TROPICAL STORM NOEL INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 20A | Main | Tropical Storm Noel barrels toward Bahamas
November 1, 2007
TROPICAL STORM NOEL DISCUSSION NUMBER 20
DATA PHONED IN FROM THE AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT
INVESTIGATING NOEL INCLUDE PEAK FLIGHT LEVEL WINDS OF 53 KT AND
SFMR SURFACE WINDS OF 51 KT. THESE DATA SUPPORT THE CURRENT
INTENSITY ESTIMATE OF 50 KT. THE CENTER FIXES HAVE BEEN BOUNCING
ABOUT IN RESPONSE TO CONVECTIVE BURSTS...BUT OVERALL INDICATE THAT
THE TURN TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST HAS BEGUN. THE INITIAL MOTION
ESTIMATE IS 020/8.
THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE CHANGE TO THE TRACK FORECAST PHILOSOPHY. MID-
TO UPPER-LEVEL SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW IS ADVANCING TOWARD NOEL FROM THE
GULF OF MEXICO...AND THIS FLOW IS EXPECTED TO ACCELERATE NOEL
NORTHNORTHEASTWARD. MODEL GUIDANCE IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE
HEADING BUT LESS SO ON THE SPEED...AND THE OFFICIAL FORECAST FAVORS
A GFS/GFDL/HWRF BLEND.
WITH THE RECENT JUMP OF THE CENTER CLOSER TO THE CONVECTION...THERE
IS STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME STRENGTHENING OVER THE NEXT 12-18
HOURS...BEFORE THE WIND SHEAR BECOMES PROHIBITIVE. HOWEVER...
BAROCLINIC ENERGY IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT
STRENGTHENING AFTER EXTRATROPICAL TRANSITION IN ABOUT 36 HOURS.
AS NOEL IS EXPECTED TO EDGE AWAY FROM SOUTH FLORIDA THIS
AFTERNOON...IT SHOULD SOON BE POSSIBLE TO LOWER THE TROPICAL STORM
WARNING.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INITIAL 01/1500Z 24.5N 77.8W 50 KT
12HR VT 02/0000Z 25.8N 76.9W 60 KT
24HR VT 02/1200Z 28.4N 74.9W 55 KT
36HR VT 03/0000Z 32.0N 72.0W 55 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
48HR VT 03/1200Z 36.0N 69.0W 65 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
72HR VT 04/1200Z 46.0N 61.0W 70 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
96HR VT 05/1200Z 56.5N 50.0W 65 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
120HR VT 06/1200Z 67.0N 25.0W 45 KT...EXTRATROPICAL