Category: Posts EN

Super Typhoon Hagibis Barrels Over the Marianas, Could Threaten Japan This Weekend!

Written by Team Morecast

 

Typhoon Hagibis, just a tropical storm early Monday, underwent a period of rapid intensification through early Tuesday. In fact, Hagibis gained 100 mph of intensity in less than 24 hours, the fastest intensification of any Pacific basin cyclone since 1996. Islands in the northern part of the Marianas bore the brunt of this monster storm. Now the cyclone is moving back over open waters with Japan potentially in the crosshairs this upcoming weekend.

 

 

Hagibis has been moving west-northwest and passed some distance north of the most populated of the Marianas group. Model guidance is in good agreement that the cyclone will turn northwestward, then eventually curve to the north and northeast. Where this occurs will determine whether the cyclone makes a glancing blow on Japan or a destructive landfall. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely in the next few days. Later this week, Hagibis will encounter cooler water temperatures, leading to a weakening trend as it approaches Japan. Hagibis will remain a large and powerful cyclone, however, and significant impacts are likely. A direct landfall would mean life-threatening storm surge, destructive winds, and serious flash flooding. Major sporting events scheduled for this weekend in Japan like the Rugby World Cup and the F1 Japanese Grand Prix could face significant disruptions.

 

Powerful, Unusual Hurricane Lorenzo Churning Towards the Azores

Written by Team Morecast

 

Hurricane Lorenzo achieved category five status late Saturday night over the warmer-than-normal waters of the central Atlantic. At that point Lorenzo was the strongest hurricane on record that far north and east. Since last night, Lorenzo has weakened significantly and is now a category three hurricane. Additional weakening is likely, however Lorenzo still poses a significant threat to the Azores.

 

 

Lorenzo is a large and powerful cyclone causing increased wave and surf activity all the way from portions of northeast South America to the Caribbean and the U.S. East coast. Fortunately for those regions, rough surf will be the only impact they’ll ever see from Lorenzo. The story is different for the Azores, however. Model guidance brings Lorenzo near or over the Azores, especially the westernmost islands, by Tuesday into Wednesday. Additional weakening is likely, but Lorenzo may still be a hurricane by the time it reaches the Azores. If it were to retain hurricane strength, Lorenzo would be the first hurricane to move through the Azores since Gordon in 2006. Damaging winds, storm surge and high waves, and locally flooding rains are expected regardless. The worst impacts are likely for the westernmost islands in the chain, Flores and Corvo.

 

 

Beyond mid-week, Lorenzo will continue to accelerate to the northeast. Some models bring the storm close to the British Isles late in the week, accompanied by gusty winds, heavy rains, and very large waves. However, other models predict Lorenzo will be absorbed by a larger system well to the west of the U.K. Interests in western Europe should pay close attention to forecasts in the next few days.

Major Early Season Snow Storm Rolling Down the Rockies!

Written by Team Morecast

 

Much of the country is still basking in late-summer heat, but for some winter is already rearing its head. A big early-winter storm has been pounding the eastern slopes and adjacent plains of the Canadian Rockies (see tweet below). Now it’s moving across the U.S. border and will be dropping record-threatening accumulations, especially in Montana.

 

 

 

September is a transition month for these northern latitudes, often characterized by high winds and wild swings in temperature. Snow is not unheard of in late September, especially in the higher elevations. However, the current storm is unusually moist and strong. Ahead of the system, winds have been gusting upwards of 60 mph (100 kph), leading some to take advantage of unusual wave activity on area lakes (see tweet above). However, the surge of cold air accompanying strong low pressure has led to heavy snow.

 

 

The snow has been spreading into Montana today and is expected to continue through Monday. Some of the peaks could see 2-3 feet of snow before all is said and done! The heavy, wet snow will combine with gusty winds to produce dangerous blizzard conditions. Trees and branches will come down, leading to power outages. Roads have already been closed and more closures will likely be needed.

Imelda Inundates Southeast Texas!

Written by Team Morecast

Tropical Storm Imelda has unleashed a deluge flooding rains over southeastern Texas. Although only technically a tropical storm for a few hours on Tuesday, it’s slow moving nature has lead to copious amounts of record breaking rain throughout the last several days. This is the second time within two years that the city of Houston and it’s surrounding suburbs have been severely affected by a tropical cyclone. The storm has many residents feeling like this is a second round of Hurricane Harvey, which struck the region in August of 2017. The area is still recovering from that storm.

With staggering amounts of rain falling, flash flooding has been widespread across the Houston metro area, and has led to numerous amounts of water rescues, as rainfall was falling at the rate of 3-4 inches an hour(76-101mm) at it’s peak. 4 deaths have been reported so far. One of them, a 19 year old man, drowned after being electrocuted while trying to save his horse from the flood waters. Several barges have broken away from there moorings, as one struck a bridge over the San Jacinto River. 13 counties in Texas have been declared a disaster area.

 

Imelda has become the 7th wettest tropical cyclone to strike the United States. On average, rainfall totals have ranged between 15-30 inches(381-762mm), while the highest amount reported was 43 inches(109mm) in Beaumont, Texas. Thursday was the wettest September day on record, and 5th wettest day ever for Houston, as 9.18 inches(228mm) was recorded.


Southeastern Texas is no stranger to tropical systems, and it’s low lying geography makes it especially susceptible to flooding. Nonetheless, residents of the region are simply fed up with massive amount of flooding that has occurred in recent years. While Hurricane Harvey stands as the benchmark for flooding, some areas have flooded worse with Imelda, such as the towns of Vidor, and Winnie, Texas. What Harvey did over the course of 4-5 days, Imelda did in 4-5 hours in those locations.