Category 5 Hurricane Felix threatens Central America

[Fig]

Hurricane Felix, the second hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season, is now in the Carribeans. Where exactly it will go is yet to be seen. The Yucatan or Belize is likely.

929 MB pressure
165 MPH winds.

Felix has, as predicted, undergone rapid intensification (and it might not be over yet) and is now a sadistically dangerous category 5 hurricane. Current forecasts calls for landfall in Belize or in the Yucatan, then for the storm to enter the Gulf of Mexico. What it will do then remain unknown.

EDIT : Sunday afternoon picture

 

[The Big Al]

Anyone want to take bets Felix will be retired when all is said and done?

 

[Fig]

We'll see. Dean looked set to hit retirement, but managed to miss anything that would have gotten it retired.

 

[kiyone]

The names they're choosing for hurricanes suck.

 

[Fig]

Yeah, can't say this year has any really inspiring names.

Well, Erin wasn't too bad, but it got stuck on a TS. And Gabrielle won't be too bad either.

 

[The Big Al]

My Mom said Humberto will be big so we'll have to see.

 

[The Big Al]

The models can't seem to make their minds. Apparently a trough that could set up in the next few days is threatening to draw Felix northward now.

 

[Fig]

45% of a 4-5 in 36-48 hours.

EDIT : Felix is now the second major hurricane of the season at category 3.

 

[The Big Al]

Winds up 20 mph in just 3 hours.

 

[Fig]

Filched from Jeff Master's (Weather Underground) blog.

until the storm emerges into the Gulf of Mexico after crossing the Yucatan. At that point, a trough of low pressure strong enough to bring Felix to the Texas coast may move through. It is too early to guess how strong this trough might be, and what the potential risk to Texas is.

Re-Argh.

Also, with the way this thing has been going, special update before 5 to announce we now have Felix the Cat-4 (sorry. Too easy). is entirely possible.

In fact, latest recon seems to lean toward a lower-end Cat-4 already.

 

[The Big Al]

If Felix reaches Cat 5 I think we should start worrying about 2005's Category 5 Hurricane record.

 

[Fig]

...FELIX CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN...NOW A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE...

140 MPH. Another 15 MPH increase in 3 hours.

For those keeping track at home, this is how it has gone so far :

2AM : 80 MPH, category 1
5AM : 100 MPH, Category 2
8AM : 100 MPH, Category 2
11AM : 105 MPH, Category 2
2PM : 125 MPH, Category 3
5PM : 140 MPH, Category 4

35 MPH and C-2 to C-4 in 6 hours. Impressive.

 

[Alcaric]

Wow,it's been a stuffed hurricane season.It's been one-after-another for hurricanes in the south. But you're right about the machcines and such.They really can't make it right,I mean,on the mornings today or yesterday's news,they said it was a catigory 1!! My prayers are with the people in the south. P.s:Another 2 things that are shaking things up:Fires and earthquakes!!! Jake

 

[Rayne]

Category Four? Already!?

Its certainly not the first time a hurricane's underwent rapid growth, but those hurricanes were approaching land. Felix still has a bit of time to develop [or on the plus side deteriorate and get swept aside.]

 

[Fig]

Unfortunately, it's about to hit even WARMER water than what it's already seen.

On the plus side, we should get an Eyewall Replacement Cycle..

...eventually.

...and if we get it too soon, the damn thing will just climb back up to full strength before hitting land, except it will be a *larger* hurricane when it does.

 

[The Big Al]

And in the meantime the models continue to argue about the strength of the ridge. It's looking more and more likely the ridge that shoved Dean south will be weaker by the time Felix reaches the gulf opening up possibilities for a right turn into the gulf and strike who knows where.

 

[Alcaric]

Wow,it's been a stuffed hurricane season.It's been one-after-another for hurricanes in the south. But you're right about the machcines and such.They really can't make it right,I mean,on the mornings today or yesterday's news,they said it was a catigory 1!! My prayers are with the people in the south. P.s:Another 2 things that are shaking things up:Fires and earthquakes!!! Jake

 

[The Big Al]

Felix is now a CAT-5 with 165. In 18 hours Felix has run the spectrum of Hurricane intensity.

 

[Fig]

Good frelling God.

Thirteen days between two C-5s. Even 2005 never came under the two weeks limit.

In fact, under the two weeks limit happened only once in history - 1960 - and even then, one of the two hurricane has its C-5 status contested.

Edited : Filched from one of many reports :

"A DROPSONDE RELEASED IN THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT LANDED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT."

Re-Edited : The NHC recalled their hurricane hunter plane and aborted the mission due to how extreme the conditions are!

 

[The Big Al]

That's one powerful storm if they're afraid of sending the plane. A dropsonde traveling halfway around the storm is also insane. How strong is this thing?