Massive duststorm chokes eastern Australia; Atlanta floods ease
A massive dust storm swept through eastern Australia today, turning the skies in Sydney a eerie shade of red-orange. The dust storm was reportedly the worst since the 1940s, and Sydney recorded its highest levels of particulate air pollution ever. The dust storm resulted from strong winds associated with a powerful low pressure system that swept through eastern Australia this morning. Winds today at the Sydney airport were sustained at 36 mph, gusting to 51 mph. Wind gusts as high as 64 mph were recorded in the Sydney area as the storm's strong cold front passed through. Particulate pollution levels are still in the hazardous range this evening in Sydney, but are expected to improve to the "good" range on Thursday as the winds die down and the dust storm dissipates.
Figure 1.. Strong northwesterly winds carry dust over Sydney, Australia, at 00 UTC 9/23/2009. Image credit: NASA.
Figure 2.. A strong cold front passing through eastern Australia this morning generated a sustained winds in excess of 20 mph over a large portion of the region.
Severe drought has affected large regions of Southeast Australia over the past three years (Figure 3). In isolated areas near Melbourne, the drought is the worst on record. The resulting loss of vegetation has created large regions of loose dust, which the strong winds from this week's storm was able to loft in the air and transport long distances.
Figure 3.. Rainfall deficiencies for Australia for the past three years. Image credit: Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
Atlanta floods ease
Very heavy rains exceeding fifteen inches soaked the Atlanta, Georgia region early this week, triggering widespread major flooding that continues today. Rainfall eased yesterday, and all of the rivers in the Atlanta area have crested and are now falling. Record flood levels were observed on at least seven rivers and creeks in the Atlanta area yesterday, breaking records that had been set as long ago as 1919. Utoy Creek near Atlanta broke its previous flood record by nearly 11 feet on Tuesday. The floods have killed at least nine people and did $250 million in damage. Portlight.org is experimenting with a new disaster relief strategy for this flood--they have decided to adopt a single family to help, the Baxter family of Lithia Springs, Georgia. The Baxters lost their home, car, furniture, clothes, and everything else in their house, and need assistance to defray the short-term expenses of lodging, food, and clothing, so help out if you can.
Figure 4. Radar estimated rainfall for the Atlanta, Georgia region ending on September 22. More than 15 inches (white colors) had fallen in and around Atlanta.
There are no threat areas in the Atlantic to discuss today, and none of our reliable computer models are forecasting tropical storm development over the next seven days.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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The links you have posted, I am not able to view for some reason. If these are the models you are referring to.
AOI
AOI
AOI
AOI
Your cmc link..I think there was another one to. maybe not...sorry.
Cool Pacific Temp. [animation] Tampa. It could be seasonal, but I've been noticing the change myself casually, over off the Galapagos Isles, on the [NOAA SST page.] In the past when you start to see that green develop around the Galapagos Islands, especially before winter sets in, it means a La Nina is coming.
The timing couldn't be more perfect, either, because this is the beginning of the second wave in the hurricane season.
And what have we here off Central A., but pure drama in the making?
Thanks. I see they have it going towards LA, whatever it may be...
My love will come in autumn-time
When leaves go spinning to the ground
And wistful stars in heaven chime
With the leaves’ sound
Then, we shall walk through dusty lanes
And pause beneath low-hanging boughs,
And there, while soft-hued beauty reigns
We’ll make our vows
Let others seek in spring for sighs
When love flames forth from every seed;
But love that blooms when nature dies
Is love indeed
Love Autumnal, Oliver Jenkins
LOL...there haven't been 4 seasons here in Nebraska since I can remember. It is either hot or cold with a rare day of what would be considered inbetween.
As far as snow goes, you can have all you want of ours. I dream of the day when the only time I see snow is in a picture or on a vacation when I can leave after I get tired of it.
Thanks for posting.
I've already gotten caught in that, actually. I went to Gonzales for a bit, and there was blinding rain.
Tropical Disturbance Summary (1200z 23SEPT)
==========================================
Weakened back down to a low pressure area
Philippines Atmospherical Geophysical Astronomical Services and Administration
Tropical Cyclone Outlook
=======================
At 2:00 p.m PhST, An Active Low Pressure Area was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 700 kms East of Central Luzon (15.3°N 131.4°E)
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Tropical Disturbance Summary (1400z 23SEPT)
=========================================
An area of convection (96W) located at 15.1N 132.1E or 645 NM east of Manila, Philippines. Recent animated infrared imagery shows deep convection starting to consolidate about a developing low level circulation center evident in the 0902z QUIKSCAT Pass. A 0837z SSMIS Microwave image reveals curved inflow into the low level circulation center. Additionally, animated water vapor imagery depicts increased poleward outflow into a tropical upper tropospheric trough cell to the northeast.
