Bill Becomes Hurricane, Strengthening

For regular updates see Atlantic Hurricanes 2009

Images of the Day: Bill Became a Hurricane

TS  Bill became the first hurricane of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season today, about 1,870 km east of the Lesser Antilles islands of the Caribbean, the national hurricane center reported.

Bill has sustained 120 kilometer per hour winds, as it races west across the Atlantic Ocean.

The “Twin-Engine” Hurricane Bill

Bill’s strong, “twin-Engine” symmetry may help it strengthen to a major hurricane as it races west across the Atlantic.

Hurricane Bill. Still Frame printed for reference (Unenhanced). To enlarge and update, Click on the image. Image source: NOAA

Hurricane Bill. Still Frame printed for reference (JSL enhancement). To enlarge and update, Click on the image. Image source: NOAA

Related Links:

• Tropical Storm CLAUDETTE [Regular updates for CLAUDETTE are found in the comment section of the post]
  
• Meet Bill and Ana, 2009 First Named Storms [For regular updates on Bill and Ana click here.  https://feww.wordpress.com/atlantic-hurricanes-2009/%5D
• National Hurricane Center
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

5th Strong Quake Strikes Japan Region

Magnitude 6.5 Quake Strikes SW Ryukyu Islands, Japan

FEWW anticipates more earthquakes measuring 6+ to strike Japan Region in 2009

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported an earthquake measuring 6.5 striking Ishigakijima Kinkai area, SW Ryukyu Islands, Japan region at a depth of 10km on  17 Aug 2009 at 19:11 JST ( 10:11UTC).

Details of the earthquake were as follows:

Earthquake Information
Occurred at: 19:11 JST 17 Aug 2009
Region name ISHIGAKIJIMA KINKAI
Latitude: 23.1N
Longitude: 123.7E
Depth: about 10km
Magnitude: 6.5

Tsunami Warning

JMA issued a tsunami advisory/warning for MIYAKOJIMA and YAEYAMA areas cautioning of sea-level rises of about 0.5 meters. However, there were NO reports of damage, it said

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Image may be subject to copyright.

USGS reported the event as measuring 6.4Mw [Event ID: us2009kkay] followed by an aftershock of magnitude 5.5 [Event ID: us2009kkaz.]

10-degree Map Centered at 25°N,125°E

EQ Location Map. Source: USGS

Related Links:

• 4th Powerful Quake Strikes Japan Region
• 3rd Powerful Quake in 3 Days Strikes Japan Region

• Strong Quake Strikes Near Shizuoka, Japan
• Powerful Earthquake Strikes Near Izu Islands, Japan
• Earthquakes [Links Page]
• Earthquake Forecast: Tokyo, Japan
• M 6.4 Quake Strikes SW Ryukkyu Isls, Japan
• Magnitude 6.3 quake strikes Taiwan region

4th Powerful Quake Strikes Japan Region

Magnitude 6.8 Quake Strikes Ryukyu Islands, Japan

FEWW Moderators had predicted more powerful earthquakes in the region last week, and now believe as many as 10 additional magnitude 6+ quakes could yet strike the region in coming weeks

Volcanic Activity Forecast

FEWW Moderators also believe there is a strong probability (0.8+) that the submarine Unnamed Volcano located East of Taiwan at 24.00N, 121.83E could erupt in 2009. [See previous comment.]

This Earthquake:
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the EQ details as follows

Earthquake Information
Occurred at: 09:06 JST 17 Aug 2009 [00:10UTC]
Region name: ISHIGAKIJIMA KINKAI
Latitude: 23.2N
Longitude: 123.8E
Depth:  about 10km
Magnitude: 6.8

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Image may be subject to copyright.

JMA issued the following tsunami warning:

Tsunami Information NUMBER 2  (High Tide Time and Estimated Tsunami Arrival Time at each place)

Issued at 09:10 JST 17 Aug 2009 [00:10 UTC]

High Tide Time and Estimated Tsunami Arrival Time at each place
Pay attention carefully in case a tsunami comes with a high tide and becomes higher.

Tsunami Forecast Region/ Tsunami Observation Site:
MIYAKOJIMA AND YAEYAMA AREA (*1)

High Tide Time /Estimated Tsunami Arrival Time:

MIYAKOJIMA AND YAEYAMA AREA (*1)
Iriomotejima 18:03 JST 17 Aug (*1)
Yonagunijima Kubura 18:06 JST 17 Aug 09:20 JST 17 Aug
Ishigakijima Ishigaki-ko 18:00 JST 17 Aug 09:30 JST 17 Aug
Miyakojima Hirara 17:55 JST 17 Aug 09:50 JST 17 Aug

[*1 mark: It is estimated that a tsunami has already arrived there.]

Tsunami Warning/Advisory

MIYAKOJIMA AND YAEYAMA AREA
No tsunami damage at some of the other coasts though there may be slight sea level changes.

END.

Meanwhile, USGS Earthquake Hazard Program reported the event as measuring 6.7Mw.

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS

Related Links:

• 3rd Powerful Quake in 3 Days Strikes Japan Region

• Strong Quake Strikes Near Shizuoka, Japan
• Powerful Earthquake Strikes Near Izu Islands, Japan
• Earthquakes [Links Page]
• Earthquake Forecast: Tokyo, Japan
• M 6.4 Quake Strikes SW Ryukkyu Isls, Japan
• Magnitude 6.3 quake strikes Taiwan region

Tropical Storm CLAUDETTE

The Third Tropical Storm in Just Over a Day forms Off the Coast of Florida

After a slow start to the six-month Atlantic hurricane season,  CLAUDETTE, the third Atlantic tropical storm of the year formed just over a day after TS Ana and Bill, on Sunday.

TS CLAUDETTE, according to the US National Hurricane Center Intermediate Advisory 4A, as of 8:00 PM EDT was located at  29.7N 85.9W with Max.  sustained winds of 80km/h (50 MPH) moving northwest (310 degrees) at a cruising  speed of about 19km/h  (12 MPH) with a minimum central pressure of 1008MB.

TS force winds radiate outward up to about 110km from the center. Claudette is expected to dump up to 15cm of rain across Florida Panhandle, the big Bend region of Florida, Central and S. Alabama, and extreme SW Georgia, the NHC advisory said, with the storm tide rising to a maximum of 150cm.

How Ana and Bill are doing

Tropical Storm Ana collapsed into a tropical depression on Sunday, and could still be downgraded further and disappear altogether very soon

Bill is the guy to watch for. Some forecasts expect Bill to grow into a  Category 3 hurricane [cat 3  and stronger hurricanes are designated as a major categories,] with winds of more than 180 km/h in the next 3 to 4 days.

The Gulf of Mexico oil and gas operations are unaffected for now, however, they could be pummeled later in the season.

Meanwhile, hurricane Guillermo is about to cross into central Pacific.

Claudette satellite image – rainbow enhancement curve – still frame as dated. To enlarge and update click on the image.

Coastal Watches/Warnings and 5-Day Track Forecast Cone

To enlarge and update click on the image.

To enlarge and update click on the image.

Related Links:

• Meet Bill and Ana, 2009 First Named Storms
• National Hurricane Center
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale