Archive: Tropical Weather
Rain totals adding up, especially in southeast Va.
* Full Forecast | Watch for street flooding | Beaches bear storm's brunt * * Coastal Flood Watch for Potomac river and Chesapeake Bay * * Outside Now? Radar, temps, webcam & more: Weather Wall * Radar-estimated rainfall, in inches,...
By Capital Weather Gang | November 12, 2009; 01:40 PM ET | Comments (9)
Weakening Ida closes in on Gulf Coast
Strong winds, flooding still a threat; East Coast impacts? * Will Ida impact D.C.? Local Forecast | Hurricane Tracking Center * Radar shows Ida's rains already soaking parts of the Gulf Coast on Monday afternoon. Courtesy National Weather Service. The...
By Greg Postel | November 9, 2009; 04:25 PM ET | Comments (0)
What Happened to Hurricane Season?
* D.C. Area Forecast | Hurricane Tracking Center | More Coverage * Satellite image of Hurricane Bill on Aug. 19. At the time, Bill was a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 135 mph. To date, Bill is the...
By Dan Stillman | October 11, 2009; 02:30 PM ET | Comments (11)
Reflecting on Hurricane Gloria
* Fresh, crisp autumn air coming: Full Forecast | NatCast * Hurricane Gloria lashes the coast of New England, 24 years ago. Image courtesy NOAA. Weather - especially severe weather - has a way of teaching us lessons, reminding us...
By Ann Posegate | September 28, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (9)
D.C. Rain Linked to Intensity of Hurricane Season?
* Cooler Friday, Wet Saturday: Full Forecast | NatCast | UnitedCast * Latest U.S. Drought Monitor. Have you noticed the lack of rain lately? Our rainfall deficit since July 1 is almost 5", and "abnormally dry" conditions are closing in...
By Jason Samenow | September 24, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (3)
Lackluster Hurricane Season Could Stay That Way
* Where's Fall? Our Full Forecast | NatCast | Classic D.C. Sunrise * Tracks for the six named storms (and Tropical Depression One, which failed to reach tropical storm strength) so far this hurricane season. Courtesy Unisys. So far the...
By Greg Postel | September 23, 2009; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (9)
New Tool for Hurricane Forecasting: WISDOM
A WISDOM balloon is launched during last year's testing phase in Miami, Fl. Photo courtesy NOAA. The accuracy in predicting the track of tropical storms and hurricanes has increased substantially over the past decades. For example, the average error of...
By Steve Tracton | September 11, 2009; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (0)
Ike Dike Proposed to Protect Texas Coast
* Showers Stick Around: Full Forecast | NatCast | UnitedCast * Landsat 7 images of Galveston, Texas before (left, 10/12/07) and after (right, 9/28/08) Hurricane Ike ("scarring" depicted by red color enhancement). Image courtesy NASA. One year after the Hurricane...
By Ann Posegate | September 9, 2009; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (7)
Tropical Storm Erika: Danny Deja Vu?
* D.C. Area Forecast | UnitedCast | Hurricane Tracking Center * * Obama Should Give Climate Speech | Response to Climate Depot * Water vapor image of Tropical Storm Erika. Courtesy NOAA. Notice anything familiar about the image above? We've...
By Greg Postel | September 2, 2009; 12:45 PM ET | Comments (4)
Is Tropical Storm Danny a Threat to U.S. Coast?
Storm complicates busy Saturday in Boston area * Flash Flood Watch Thru Tonight: D.C. Area Forecast | SkinsCast * * Outside Now? Radar, Temps & More: Weather Wall | Lightning Map * * Danny's Impact on the Beaches | Hurricane...
By Greg Postel | August 28, 2009; 02:05 PM ET | Comments (8)
Feeling the Power of Hurricane-Force Winds
* Cooler, Showery Tomorrow: Full Forecast | Year of Science * * T.S. Danny's Winds Near 60 mph: Hurricane Tracking Center * * Danny's Impact Likely Minimal for Metro Area: Weekend Forecast * CWG's Steve Tracton faces down winds up...
By Steve Tracton | August 27, 2009; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (9)
Meet Tropical Storm Danny
Impacts on U.S. uncertain; Worst may stay offshore * Our Full Forecast | UnitedCast | Hurricane Tracking Center * Infrared satellite view of Tropical Storm Danny this morning. As of 11 a.m., Danny was about 775 miles south-southeast of Cape...
By Greg Postel | August 26, 2009; 11:25 AM ET | Comments (1)
Bill Accelerating Northward, East of Carolinas
* Flash Flood Watch Through Evening | Latest Full Forecast * * SkinsCast, NatCast & UnitedCast | Radar & More: Weather Wall * * Bill's Big Waves | Where's Bill? Hurricane Tracking Center * Satellite image of Hurricane Bill. Courtesy...
