Monthly Archives: September 2023

Idalia Brings Gusty Winds to Bermuda.

The circulation around former Tropical Storm Idalia brought gusty winds to Bermuda on Saturday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of former Tropical Storm Idalia was located at latitude 31.6°N and longitude 63.5°W which put it about 90 miles (145 km) east-southeast of Bermuda. Idalia was moving toward the east at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for Bermuda.

The circulation around former Tropical Storm Idalia existed primarily in the lower levels of the atmosphere on Saturday. Bands of showers and lower clouds were revolving around the center of former Tropical Storm Idalia. Thunderstorms were occurring along a warm front northeast of the center of Idalia’s circulation. An upper level trough off the East Coast of the U.S. was producing strong westerly winds that were blowing over the top of Idalia’s circulation. Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear. The circulation around former Tropical Storm Idalia was large. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 205 miles (335 km) from the center of Idalia’s circulation.

The large circulation around former Tropical Storm Idalia was producing gusty winds in Bermuda. A weather station at the L. F. Wade International Airport (TXKF) reported a sustained wind speed of 37 m.p.h. (59 km/h) and a wind gust of 56 m.p.h. (91 km/h). A weather station at St. George’s Pier reported a sustained wind speed of 46 m.p.h. (74 km/h) and a wind gust of 56 m.p.h. (91 km/h). A weather station at an elevated location at the National Museum of Bermuda reported a sustained wind speed of 64 m.p.h. (104 km/h) and a wind gust of 79 m.p.h. (128 km/h). Heavy rain was falling northeast of Bermuda along a warm front.

The upper level trough off the East Coast of the U.S. will steer former Tropical Storm Idalia toward the northeast during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Idalia will move away from Bermuda during the next 36 hours. The winds speeds will decrease in Bermuda when former tropical storm Idalia moves farther away.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Gert strengthened east-southeast of Bermuda and former Tropical Depression Twelve strengthened to Tropical Storm Katia northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Gert was located at latitude 27.8°N and longitude 54.1°W which put it about 710 miles (1145 km) east-southeast of Bermuda. Gert was moving toward the north-northeast at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Katia was located at latitude 23.9°N and longitude 29.7°W which put it about 660 miles (1060 km) north-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Katia was moving toward the north-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

Idalia Prompts Tropical Storm Warning for Bermuda

The likely effect of former Tropical Storm Idalia prompted the issuance of a Tropical Storm Warning for Bermuda. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of former Tropical Storm Idalia was located at latitude 32.0°N and longitude 66.5°W which put it about 100 miles (160 km) west of Bermuda. Idalia was moving toward the east-southeast at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for Bermuda.

The circulation around former Tropical Storm Idalia existed primarily in the lower levels of the atmosphere on Friday afternoon. Bands of showers and lower clouds were revolving around the center of former Tropical Storm Idalia. An upper level trough off the East Coast of the U.S. was producing strong westerly winds that were blowing over the top of Idalia’s circulation. Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear and they were blowing the tops off of any thunderstorms that started to develop. The circulation around former Tropical Storm Idalia was large. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 240 miles (390 km) from the center of Idalia’s circulation.

The upper level trough will steer former Tropical Storm Idalia toward the east-southeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Idalia will be near Bermuda on Saturday morning. Former tropical storm Idalia will bring gusty winds and heavy rain to Bermuda on Saturday.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Franklin made a transition to a strong extratropical cyclone northeast of Bermuda, Tropical Storm Jose was being absorbed by the much larger circulation around Hurricane Franklin, Tropical Storm Gert redeveloped east of Bermuda and Tropical Depression Twelve developed northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.

At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Franklin was located at latitude 39.5°N and longitude 53.8°W which put it about 790 miles (1270 km) northeast of Bermuda. Franklin was moving toward the northeast at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Jose was located at latitude 39.4°N and longitude 49.1°W which put it about 1005 miles (1615 km) northeast of Bermuda. Jose was moving toward the north-northeast at 32 m.p.h. (52 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Gert was located at latitude 27.8°N and longitude 54.4°W which put it about 695 miles (1120 km) east-southeast of Bermuda. Gert was moving toward the east-southeast at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.

At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Depression Twelve was located at latitude 20.8°N and longitude 28.7°W which put it about 450 miles (730 km) northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. The tropical depression was moving toward the north-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.

