August 2020:

[Kingwood36]

Already took down my shutters and turned on the sprinkler and fixing to fire up the grill

[DoctorMu]

Businesses closed early today. Doctors left at noon to prepare for the mess that is coming. I lost my very important doctors appointment. People evacuated. Those in Louisiana thought Texas was ground zero. We are down to 24 hours and basically moment casting. I've said it for years now that model casting is nearly useless. Sure do miss the good old days. To those of you in Louisiana our hearts and prayers go out to you. Those of us in Texas dodged a bullet even though many needed the rain. We simply have to do a better job than this in weather forecasting. It has become absolutely ridiculous.

To be fair, the NHC and sensible forecasters on television have been pretty accurate, predicting SW Louisiana or the TX-La border since Laura began skirting Cuba.

[Ace]

150 mph predicted by NHC at landfall.

https://twitter.com/ABStormChasers/stat ... 65025?s=20

I know many on here are saying that west of I 45 isn’t going to get anything. However I am very close to I 45 and when I look at the wind models or maps it really shows that I’m right on the border of heavy tropical storm winds.

Does anyone have any idea if right off of 45 I’m going to be in that zone? It was pretty wild during ache when we had 1635 mm winds and it looks like this is about the same in our are

I’m not quite understanding how, if 150 mile an hour storm is hitting around Beaumont, how we’re not going to get bands of rain and wind around 45?

[srainhoutx]

NOAA RECON suggests that Laura may be nearing Cat 5 status.

[snowman65]

NOAA RECON suggests that Laura may be nearing Cat 5 status.

screw it....come on...take it all. Leave nothing for me to clean up or fix.

[Andrew]

Businesses closed early today. Doctors left at noon to prepare for the mess that is coming. I lost my very important doctors appointment. People evacuated. Those in Louisiana thought Texas was ground zero. We are down to 24 hours and basically moment casting. I've said it for years now that model casting is nearly useless. Sure do miss the good old days. To those of you in Louisiana our hearts and prayers go out to you. Those of us in Texas dodged a bullet even though many needed the rain. We simply have to do a better job than this in weather forecasting. It has become absolutely ridiculous.

It has always been the case that you overprepare for storms like this due to the inconsistencies in forecasts. The "good old days" never existed and current forecasts are the most accurate they have ever been! Yes, this was a complex forecast and the error rate was higher than usual, but the NHC did a fantastic job and accurately forecasted landfall several days ahead of time. A cat 4/5 hurricane is not something you want to mess around with and these minor inconveniences of doctor appointments being rescheduled or businesses closing early are much better than losing lives and property.

[DoctorMu]

Laura will be 3rd or 4th.

Strongest US hurricanes since 1970:
1. Andrew (1992): 165 mph
2. Michael (2018): 160 mph
3. Charley (2004): 150 mph
4. Hugo (1989): 140 mph
5. Irma (2017): 130 mph
5. Harvey (2017): 130 mph
5. Frederic (1979): 130 mph*
8. Katrina (2005): 125 mph

[DoctorMu]

937 mBar pressure; 153 mph on recon...waiting for report.

[DoctorMu]

Levi Cowan
@TropicalTidbits
Level 1:
Incredible wind velocities of 180 - 205 mph just above the ground were observed by a dropsonde in the northeastern eyewall of #Laura, helping to confirm the winds the plane observed. The surface winds would be lower due to friction, but still extreme.

https://twitter.com/TropicalTidbits/sta ... 02602?s=20

[Scott747]

Well we've locked in on what we think is ground zero. Josh is headed that way now.

[Andrew]

Well we've locked in on what we think is ground zero. Josh is headed that way now.

Wish him luck from all of us here on the board! It is going to be a crazy night.

[DoctorMu]

[snowman65]

Looks to be going almost due north now.

[Rip76]

This is going to be devastating.

[Rip76]

Can anyone post storm chaser links?

[Ptarmigan]

The lightning in Hurricane Laura suggest it is still intensifying.

[Scott747]

Well we've locked in on what we think is ground zero. Josh is headed that way now.

Wish him luck from all of us here on the board! It is going to be a crazy night.

Will do. I'll have him drop by once things settle down.

[tireman4]

And this is just the third inning of a 20 inning game, like jason said..

[dac]

Can anyone post storm chaser links?

https://livestormchasing.com/map

[dac]

Can anyone post storm chaser links?

https://livestormchasing.com/map

Another one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP1Ee4F7q-o