Typhoon Krasa Intercept.

[Derrick Herndon]

Krosa passed right Yonagunijima. The station reported a pressure of 934 mb with winds NE at 82 knots at 02Z then 933 mb and winds SSE at 56 knots at 03Z (10 minute winds). Man I would love to have the the in-between obs since the center was right over the island at 02:30Z.

Radar indicates a hard turn to the left the last few hours. Probably just a temporary wobble as the circulation core interacts with the terrain of Taiwan. Could be a close call for the north coast!

 

[Stuart Robinson]

Update from Stu - Recorded 104mph from the car standing just North of the eye in a small fishing hamlet I can not pronounce. A serious lack of data meant that we did not penetrate the eye and gave up. However Shock news - the eye never made it fully on land and is now back out to sea after turning South East- we are getting ready to chase it again if it makes landfall second time - don't belive me - look at the radar loop.

http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V5e/observe/radar/radar.htm

 

[Stuart Robinson]

Yes LLCC is def off shore and moving SES - However and more importantly I can report minimal damage along the coast - a few broken trees and power lines - odd roof off but overall minimal.

 

[Doug_Kiesling]

Congrats Stu, looks like you did not get the worst of it but you got a lot better then what a lot of us have got this season. With 104mph winds, that is still a Cat 2 successful chase. Make you wonder what the right front was doing for speeds.

 

[Stuart Robinson]

Doug - that 104 mph (unclaibrated) was the right front Quad as Rog and I approched the eye from the North down the East coast road. This typhoon surprised us both with the loop the loop track along with ourselves not being able to visually get a handle on the storm (due to the non wind direction shifts at our locations etc).

Overall (now that I have seen the radar loop) I give this intercept a 6/10 for a sucess factor. There were many logistical issues to over come, above and beyond a normal GOM Hurricane intercept due to the location being Taiwan. Data again was everything(as always) and it was only after conection with my UK cell phone of all things via a UK ISP that we got data on the road in (Many $$$ per Mb download - I dread the bill!)

However what is increadble is that just 6 hours after sampling the near eye I am in a hotel in the West of the country having a really nice meal and a beer - never have i done this before during a tropical intercept.

Lessons learned - well IMO there was NOTHING down the North East side of the island that offered any real shelter from the winds - not that any of us on S2K would regard safe anyway -perhaps I am wrong ??

Taiwan *seems* a safe country as far as the locals go - no problms with police (who were sincerley interested in our equipment and purpose)

 

[Doug_Kiesling]

You have me wondering now if they have something like a "Go Phone" that you could have bought that is a prepaid phone to surf the net for a few hours on the road and then just toss it.

Congrats on the intercept.

 

[cdcollura]

Congrats to all out there ...

This looked like a dreaded miss 18 hours ago - Then the storm takes direct hit moving WNW.

Never in the USA, especially the hot meal at the hotel part.

 

[Josh Morgerman]

Congrats for getting some action-- very excellent! It sounds like it was a cool chase, and I look forward to seeing the footage!

Was that 104 mph a peak gust or a 1-min sustained wind? I assume it was the former, but just wanted to check. Either way, that's a cool reading.

Re: mobile voice and data services while roaming internationally: yes, it's a complete rip-off. My phone bill from a week in Mexico for my Dean chase was through the roof.

The best option-- and what I'm going to do on future international chases-- is to buy a prepaid SIM card with GPRS services when I arrive in whatever country. It's an extra, annoying thing to deal with, but it's well worth it, as it's way more cost-effective than roaming.

 

[Stuart Robinson]

That 104 mph was a gust taken on an uncalibrated car roof mounted anomometer - the car was stationary at the time. Fottage from me will be an issue as my video camera died due to water - I have NO footage Roger got plenty and Im sure he will post some soon over the next week.

It is 06:45 am here in Taiwan - the winds have dropped completly. I might go out and shot some river flooding this morning before heading back to the coast again to shot some damage images - but from last night I did not see much damage (Thankfully).

Overall I firmly belive that Taiwan dodged a bullet from Krosa. (Which is good)

 

[Stuart Robinson]

Rogers account and video !!

http://www.stormchase.net/2007/20071006krosa.htm

 

[Stuart Robinson]

Another Article

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