Typhoon Saola Brings Wind and Rain to Hong Kong

Typhoon Saloa brought strong winds and heavy rain to Hong Kong on Friday morning. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Saola was located at latitude 22.1°N and longitude 114.0°E which put it about 20 miles (30 km) southeast of Hong Kong. Saola was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 938 mb.

Powerful Typhoon Saloa brought strong winds and heavy rain to Hong Kong on Friday morning. The Hong Kong International Airport (VHHH) reported a sustained wind speed of 63 m.p.h. (102 km/h) and a wind gust of 85 m.p.h. (139 km/h). The strongest winds in Typhoon Saola were occurring in the South China Sea just to the south of Hong Kong.

Typhoon Saloa started to weaken just as it approached Hong Kong. Northerly winds blowing around the western side of Saola’s circulation pulled drier air over China into the typhoon. The drier air caused Typhoon Saola to start to weaken. Even though Saola started to weaken, it remained a powerful typhoon. Winds to typhoon force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Typhoon Saola. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Saola was 25.1. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 16.5 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 41.6. Typhoon Saola was capable of causing region major damage.

Typhoon Saola will move south of a high pressure system over China. The high pressure system will steer Saola toward the west-southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Typhoon Saola will move along the coast of Guangdong province.

Typhoon Saola will continue to produce strong winds and heavy rain in Hong Kong during the next few hours. The strong winds could cause widespread outages of electricity. The heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Typhoon Saloa will weaken as it pulls in more drier air. Even though Saola will weaken, strong winds and heavy rain will spread along the coastal part of Guangdong province west of Hong Kong as Typhoon Saola moves toward the west-southwest during the next 24 hours. Strong winds and heavy rain could reach Macau in a few hours.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Haikui was moving toward Taiwan and Tropical Storm Kirogi weakened east of Iwo To. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Haikui was located at latitude 22.1°N and longitude 127.3°E which put it about 415 miles (670 km) east of Taiwan. Haikui was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 971 mb. Typhoon Haikui could approach Taiwan in 36 hours.

At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Kirogi was located at latitude 23.9°N and longitude 149.0°E which put it about 475 miles (765 km) east of Iwo To. Kirogi was moving toward the northwest at 20 m.p.h. (32 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

Typhoon Saola Nears Hong Kong

Powerful Typhoon Saola neared Hong Kong on Thursday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Saola was located at latitude 21.9°N and longitude 115.9°E which put it about 140 miles (225 km) east-southeast of Hong Kong. Saola was moving toward the west-northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 165 m.p.h. (265 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 935 mb.

Powerful Typhoon Saola moved steadily closer to Hong Kong on Thursday night. A circular eye with a diameter of 25 miles (40 km) was at the center of Saola’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Saola’s circulation. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the typhoon.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Saola remained relatively constant on Thursday. Winds to typhoon force extended out 50 miles (80 km) from the center of Saola’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Saola was 28.3. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 17.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 45.5. Typhoon Saola was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Ida when Ida hit Louisiana in 2021.

Typhoon Saola will move through an environment that will become less favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Saola will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move through a region where the upper level ridge winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. However, the circulation around Typhoon Saola could pull in some drier air over China when Saola gets closer to Hong Kong. In addition, if the inner end of a rainband wraps around the existing eye and eyewall, then concentric eyewalls could form. Typhoon Saola is likely to weaken during the next 24 hours, when drier air gets pulled into its circulation.

Typhoon Saola will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over China. The high pressure system will steer Saola toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Typhoon Saola will be near Hong Kong in 12 hours.

Typhoon Saola could be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it reaches Hong Kong. Saola will bring strong, gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the area around Hong Kong. Widespread electricity outages are likely. Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations. There will also be a significant storm surge where the wind blows the water toward the coast.

Elsewhere over the Western North Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Haikui was moving toward Taiwan and Tropical Storm Kirogi was spinning east-southeast of Iwo To. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Typhoon Haikui was located at latitude 22.1°N and longitude 129.1°E which put it about 535 miles (865 km) east of Taiwan. Haikui was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 975 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Kirogi was located at latitude 21.0°N and longitude 150.9°E which put it about 715 miles (1155 km) east-southeast of Iwo To. Kirogi was moving toward the northwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.