FIT is now under our first big squall from Fay...and there's many more to come.
The black marks show the direction of motion of this significant rainband.
We can expect very heavy rain and possibly some 40+ MPH gusts within these squalls.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
1:36-2:06 PM-A good-lookin' storm!
I have noticed something interesting about Fay as she moves slowly across South Florida.
Satellite and radar imagery clearly continue to show a very well-organized storm, even as Fay's center of circulation has been over land for over 10 hours now. As a matter of fact, Fay has developed a clear eye feature on satellite imagery, and the radar also shows this clean, compact eye very nicely.
It is likely that the flat, wet expanses of South Florida have made conditions more conducive for Fay to retain her strength while crossing over the land. However, radar and satellite imagery do indicate some dry air wrapping into the storm's center, and this should lead to a weakening trend (stating the obvious here) until the center of circulation emerges over the Atlantic Ocean.
INDIAN RIVER AND BREVARD COUNTIES (INCLUDING MEBOURNE) ARE NOW UNDER A TORNADO WARNING. http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=FLZ047&warncounty=FLC009&firewxzone=FLZ047&local_place1=Melbourne+FL&product1=Tornado+Warning
The air pressure in my room is now at 1005.9 mb and falling rapidly. I expect the pressure to bottom out at around 995 mb sometime tonight as Fay passes us by. The winds are picking up, with frequent gusts in the 30 MPH range. I would like to take the my anemometer out for some use later this evening as the winds become sustained near TS force. Preparations are being made for that now, and my roommate, JJ, a fellow meteorology major, wants to go too. We will try to get some video of that outing, as well...while trying not to sustain water damage to both my anemometer and my camera......or ourselves :-D
Satellite and radar imagery clearly continue to show a very well-organized storm, even as Fay's center of circulation has been over land for over 10 hours now. As a matter of fact, Fay has developed a clear eye feature on satellite imagery, and the radar also shows this clean, compact eye very nicely.
It is likely that the flat, wet expanses of South Florida have made conditions more conducive for Fay to retain her strength while crossing over the land. However, radar and satellite imagery do indicate some dry air wrapping into the storm's center, and this should lead to a weakening trend (stating the obvious here) until the center of circulation emerges over the Atlantic Ocean.
INDIAN RIVER AND BREVARD COUNTIES (INCLUDING MEBOURNE) ARE NOW UNDER A TORNADO WARNING. http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=FLZ047&warncounty=FLC009&firewxzone=FLZ047&local_place1=Melbourne+FL&product1=Tornado+Warning
The air pressure in my room is now at 1005.9 mb and falling rapidly. I expect the pressure to bottom out at around 995 mb sometime tonight as Fay passes us by. The winds are picking up, with frequent gusts in the 30 MPH range. I would like to take the my anemometer out for some use later this evening as the winds become sustained near TS force. Preparations are being made for that now, and my roommate, JJ, a fellow meteorology major, wants to go too. We will try to get some video of that outing, as well...while trying not to sustain water damage to both my anemometer and my camera......or ourselves :-D
12:46 - Chagrin
Listening to the radio last night, I wondered whether classes would be canceled here at FIT today due to the high wind a driving rain. Considering the fact that 1000+ students here rely upon their feet and their bicycles to get to and from class, I assumed that our school administration would give us a break and cancel classes for the day.
As I listened to the long list of schools, school districts, and universities/colleges being read off, I was somewhat surprised when I heard the words "Florida Tech will hold classes tomorrow..."
I do not dislike my classes or my new school, but I did not look forward to riding my bike to class today.
Fortunately for me, I have only two classes scheduled for Tuesday. One of those classes is chemistry lab that was held at 8:00 this morning. The ride to and from the Olin Physical Science Buidling was breezy and slightly wet, but bearable.
However, the ride to my second class, a calculus lecture scheduled for 3:30 PM in the Crawford Building, does not look to be quite as bearable.
BREAKING NEWS: JUST AS I WAS WRITING THIS, I CHECKED MY EMAIL AND RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL ANNOUNCING THAT THE UNIVERSITY WILL BE CLOSED AT 3:00. JUST IN TIME TO NOT HAVE TO BIKE IN THE RAIN!
As I listened to the long list of schools, school districts, and universities/colleges being read off, I was somewhat surprised when I heard the words "Florida Tech will hold classes tomorrow..."
I do not dislike my classes or my new school, but I did not look forward to riding my bike to class today.
Fortunately for me, I have only two classes scheduled for Tuesday. One of those classes is chemistry lab that was held at 8:00 this morning. The ride to and from the Olin Physical Science Buidling was breezy and slightly wet, but bearable.
However, the ride to my second class, a calculus lecture scheduled for 3:30 PM in the Crawford Building, does not look to be quite as bearable.
BREAKING NEWS: JUST AS I WAS WRITING THIS, I CHECKED MY EMAIL AND RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL ANNOUNCING THAT THE UNIVERSITY WILL BE CLOSED AT 3:00. JUST IN TIME TO NOT HAVE TO BIKE IN THE RAIN!
11:44 AM - Estimated TS gusts & first thunder
This is my blog of Tropical Storm Fay as it passes through my new home of Melbourne, FL.
First, a little background information about myself:
I am a native Floridian and maintain a Florida-themed blog at http://www.minorcan.blogspot.com/.
I have experienced multiple tropical storms and hurricanes over my lifetime.
I am fascinated by the weather (especially hurricanes)
I am a freshman at the Florida Institute of Technology here in Melbourne, majoring in...this won't come as a surprise...meteorology.
I am not an expert on tropical storms, but I know more than most about their behaviors, and am a fairly experience weather observationalist.
Here is an image from the Melbourne NWS WRD-88D Doppler Weather Radar, showing Fay, her path, and my location. This should give you a good idea of the current situation.
First, a little background information about myself:
I am a native Floridian and maintain a Florida-themed blog at http://www.minorcan.blogspot.com/.
I have experienced multiple tropical storms and hurricanes over my lifetime.
I am fascinated by the weather (especially hurricanes)
I am a freshman at the Florida Institute of Technology here in Melbourne, majoring in...this won't come as a surprise...meteorology.
I am not an expert on tropical storms, but I know more than most about their behaviors, and am a fairly experience weather observationalist.
Here is an image from the Melbourne NWS WRD-88D Doppler Weather Radar, showing Fay, her path, and my location. This should give you a good idea of the current situation.
As the title of this post suggests, just 10-20 minutes ago, I observed what I believed to be tropical storm forced wind GUSTS. These gusts were associated with a small squall which has now passed, and gusts are back down into the 20-30 MPH range now. Melbourne Int'l Airport reported a gust to 39 MPH at 10:53 AM, just short of TS force, but conditions worsened shortly after that observation.
My school, the Florida Institute of Technology has a weather station located at the top of a dormitory very near where I live. Unfortunately, observations are significantly delayed. Here's the link to those observations, some of which I will be citing in blog posts.
http://my.fit.edu/wx_fit/?q=obs%2Frealtime%2Froberts&rows=24
The characteristic "whistling" and "whining" of a tropical storm/hurricane can be heard during some of the stronger wind gusts now, and more can be expected within the next couple of hours as the storm approaches and the stronger rainbands pass over our area.
I'll have photos and possibly video posted soon.
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