09L: Hurricane Ike

[Sarah Glenn]

Here's a neat little site I found out about earlier today:

http://www.stormpulse.com/fullscreen/current

Looking at the entire track is just crazy.

 

[Matthew K. Hartman]

I, too, observed the northward push on radar, but it seems that may have been a wobble. A crude tagging and tracking through the last 15-20 minutes is indicating the system is back on a NW heading. Unfortunately, directly at Galveston.

It also appears the eye-wall has really closed up and collapsed inward over the past hour. Pretty impressive radar presentation:

 

[Bill Tabor]

Question: I thought this was supposed to be such a huge hurricane. But look at it zoomed out on radar. It hardly extends anywhere. It does extend some to the ne toward LA, but not really at all to the west. Do you think the dry air is killing it's westward extent? Is this all there is? I'm starting to think I won't even get wet in Austin.

 

[Jim Zandonai]

Yeah the Velocity images are amazing as would be expected..with respect to the wind gusts.wouldn't you think that they could tell the difference between a 75 gust and 120 ?? Thats the difference between a Jim Cantore and Geraldo..Cantore would know a 75 mph gust from a 120mph . Whats even more amazing is here we are saying it was no way close to a 100mph even and the fox news met didn't even doubt it or just didn't say anything.
I am not saying Fox's guys dont know anything but you probably get more accurate field reports from TWC guys and on here even !

Edit..With regards to size..they are referring to the overall circulation of it with at one time covered about 80% of the gulf or so..Actual precip area is much smaller..
The eye looks great to go right over Galveston !

 

[Jason Burns]

Buoy 42035

Interesting that spotternet shows a buoy in the gulf 42035 58mph with gusts to 74. How does a buoy make a report?

I believe the buoys make a satellite transmission about every hour. Not sure if it is through Argos, or Iridium, directly to GOES, or what. I did notice that NDBC showed 42035, a 3-meter diameter discus type, has been drifting, for obvious reasons.
Most people here probably know about this, but if you are away from the Internet you can access buoy station information with NDBC's Dial-A-Buoy at 1-888-701-8992 and use the buoy numbers.

 

[Peter Wharton]

Hey we're even getting Geraldo live here in New Zealand! I wonder what we've done to deserve that? Seriously, Ike's presentation on the satellite is getting more impressive - luckily late just prior to landfall in Galveston - reports from the local TV stations that the storm surge is rising rapidly now.

 

[Bill Tabor]

I can't have a hurricane party here if it isn't even raining. All I can do is shake my fists and throw beer cans at it!

 

[Sarah Austin]

Geroldo was just reporting on the debris. He said the worst part is when the pavement gets blown up, but it hasn't reached head level yet.

To my knowledge, pavement doesn't blow in the wind. If pavement is blowing, I thinks it's time to get out of there.

 

[Matthew K. Hartman]

Appears the leading edge of the eye-wall may be coming ashore just on Galveston Island. I imagine we'll see official landfall of the eye here in the next 15-30 minutes.

In other words, this is the moment of truth - where the highest winds will come ashore and when the surge will rise the quickest. Those on the island and along and east of the bay should be seeing the worst of it very shortly.

 

[Dann Cianca]

Originally Posted by Bill Tabor View Post
Interesting that spotternet shows a buoy in the gulf 42035 58mph with gusts to 74. How does a buoy make a report?

Maybe that was Stu out there!!!

 

[Marc Austin]

Geroldo was just reporting on the debris. He said the worst part is when the pavement gets blown up, but it hasn't reached head level yet.

To my knowledge, pavement doesn't blow in the wind. If pavement is blowing, I thinks it's time to get out of there.

Yeah, he's definitely playing games with Darwin! I haven't seen anyone as gutsy has he has been.

 

[Heidi Farrar]

This just came from Reed:

We're back to the parking garage again... the storm surge is really picking up. well over the sea wall, but not threatening the hotels yet. It is really intense out there. A piece of sheet metal with nails all over it hit our vehicle so we decided it was no longer safe to stream! We saw Hiraldo Riveira (sp!) huddled in the bushes about 5 minutes ago. 95 mph sustained right now

lol, Hiraldo

 

[jladue]

Agree the storm has wobbled back to NW. I'm thinking water is rushing into Galveston Bay over Bolivar and is or will be heading into the bayside of Galveston. Also hear that much of downtown Galveston is under water.

The worst I think will be reserved for Port Arthur and Beaumont. I'm afraid that Rita didn't prepare them for this.

 

[Heidi Farrar]

For what it's worth, I just saw a shear marker north of Orange showing 124 knts.

 

[ABlaser]

several houston news outlets reporting that 15,000-20,000 people decided to stay in galveston --this is roughly 40% of the population. and also up to 4 feet of water in downtown. it's amazing how many people are just flat stupid.