Noel is coming

[Park Kraken]

As of 8PM Eastern time Nov 1st, Hurricane Noel is centered in the northern Bahamas, with winds of 75 mph, and is expected to race off to the north-northeast at an increasing rate of speed. The danger factor that is associated with this storm is that it will soon become extra-tropical, which will bring about an increase in size, and the storm is expected to intensify even more, with forecasted winds getting up to 85 mph or so, by the time the storm is forecasted to slam into Nova Scotia. But with the size the storm is already, and the size it is expected to become, the entire eastern U.S. seaboard may be affected, with squall lines spreading inland as well.

Will post updates as I hear them.

[Park Kraken]

So far the storm has been blamed for over a hundred deaths in the Caribbean, mostly associated with rain that the storm dumped as it transited over Haiti, Dominician Republic, and Cuba.

An article talking about problems the storm is already causing;

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SOU_TROPICAL_WEATHER_FLORIDA_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

[Park Kraken]

11PM update is in, winds are now 80 mph, and the central pressure has dropped to 981 mb. The storm is expected to become an extratropical hurricane in about 24 hours, and is on a beeline for hitting Nova Scotia as an extra-tropical hurricane in the later evening hours of this Saturday.

[Park Kraken]

Incredible picture of the hurricane, infrared satellite, 5AM eastern time November 2nd. The storm is expanding in size, and hurricane winds occur up to 45 miles from the center, with tropical storm force winds extending outwards up to 300 miles from the center.

With the storm moving north-northeast, I expect the Carolinas, and the New England states to be affected by squall lines rotating out from the storm. Gusty winds, heavy rains, etc.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Heard about this on the way home from work this morning. Hurricanes are good business for the company I work for, so this is partially good news for me.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

My friend is on a cruise down that-a-way. Hope the ship's still in one piece.

[Park Kraken]

Noel has completed extra-tropical transition and is still at hurricane intensity. Flood watches have been posted in the Northeast, along with wind warnings issued for expected sustained winds of 40 mph and gusts up to 70 mph. The main cities under this warning are Providence, Boston, Portland, and other cities in the area.

Here is the latest satellite image. Notice how the core of the hurricane has evaporated. This is typical of extra-tropical cyclones, in that the worst of the weather is well away from the center of the storm.