By Capital Weather Gang | August 22, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
Hurricane Bill to Generate Dangerous Surf
Big waves & strong rip currents threaten nearby beaches * Severe T-Storm Watch Until 9 PM: Full Forecast | NatCast * * Where's Bill Now? Hurricane Tracking Center * Wave height projection (in feet) for 7 a.m. Sunday morning from...
By Jason Samenow | August 21, 2009; 10:40 AM ET | Comments (6)
Hurricane Bill to Bring Big Swells to East Coast
But track should keep storm center away from U.S. * Still Hot & Humid: Full Forecast | Hurricane Tracking Center * * NatCast | A/C or No A/C? | Hurricane-Climate Change Debate * Updated: Thursday Aug. 20 @ 3:20 p.m....
By Capital Weather Gang | August 20, 2009; 11:40 AM ET | Comments (24)
Hurricane Camille: She Was No Lady!
Looking back forty years * Hot Start to Week: Full Forecast | Hurricane Tracking Center * * Tropical Update: Ana Ailing, Bill Blossoming * The Richelieu Apartments in Pass Christian, Ms. before and after Hurricane Camille. Images courtesy NOAA. As...
By Don Lipman | August 17, 2009; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (10)
Tropical Update: Ana Ailing, Bill Blossoming
* Heat Continues: Full Forecast | Hurricane Tracking Center * By Dr. Greg Postel, Hurricane Expert *11 a.m. update: Hurricane Bill continues strengthening. Max winds up to 90 mph. Satellite image of Tropical Depression Ana. Courtesy NOAA. When storms develop...
By Capital Weather Gang | August 17, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (2)
Tropics Spring to Life: Claudette Nears Fl. Landfall
* Hot Start to Week: Full Forecast | Hurricane Tracking Center * * Outside Right Now? Radar, Temps & More: Weather Wall * Satellite image of Tropical Storm Claudette. Courtesy NOAA. By Dr. Greg Postel, Tropical Weather Expert After weeks...
By Capital Weather Gang | August 16, 2009; 05:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
NOAA Hurricane Outlook to be Revised Lower?
* Heating up: Full Forecast | NatCast | Climate Change and Jellyfish * Satellite image of Hurricane Andrew, which battered South Florida during the otherwise quiet hurricane season of 1992. UPDATE, 11:45 a.m.: The Colorado State tropical prediction experts lowered...
By Steve Tracton | August 4, 2009; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (12)
My Dangerous Encounter With Hurricane Katrina
* Full Forecast | UnitedCast | Saturday Storm Pics | Hurricane Center * * New! Get CWG's Express Forecast by E-mail: Sign Me Up * By Dr. Gregory Postel, Tropical Weather Expert Satellite image of Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 25,...
By Capital Weather Gang | July 28, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (4)
Hurricane Season Off to Slow Start
No signs yet of season heating up * D.C. Weather to Heat Up: Full Forecast | New Weather Channel Show * * CWG's Matt Rogers on El Nino | Hurricane Tracking Map * Tropical sea surface temperatures are generally above...
By Capital Weather Gang | July 14, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (7)
Weather Gang's Matt Rogers on El Nino
* Lots of Sunshine: Full Forecast | Hurricane Season off to Slow Start * Capital Weather Gang's very own Matt Rogers was interviewed on MSNBC about El Nino, what to expect from it in the coming year, and any relationship...
By Capital Weather Gang | July 14, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (4)
El Nino & Hurricanes: Devil May Be in Details
* Where's Summer? Full Forecast | Fireworks Photo Spread * The traditional rap on El Nino, the periodic ocean-atmosphere cycle in the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean that is infamous for altering weather patterns worldwide, is that it causes a quieter...
By Andrew Freedman | July 8, 2009; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (4)
Obama Proclaims Hurricane Preparedness Week
* Full Forecast | Congress Ponders National Climate Service * If you tend to avoid thinking about natural disasters, this is the week for you. In cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Hurricane Center, President Obama...
By Ann Posegate | May 27, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (5)
DHS Rebuffed by NOAA on Hurricane Modification
* Sunny Full Forecast | NatCast | Renaming Climate Change * Satellite image of Hurricane Katrina as it approaches the Gulf Coast on Aug. 28, 2005. Courtesy NOAA. The field of hurricane modification research has been largely silent since 1983,...
By Steve Tracton | May 19, 2009; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (5)
Hurricane Scale Faces Revisions
* Late-Day Storms? Full Forecast | NatCast * The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Courtesy National Weather Service. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, which classifies hurricanes in categories between 1 and 5 based on intensity, is under revision. Popularly considered a "catch-all" scale...
By Jason Samenow | April 21, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
CWG Talks to Hurricane Center Director
Bahamas Weather Conference: Day One Wrap * Full Forecast | NatCast | UnitedCast | Events for Rain & Shine * I (Jamie Jones, right) sit down with National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read (left) at the Bahamas Weather Conference in...
By Jamie Jones | April 17, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (7)
Do You Have a Hurricane Plan?
