NorthHillsWx

I was involved in a caveat from last season…

Texas point topped out at 50 kts sustained with gusts to just below hurricane force, 62 kts (71 mph). This storm was likely 1-2 hours away from hurricane intensity based on the rapid organization at landfall

Now 46 gusting to 59 kts at Texas point, exceeding operational intensity. That’s a north wind coming off the land too. Higher velocities still offshore. To me this is easily a 55 kts system

Sustained at TS winds of 35 kts gusting to 48 kts at Texas Point right now. Calcasieu Pass also registered gusts to 46 kts recently Edit: Now sustained near 40 kts at Texas Point. Probably a 50-55 kts system being highest velocities are still offshore and we are already close to observing operational intensity on a land observing site

This storm looks like a hurricane on radar now. I know it's not one but that isn't a bad radar presentation at all. Definitely more easterly shear than NHC has mentioned though, it cannot wrap convection upshear despite numerous attempts

About to fry for next 4 days. How many times can we reach 100?

We finished with 1.52" for the month, solidifying August as the 11th of last 12 months with below normal precip at my location for the Raleigh area

Outta time, but a pretty cool evolution to watch unfold this morning

Might be starting to see some of that frictional convergence at play now with the tightening core

Improvement on IR imagery is remarkable over just the last 2 hours

Starting to see some barbs approaching hurricane force. Obviously these are at height but this is probably a 50-55 kt system based on radar data alone

Yep, was looking forward to one more. Radar has RAPIDLY improved on north side too. Me thinks RI might be occurring. Crazy cool processes to watch on radar. For the talk earlier of no defined core, IR and radar both show it quickly blossoming. Lightning in southern quad is a definitive sign of strengthening too. Lets see how quickly it ramps up

This next pass could see some very significant intensification if these rapid increases in radar velocities are sustained and sampled

Some 60 kt velocities now showing up from LCH, recon finally found 50+ kt FL winds. Probably a 45 kt storm now, still strengthening

Yep, for the first time that looks like a real nascent eyewall. It is not just low topped convection. If that wraps up this will obviously strengthen quicker. It is very obvious now though that the system is in a strengthening phase.