Random Chaos

Until a well defined center of circulation forms (generally when it becomes a Tropical Storm) we won’t get accurate models. The variation in the HAFS-B from 12z to 18z is exactly what to expect until then.

https://mrms.nssl.noaa.gov/qvs/product_viewer/ Select Q3 Multisensor.

0.75" last Tuesday through today 2.29" last Friday through today. 10.27" April 15 through today. Send me some rain please!

Complete wiff for me. 0.11" since the start of this storm. Guess it’s bact to heavy watering of my yard…

Models yesterday gave me up to about 1.75" rain by 5pm today. I have had 0.10".

So much for this breaking the drought hoping radar fills in but looks to be going the wrong way

0.1" here too, and yesterday models were predicting closer to an inch by now. Further overnight storms are way less now… we need rain. I ended up watering some of my plants mid day today.

Definitely accurate map. I have had 5.8" since April 4th, and excluding last night 5.44" near the bay bridge.

Somehow completely missed me again...it has been 2 months since I have had significant, sustained rain.

I have never really liked HWRF since it came out. Always preferred GFDL but that’s no longer run. Don’t know what a good hurricane model is anymore.

You can see the CDO is now very much displaced from the CoC, which is now towards the eastern edge of the CDO. Shear is having a major impact. I find it interesting that NHC is unsure what shear will be in 24 hours, with ECMWF increasing shear and GFS decreasing shear.

Looks like the eye is trying to clear again, last couple times it tried and failed, so we’ll see if it succeeds this time. One big difference I’m seeing on satellite since earlier today is there are evident gravity waves again; haven’t seen those in over 24 hours since sheer started affecting Beryl.

The core looks unhealthy in this 2 hour old SSMIS 85GHz microwave pass:

Most modern models are not built on statistical analysis unlike a lot of models 20 years ago. Most models today are fluid dynamic models that attempt to simulate the atmosphere. Errors are due to limited and erroneous data ingested (which is why you often see NOAA missions dropping dropsondes in front of hurricanes), granularity of the model (models grid the planet and each "pixel" is modeled at depth), and simplifications of the fluid dynamic equations to allow modern supercomputers to produce a result in a reasonable length of time (this is a big part of why you see discrepancies between models). Global models are typically worse at hurricanes due to lower granularity resulting in the core pressure being unable to be modeled accurately; this error tends to be amplified in deeper, stronger hurricanes. Hurricane models are typically lagged by 6 hours because they are typically based off a 6 hour earlier global model (also why you need to wait 12 hours after formation of a tropical storm before you can trust model output).

2.5 hour old microwave pass, storm looks incredible:

Looks like asymmetry has been resolved and eye is symmetrical and contracting on IR, excellent structural look. The lightening in the eastern Eyewall is intense and sustained:

Definitely waiting to see if recon finds a double wind maximum. Anyone know what’s up with SFMR on the bird that’s flying into Beryl right now? Most readings are 0, except those that are rain flagged.

Interesting on the strength component. Steering layers generally have differing guidance and that’s likely what it is picking up. Even if this storm weakens substantially (don’t see any reason that is likely), it will still be a very powerful hurricane. Weakening of a storm this strong often occurs by wind field expansion rather than central pressure increase. If this is the initial phase of weakening then even a weaker storm will be guided by deeper steering current guidance. Definitely can’t ignore northern tracks.

NAVGEM has never been a great model for hurricanes. Can’t dismiss it entirely but focus on the major global models and the hurricane models.

Absolutely beautiful, destructive storm. Visible: IR:

WeatherNerds satellite IR image shows incredible lightening wrapping 3/4 of the way around the inner core. Barbados radar, which is nearly out of range, is showing over 600 recent lightening strikes near the core of Beryl. The core has become very symmetric too, losing the cloud layer intrusions that were affecting it as it passed over the islands. The storm looks to be strengthening yet again, and between the NOAA dropsonde indicating 132kt winds in the northern Eyewall, the Air Force vortex recon messaging indicating 140kt SFMR winds, and the Grenada Airport (questionable reading) reporting 161mph (140kt) gust, I think it is safe to say that this storm was likely already Category 5 before this latest strengthening phase started.

If you look at the high refresh IR imagery (for instance COD) i’m seeing gravity waves in the hurricane. Been watching for these since rapid intensification yesterday but only showed up in the last hour or so. Often indicative of a strengthening storm.

Crazy jump in lightening counts in 1-2 radar sweeps (see my previous post for the last count):

Wow: H. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind Inbound: 149kts (171.5mph) http://tropicalatlantic.com/recon/recon.cgi?basin=al&year=2024&product=vortex&storm=Beryl&mission=06&agency=AF&ob=07-01-145510-21-950-132(132)-149(149)

A radar picture to remember this storm by: