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August 2006 Archives


Ernesto near shore at Cape Fear, NC 10pm

9:41 PM Thu, Aug 31, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo


Landfall is very soon near Cape Fear, NC with winds of 70mph. Flooding rains will be a problem over the next 2 days as Ernesto weakens and continues inland.

...



Labor Day Hurricane of 1935

2:02 PM Thu, Aug 31, 2006 |
Laura Buchtel

Many don't remember, but one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the United States occured on Labor Day of 1935. The storm hit the Florida Keys on September 2, 1935.

The storm had sustained winds of 185 mph, and has the third lowest pressure on record for the Atlantic Basin (Wilma-882mb, Gilbert-888mb, Labor Day FL Keys-892mb)

Over 400 people were killed from the storm, and nearly every structure near the town of Islamorada was ...



Ernesto a Tropical Storm Again

10:44 AM Thu, Aug 31, 2006 |
Laura Buchtel

Ernesto has gained a little strength out over the warm Atlantic waters today. He is expected to make landfall as a strong tropical storm, but some gusts could be near hurricane strength, so a hurricane watch has been posted for portions of North and South Carolina. No significant change in intensity is expected.

10 AM Coordinates:
31.3N, 79.6W
105 Miles SSE of Charleston, SC
Moving NNE at 17 mph
Max sustained wi...



This Weekend

6:48 AM Thu, Aug 31, 2006 |

A nice weather pattern is setting up for the Labor Day Holiday with lots of sunshine, lower humidity, and dry through much of the weekend.

Highs will be seasonable, in the upper 80's to around 90, with lows in the mid 60's north of the lake to the lower 70's south.

...



Labor Day Weekend

7:54 AM Wed, Aug 30, 2006 |

I think were all going to enjoy this weekend, one of the best that we've had in a long time. It will remind us that fall is just around the corner.

This morning, storms developed earlier, putting down some very heavy rain west of the metro area. Still looking at some showers and storms mainly this morning, then a cold front will move through later today.

Temperatures today in the lower 90's, followed by upper 80's to aroun...



10pm Ernesto Tuesday Aug 29

10:09 PM Tue, Aug 29, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

Ernesto hasn't gained strength as it approaches South Florida. The center of Ernesto is located about 15 miles S/SW of Key Largo or 65 miles S/SW of Miami with winds of 45 mph. Ernesto will continue northward through south-central Florida with rain and the possibility of tornadoes.

...



4pm Ernesto for Tuesday Aug 29, 2006

4:12 PM Tue, Aug 29, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo


Tropical Storm Ernesto has not gained any more strength yet. There is a small window for some strengthening before landfall in Florida is made. Ernesto is about 105 miles south of Miami moving NW at 13 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 45 mph.

A front is moving towards SE Louisiana today and through on Wednesday. A 30-40% chance for thunderstorms will continue this evening through the first part of Wednesday then drier air ...



Ernesto

10:48 AM Tue, Aug 29, 2006 |

Tropical Storm Ernesto remains a weak storm, but is trying to intensify south of the Florida. Outer rainbands are beginning to effect south Florida.

The overall track has not changed much in the last 36hours, with a general movement to the N/NW, impacting south Florida later today, then crossing Florida and moving up the eastcoast.

Winds are at 45mph, moving NW at 13mph, remaining a tropical storm through landfall in about 12-...



August 28, 2005

10:35 PM Mon, Aug 28, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

Many decisions were made a year ago based on what we saw in the Gulf of Mexico. Evacuations of families were made on that Sunday because here is what we were seeing off our coast.

4am: Category 4 winds of 145 mph, 275 miles S/SE of mouth of the River
7am: Category 5 winds of 160 mph, 250 miles S/SE of mouth of the River
10am: Category 5 winds of 175 mph, 225 miles S/SE of mouth of the River
1pm: Category 5 winds ...



