| Sonde was 948mb with 10 knots of surface wind. The pass before this was 951mb with 8 knots of surface wind, measured at 5:04am EDT. Highest 10 second estimated surface wind by SFMR instrument so far was 107 knots (123.1 mph). There a was 101 knots (116.2 mph) before it. There was 102 knots (117.4 mph) marked as suspect after it. (readings in HDOB are available every 30 seconds) These were in the eyewall of the SE quadrant. That's been the highest out of all four quadrants. The flight level winds in the SE quadrant were 99 knots (113.9 mph). But the highest flight level winds occurred when the plane then went to NW quadrant. That is where measured 30 second flight level winds were 114 knots (131.2 mph) and 10 second flight level winds were 117 knots (134.6 mph). It has a tight core of those highest winds. The previous 30 second flight level winds were 89 knots (102.4 mph) and the next 30 seconds were 103 knots (118.5 mph). The NE quadrant was lower, but given the movement of the storm, that makes sense. NW quadrant would likely be higher. NE Quadrant: 30s flight level: 105 knots (120.8 mph) 10s estimated surface wind: 83 knots (95.5 mph) SW Quadrant: 30s flight level: 93 knots (107.0 mph) 10s estimated surface wind: 88 knots (101.3 mph) But obviously, Irma is strengthening. You can tell that from pressure. URNT12 KWBC 041050 VORTEX DATA MESSAGE AL112017 A. 04/10:27:07Z B. 16 deg 47 min N 052 deg 21 min W C. 700 mb 2655 m D. 89 kt E. 207 deg 5 nm F. 312 deg 95 kt G. 211 deg 7 nm H. 948 mb I. 11 C / 2989 m J. 14 C / 3334 m K. 12 C / NA L. CLOSED M. C18 N. 12345 / 7 O. 0.1 / 1 nm P. NOAA2 0211A IRMA OB 12 MAX FL WIND 117 KT 315 / 12 NM 09:06:56Z MAX OUTBOUND FL WIND 109 KT 042 / 10 NM 10:29:44Z EYEWALL WEAKER NW THROUGH NE CNTR DROPSONDE SFC WIND 080 / 10 KTS Product: NOAA Vortex Message (URNT12 KWBC) Transmitted: 4th day of the month at 10:50Z Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Aircraft: Lockheed WP-3D Orion (Reg. Num. N42RF) Storm Number & Year: 11 in 2017 Storm Name: Irma (flight in the North Atlantic basin) Mission Number: 2 Observation Number: 12 A. Time of Center Fix: 4th day of the month at 10:27:07Z B. Center Fix Coordinates: 16°47'N 52°21'W (16.7833N 52.35W) B. Center Fix Location: 547 statute miles (880 km) to the ENE (62°) from Bridgetown, Barbados. C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 2,655m (8,711ft) at 700mb D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind Inbound: 89kts (~ 102.4mph) E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind Inbound: 5 nautical miles (6 statute miles) to the SSW (207°) of center fix F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 312° at 95kts (From the NW at ~ 109.3mph) G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 7 nautical miles (8 statute miles) to the SSW (211°) of center fix H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 948mb (28.00 inHg) I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 11°C (52°F) at a pressure alt. of 2,989m (9,806ft) J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 14°C (57°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,334m (10,938ft) K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 12°C (54°F) K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available L. Eye Character: Closed M. Eye Shape & Diameter: Circular with a diameter of 18 nautical miles (21 statute miles) N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind, Pressure and Temperature N. Fix Level: 700mb O. Navigational Fix Accuracy: 0.1 nautical miles O. Meteorological Accuracy: 1 nautical mile Remarks Section - Remarks That Were Decoded... Maximum Flight Level Wind: 117kts (~ 134.6mph) which was observed 12 nautical miles (14 statute miles) to the NW (315°) from the flight level center at 9:06:56Z Maximum Flight Level Wind Outbound: 109kts (~ 125.4mph) which was observed 10 nautical miles (12 statute miles) to the NE (42°) from the flight level center at 10:29:44Z Dropsonde Surface Wind at Center: From 80° at 10kts (From the E at 12mph) Remarks Section - Additional Remarks... EYEWALL WEAKER NW THROUGH NE |