Ida

[Brett Adair]

Originally Posted by IAN GIAMMANCO

Texas Tech deployed 7 StickNet probes, with a whopping peak instantaneous (10Hz) gust of 52 mph from a probe located at Ft. Morgan at the western end of Gulf Shores. The peak 1-min mean was 40 mph from the same probe. All measured at 2.25 m height.
Our new Ka-band mobile radar system was also deployed on Gulf Shores, not sure what the peak in the radial velocity data was yet.

Interesting feature observed by the radar (and 88-D) and supported from some of the thermo data from the StickNets was a developing baroclinic zone about 04Z, which was sort of a developing warm front (using the term loosely). Also helped to develop some convective elements as it moved northward.

I noticed the pseudo-baroclinc zone as well. Where were you guys located on Fort Morgan? We were out there on the tip of the island and didn't really see anyone except for a couple of chasers. I have to agree that the winds with the system weren't the most impressive that I've seen. We measured 50 mph winds when we were shooting for the newscast around 10PM at Orange Beach, AL.

[IAN GIAMMANCO]

Brett,

the probe was located on some earth works on the southwest side of the Fort... we deployed it mid-afternoon on the 9th and then headed east to finish up with 4 probes closer to the Ka-band's domain. The StickNet crew ended up staying in Foley, radar crew ended up operating till about 1 am on the 10th from Gulf Shores. They were located to the east of Foley's longitude in one of the large, park/beach access parking lots.

We were hoping for a little better on shore flow, but the circulation got so strung out, and seemed like it the mid-level center got completely detached from the surface circ. sometime during the evening on the 9th... in fact it was so sheared that the radar crew was trying to do RHI's, pointed the antenna into the surface flow trying to get most of the total wind but a few tilts up, the flow was nearly perpendicular to the beam. Most of the StickNets were setup to get on-shore marine exposure, with obstructions in other directions, and what resulted was a more along shore flow which degraded the probe's exposure. I would guess had they all been in true open exposure in all directions the wind data would have been a little higher.