Delta Notes at 9:30: Pressure Dropping Steadily, Thunderstorms Building Around Center, Northward Turn Happening

NOAA Hurricane Hunters found that the pressure in Hurricane Delta was down to 955 mb, that’s down another degree since the last pass.

They measured flight level winds of 103 knots or 106 mph at the surface. The surface wind measured was 106 mph on the outbound leg.

Infrared satellite imagery indicates that powerful thunderstorms continue to build and wrap around the center. All of this indicates that some more strengthening is possible overnight before increasing shear and cooler waters should stop the intensification trend tomorrow morning.

The center fixes are showing a more northerly turn over the past few hours.

NOAA Data Buoy 42002, 238 miles east of Brownsville, is reporting 56 mph winds with gusts to 74 mph. Wave heights were measured at 29.2 feet. The pressure was down to 29.21 inches.

Tides are already 1.3 feet above normal along the Central Louisiana coast.

COASTAL REPORTS
CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS
LAKE CHARLES MOCLDY 74 74 100 NE14 29.93
CHENNAULT AP CLOUDY 75 73 94 NE10 29.93S
SULPHUR NOT AVBL
LAFAYETTE CLOUDY 77 73 87 NE9 29.94R
NEW IBERIA LGT RAIN 77 77 100 NE10 29.94R
ABBEVILLE LGT RAIN 78 75 90 N6 29.93R
PATTERSON NOT AVBL
SALT POINT N/A 80 77 90 MISG 29.90S

Category: ALL POSTS, Tropical