Thursday, October 2, 2008

Tropical Season Update: Lonely Laura May Develop Siblings

After minimal Hurricane Kyle lashed eastern Maine, southern New Brunswick, and western Nova Scotia, Subtropical Storm Laura developed early Monday morning in the north-central Atlantic, about 1000 miles west of the Azores. Maximum winds were 60 mph, and some strengthening was expected, but the storm never exceeded that intensity. Laura became a tropical storm on Tuesday and gradually weakened as it continued moving generally northward over colder waters. The storm lost its tropical characteristics and weakened further yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University released their updated hurricane season forecast yesterday. They expect an active October, with 3 named storms, 2 of which would be hurricanes, with 1 of them major (Category 3 or higher). So far this season, there have been a total of 12 named storms, including 6 hurricanes, 3 of which were major.

Image: Laura track from Weather Underground

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Hurricane Kyle Loses Tropical Characteristics, Approaching New Brunswick

Hurricane Kyle has lost its tropical characteristics as it skirted western Nova Scotia approaching New Brunswick. At 10 pm EDT, Kyle made landfall just north of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia as a minimal Category 1 hurricane. A hurricane force wind gust was reported at Baccaro Point, Nova Scotia, and a higher gust was reported from a Coast Guard ship offshore.

Maximum winds are still estimated at 70 mph, and tropical storm winds extend as much as 240 miles from the center. At 11 pm, the center of the storm was located 60 miles south of St. John, New Brunswick, moving north at 26 mph.

Tropical storm force winds are still likely over parts of southern Nova Scotia and southeastern New Brunswick the rest of tonight.

Images: Kyle satellite image from SSD/NOAA, Kyle forecast track from National Hurricane Center

The Rain in Maine is Plainly on the Gain

Here are some Maine rainfall totals from Hurricane Kyle through mid-morning on Sunday, ranging as high as 6.60" in Hancock County:

...AROOSTOOK COUNTY...
HOULTON 2.65 800 AM 9/28 ASOS KHUL
LILLE 2.40 826 AM 9/28 SPOTTER 1.00 SINCE MIDNIGHT
WASHBURN 2.30 856 AM 9/28 SPOTTER WASHB
CARIBOU WFO 1.89 800 AM 9/28 ASOS KCAR
KNOWLES CORNER 1.87 600 AM 9/28 COOP KNCM1
LIMESTONE 1.86 601 AM 9/28 NWS-COOP LIZM1
PORTAGE 1.74 700 AM 9/28 COOP PORM1
VAN BUREN 1.59 655 AM 9/28 COOP VANM1
OXBOW 1.50 602 AM 9/28 COOP OXBM1
FOX BROOK 1.25 558 AM 9/28 NWS-COOP FOXM1
EAGLE LAKE 1.21 557 AM 9/28 COOP EGLM1
FRENCHVILLE 1.19 558 AM 9/28 ASOS KFVE
ALLAGASH 1.16 750 AM 9/28 COOP ALGM1
NINEMILE BRIDGE 1.10 602 AM 9/28 USGS NINM1
DICKEY 0.86 556 AM 9/28 USGS DICM1

...HANCOCK COUNTY...
SEDGWICK RIDGE 6.60 730 AM 9/28 CWOP 3.35 SINCE MIDNIGHT
SOUTHWEST HARBOR 4.50 820 AM 9/28 SPOTTER
WALTHAM 4.36 700 AM 9/28 COOP WALM1
ELLSWORTH 4.19 732 AM 9/28 COOP ELLM1 2.58 SINCE MIDNIGHT
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK 3.69 553 AM 9/28 COOP ANPM1
STONINGTON RAINWISE 1.75 605 AM 9/28 COOP STOM1

...PENOBSCOT COUNTY...
MOUNT CHASE 3.21 800 AM 9/28 SPOTTER
ORONO 2.59 930 AM 9/28 SPOTTER
MILFORD 2.54 900 AM 9/28 COOP MILM1
STILLWATER 2.38 900 AM 9/28 COOP STLM1
BANGOR 2.29 800 AM 9/28 ASOS KBGR
PATTEN 2.18 715 AM 9/28 COOP PATM1
OLD TOWN 2.17 602 AM 9/28 COOP OLDM1
VEAZIE 2.05 900 AM 9/28 USGS VZIM1
SUNKHAZE N.W.R. 2.01 604 AM 9/28 COOP SHZM1
DIXMONT 1.86 556 AM 9/28 COOP DIXM1
WEST ENFIELD 1.72 900 AM 9/28 USGS WENM1
MILLINOCKET 1.67 900 AM 9/28 COOP MLTM1
MILLINOCKET 1.63 800 AM 9/28 ASOS KMLT

...PISCATAQUIS COUNTY...
BLANCHARD 2.70 554 AM 9/28 USGS BLAM1
WELLINGTON 2.70 800 AM 9/28 SPOTTER
ABBOT VILLAGE 2.39 554 AM 9/28 USGS ABTM1
PARKMAN 2.20 530 AM 9/28 SPOTTER
DOVER-FOXCROFT 2.16 556 AM 9/28 USGS DOVM1
BARNARD 2.10 700 AM 9/28 COOP BRNM1
GUILFORD 2.10 700 AM 9/28 COOP GULM1
SEBEC LAKE 2.09 700 AM 9/28 COOP GREM1
DOVER-FOXCROFT 2.02 700 AM 9/28 COOP DFXM1
SHIRLEY 1.94 604 AM 9/28 USGS SHRM1
KINGSBURY 1.91 600 AM 9/28 USGS KNBM1
GREENVILLE 1.89 318 PM 10/12 ASOS KGNR
GREENVILLE 1.89 800 AM 9/28 ASOS KGNR
MILO 1.84 730 AM 9/28 COOP MLDM1
RIPOGENUS DAM 1.53 603 AM 9/28 COOP RIPM1
KOKADJO 1.46 600 AM 9/28 COOP KKJM1
SMITH BROOK 1.20 604 AM 9/28 WHFS SMBM1