* Sunny Stretch: Full Forecast | NatCast: A Bit Cool | Maui Photos * Hurricane season doesn't officially start until June 1. But April is none too soon to make sure you're ready if you live in a hurricane-prone zone....
By Capital Weather Gang | April 16, 2009; 02:05 PM ET | Comments (2)
CSU Hurricane Outlook Foresees Average Season
* Warmer Tomorrow: Full Forecast | Cherry Blossom Photos * Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane experts Drs. Phil Klotzbach and Bill Gray have adjusted their seasonal tropical forecast downward in an update released yesterday: We foresee average activity for the...
By Jason Samenow | April 8, 2009; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (2)
WeatherBug Issues 2009 Hurricane Outlook
* Wind & Sun Follow Rain: Full Forecast | Cherry Blossom Coverage * WeatherBug is out with its 2009 hurricane outlook, and it's similar to the one issued in March by AccuWeather's Joe Bastardi. WeatherBug predicts a slightly above-average season...
By Dan Stillman | April 3, 2009; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
AccuWeather's Bastardi Issues Hurricane Outlook
*Showery and turning cooler: Full Forecast * It's hard to believe, but hurricane season is a mere 10 weeks away. Leading up to the June 1 start date, a number of organizations will release seasonal outlooks. Yesterday, AccuWeather got things...
By Jason Samenow | March 19, 2009; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (1)
Moon's Effect on Atlantic Hurricanes
* Trending Cooler: Full Forecast | Dueling Springs | Weather Wall * Hurricane Isabel, 2003. Courtesy NOAA. Here's an interesting analogy: the moon is to hurricanes as snow is to D.C. traffic accidents. Intrigued? After analyzing Atlantic hurricanes that occurred...
By Ann Posegate | March 9, 2009; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (5)
Powerful Hurricane Paloma Eyes Cuba
Satellite image of Hurricane Paloma from 9:15 a.m. Courtesy NOAA. Paloma strengthened into an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane overnight, with maximum winds to 140 mph. According to the National Hurricane Center: PALOMA IS TIED FOR THE SECOND STRONGEST ATLANTIC...
By Jason Samenow | November 8, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
Hurricane Paloma not a Symbol of Peace
Satellite image of Hurricane Paloma from this afternoon. Courtesy NOAA. Its name is of Spanish origin and means "dove." But Hurricane Paloma has not been a symbol of peace for Grand Cayman, which already has received 4-5 inches of rain...
By Dan Stillman | November 7, 2008; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (2)
November Tropics: New Storm Spinning Up?
Last Friday, Dan posted about the status of this year's hurricane season and noted that since 1995, one tropical cyclone (storm or hurricane) has formed in November or December every other year in the Atlantic Basin. Here are some additional...
By Jason Samenow | November 5, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (5)
Hurricane Season Going Out Like a Lamb?
As far as the United States is concerned, the tropics have been quiet as a mouse since the August-September onslaught of tropical storms Fay and Hanna (briefly a hurricane when it was in the Caribbean) and the devastating duo of...
By Dan Stillman | October 31, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
The Hairy Issue of Hurricane Modification
When last we met, authorities had approved the audacious proposal of a brash young meteorologist to save Miami from the devastating effects of Hurricane Calamity. Needless to say it didn't work, but at least there was enough leftover Prozac...
By Steve Tracton | October 23, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (5)
Hurricane Calamity
Fictional Hurricane Calamity bears down on South Florida. Graphic created from a composite of NOAA images of Hurricane Andrew. Imagine a monster Category 5 hurricane -- we'll call it "Hurricane Calamity" -- on a steady westward, high-confidence track, within two...
By Steve Tracton | October 17, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
Remembering Hurricane Hazel
It's been a while since Washington, D.C., has seen hurricane-force winds -- 54 years ago today, to be exact. That's when Hurricane Hazel made landfall along the South Carolina-North Carolina border as a Category 4 storm and then tracked northward...
By Capital Weather Gang | October 15, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (2)
Omar on the Move. Paloma Next?
Courtesy HAMweather. All remains quiet in terms of tropical threats to the U.S. mainland. But the same cannot be said for the Caribbean, where Omar has become a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. Omar could...
By Dan Stillman | October 15, 2008; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (2)
Marco Reminds Us It's Still Hurricane Season
Tiny Tropical Storm Marco yesterday evening. Marco's peak winds reach 65 mph. A welcome calm settled over the tropical Atlantic, the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico after the parade of storms in late August through mid-September. But Tropical Storm Marco's...
By Jason Samenow | October 7, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (2)
In Focus: A Wind-Swept Soaking Tomorrow
Coastal storm could become tropical system *High Wind Watch in effect Thurs. for higher terrain to the W and NW* *Gale Warning for Tidal Potomac, Chesapeake Bay Thurs. into Fri.* *Coastal Flood Watch in effect Thurs. along Bay, Eastern Shore.*...
