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WeatherMatrix
© 2002 WeatherMatrix.Net - Redistribution
Prohibited. Usage logged.
From: VortexJeff (editor{at}weathervine.com)
Date: Sat Oct 05 2002 - 15:07:22 EDT
Here is the chase log entry for hurricane "Lili" this past week...
Interception, penetration, and observation of Hurricane Lili as it
made
landfall in Southwestern Louisiana near Abeville and New Iberia. The
storm
was an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane with sustained winds
of 145
MPH that weakened to a category 2 with winds just over 100 MPH at
time of
landfall near 8 AM. The chase involved a long drive out of Florida on
October
2 to the primary target area of Abeville, Louisiana. During the
evening of
October 2, Jeff Gammons and myself
met up with several chasers from the central US including Scott
Blair. The
"base" was a school in Abeville to observe the storm. Near midnight,
Lili
had
140 MPH+ winds and made a slight jog to the right so we all adjusted
our
target using highway 18 to a hotel in New Iberia. Lili continued to
weaken
over up-welled cooler water near the landfall point to 120 MPH, then
100
MPH
at landfall at 8 AM on Oct 3. We began driving south and penetrated
the
hurricane forced wind-field. Trees began falling and storm-surge began
filling the marshes around our vehicles. Law officials noted us we
needed
to
turn around, so we continued back towards New Iberia. The hurricane
wind-field soon came into this area, and we all set up in a parking
lot to
measure and observe the winds. Winds gusted to over 75-MPH with a
pressure
drop to 988 MB. Winds were strong ENE then shifted SE. This was our
cue to
shift back west to Abeville along highway 18 because the eye took a
jog
back
west. The winds were ESE and gusted over 100 MPH. Numerous powerlines
and
trees were observed falling. Many roof pieces began flying across the
roads
along with leaves and other tree debris. Just east of Abeville, we
penetrated
the primary energy cell (main convection NE of the eye). Visibility
dropped
to ZERO with violent sideways rain. The air was filled with debris
and tree
implements as winds gusted over 100 MPH. We continued west and
positioned
ourselves back in Abeville just E of the calm eye in the maximum
winds. ENE
winds quickly shifted south, then south-southwest as a notably clear
area
passed to our west. Road networks to our west prevented us from
penetrating
the calm eye, but lowest pressure measured was 975 MB in Abeville.
Damage
was
moderate with numerous downed trees and powerlines, even some major
roof
damage and downed signs. Flooding was also major in some areas. Of
course,
power remained out at all times. The storm was now inland and
weakened to
90
MPH sustained winds. We headed back east along highway 18, back to New
Iberia
to document damage and begin exiting the storm with many detours
around
impassable streets due to power lines / tree damage. By afternoon we
were
headed back east along interstate 10 for a 15 hour drive back to
Florida.
Total mileage on this chase was 2054 miles! Maximum stretch with no
sleep
was
52 hours! Maximum wind gusts, near 110 MPH! Lowest pressure was
measured at
975 MB. Documentation was still photos, a camcorder, and audio. A
2001 Ford
Escape was used for our part of this chase with many weather
instruments
mounted on its roof. The NWS issues a flood warning, tornado watch,
and
hurricane warning for all areas observed. Some extremely severe
thunderstorms
were also observed on the forward-right side of Lili. One such storm
had
some
of the most violent rain I have ever seen and a meso-low type feature
where
winds were SE on its NE side and NE on its western side.
Chris Collura - KG4PJN
Jeff Gammons - KG4PGA
http://www.weathervine.com
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