...SOMERSET COUNTY...
BINGHAM 2.72 800 AM 9/28 SPOTTER
MERCER 2.50 800 AM 9/28 SPOTTER
NORTH ANSON 2.30 800 AM 9/28 SPOTTER

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
TOPSFIELD 3.77 700 AM 9/28 COOP TOPM1
CHERRYFIELD 3.50 732 AM 9/28 SPOTTER
DANFORTH 2.71 555 AM 9/28 COOP DANM1
WEST GRAND DAM 2.54 900 AM 9/28 USGS WGLM1
EAST MACHIAS 2.48 635 AM 9/28 COOP ESTM1
COLUMBIA FALLS 2.35 900 AM 9/28 SPOTTER
MILBRIDGE 2.18 800 AM 9/28 SPOTTER
WESLEY 2.10 800 AM 9/28 COOP WLYM1
VANCEBORO 2.01 606 AM 9/28 USGS VBOM1
ROBBINSTON 1.96 604 AM 9/28 COOP ROBM1
EASTPORT 1.87 557 AM 9/28 COOP EPOM1
JONESBORO 1.86 600 AM 9/28 COOP JONM1
PRINCETON 1.86 603 AM 9/28 COOP PNNM1
MOOSEHORN N.W.R. 1.72 602 AM 9/28 COOP MWRM1
GRAND FALLS FLOWAGE 1.49 936 AM 9/28 USGS GRFM1

...ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY...
AUBURN 3.78 1103 AM 9/28
DURHAM 3.37 819 AM 9/28

...CUMBERLAND COUNTY...
SOUTH WINDHAM 3.93 819 AM 9/28
WESTBROOK 3.89 730 AM 9/28
PORTLAND-RIVERTON 3.82 630 AM 9/28
GRAY NWS OFFICE 3.80 815 AM 9/28
PORTLAND 3.80 800 AM 9/28 ASOS
NORTH SEBAGO 2.41 800 AM 9/28
BRUNSWICK 0.02 839 AM 9/28

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
NEW SHARON 2.45 800 AM 9/28

...KENNEBEC COUNTY...
AUGUSTA 2.67 800 AM 9/28
ROME 0.29 839 AM 9/28

...KNOX COUNTY...
CAMDEN 3.56 833 AM 9/28
WEST ROCKPORT 3.44 800 AM 9/28
ISLE AU HAUT 3.41 559 AM 9/28
PORT CLYDE 2.30 1144 AM 9/28

...LINCOLN COUNTY...
WISCASSET 3.35 800 AM 9/28
BOOTHBAY 3.25 618 AM 9/28
WESTPORT 2.10 800 AM 9/28

...OXFORD COUNTY...
FRYEBURG 3.04 800 AM 9/28
OTISFIELD 2.92 726 AM 9/28
HARTFORD 2.83 800 AM 9/28
ANDOVER 2.67 800 AM 9/28

...SAGADAHOC COUNTY...
PHIPPSBURG 5.58 844 AM 9/28
BATH 4.42 800 AM 9/28

...SOMERSET COUNTY...
BINGHAM 2.72 800 AM 9/28
MERCER 2.50 800 AM 9/28
NORTH ANSON 2.30 800 AM 9/28
PITTSFIELD 0.03 839 AM 9/28

...WALDO COUNTY...
WINTERPORT 2.43 800 AM 9/28

...YORK COUNTY...
KITTERY POINT 5.62 1155 AM 9/28
CAPE NEDDICK 5.39 800 AM 9/28
HOLLIS 4.93 800 AM 9/28
WELLS 4.44 800 AM 9/28
SOUTH BERWICK 4.36 1111 AM 9/28
CORNISH 4.20 822 AM 9/28
SACO 4.05 844 AM 9/28

Hurricane Kyle Heads for Landfall East of Maine
Nova Scotia Landfall Expected This Evening

5 pm Update: Hurricane Kyle is now a minimal hurricane with winds up to 75 mph as it approaches landfall on the coast of Nova Scotia within the next 6 hours. The storm is moving north northeast from a position 140 miles south southwest of the southern tip of Nova Scotia.

Kyle is in the process of losing its tropical characteristics. The Hurricane Warning for southwestern Nova Scotia remains in effect.

2 pm Update: Hurricane Kyle remains a Category 1 storm with maximum winds of 80 mph. It continues to move north northeast toward Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
  • The Hurricane Watch for Maine is discontinued
  • The Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect from Stonington to Eastport
  • A Hurricane Warning has been issued for portions of southwestern Nova Scotia
  • The Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for southern New Brunswick and the remainder of southwestern Nova Scotia

Original post:
Hurricane Kyle strengthened slightly overnight to maximum winds of 80 mph. Its track has shifted toward the north northeast at 24 mph, heading toward a landfall on the Nova Scotia and/or New Brunswick coasts. The cold waters of the Gulf of Maine will rob the storm of some of its strength before landfall, and it will be transitioning to a non-tropical cyclone.

Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are likely with some totals over 6 inches possible over extreme eastern New England, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Radar estimates this morning showed rainfall totals as high as 20 inches over the Atlantic east of Nantucket.

Images: Kyle satellite image from SSD/NOAA, Kyle forecast track from National Hurricane Center

Seasonal Outlook

Latest seasonal forecast: Click here.


Latest 3-month temperature outlook from Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA.