Friday, September 02, 2016

Hermine, doowngraded to a tropical storm, crawls northward


















000
WTNT44 KNHC 030300
TCDAT4

TROPICAL STORM HERMINE DISCUSSION NUMBER  23
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL092016
1100 PM EDT FRI SEP 02 2016

Radar imagery and surface observations indicate that the
circulation of Hermine has become elongated from east-northeast to
west-southwest over the past few hours.  This is likely in response
to the tropical cyclone encroaching on a developing frontal
boundary that extends from eastern North Carolina eastward into the
Atlantic.  However, buoy reports from the Atlantic southeast of the
center remain in the 40-45 kt range, so the initial intensity
remains 45 kt.

During the forecast period, Hermine is expected to undergo a complex
interaction with a mid- to upper-level baroclinic trough that is
developing over the eastern United States.  During the first 36-48
hours, the cyclone is likely to start extratropical transition as it
tries to merge with the frontal boundary.  From 48-96 hours, the
dynamical models forecast the upper trough to cut off directly over
the surface cyclone, and as this happens they forecast the surface
cyclone to acquire a structure that resembles a tropical cyclone
with the strongest winds close to the center.  This suggests the
possibility that Hermine could regain some tropical cyclone
characteristics even though it would be under the upper-level low.
For all of this complexity, the dynamical guidance forecast Hermine
to strengthen during this evolution regardless of its final
structure, so the new intensity forecast is an update of the
previous forecast.  Given the uncertainty in the structure and
evolution, the forecast keeps the cyclone as post-tropical after 24
hours.

The initial motion is 055/19 as Hermine is now embedded in
deep-layer southwesterly flow ahead of the above mentioned
baroclinic trough.  During the next 24-36 hours, the cyclone should
decelerate and gradually turn more toward the north.  The dynamical
models agree that the surface center should make at least a partial
cyclonic loop from 48-96 hours as it moves under the upper-level
low.  After 96 hours, there is spread in the guidance, as the GFS
shows a very slow motion while the ECMWF/CMC/UKMET move the system
somewhat faster toward the east-northeast.  The new forecast track
shows a little more bend back toward the west than the previous
track, then it is a little slower to move the system to the
east-northeast later in the period.  It should be noted that the
GFS and ECMWF both bring the center of Hermine closer to the coast
than the current forecast, and if this trend continues it may
require some adjustment to the track in later advisories.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. Hermine is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone while still
producing hazardous winds and storm surge over land.  NWS policy
allows NHC to write advisories on and issue tropical storm watches
and warnings for post-tropical cyclones, when the system continues
to pose a significant threat to life and property. NHC and the NWS
Eastern Region have decided that this option will be invoked for
Hermine.  After Hermine becomes a post-tropical cyclone, NHC will
continue to issue its full suite of advisory and warning products
for as long as the system remains a significant threat to land.

2. There is considerable uncertainty as to how many of the
characteristics of a tropical cyclone Hermine will have while it is
off of the coast of the Mid-Atlantic and New England States.
Regardless of its structure, Hermine is expected to be a vigorous
storm with a large wind field that will cause wind, storm surge and
surf hazards along the coast.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT  03/0300Z 34.1N  78.4W   45 KT  50 MPH...INLAND
12H  03/1200Z 35.5N  76.0W   45 KT  50 MPH...INLAND
24H  04/0000Z 36.8N  73.7W   50 KT  60 MPH...OVER WATER
36H  04/1200Z 37.8N  72.6W   55 KT  65 MPH...POST-TROPICAL
48H  05/0000Z 38.4N  72.8W   60 KT  70 MPH...POST-TROPICAL
72H  06/0000Z 38.5N  73.0W   65 KT  75 MPH...POST-TROPICAL
96H  07/0000Z 39.5N  71.5W   60 KT  70 MPH...POST-TROPICAL
120H  08/0000Z 40.5N  70.0W   50 KT  60 MPH...POST-TROPICAL