By Jason Samenow | September 24, 2008; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (10)
Freedman: Climate News from the Arctic to Texas
This was a busy week in climate-related news, so let's get right to it, shall we? First up was the finding that the Arctic summer melt season of 2008 has ended without breaking a new sea ice loss record. Instead,...
By Andrew Freedman | September 22, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (19)
Could it be Kyle?
To the left, a satellite image of a tropical wave south of Puerto Rico, courtesy NOAA. To the right, a model (GFDL) simulation of this wave's evolution by Friday, when it is a hurricane near the East Coast, courtesy Florida...
By Jason Samenow | September 21, 2008; 03:30 PM ET | Comments (8)
Time For a New Hurricane Rating System?
An experimental storm surge forecast for Hurricane Ike, showing the percent chance that storm surge will be greater than 10 feet. Produced by the National Hurricane Center on Sept. 12. Nothing strikes fear into people along the Gulf and Atlantic...
By Dan Stillman | September 20, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (15)
Remembering Hurricane Isabel, Five Years Later
September 19, 2003: After Hurricane Isabel, a man in a canoe paddles through Old Town Alexandria, Va. By Mark Young/The Journal Newspapers. How do you spell RELIEF? -- all is quiet on the tropical front. For the first time in...
By Steve Tracton | September 18, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (7)
Incredible Ike Imagery
Storm surge over Galveston Island, Texas. AP Photo/David J. Phillip After posting an amazing compilation of hurricane satellite images from space, the Boston Globe's Big Picture blog published another must-see series of some of the most remarkable post-Ike pictures. Want...
By Jason Samenow | September 17, 2008; 06:45 PM ET | Comments (2)
Stormy Science: Hurricanes and Climate Change
The recent string of tropical cyclones that have struck the United States has showcased the nation's vulnerability to nature's most powerful storms. Last week Hurricane Ike nearly played out as a worst-case scenario for Galveston and Houston, Texas, and New...
By Andrew Freedman | September 16, 2008; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (5)
Ike's Bad Blow Was Almost Worse
The cleanup continues in Texas and Louisiana today, even as rain and thunderstorms complicate the matter. Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of coastline, destroyed buildings and knocked out power for millions of people. The good news is the death...
By Dan Stillman | September 14, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (46)
Ike Deals Significant Blow to Texas and Gulf Coast
Landfall at Galveston; Aftermath assessments beginning Washington Post Coverage | Hurricane Ike Photos | Houston/Galveston Reports 25 minute radar loop as Ike officially makes landfall in Galveston at 2:10 a.m. CDT. Image courtesy Weather Underground. Hurricane Ike fell just short...
By Ian Livingston | September 13, 2008; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (14)
Ike Stands Alone, Looms Large as Texas Prepares
Galveston, New Orleans already feeling storm's impacts Water vapor satellite image of Hurricane Ike from this morning. Courtesy NOAA. Remember a week ago, when Ike was one of three active tropical systems in the Atlantic, in addition to the remnants...
By Dan Stillman | September 12, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (57)
Meteorologist: 'Ike is a Freak Storm'
Evacuations underway in Galveston and Houston Probability of experiencing tropical storm force surface winds from Ike. See image bigger. Courtesy NOAA. The first sentence of a recent post by Weather Underground meteorologist Jeff Masters puts Hurricane Ike into proper perspective:...
By Dan Stillman | September 11, 2008; 01:30 PM ET | Comments (113)
Hurricane Ike and Hype Kick Into High Gear
Storm now a Category 2 with 100 mph winds Latest National Hurricane Center forecast track for Hurricane Ike. Powered by HAMweather. Despite tracking over a large part of Cuba, Ike maintained much of its structural integrity traversing the hostile landmass....
By Jason Samenow | September 10, 2008; 02:00 PM ET | Comments (3)
Freedman: Climate-Hurricane Debate Yet to Come?
Hurricane Ike as it approached Cuba. Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, NASA. This hurricane season has been a destructive one for the United States, with five consecutive tropical cyclones making landfall so far, while a sixth storm -- Ike -- now threatens...
By Andrew Freedman | September 10, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (25)
Photography: Hurricanes From Orbit
Hurricane Emily on July 16th, 2005 from the International Space Station. The storm was a strengthening category 4 with 155 mph sustained winds over the northwest Caribbean Sea about 135 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica. (Image Courtesy NASA) While Hurricane...
By Ian Livingston | September 9, 2008; 07:15 PM ET | Comments (3)
Hurricane Ike Hammering Cuba
Up-to-date radar animation courtesy the Meteorological Institute of the Republic of Cuba. While the U.S. can't seem to catch a break from hurricanes, neither can Cuba. After Gustav raked the island's western tip just over a week ago, Ike has...
By Capital Weather Gang | September 9, 2008; 02:00 PM ET | Comments (2)
Some Hurricane Tracks Trickier Than Others
With Hurricane Gustav, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) set a high standard for forecasts this tropical season, thanks to a huge assist from the computer models. It's a standard that may be hard to live up to with Ike --...
