Comments on: Ike just keeps growing, but still not strengthening

By: Alan Sullivan

Alan Sullivan — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:27:04 +0000

Ike has the potential to be unusually nasty inland. It is so big that the circulation will survive for some time. I expect a lot of tornadoes, and they could occur all the way to Oklahoma. There will be strong squalls as well, but sustained hurricane winds should not occur any distance inland. Those are barely reaching surface now, with the storm at sea.

Watch the track of the storm. Tornado risk will be highest along the track of the core, and also in squall bands to the east. There may be heavy rains and tropical storm winds in some bands west of south of the center, as the storm moves inland, but those are much less likely to be tornadic.

By: Jim C

Jim C — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:14:45 +0000

Thanks for the update. I have a special love for the Galvesotn area. We grew up vacationing there as kids. It breaks my heart to think that a lot of that area is under the gun during this storm.

Quick question though; what would need to happen for the wind field to get down to the surface? Is it that Ike’s core is so tight that it’s choking itself off from strenghthening?

Thanks,

Jim C

By: George

George — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:58:12 +0000

What are the implications of “relatively little transport of winds aloft down to the surface” and the large size of the storm when Ike moves inland? Does this imply that large areas of Texas well inland from the coast will experience strong winds and significant flooding? I’m curious what Ike will do to San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas.

By: T-web

T-web — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:24:26 +0000

Thanks for the great info. As a Houston-area resident, it’s good to get someone explaing what’s going on instead of acting like the apocolyps is upon us.