In the early hours of August 19, 2019, a tropical wave appeared off the west coast of Africa. A few days later, it began showing signs of organization and cyclonic movement inside a small low-pressure area. By August 24, the system had grown large enough to qualify as an official tropical depression centered about 700 nm southeast of Barbados. That depression, now known as tropical storm Dorian, made landfall over Barbados with sustained winds of 45 knots. Dorian continued to intensify as it approached St. Croix later that day with increased winds of 65 knots, and by August 30, Dorian was labeled a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 knots.
Hurricane Hunters
Key Takeaways:
- Hurricane Dorian demonstrated the immense destructive power of tropical storms, causing billions in damage and hundreds of fatalities across the Bahamas and the US.
- NOAA's "hurricane hunters" are crucial for modern hurricane forecasting, flying specialized aircraft directly into storms to gather critical real-time meteorological data.
- These missions utilize sophisticated technology, including Doppler radar systems and dropwindsondes, to significantly improve storm modeling and track predictions.
- While greatly enhancing safety and preparedness for coastal communities, forecasting storm intensity remains challenging, and the missions are inherently dangerous.
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