WxWatcher007

Things have picked up quickly

Things are about to pick up.

Down to 990mb

Down to 990.2mb

Yeah, not much happening here right now.

Whatever Lake Charles got, we got lol. I ended up in the NE eyewall for hours. It was unreal.

All but certain to stay here. In a strong building and so far the heading looks solid. Even if the eye is a touch west, we’ll likely be in the RFQ. Fully expecting a Laura like event now, which is saying a lot.

As is usually the case, I have support from folks that can let y’all know I’m ok in the likely event I lose signal. For this trip I’ve been conferring with @MillvilleWx & @ORH_wxman. Will update as I can of course. Pressure down to 994.6mb here.

Sky is the limit

With things starting to pick up here, I will no longer be updating wind and pressure in the title of the thread. As is usually the case, I have support from folks that can let y’all know I’m ok in the likely event I lose signal. For this trip I’ve been conferring with @MillvilleWx & @ORH_wxman. Will update as I can of course. Pressure down to 994.6mb here.

Center sonde of 948mb with 8kt wind.

130-136kt FL winds on the east side. My goodness.

Just to level set, the 2am advisory had Helene at 85mph and 971mb. Now, Helene is at 125mph and 951mb, with the deepening rate increasing. Despite all the conversation today, we have objectively met the definition of rapid intensification and done so in 14 hours. How far it goes, who knows, but Helene will be added to our list of rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones on final approach.

I’m thinking the same—somewhere in the western part of the county. Of course that puts much of the county right in the RFQ, which could be high end if intensification continues through landfall ~6 hours from now.

Nice. I love their work. Hopefully they don’t have to go far lol.

Wow. That’s a 7mb drop between dropsondes.

CAG signal continues into early October. Expect another Gulf system…

Fuller update

It has been quiet all day here in Perry. There has been plenty of heat and humidity but virtually no rain as everything has set up west of here. I drove around a bit earlier and the roads have cleared out substantially as stores close and board up. I’m actually surprised that a lot of places haven’t boarded up. If the heading holds, we’re likely to get a big hit. Some of the damage from prior storms still remains. I’m cautiously optimistic about my spot. I’m in a good building with a number of reporters, chasers, and national guard. Of course a lot of locals are here too. This is by far the hardest part of a chase: the anxiety of watching every frame of the radar to make sure you’re in the right location. Will probably start my pressure trace in an hour or two if the storm heading holds.

Good luck up there. Stay safe.

Cautiously optimistic Perry is the right spot. The roads have emptied for the most part and stores are closed. Final hours before impact. Hot and dry here as the worst of the rain has set up west of Tallahassee.

Venice gusting to 55mph. Tampa just short of TS force gusts.