By Steve Tracton | September 8, 2008; 12:45 PM ET | Comments (10)
Photography: Hanna's Sunset
Sunset at the Manassas Battlefield Park as the last cloud bands from Hanna move east Saturday evening. I have found that tropical storms often produce beautiful sunsets. The clear, tropical air combined with distinct cloud bands produce nice shades of...
By Kevin Ambrose | September 8, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (4)
Hanna is History
*Coastal Flood Advisory until 6:30 a.m. Sunday for tidal Potomac and Chesapeake Bay* News article: Tropical Storm Hanna Drenches Washington Region Besides some lingering flooding from rising streams in a few spots, Hanna has finished its business here. Skies have...
By Jason Samenow | September 6, 2008; 07:40 PM ET | Comments (15)
Rain to Exit Stage Right; Winds Hang On
Numerous road closures, power outages *Tropical Storm Warning near and east of I-95.* *Flood Warning for urban areas and small streams in D.C., Montgomery, and Loudoun Counties until 9 p.m.* Hanna Live Updates Blog (up to the minute) | Track...
By Dan Stillman | September 6, 2008; 05:25 PM ET | Comments (21)
Hanna Deals a Saturday Soaker; End in Sight
Numerous road closures; Never cross a flooded road *Tropical Storm Warning near and east of I-95.* *Wind Advisory for north and west suburbs until 11 p.m.* *Flash Flood Watch for metro area through this evening* *Flash Flood Warning for D.C.,...
By Dan Stillman | September 6, 2008; 02:25 PM ET | Comments (45)
Massive Deluge Across Metro Area
Flash flooding a danger, mainly along and west of I-95 *Tropical Storm Warning near and east of I-95.* *Wind Advisory for north and west suburbs until 11 p.m.* *Flash Flood Watch for metro area through this evening* *Flash Flood Warning...
By Jason Samenow | September 6, 2008; 01:10 PM ET | Comments (58)
Hanna Pouring Very Heavy Rain over Region
*Tropical Storm Warning near and east of I-95.* *Wind Advisory for north and west suburbs until 11 p.m.* *Flash Flood Watch for metro area through this evening* *Flash Flood Warning for Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford Counties* Hanna Live Updates...
By Jason Samenow | September 6, 2008; 11:20 AM ET | Comments (68)
Hanna to Blast Region with Rain and Wind
*Tropical Storm Warning near and east of I-95.* *Wind Advisory for north and west suburbs until 11 p.m.* *Flash Flood Watch for metro area through this evening* 7:00 a.m. update: Hanna made landfall near the South Carolina and North Carolina...
By Jason Samenow | September 6, 2008; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (28)
Showers Streaming In Ahead of Hanna
Radar: Latest mid-Atlantic radar loop shows movement of precipitation over past two hours. Click here or on image to enlarge. Refresh page to update or restart animation. Powered by HAMweather. *Tropical Storm Warning issued for immediate metro area and...
By Jason Samenow | September 5, 2008; 09:00 PM ET | Comments (25)
Hanna Not Quite a Hurricane as Showers Approach
Ike and Josephine on Hanna's Heels *Tropical Storm Warning issued for metro area and Eastern shore.* *Flash Flood Watch for metro area Saturday morning through evening* Clouds associated with Tropical Storm Hanna -- as of 5 p.m. a strong tropical...
By Capital Weather Gang | September 5, 2008; 05:35 PM ET | Comments (27)
Hanna On Course to Pound Region Saturday
Rain odds up tonight; heavy rain & strong winds Saturday *Tropical Storm Warning issued for metro area and Eastern shore.* *Flash Flood Watch for metro area Saturday morning through afternoon* Satellite image of Hanna, positioned east of Florida, at 2...
By Capital Weather Gang | September 5, 2008; 02:40 PM ET | Comments (27)
Hanna Charging Towards Carolina Coast
Satellite image of Hanna, positioned east of Florida, at 11 a.m. Courtesy NOAA. *Tropical Storm Warning issued for entire metro area and Eastern shore.* *Flash Flood Watch for metro area Saturday morning through afternoon* Live Chat at 2 p.m. At...
By Capital Weather Gang | September 5, 2008; 11:40 AM ET | Comments (47)
Hanna Heading to Region With Heavy Rains, Wind
Partly sunny today; wind-swept rain tomorrow *Tropical Storm Warning issued for metro area and Eastern shore.* *Flash Flood Watch for metro area Saturday morning through afternoon* As partly to mostly sunny morning skies help area temperatures rise toward highs in...
By Capital Weather Gang | September 5, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (41)
Hanna to Pack a Punch for Metro Area
*Tropical Storm Watch in effect for entire metro area and Eastern Shore* *Flash Flood Watch in effect for entire metro area. Potential for 3-6" of rain Saturday morning through afternoon.* Image shows extent of Hanna's tropical storm force wind field...