10pm Monday Night Ernesto

10:02 PM Mon, Aug 28, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo


Ernesto still a tropical storm over eastern Cuba. Winds are 40 mph, but is expected to strengthen some as it moves back over open waters towards south Florida. Movement is W/NW at 12 mph, but is expected to turn towards the NW. SE Louisiana will see no affects of Ernesto. We are expecting to dry out after Tuesday. A front will be moving into the area Tuesday bringing scattered showers or thunderstorms.

...



4pm Monday Ernesto

4:15 PM Mon, Aug 28, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

At 4pm, Tropical Storm Ernesto is located just inland over eastern Cuba with 40 mph sustained winds. Hurricane Watches and Tropical Storm Warnings are up for the eastern coast of Florida and Keys. Ernesto is no threat to SE Louisiana.

SE Louisiana will see scattered thunderstorms on Tuesday with the approach of a front. Drier air will filter in Wednesday through the end of the week as Ernesto travels up the East Coast.

...



1pm Coordinates on T.S. Ernesto

1:23 PM Mon, Aug 28, 2006 |
Laura Buchtel

The center (or what remains of the center) of Ernesto is over Cuba, in an area that is very mountainous and not very friendly to tropical cyclones. The storm has weakened down to 40 mph, making it a weak tropical storm. It could even weaken back into a depression before making it back over open water.

Here are the 1pm coordinates:

20.7N, 76.1W
Moving NW at 10 mph
Max sustained winds 40 mph

A new track will ...



Update on Ernesto

10:09 AM Mon, Aug 28, 2006 |

Tropical Storm Ernesto has weakened while crossing Cuba this morning. Winds are now 40mph moving NW near 10mph.

A Hurricane watch remains in effect for south Florida, and now has been extended to eastern areas of Florida. This storm is likely to become a hurricane before impacting Florida, Tuesday and Wednesday.

...



Tropical Storm Ernesto

6:18 AM Mon, Aug 28, 2006 |

Ernesto remains a tropical storm this morning, with winds near 50mph, moving NW at around 16mph. This storm will cross Cuba, possibly further weakening it depending on how long it remains over land, then emerge in the Florida Straits where water temperatures are in the mid to upper 80's.

Ernesto will then continue his northerly track into south Florida, either the Gulf coast or Atlantic side by Wednesday.

...



More on Ernesto

8:51 PM Sun, Aug 27, 2006 |
Dawn Brown

Ernesto weakens more this evening, hurricane hunter aircraft shows a maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour as of 7pm our time. However, warm water between Haiti and Cuba could allow the storm to intensify overnight and into tomorrow morning. Latest satellite images show signs of improvement in the storms organization. However, this could be short lived as Ernesto then interacts with terrain over Cuba. Intensity forecasts may vary over t...



T.S. Ernesto

3:56 PM Sun, Aug 27, 2006 |
Dawn Brown

Watching satellite imagery this afternoon, and receiving latest update from National Hurricane Center, Ernesto has been downgraded to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour. Ernesto had trouble maintaining itself over the mountainous terrain of Haiti. Three day track forecasts continue to take Ernesto over the southern Florida Peninsula. The intensity will vary as the storm is expected to move over open water and th...



Hurricane Ernesto/Sunday Forecast

9:26 AM Sun, Aug 27, 2006 |
Dawn Brown

Upper level shear to the west of Ernesto eroded as the models predicted, and the storm has now intensified into a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center has Ernesto becoming a major hurricane as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico and then makes landfall north of Tampa Florida. Computer models were in better agreement this morning as far as an upper level low over the United States guiding the storm on a more easterly track next week. All resid...



Ernesto 10pm

11:10 PM Sat, Aug 26, 2006 |
Dawn Brown

Latest models continue to push Ernesto toward the Florida Panhandle. Upper level shear provided by upper low in central Caribbean Sea has moved to the west, allowing the storm to continue on west northwesterly path toward Haiti, Jamaica and the south-central portion of Cuba. All interests along the Gulf Coast should continue to monitor this storm.

...



Latest Ernesto

5:45 PM Sat, Aug 26, 2006 |
Dawn Brown

As of 4 o'clock Saturday, the National Hurricane Center has moved the center of Tropical Storm Ernesto to the east. Ernesto strengthened slightly despite battling shear to its west. The storm is still expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico late Monday or Tuesday as a hurricane. The current NHC track has the storm making landfall near the Florida Panhandle. Several factors will come into play as the storm moves closer to the gulf. Residents in SE...



