwachal]

Hurricane force flight level winds

[cycloneye]

Here is the latest POD: Note the latitude and longitude of flight three on the 30th,almost east of Brownsville.

Code: Select all

NOUS42 KNHC 281430
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1030 AM EDT MON 28 JUNE 2010
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
         VALID 29/1100Z TO 30/1100Z JUNE 2010
         TCPOD NUMBER.....10-028

I.   ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
     1. TROPICAL STORM ALEX
        FLIGHT ONE - NOAA 49
        A. 30/0000Z
        B. NOAA9 0901A ALEX
        C. 29/1730Z
        D. NA
        E. NA
        F. 41,000 TO 45,000 FT

        FLIGHT TWO - TEAL 70
        A. 30/0000,0300,0600Z
        B. AFXXX 1001A ALEX
        C. 29/2200Z
        D. 23.5N 94.2W
        E. 29/2330Z TO 30/0600Z
        F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

        FLIGHT THREE - TEAL 71
        A. 30/0900,1200,1500Z
        B. AFXXX 1101A ALEX
        C. 30/0700Z
        D. 24.1N 95.3W
        E. 30/0830Z TO 30/1500Z
        F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

     2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK: CONTINUE 3-HRLY FIXES.
        POSSIBLE G-IV MISSION FOR 01/0000Z.

     3. REMARKS: NOAA 42 WILL BE DOING RESEARCH FLIGHTS INTO
        ALEX WITH TAKEOFFS EVERY 12 HRS FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS.
        (29/0800Z, 29/2000Z THROUGH 30/0800Z) OPERATING
        ALTITUDE 12,000 FT.



[cycloneye]

From last Vortex Data Message a detailed version.

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 28th day of the month at 15:06Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 306)
Storm Number & Year: 01L in 2010
Storm Name: Alex (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 5
Observation Number: 13
A. Time of Center Fix: 28th day of the month at 14:52:30Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 20°13'N 91°43'W (20.2167N 91.7167W) (View map)
B. Center Fix Location: 82 miles (131 km) to the WNW (288°) from Campeche, Campeche, México.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 600m (1,969ft) at 925mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 43kts (~ 49.5mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 13 nautical miles (15 statute miles) to the NNW (340°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 98° at 46kts (From the E at ~ 52.9mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 25 nautical miles (29 statute miles) to the N (352°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 990mb (29.23 inHg) - Extrapolated
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 21°C (70°F) at a pressure alt. of 761m (2,497ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 23°C (73°F) at a pressure alt. of 764m (2,507ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 20°C (68°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Not Available
M. Eye Shape: Not Available
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind and Pressure
N. Fix Levels (sfc and flt lvl centers are within 5nm of each other): Surface and 925mb (If this vortex is from mid 1990's or earlier 925mb might be incorrect. See note.)
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 1 nautical mile
Remarks Section:
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 66kts (~ 76.0mph) in the northeast quadrant at 13:23:40Z
Sea Level Pressure Extrapolation From: 925mb
Maximum Flight Level Temp: 24°C (75°F) which was observed 11 nautical miles (13 statute miles) to the NNW (339°) from the flight level center

[cycloneye]

Latest detailed Vortex Data Message.

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 28th day of the month at 16:15Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 306)
Storm Number & Year: 01L in 2010
Storm Name: Alex (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 5
Observation Number: 16
A. Time of Center Fix: 28th day of the month at 16:01:20Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 20°14'N 91°44'W (20.2333N 91.7333W) (View map)
B. Center Fix Location: 83 miles (133 km) to the WNW (289°) from Campeche, Campeche, México.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 606m (1,988ft) at 925mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 40kts (~ 46.0mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 19 nautical miles (22 statute miles) to the S (185°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 283° at 40kts (From the WNW at ~ 46.0mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 15 nautical miles (17 statute miles) to the S (186°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 991mb (29.26 inHg) - Extrapolated
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 22°C (72°F) at a pressure alt. of 760m (2,493ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 23°C (73°F) at a pressure alt. of 762m (2,500ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 20°C (68°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Not Available
M. Eye Shape: Not Available
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind and Pressure
N. Fix Levels (sfc and flt lvl centers are within 5nm of each other): Surface and 925mb (If this vortex is from mid 1990's or earlier 925mb might be incorrect. See note.)
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 1 nautical mile
Remarks Section - Remarks That Were Decoded...
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 66kts (~ 76.0mph) in the northeast quadrant at 13:23:40Z
Sea Level Pressure Extrapolation From: 925mb
Remarks Section - Additional Remarks...
SPIRAL BANDING N THRU SE FROM CENTER FIX

[KWT]

Interesting to see the flight level winds got upto 66kts, pretty impressive, but since then the FL/Surface winds really aren't all that impressive, not been one reading that supports above 45kts since then...

[Hurricanewatcher2007]

Interesting to see the flight level winds got upto 66kts, pretty impressive, but since then the FL/Surface winds really aren't all that impressive, not been one reading that supports above 45kts since then...

They also haven't sampled that part of Alex since then either so who knows. But with pressures coming up I would say that there is some weakening going on.

[I-wall]

The reduction is 75%.

Reduction of what?

[Hurricanewatcher2007]

The reduction is 75%.

Reduction of what?

Flight level to surface