Not a trace of Don; What's next?
Don is dead
Tropical Storm Don, the fourth named storm of the 2011 season, made landfall near Baffin Bay, Texas yesterday evening around 10pm CDT in less-than-grand fashion. The storm was looking very weak for the 24 hours before landfall, but fizzled rapidly after landfall, and by early Saturday morning, there was barely a trace of the storm to show that it even existed in the first place.
NHC Hurricane Specialist Eric Blake probably said it best in this mornings 5am EDT discussion on the storm:
THE DON IS DEAD. THE CYCLONE LITERALLY EVAPORATED OVER TEXAS ABOUT
AS FAST AS I HAVE EVER SEEN WITHOUT MOUNTAINS INVOLVED. DON HAS NO
CONVECTION...MEAGER RAINFALL...AND ONLY A SLIGHT SIGNATURE IN
SURFACE OBSERVATIONS AND RADAR DATA. THEREFORE...THIS IS THE LAST
ADVISORY ON THIS SYSTEM.

Figure 1. Total precipitation accumulation for the storm, estimated by radar.
The heaviest rainfall was falling south of the storm's center yesterday, so it wasn't surprising that Brownsville saw the most rain, 0.63 inches. KBRO also recorded 18 mph wind gusts. But to the north of the center, where many of the media were located, not a drop of rain fell. Corpus Christi saw zero inches of rain, but did record gale-force wind gusts (39 mph). Harlingen, near Baffin Bay, and close to where the center made landfall, saw 0.20 inches of rain and 18 mph wind gusts. This storm did very, very little to relieve any drought conditions in Southern Texas. And so it continues.
What's next: Invest 91L continues to impress
Invest 91L, which is located near 12°N 48°W in the central Atlantic, continues to impress today, and has shown signs of more organization over the past 24 hours. 91L will probably develop into a tropical cyclone before it reaches the Lesser Antilles, so residents of these islands should remain watchful and prepared. Satellite loops show not only organized thunderstorm activity, but also the makings of a surface circulation. Something this wave has working against it right now is dry air—there's a large mass of Saharan air on the north and east sides of the system, which could at least prevent significant intensification. Also, University of Wisconsin CIMSS analysis shows some strong wind shear (30-40 knots) to the north of the wave. However, I don't expect this to prevent development of the wave. Wind shear out ahead of the system is relatively low (5-15 knots). Moisture is plenty high within the system, and sea surface temperatures are warm and toasty (28°C+) and will only get warmer as 91L moves west into the Caribbean.

Figure 2. Infrared satellite of invest 91L taken at 1:15pm EDT today.
Forecast for 91L
Most of the reliable forecast models (GFS, CMC, FIM, and the ECMWF) have come to agree that 91L will develop, however, they differ on how long-lived that will be. Some of the models are suggesting it will be a short-lived tropical cyclone, not making it out of the Caribbean alive, and some suggest that it will hold together and intensify as it moves north of the Caribbean islands. The forecast track for the system will most likely be to the northwest through the Caribbean, at which point it will take a northeast turn near the Bahamas, never reaching the U.S. coast. HWRF agrees with this track (and also brings the system to category 2 strength by August 3rd). However, there is still some uncertainty that the system could track west, south of the Caribbean islands, and potentially into the Gulf of Mexico. However, none of the models that suggest this solution actually show that the wave will be a tropical cyclone at that point.
The National Hurricane Center is giving this wave an 80% chance of developing into at least Tropical Depression Five over the next 48 hours. Chances are we will see Emily out of this system. A Hurricane Hunter mission is scheduled for tomorrow at 2pm EDT, but I wouldn't be totally surprised to see them call this system this evening, given the threat to the Lesser Antilles.
Watching a northwest Caribbean disturbance
A broad area of disturbed weather is producing some heavy thunderstorms in the northwest Caribbean, southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Little to no low-level circulation exists with this feature, and none of the models are picking up on it. The Hurricane Center has "blobbed" this item (as I like to say) with a "near 0%" chance of developing over the next 48 hours. This disturbance could cause major flooding in the region given the amount of thunderstorm activity, and predictability for systems like this (potential Bay of Cempeche tropical cyclones) is very low. Models have a short lead time on development, and they spin up very fast once they enter the Bay of Campeche given the favorable topography of the land surrounding it. The difference between this system, though, and one like Arlene, is that there is very, very little low level circulation already present. Pre-Arlene was a bit more organized before it crossed the Yucatan, and so it's hard to imagine that this disturbance will be able to hold together, should it get that far.
If 91L develops, I'll be back tomorrow with a post.
Angela
Reader Comments
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I'll take one of each and a bottle of Cat 5 In Your Face, just to have as a backup. I'm thinking we will have at least one Cat 5 this year.
only 20? I'll have a whole freight container. I'll resell them at double the price as the season goes and and if any are left, triple the price next year.
Since it is Hurricane Season, and PR and the region is in the TROPICS, prone to experience Tropical Cyclones, shouldn't they be buying water, food and other supplies for the CHANCE that something may effect them? That is what we do here in FL.. If I was in that region I would certainly be checking my supplies right now.
OMG, you not calling a 35y.o guy old are ya, geez, now I do feel old.
Convection lacking at the moment, however, I expect this system to be better organized again by tomorrow morning. The slow-down of speed in the system might
have been an indication of a slight change in the environment to it's advantage. We should have a better idea later tomorrow.
military die cutting prussian Blue works too...and it too has to wear off...have soaked many a guys blue boxers in it when they tried to make life hard for me saying a woman didn't belong in a machine shop, esp on a ship...painted the inside of their blue ball caps too...it reactivates each time it gets wet...ever seen a pale faced freckle specked dork of a guy with a blue stripe across his forehead during an inspection? oh yeah...works great on trolls too :)
Yes I've noticed the two circulations (Levy pointed them out). But the one who will win, will have to manage to restructure the system.
Anyway: Good night to all. Has been an interesting night.
To block, or to be blocked, that is the question.
This person is just saying this to get people to bite. Ignore and move on. This is what we call, a Troll.
Wow, that's beautiful. It's such a simple idea too.
This is looking more and more like a storm that will favor a more southerly direction.......!!!!
I say block, as long as you don't block me. hehehe.
If a person says something that is so ridiculous and can't back it up. Like 91L will go poof before hitting the SE Carib Islands. but can't back up this statement, I say, Ignore.
Dip wad went to bed, unfortunately the Qtip is still active.
I have never complained about this site, just about other people that use this site, Is this ok by you My Lord Neo????
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
Unidentified Forecast Observations go unnoticed, so no.
Huh? I didn't mention your name or anyone else's in my comment #1371. Methinks thou doth protest too much... ;-)
this site is for weather only...you are about to be banned by admin...anyone tired of this persons antics please begin by clicking your ! button by each of his off topic comments...
I agree with that statement.
Sorry.. I was a page or so behind when I read that.. I TRY to read every post. Will ignore any future posts from that troll.
Non of the models developed or even picked up on Bret. To you, which is a reliable model?
Yes please, and lets get back to the Tropics instead of some other wierd things. 91L has two hours to the update, it has alot of time to change and convectionize.
Tell that to the other tropical storms of 2011...
Same here and changed my "Blog Name". was a member sing Aug 25, 2005.
DMin
Dmin? Still looks like a very strong wave at the least.
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