Saturday Rainfall/T.S. Ernesto

1:47 PM Sat, Aug 26, 2006 |
Dawn Brown

Heavy thunderstorms are causing urban street flooding in the New Orleans metro area. Expect these to continue to move into New Orleans East and over the twin spans through 4pm.

Tropical Storm Ernesto continues to move toward the WNW at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour. Rapid intensification of the system is not expected this weekend as upper level winds are not favorable for development in the next 24 hours. How...



Tropical Storm Ernesto 10pm Friday

10:26 PM Fri, Aug 25, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

Ernesto's winds have increased alittle to 45 mph, but the center of circulation is exposed from the thunderstorms. Shearing is still affecting Ernesto. Another Hurricane Hunter will be in Ernesto overnight tonight. Ernesto will encounter upper level winds that are hostile for the next 2 days. If Ernesto survives that, then strengthening is expected. All interests in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico needs to watch the progress of Ern...



Tropical Storm Ernesto

3:36 PM Fri, Aug 25, 2006 |
Laura Buchtel

As of 4pm central, a hurricane hunter has found tropical storm force winds, and has upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Coordinates:
14.3N, 67.6W
Moving WNW at 16 mph
Max sustained winds are near 40 mph
Minimum pressure 1004mb

The current track puts Ernesto in the gulf of Mexico early next week as a minimal hurricane.

...



Still a Tropical Depression

10:12 AM Fri, Aug 25, 2006 |

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center keeps this system as a depression. It still remains disorganized to prevent it from becoming a tropical storm this morning.

There still remains the potential for strengthening into a tropical storm this afternoon.
Its movement is to the west at 15mph, with winds at 35mph.

The forecast over the next five days has it staying a west northwest course with strengthening...



10pm Thursday TD #5

10:37 PM Thu, Aug 24, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

TD #5 has sustained winds of 35 mph and is expected to gain strength to become Ernesto. The intensity forecast is uncertain due to a complicated upper air pattern with dry air and wind shear. The track forecast is alittle more certain. This will have to be watched because on Tuesday we may see this system in the southern or eastern Gulf of Mexico. On WWLTV.COM go to the Hurricane Section and click Tropical Storm Advisories and you can find...



T.D. #5

4:06 PM Thu, Aug 24, 2006 |
Laura Buchtel

New tropical depression has formed just east of the Windward Islands...moving to the west. The NHC forecast track has it progressing into the Northwest Caribbean and then possibly into the gulf next week. The forecast intensity puts it at a strong tropical storm/minimal hurricane by next Tuesday. Remember a lot can change with these forecasts, especially the intensity forecast.

Official statement from the NHC at 4pm:

...



Special Tropical Disturbance Update

2:30 PM Thu, Aug 24, 2006 |
Laura Buchtel

This was just issued from the NHC about the area of disturbed weather just east of the windward islands. It looks like the hurricane hunters have found a closed surface low, and will upgrade the system to either a Tropical Depression or a Tropical Storm at 4pm this afternoon. If it is a TD, it would be TD #5, and if it is a TS, it would be named Ernesto.
Here is the actual report:

REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE PLANE IN...



Question about Gulf Upper Low

12:03 PM Thu, Aug 24, 2006 |
Laura Buchtel

Question posted on the blog:
"Does the swirl in the central Gulf have the makings of a storm?"

Well, the upper level low tracking across the gulf will bring showers and storms to SELA today and tomorrow, but it is unlikely that it would develop into something tropical. An upper level low pressure system has a "cold core" (center), that extends high into the upper atmosphere. A tropical low is formed differently, with a closed "wa...



Wet Weather Continues......

8:48 AM Thu, Aug 24, 2006 |

Our wet pattern will continue today and through the next few days, with lots of moisture combined with a frontal boundary to our north, and an upper-level low pressure system in the Gulf.