By Andrew Freedman | September 4, 2008; 11:15 PM ET | Comments (20)
Hanna Struggles; Local Impacts Difficult to Pinpoint
Exact track will decide weather for late Friday & Saturday Latest forecast track for Hanna. Courtesy National Hurricane Center Dry air and moderate wind shear have prevented Tropical Storm Hanna from strengthening, and in fact as of 11 a.m. she...
By Capital Weather Gang | September 4, 2008; 11:15 AM ET | Comments (40)
Hanna's Track Trends East as it Heads Toward D.C.
A first call on local impacts Latest forecast track for Hanna from the National Hurricane Center. Hanna has remained a tropical storm today, with sustained winds near 60 mph, as it moves slowly north away from Haiti and the Dominican...
By Dan Stillman | September 3, 2008; 01:10 PM ET | Comments (7)
Talking to Kids about Hurricanes
Wx and the City By Ann Posegate Tropical storms and hurricanes can be both fascinating and frightening for kids, let alone adults. Watching an image on TV of a rotating white blob over a blue-and-green map might not translate in...
By Capital Weather Gang | September 3, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (2)
Could Hanna Hit D.C. Hard?
Struggling storm downgraded but may recover National Hurricane Center track forecast for Hanna. The current track takes Hanna right over Washington, D.C. The 2008 tropical season, like a gifted quarterback, is spreading the action all over the playing field --...
By Jason Samenow | September 2, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (14)
Computer Models Nailed Gustav's Track
A Gustav forecast from the GFDL model simulated 5.5 days prior to landfall (left). A satellite image of the actual Gustav (right). Notice how well the model approximated Gustav's location. Gustav Resources: WaPo: Levees Tested | Storm Tracking | Photo...
By Jason Samenow | September 2, 2008; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (4)
Gustav Fades, Hanna Strengthens, Ike is Born
Satellite image of Gustav (west), Hanna (Bahamas), and Ike (far east). Courtesy NASA. Gustav Monitoring: Satellite Loop | Radar Loop | Interactive Tracking Map | Live Storm Chasing | Streaming Local News from New Orleans | New Orleans Damage Reports...
By Ian Livingston | September 1, 2008; 05:05 PM ET | Comments (19)
Gustav Ashore, Hanna a Hurricane
Satellite image of Gustav (west) and Hanna (east). Courtesy NASA. Gustav Monitoring: Satellite Loop | Radar Loop | Interactive Tracking Map | Live Storm Chasing | Streaming Local News from New Orleans | New Orleans Damage Reports | New Orleans...
By Jason Samenow | September 1, 2008; 04:00 PM ET | Comments (7)
Eye of Hurricane Gustav Moving On Shore
Latest Gulf Coast radar loop shows movement of precipitation over past three hours. Powered by HAMweather. Refresh page to update or restart animation (updates approx. every 10 minutes). Storm Monitoring: Satellite Loop | Radar Loop | Interactive Tracking Map...
By Jason Samenow | September 1, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (9)
Gustav Closing in on Louisiana Strike
Gustav satellite image at 11 p.m. Sunday night. Courtesy NASA. Overnight Storm Monitoring: Latest satellite | Latest radar | Interactive Tracking Map The 11 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center indicates Hurricane Gustav remains a low-end Category 3 storm...
By Jason Samenow | August 31, 2008; 11:30 PM ET | Comments (8)
Gustav Set to Engulf Louisiana
Satellite image of Gustav. Courtesy University of Wisconsin-Madison SSEC. Hurricane warnings are in place, evacuations have been ordered, and we are left to watch as Hurricane Gustav bears down on the coast of central and southeast Louisiana. Already, some of...
By Jason Samenow | August 31, 2008; 05:00 PM ET | Comments (30)
Category 4 Gustav Heads for Gulf
U.S. landfall expected late Monday or early Tuesday Forecast track for Hurricane Gustav as of 11 a.m. today from the National Hurricane Center. Yesterday was the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall along the Louisiana-Mississippi coast. And it is with...
By Dan Stillman | August 30, 2008; 01:50 PM ET | Comments (36)
Gustav on the Brink of Explosive Development
Gustav satellite image at 11 a.m. Courtesy NOAA. 6:00 p.m. update: Gustav continues to intensify and is now a hurricane. Additional strengthening is likely over the next day or so. Chief meteorologist Jeff Masters at Wunderground advises: "It's Time to...
By Jason Samenow | August 29, 2008; 06:00 PM ET | Comments (146)
Cool Tools for 'Canes
By Ann Posegate "How strong is a hurricane? Just listen." Besides reconnaissance flights and ocean buoys, there may be potential to measure the strength of hurricanes by listening to their sound deep under the ocean surface. Leave it to MIT...
By Jason Samenow | August 28, 2008; 06:30 PM ET | Comments (4)
When Hurricane Carol Came Calling
I've been a weather nut for as long as I can remember (could you tell?). I recall -- with some reminding by my parents -- becoming overly excited at the age of five or six by snowstorms. I saw my...
