09L: Hurricane Ike

[Jason Foster]

Intercept is go

OK, chase is on for me....as I will be flying into Austin tomorrow afternoon. Will be partnering up with Chris Collura again on this chase.

So I guess that means it will begin to weaken.....just kidding. I don't think there is as much chance of that as Gustav. Given the slightly better approach and geography, a better intercept is likely. Still not as good as the east coast hurricanes, but better than SW Louisiana.

If it hasn't be started already, I hope that someone (who has the info) will start a new thread with media information, who will be streaming, etc. I know Internet Partnership Radio (www.ipr365.com) is scheduled to begin coverage sometime tomorrow evening...or whenever the first watches and warnings go up.

 

[Stuart Robinson]

Yes Same for me, Chase on! - I am heading towards London on route towards Houston in about 4 hours time.

 

[Steve Miller]

I'm in too. I'll be streaming through Severe Studios if anyone is interested in following along. I'll also be updating the chase blog with text and pics from the road.
Interested media can contact me through my website at www.HamWx.com

 

[Tim Marshall]

For those of you who are going to chase IKE between Corpus Christi and Houston, it may be a good idea to print out the following storm surge inundation maps.

FROM CORPUS TO PORT LAVACA:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/tropics/2008Guide/surge.php
FOR HOUSTON AREA SOUTH:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/tropical/maps.htm

TM

 

[Jay Cazel]

Thanks Tim!!! That will be helpful. I am heading out towards Houston myself toworrow morning to meet up with Bark Comstock and Tyler Costantini.

 

[Bill Tabor]

Bring on the Ike! Yeah baby!!

 

[Bill Tabor]

Either way, if you live in San Antonio or Austin, be prepared for tropical storm to hurricane force winds. Yup its probably gonna be that strong inland.

I don't know, that's a tall order. Let say strong Cat 3 or Cat 4 landing at coast...any of the rest of you think it could maintain that strong a wind field that far inland?

 

[Jason Young]

I will be heading down also!!!! Saw Dow 6 on I-35 today so I guess eveyone is going to the show !

 

[Jeff Richardson]

Considering how large the tropical storm force wind field is, I wouldn't be surprised if the Austin & San Antonio areas got winds in that range. Ike's going to cover a lot of real estate during and shortly after landfall. Hope those folks along the TX coast are ready.

Best of luck to all who are chasing! Be careful out there!

 

[jeremy wilson]

I don't know, that's a tall order. Let say strong Cat 3 or Cat 4 landing at coast...any of the rest of you think it could maintain that strong a wind field that far inland?

NHC has it as a cat 2 well inland near Austin/San antonio. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Dallas and points southward getting some power outages.

 

[Bill Tabor]

Considering how large the tropical storm force wind field is, I wouldn't be surprised if the Austin & San Antonio areas got winds in that range. Ike's going to cover a lot of real estate during and shortly after landfall. Hope those folks along the TX coast are ready.

Best of luck to all who are chasing! Be careful out there!

Yeah I just looked at the NHC report and it said the tropical storm force winds are currently extending 205 nautical miles from center. Interesting...

 

[Ryan Orlando]

The 7 PM CDT advisory on Ike is out. Winds are still at 100 MPH but pressure has dropped to 947 MB. I don't understand why it hasn't been intensifying as much as it should. Could it increase rapidly even though the Hurricane Hunters haven't found higher speeds? It doesn't look like dry air is coming into the system. Maybe someone can better explain it.

 

[ABlaser]

wind speeds do not increase the instant the pressure drops. especially in a large cyclone, the wind field has to constrict in order for the wind to increase, think of the tornado, you will have pressures drop under the meso and sometimes rapidly--thats when you see the scud. but the wind field at the surface and just above it has to get smaller and tighter before the good stuff happens.

 

[Adam Penney]

Im not sure if this should be posted here, but thought it was relavent to the situation. Ive have chased storms for 4 years now, but have been fascinated by hurricanes for a long time. Over the past year, i have been studying hard to learn more about them. Long story short, I am available to chase this beast this weekend. I can leave anytime tomorrow/Friday on a flight to anywhere in texas. I would love to chase, but there is no way in hell im doing it the first time by myself, lol. Im not that irresponsible. I know many of you on here are very experienced people with chasing hurricanes. I am looking for somebody who wouldn't mind me teaming up and riding along with them. I am a very responsible person, and very easy to get along with. I am eager to learn all i can, and was hoping there would be somebody gracious enough to extend me that oppurtunity. I am more than willing to pay whatever my share is of the expenses. I am not looking for a free ride. So if there is anyone out there is interested in having another chase partner for the show, and looking for help in covering costs, PLEASE shoot me a p.m. Ill answer any and all questions that you may have. Thanks!

 

[Jason Harris]

Interesting to see how Ike has broadened though not having recovered the Cat. 4 compact punch of earlier. TV mets were often saying what a relatively small windfield Ike had before Cuba and now it's another story isn't it? What was the turning point? I've got a pal in Corpus Christi, so adds a touch of extra drama. With 2 + days to go of Gulf juice, I bet Ike will regain Cat. 4 strength and hit with at least Cat. 3 storm surge regardless of any later weakening. Notable comments on the 5 pm discussion:

--
RECENT NORTHWARD SHIFTS IN THE TRACK NOW SUGGEST THAT IKE
MAY ENCOUNTER A COOL EDDY IN THE CENTRAL GULF AND MISS A WARM EDDY.
NEVERTHELESS...ALL OBJECTIVE GUIDANCE NOW MAKES IKE A MAJOR
HURRICANE AND THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS INCREASED SLIGHTLY OVER THE
PREVIOUS FORECAST. OTHER THAN INTERNAL EYEWALL DYNAMICS...WHICH
ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO FORECAST MORE THAN A FEW HOURS IN ADVANCE...I SEE
NO REASON WHY IKE SHOULD WEAKEN APPRECIABLY AS IT MOVES INTO THE
WESTERN GULF.
--