Date added: Monday September 18,
2006: 2am EST
Helene a Big, Bad Storm; US Hit Unlikely,
But Possible. Gordon Still a Hurricane Too
Plus "That
Seemed Like a Hurricane"
By HurricaneNow.com
Chief Correspondent Jeff Flock
Major Hurricane #2
Helene has strengthened to a Cat
3 hurricane and the National Hurricane Center says it sees
no reason why it shouldn't strengthen more. Although the
most respected of the intensity forecasts the SHIPS model
sees no more than 123 mph winds despite conditions that
would seem to favor strengthening. Though the storm is in
the middle of the Atlantic it continues to churn toward
the US mainland and is expected to do so for the next couple
days. The question is will it make it all the way. While
there is some disagreement among the track models as to
just where it will go, the likelihood is that it will be
carried off to the north and east before it makes US landfall.
Nothing is certain at this stage however. The bigger the
storm (and it is getting pretty big) the more likelihood
it might be carried off, but if it were to remain on track
the size and intensity would make it a major threat. As
we're fond of saying: at this point we don't know.
Gordon Still Swinging
The first major hurricane of the
2006 season, Gordon, has kept its identity as a hurricane
and may do so for another day or more. Gordon is expected
to become extratropical eventually. Normally we wouldn't
care so much since the storm is in the middle of the Atlantic.
But a couple of interesting points: 1.It is possible that
Gordon or what's left of it could affect the Azores in the
next several days. And, 2.Gordon may interact with another
powerful extratropical cyclone and make something of a "Perfect
Storm" that not be a hurricane, but might be worse.
More in my commentary below about "extratropical storms"
and what they can accomplish.
"That
Seemed Like a Hurricane"
What Florence did to Newfoundland
this week long after she ceased being a tropical system
is a reminder that it doesn't take a hurricane to produce
hurricane-like damage. Read more
here...
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