By Steve Tracton | August 28, 2008; 01:15 PM ET | Comments (6)
Gustav Grows Again; Hello Hanna
Satellite image of tropical storms Gustav (left) and Hanna (right). Courtesy NOAA After taking a serious beating over mountainous Haiti, Gustav has recovered remarkably over the deep, warm waters of the northwest Caribbean. In 12 hours, it has strengthened from...
By Jason Samenow | August 28, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (14)
Gustav: Katrina Reincarnated?
One model projection on August 31, 2008 for Gustav (left, courtesy Penn State). A satellite image of Hurricane Katrina on August 28, 2005 (right, courtesy NASA). For the record, it is much too early to speculate about where Tropical Storm...
By Jason Samenow | August 27, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (33)
Gustav Could Become a Giant
Gustav officially became a hurricane early this morning, and its eye made landfall on the southwest peninsula of Haiti shortly after 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., Gustav was a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph. Hype...
By Jason Samenow | August 26, 2008; 02:00 PM ET | Comments (116)
75 Years Since Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane
Rainfall amounts from the 1933 Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane. Courtesy NOAA/Paul Kocin. [Today] marks the 75th anniversary of the Chesapeake and Potomac Hurricane, one of the Mid-Atlantic region's most destructive natural disasters. It struck the North Carolina Outer Banks, coming ashore...
By Jason Samenow | August 23, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (3)
Fay Just Won't Go Away
Radar-estimated precipitation from late Sunday night through Thursday morning puts rain totals as high as 15 inches (pink) along the east-central Florida coast. Courtesy National Weather Service. Which is worse? A low-grade hurricane that leaves as fast it comes? Or...
By Dan Stillman | August 21, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (24)
In Focus: Fay's Foggy Future
Radar: Latest southeast radar loop from the National Weather Service showing Tropical Storm Fay. Click on image to expand. Refresh page to update. As Tropical Storm Fay batters south Florida today, it has already created a legacy as a...
By Jason Samenow | August 19, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (13)
Fay Could Become Formidable
Storm may strike Florida Monday night and Tuesday Remember way back to Tuesday morning when I mentioned the possibility of tropical disturbance developing and affecting Florida or the Southeast next week? Well, said disturbance became Tropical Storm Fay yesterday evening...
By Jason Samenow | August 16, 2008; 04:00 PM ET | Comments (8)
Tropical Trouble Brewing???
The prognosticators at NOAA and Colorado State University raised projections for tropical storm activity last week, and right on cue, two new disturbances (1 and 2, shown below) may spin into storms in the tropical Atlantic. Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook...
By Jason Samenow | August 12, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (3)
Confidence Increases for Active Hurricane Season
The Atlantic Ocean is now quiet after five early-season tropical storms, two of which (Bertha and Dolly) reached hurricane strength. It was the third most active July since 1886 for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic, and that combined with favorable...
By Dan Stillman | August 8, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (3)
Update: Edouard Makes Lone Star Landfall
Radar: Latest radar loop of Tropical Storm Edouard. Courtesy National Weather Service. Click on image to expand. Refresh page to update. Tropical Storm Edouard slammed on shore along the north Texas coast (in McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge) around 7...
By Jason Samenow | August 5, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Will Houston Have a Problem or Answered Prayer?
Clouds: Latest infrared satellite loop of Edouard, courtesy Unisys. Click here to expand. Refresh page to update. Yesterday evening, Tropical Storm Edouard formed in the soupy waters of the Gulf Mexico. It's now headed for the Lone Star state...
By Jason Samenow | August 4, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (0)
Recap: Goodbye Dolly
*Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 8 p.m. for entire metro area. For local weather, see our full forecast and stay tuned for further updates if/as storms develop this afternoon.* By Charlie Wilson, Guest Contributor Image courtesy of the National...
By Jason Samenow | July 27, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
When Hurricanes Go Extratropical
In a recent post, I recounted the unusual redevelopment of the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin over Oklahoma in August 2007, a few days after it had made landfall along the Texas coast. This inland "ghost" of Erin did not...
By Steve Tracton | July 25, 2008; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (4)
Dolly Deals a Downpour
Watch the ferocity of the wind and the rain as Hurricane Dolly strikes South Padre Island, Texas, yesterday in this amateur video (posted to YouTube)....
By Jason Samenow | July 24, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (4)
Dolly Makes Landfall in Texas; Winds Near 95 MPH
*Damage reports include uprooted trees, a toppled roof and downed power lines* Radar: Latest radar loop of Hurricane Dolly. Courtesy National Weather Service. Click on image to expand. Refresh page to update. Hurricane Dolly has made landfall along the southern...
By Capital Weather Gang | July 23, 2008; 03:00 PM ET | Comments (9)
The Tropics are Hot
By Charlie Wilson, Guest Contributor The tropical Atlantic has heated up with two named storms and one that has the potential for development over the next several days. Projected track of Tropical Storm Cristobal. Click to enlarge. Courtesy National Hurricane...
