Air Force recon did a center fix in Tropical Storm Ida just after 11:30 this morning. It was just below hurricane intensity. The Stepped Frequency Radiometer instrument estimated surface winds at 56 knots or 65 mph. Maximum flight level winds were 65 knots. Deducting 10% for the altitude comes close to that 65 mph reading as well.

Here is the vortex data message…

000
URNT12 KNHC 071705
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE AL112009
A. 07/16:36:20Z
B. 18 deg 25 min N
084 deg 01 min W
C. 850 mb 1355 m
D. 56 kt
E. 056 deg 21 nm
F. 144 deg 65 kt
G. 055 deg 24 nm
H. 990 mb
I. 17 C / 1525 m
J. 25 C / 1521 m
K. 19 C / NA
L. NA
M. NA
N. 12345 / 8
O. 0.02 / 4 nm
P. AF306 0211A IDA OB 06
MAX FL WIND 65 KT NE QUAD 16:28:20Z
MAX OUTBOUND FL WIND 67 KT SW QUAD 16:41:10Z
SPIRAL BAND PATTERN

Here it is decoded from TropicalAtlantic.com’s decoder.

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 7th day of the month at 17:05Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 306)
Storm Number & Year: 11L in 2009
Storm Name: Ida (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 2
Observation Number: 06
A. Time of Center Fix: 7th day of the month at 16:36:20Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 18°25′N 84°01′W (18.4167N 84.0167W)
B. Center Fix Location: 263 miles (424 km) to the SE (136°) from Cancún, Quintana Roo, México.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 1,355m (4,446ft) at 850mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 56kts (~ 64.4mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 21 nautical miles (24 statute miles) to the NE/ENE (56°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 144° at 65kts (From the SE at ~ 74.8mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 24 nautical miles (28 statute miles) to the NE (55°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 990mb (29.23 inHg)
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 17°C (63°F) at a pressure alt. of 1,525m (5,003ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 25°C (77°F) at a pressure alt. of 1,521m (4,990ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 19°C (66°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Not Available
M. Eye Shape: Not Available
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind, Pressure and Temperature
N. Fix Level: 850mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 4 nautical miles
Remarks Section – Remarks That Were Decoded…
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 65kts (~ 74.8mph) in the northeast quadrant at 16:28:20Z
Maximum Flight Level Wind Outbound: 67kts (~ 77.1mph) in the southwest quadrant at 16:41:10Z
Remarks Section – Additional Remarks…
SPIRAL BAND PATTERN