Atlantic Tropical Weather Update 9/29/08

Hurricane Kyle made landfall yesterday on Nova Scotia’s southwestern coast before crossing the bay between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, making a second landfall near Saint John as a Tropical Storm.  A large storm surge, 4-6″ of rain and strong winds were felt across southeastern Canada and Maine.  Kyle has quickly fizzled out and will be caught up in a westerly moving trough in the next day or so.

Incredibly, another storm formed overnight in the northern Atlantic.  Meet Subtropical Storm Laura:

Center located at 37.4N, 47.8W; maximum sustained winds of 60mph; moving WNW @ 8mph.

Laura should remain well out to sea – she isn’t forecasted to impact any landmass until being absorbed by the same trough that is set to pick up Kyle’s remnants.  Laura is the 12th named storm of the season and we have about one more month left in the official 2008 Atlantic season.

Atlantic Tropical Weather Update 9/27/08

The Atlantic has now generated six hurricanes this year, with Hurricane Kyle joining Bertha, Dolly, Gustav, Hanna and Ike on this year’s list.  An Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter examined Kyle earlier this afternoon and found hurricane force winds extending far enough from the center to justify the upgrade.  Here are Kyle’s most recent vitals:

Center located at 34.3N, 69.7W; maximum sustained winds of 75mph, moving N @ 23mph; minimum pressure of 995mb.

Kyle continues to race northward between the ridge to his east and the deep-layer trough to his west.  His anticipated path hasn’t changed much since yesterday, with a likely landfall in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia very early Monday morning.  He could still be a hurricane at that point, or could weaken slightly back to Tropical Storm strength.  At that point, his arbitrary classification won’t mean much.  He will be a tropical system making landfall over eastern Canada.  The center could still come ashore close to the border of Maine, so they’ll experience strong winds and a storm surge as well.

[Update 11:00P MDT]: The latest intensity and track forecast from the NHC indicates that Kyle should weaken back to Tropical Storm strength tomorrow night, well in advance of making landfall.  A Tropical Storm and Hurricane Watch have been issued for Maine.

Atlantic Tropical Weather Update 9/26/08

[Update 11:00P MDT]:

Tropical Storm Kyle is approaching hurricane strength.  His vitals as of this evening:

Center located at 29.4N, 68.8W; maximum sustained winds of 70mph; moving N @ 15mph; minimum pressure of 994mb.  Convection is located closer to the center of circulation tonight.  Some further strengthening is forecasted over the next 12 hours, then Kyle’s intensity should level off thereafter.  His path should take him just east of Maine before impacting southeastern Canada late Sunday night or very early Monday morning as a Tropical Storm.

Outside of the Atlantic, a Category 5 storm is churning away in the western Pacific.  Super Typhoon Jangmi looks outstanding on satellite imagery as it approaches Taiwan from the southeast with sustained winds of 155mph and gusts up to 190mph.

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[Update 11:00A MDT]:

Tropical Storm Kyle has strengthened a little since very early this morning.  Here are his updated vitals:

Center located at 26.4N, 68.8W; maximum sustained winds of 60mph; moving NWN @ 12mph; minimum pressure of 997mb.

There is no danger of this storm hitting the U.S. in the next 3 days.  Late Sunday night into Monday morning, Kyle could impact Maine as he heads north.  There is a little more uncertainty as to his position past three days by the models.

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