By Capital Weather Gang | July 21, 2008; 06:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Bertha Back to Hurricane; 1,500 Rescues in O.C.
At 17 days and counting, Bertha is the longest-lived July named storm on record for the Atlantic Ocean (storms are named once they reach tropical storm status). Bertha attained tropical storm status (maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph)...
By Dan Stillman | July 19, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
It's a Thingamabobbercane
Radar image of the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin over Oklahoma on Aug. 19. 2007. Courtesy NOAA. In August 2007, Tropical Storm Erin gradually dissipated after making landfall in Texas. But a confluence of environmental factors, including abundant low-level moisture...
By Steve Tracton | July 17, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (9)
Bertha's Been Here Before
Twelve years ago to the date, hurricane forecasters were tracking another Bertha, which formed roughly 1,000 miles west of this year's version. But Bertha '96, rather than hooking out to sea like Bertha '08, held a westerly course striking North...
By Jason Samenow | July 9, 2008; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (9)
Big Bertha: A Bad Omen?
Satellite image of Hurricane Bertha at sunrise and sunset yesterday. Bertha intensified from a category 1 storm (maximum winds of 75 mph) to category 3 storm (maximum winds of 115 mph) in 12 hours. Imagery courtesy NASA. After explosive development...
By Capital Weather Gang | July 8, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Bertha Beefing Up
5:00 p.m. update: Bertha is officially a major, category three hurricane. 3:00 p.m. update: The latest satellite imagery suggests Bertha has rapidly intensified today and is likely at least at category two intensity. Note the well-defined eye and symmetrical appearance....
By Capital Weather Gang | July 7, 2008; 03:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Dynamic Duo: Tropical Storms Arthur & Alma
Next up... Bertha All's quiet in the tropics after the season's first named storms, Tropical Storm Arthur in the Atlantic and Tropical Storm Alma in the Pacific, joined forces to produce unprecedented rainfall and disastrous floods in Belize at the...
By Steve Tracton | June 13, 2008; 01:45 PM ET | Comments (4)
Remembering Agnes
By Charlie Wilson, Guest Writer Satellite image of Agnes hitting the Florida panhandle in 1972. Courtesy NOAA. So far, June has offered more than its share of extreme weather - mainly in the form of heat and severe thunderstorms. But...
By Capital Weather Gang | June 11, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
It's Hurricane Season
Severe thunderstorms had been capturing our attention and now it's the heat. Lost in all of this is the fact hurricane season is now one week old. Seasonal forecasters at Colorado State, NOAA, and AccuWeather are all predicting average to...
By Jason Samenow | June 7, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Gas Pains: A Perfect Storm?
Think gas prices are too high already? Friday morning CNBC reported on the likely impact of even the threat of a hurricane strike on energy prices (additional report, including a tour of Shell's real-time operations center here). After two seasons...
By Steve Scolnik | June 3, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (1)
Inside the Burma Cyclone
Satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Nargis prior to landfall in Myanmar (Burma). Courtesy NOAA As the number of dead and missing continue mounting in Burma, it's natural to wonder what kind of storm inflicted this horrible toll. The answer is...
By Jason Samenow | May 7, 2008; 09:24 AM ET | Comments (0)
Hurricane Conference Dispatch, Day 2
Day two of the Bahamas Weather Conference at the Lucaya Westin Resort on Grand Bahamas Island just wrapped up, and it was every bit as informative as day one. Just as Jason recapped the presentations and themes from Day One,...
By Jamie Jones | April 12, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (7)
Hurricane Conference Dispatch, First Session
With an infinity pool in the foreground and the Atlantic in the background, meteorologists participate in on-camera interviews on Grand Bahama Island. By Capital Weather Gang's Jason Samenow. Here on Grand Bahama Island, the site of the 12th annual Bahamas...
By Jason Samenow | April 11, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (3)
Busy 'Cane Season Forecast for Atlantic
Capital Weather Gang: Live From the Bahamas Colorado State University hurricane experts William Gray and Phil Klotzbach opened the 2008 Bahamas Weather Conference this morning by issuing their prediction for the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. They expect an above-average season,...
By Capital Weather Gang | April 9, 2008; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
Crashing 'Canes and New Chief
The Discovery Channel program "Smash Lab" will air a new episode all about hurricanes. The Smash Lab teams test whether a special type of carbon fiber used to reinforce tunnels can also be used to hurricane-proof homes. The episode will...
By Jason Samenow | January 26, 2008; 04:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
NOAA's NWS Near Naming New NHC Noggin?
The Orlando Sentinel reported today: "National Weather Service veteran Bill Read likely to be next hurricane chief." This promises to be the final chapter in one of the more unusual bureaucratic dramas in recent history. If named as the permanent...
By Steve Scolnik | January 24, 2008; 07:35 PM ET | Comments (4)