Maximum sustained winds near the center is 12-17 knots with a minimum sea level pressure of 1004 MB. Due to te increased convective consolidation, the potential for this disturbance to form into a significant tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours is FAIR.
"An obvious peak of significant tornadoes occurred in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Although additional data was ingested from SPC starting around 1950, and the local population density was rapidly increasing in the 1950s through 1970s, this doesn't account for the return to pre-1950 trends starting again in the 1980s. Therefore, there is a good deal of certainty that most of the influence on this data is meteorological, a significant finding."
"The only F5 tornado to ever strike the Chicago area was on August 28 1990."
Tropical Cyclone Warning #4
TROPICAL CYCLONE NORA (EP172009)
21:00 PM UTC September 23 2009
=================================
At 18:00 PM UTC, Tropical Storm Nora (1000 hPa) located at 16.8N 118.6W or 615 NM southwest of the southern tip of Baja California Peninsula has sustained winds of 45 knots with gusts of 55 knots. The cyclone is reported as moving west-northwest at 6 knots.
Gale-Force Winds
================
40 NM from the center
Forecast and Intensity
====================
12 HRS: 17.2N 119.6W - 55 knots (Tropical Storm)
24 HRS: 17.3N 120.5W - 55 knots (Tropical Storm)
48 HRS: 17.3N 122.5W - 45 knots (Tropical Storm)
72 HRS: 17.5N 125.5W - 30 knots (Tropical Depression)
well if there is, it is not lookin like much.
Above link to the Mar 28, 2000 Tornado in Downtown Ft Worth, TX!!
However, I updated by blog
Met Office GloSea Model Performance for 2009
I also will be updating my blog during the off-season so you can always pass by once in a while (I should be saying this 30 November, lol)
(4:50 pm EDT)
2050 GMT on 09/23/2009: Unit of Measure: English Metric Time Zone: Station Local Time Greenwich Mean Time [GMT] British Summer Time [GMT+1] Eastern Greenland [GMT-1] Azores [GMT-2] Western Greenland [GMT-3] Atlantic Standard [GMT-4] US/Eastern Standard US/Central Standard US/Mountain Standard US/Pacific Standard Alaska Standard [GMT-9] Hawaii-Aleutian Standard [GMT-10] Samoa Standard [GMT-11] International Date Line West [GMT-12] Western European [GMT+0] Central European [GMT+1] Eastern European [GMT+2] Moscow [GMT+3] USSR Zone 3 [GMT+4] USSR Zone 4 [GMT+5] USSR Zone 5 [GMT+6] USSR Zone 6 [GMT+7] China Coast [GMT+8] Japan Standard [GMT+9] Guam Standard [GMT+10] GMT+11 International Date Line East [GMT+12]
Click on the graph icon in the table below to see a time series plot of the last five days of that observation.
Wind Direction (WDIR): E ( 90 deg true )
Wind Speed (WSPD): 19.4 kts
Wind Gust (GST): 21.4 kts
Wave Height (WVHT): 5.9 ft
Dominant Wave Period (DPD): 8 sec
Average Period (APD): 5.0 sec
Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): 29.76 in
Pressure Tendency (PTDY): -0.05 in ( Falling )
Air Temperature (ATMP): 84.6 °F
Water Temperature (WTMP): 84.9 °F
Combined plot of Wind Speed, Gust, and Air Pressure
okay but as I said it does not look like much is over CI, is it raining?
There is not a lot of wild speculation, just a good solid take on what a cat 4 hitting NYC could/would do. Available at Amazon, including Kindle edition.
Was raining all night last night & this morning, also quite squally, but this afternoon the skies are much clearer, I'm starting to get suspicious of the flare up off Nigaragua though.
HPC 7 day forecast has the cold front all the way down to the Florida Keys....
Doppler Radar..
Forecast for the Rest of the Afternoon...
The Extended Outlook for Thursday Thru Tuesday...
Presently in Bay Saint Louis, MS.
Data as of: 4:23 PM CDT
Sky: Cloudy
Heat Index: 92°F
Humidity: 82%
Dew Point: 77°F
Wind: East 5 MPH
Pressure: 30.00"
Tendency: Falling Slowly
Rain: 0.00" - Month: 1.46"
That's no way to talk about ws... He can't change genetics...
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