$$
Forecaster Beven
000
FXUS61 KCAR 030142
AFDCAR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Caribou ME
942 PM EDT FRI SEP 2 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure will build across the region through the weekend.
Hermine is expected to remain south of New England through
early next week......
.....SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
High pressure will remain ridged across the region Saturday night
through Monday, while Hermine remains near the Mid Atlantic
coast. Generally expect mostly clear skies across the region
Saturday night through Sunday night. Skies will remain mostly
clear across northern areas Monday. Cloud cover will expand
northward across central and Downeast portions of the forecast
area Monday. Could also have the slight chance of showers
lifting north toward Downeast areas later Monday. Temperatures
are expected to be at slightly above normal levels across
northern areas Sunday/Monday, with near normal level temperatures
Downeast.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
High pressure is expected to move to the east of New England
Monday night. At the same time post tropical system Hermine is
expected to stall to the south of New England. Expect showers from
Hermine to brush coastal areas Monday night into Tuesday. Hermine
is then expected to drift to the southeast Wednesday however there
is considerable uncertainty on the track at this time. For
Thursday into Friday low pressure is expected to approach from the
west and bring showers to the region.

8:51 AM ADT Friday 02 September 2016
Tropical cyclone information statement for:

Nova Scotia:
  • Annapolis County
  • Digby County
  • Halifax County - east of Porters Lake
  • Halifax Metro and Halifax County West
  • Lunenburg County
  • Queens County
  • Shelburne County
  • Yarmouth County
For Tropical Storm Hermine.

Tropical Storm Hermine is currently located along the Florida-Georgia border and is expected to move out over the Atlantic ocean Saturday afternoon.

Hermine is still expected to stall along the east coast of the United States late Sunday or early Monday morning, south of Canadian territory.

At this time, Hermine is not expected to have a direct impact on Canadian territory over most of the Labour Day weekend. However, some potential impacts are possible next week. The public is urged to monitor the progress of Hermine over the weekend for any significant changes to the forecast.
The Canadian Hurricane Centre continues to monitor this storm closely and will update this information bulletin on Friday.

Forecaster(s):Murtha/Robichaud
Please continue to monitor alerts issued by the Canadian Hurricane Centre and forecasts issued by Environment Canada.

August 2016 Climate Summary for Northern and Eastern Maine


...August 2016 Northern and Eastern Maine Monthly Climate Narrative...

August 2016 ended with above average temperatures.  Rainfall was much more variable and ranged from more than 150 percent of normal across parts of eastern Aroostook County and from 50 to 100 percent of normal across parts of the Down East Region and western Saint John Valley.

Temperatures generally averaged 1.5 to 3.5 degrees above average across the region.  It ranked as the 4th warmest August on record at Bangor, and the 6th  warmest at Caribou. Despite it being such a warm month it was not as warm as August 2015 which was the warmest on record at Caribou.

There were 13 days with a high of 80 degrees or warmer at Caribou, which was well above the long term average of 7.  At Bangor, there were 23 days with a high of 80 degrees or warmer, which tied with 1996 for the most on record during the month of August.

A total of 5.89 inches of rain was observed at Caribou, which was 2.13" above average, and made it the 11th wettest August on record. At Bangor on the other hand only 2.24" of rain was observed, which made it the driest August since 2010.

Severe thunderstorms were limited to August 6th and August 11th. A thunderstorm affected the Caribou early in the morning of the 11th with 1.5" diameter hail which caused damage to vehicles and roofs in the area.

The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for September calls for an increased likelihood of above average temperatures.  Above average rainfall is favored for the Down East Region, but there are no strong climate signals that would point toward an unsually wet or dry month across northern Maine.

During the month of September the average high at Caribou (Bangor) starts at 71F (75F) and drops to 60F (64F) degrees by the end of the month. The average low falls from 49F (53F) on the 1st of the month to 40F (42F) by months end.  September is the most likely time of the year for the region to be affected by a tropical or ex-tropical system.  Over an hour and a half of available daylight is lost during the month.