Most of the rain will be developing during the afternoon with the greatest instability occuring with the heating of the day. Heavy rain and gusty winds can be expected with some of the storms.

...



Remembering Katrina 8/23/06

6:14 PM Wed, Aug 23, 2006 |
Laura Buchtel

As we near the one year anniversary of Katrina, we thought we would share some memorable information or events that led up to the landfall of Katrina. I found this Urgent Message sent by our local National Weather Service on Sunday, August 28th at 4:30 pm. It is particularly ominous to read what they were predicting would happen to the Greater New Orleans area. As we know, they were far too accurate with this forecast.

URGENT -...



Wednesday's Weather/Tropics

3:38 PM Wed, Aug 23, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

Still a 50% chance for scattered showers or thunderstorms the remainder of this afternoon. This will be the pattern for the next few days. Rain chances slightly higher for Thursday at 60% then 50% through the weekend. So anyway you look at it, daily thunderstorms will continue. any one of them could be heavy. Highs will be closer to normal upper 80's to lower 90's.

Debby has weakened alittle as of the 4pm advisory, but still cou...



Tropical Storm Debby

9:44 PM Tue, Aug 22, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

Our 4th named stormed is now Debby. Debby is 300 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands off Africa. Slow strengthening is expected and Debby is expected to remain over the Atlantic ocean during the next 5 days.

...



Pinpoint Doppler vs MyRadar

1:53 PM Tue, Aug 22, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

OK, what is the difference? Pinpoint Doppler on wwltv.com is Channel 4's own radar. That is what you see live on Channel 4. The radar is owned by us and the tower is located in Gretna. When you see Pinpoint Doppler on Channel 4, that is where the rain is happening right then. Pinpoint Doppler on wwltv.com is not live, but updates probably more frequently than any other radar on the web. Since the tower is located in Gretna, you will see ...



Wet Pattern.....

8:27 AM Tue, Aug 22, 2006 |

A fairly wet pattern is setting up for the remainder of the work-week, with widespread showers and storms expected to pop-up during the day. Heavy rain, gusty winds, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightnening will be possible with the stronger storms.

...



Mars Hoax

4:16 PM Mon, Aug 21, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

There is a hoax going around through emails and the internet about Mars being as large as a full moon. Mike Sandras of the Pontchartrain Astromomy society says to see Mars Hoax for more info.

...



Tropical Depression #4

4:02 PM Mon, Aug 21, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

The strong system off the coast has become Tropical Depression #4. It is about 250 miles from the Cape Verde Islands or 4523 miles from New Orleans. This system may become Tropical Storm Debby overnight tonight or Tuesday morning. At this time, TD #4 is expected to remain out in the Atlantic ocean over the next 5 days.

...



Monday August 21 Weather/Tropics

2:37 PM Mon, Aug 21, 2006 |
Carl Arredondo

Thunderstorms will be scattered about the rest of this afternoon. some could be the usual heavy summer thunderstorm. Rain chances will be around 50% for the next 3 days and that will help a bit with high temperatures..so not as hot with highs in the upper 80's to lower 90's.

A disturbance in the Caribbean will have to be watched for some development, but again the upper conditions in the gulf may keep this system away for louisiana a...



Disturbance in the Caribbean?

4:03 PM Sun, Aug 20, 2006 |
Laura Buchtel

Showers and t'storms have blown up today in the SW Caribbean Sea, prompting a closer look at the area. Upper level winds are not as conducive for development, so any development would be slow to occur. Water temps are certainly warm enough for something tropical to generate, but it is not anticipated in the next 2-3 days at least.

Some models have hinted at something in the gulf next week, but you have to remember that these models ca...



Sunday Weather

10:10 AM Sun, Aug 20, 2006 |
Laura Buchtel

It looks like we'll have another scorching hot day with little rain. High pressure is keeping things hot and relatively dry. As of this morning, a few showers were on Pinpoint radar just off the coast of Terrebonne parish, but that was it. As the day wears on, and temperatures rise, we'll see a few more storms around, about the same as yesterday.

Biggest concern will be the heat index...we'll be in the Danger category today (Heat index...