The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

[TC_Halogen]

I was talking to WinDEU on AIM about random things when he brought up a news article that really caught my attention.

Apparently, the midwestern region of the US is about to get slammed by a system - one so strong that it is being considered one of the worst storms to hit the area in 70 years.

After seeing something being deemed so powerful, I decided to look around for some actual NOAA data:


The barometric pressure of this system is impressive...and while digging through a few articles to find out more about the potential strength of this system, a NWS meteorologist gave his thoughts about the system:

“It will rank among the most powerful cyclones in the last hundred years,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Allsopp.

“This low pressure system is equivalent to a category three hurricane,” Allsopp said. Though cyclones behave differently over land, Allsopp said the storm will be “very strong and intense.”

I used to live in Chicago, and being that this is going to be happening near quite a few people that I know - it actually has me a bit concerned. I've never seen a land-driven storm like this before.

Lots of weather events have been happening within recent memory - it's so ridiculous...

EDIT: I'll add a bit more to this that I didn't - as of now, it's looking to impact the city of Chicago from 4 AM to 9 AM with the potential of producing 70mph winds and has the threat for tornadoes, despite the lack of instability.

[ddrfeline]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

Wow, fml.
Link to article please?

Also, hoping everyone stays safe.

EDIT: Thanks.

[TC_Halogen]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

Comparison of pressure in mB of previous damaging systems with this one:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=lot&storyid=58925&source=0

Local Chicago article with NWS meteorologist comparing this to a Cat. 3 hurricane:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2833950,wind-alert-storm-chicago-area-102510.article

Probabilities/potential storms to be seen within this area:

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0719_prob.html

EDIT: Another thing to think about...this is a storm producing extreme thunderstorms near the end of October; some areas receiving these extreme storms are actually forecast to see snow following this. Areas that are sitting in the mid-70 degree area for daytime highs will plummet and struggle to hang in the 40s. This system is extremely potent.

[foilman8805]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

Winds are expected at about 40 MPH, with gusts to 60 MPH in many areas. That's a far cry from the wind intensity of a Category 3 hurricane.

So many people are going to get the wrong idea from that article and think they're going to have to board up their windows and ****. The foundation for that claim is based on the pressure data, not the wind, and is truthfully a rather foolish thing for that meteorologist to say because most people are dumb and will not know the difference.

[00Razor00]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

Yay for living in the Southwest. Huzzah.

[Oni-Paranoia]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

Winds are expected at about 40 MPH, with gusts to 60 MPH in many areas. That's a far cry from the wind intensity of a Category 3 hurricane.

So many people are going to get the wrong idea from that article and think they're going to have to board up their windows and ****. The foundation for that claim is based on the pressure data, not the wind, and is truthfully a rather foolish thing for that meteorologist to say because most people are dumb and will not know the difference.

Better to prepare for the worst?

[ddrfeline]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

Better to prepare for the worst?

I agree 100% especially in these types of situations. They're making a big deal out of it for a reason...and even if it was a bit over the top, who cares? The worst is that you spend a few extra hundred dollars gathering up supplies and preparing for a couple days without electricity.

[foilman8805]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

I suppose you're right, Oni, but it's probably not going to be that wild quite honestly. I find that weather systems are pretty much always hyped up with big scary words and predictions. I would think that this storm is probably better than something like a blizzard because it won't dump 30 inches of snow on everything.

[foilman8805]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

But the fact of the matter is that preparing for this cyclone and preparing for a Cat. 3 hurricane are wayyyy different things. Not really comparable whatsoever.

[TC_Halogen]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

Winds are expected at about 40 MPH, with gusts to 60 MPH in many areas. That's a far cry from the wind intensity of a Category 3 hurricane.

So many people are going to get the wrong idea from that article and think they're going to have to board up their windows and ****. The foundation for that claim is based on the pressure data, not the wind, and is truthfully a rather foolish thing for that meteorologist to say because most people are dumb and will not know the difference.

I do agree about the fact that the wind forecast being a bit of a stretch in comparison to the extremely low barometric pressure (the center of it is expected to hit 958 MB, a bombogenesis); it seems like the main difference between the pressure and the estimated wind, is the fact that it's over land. The extreme deepening of the system is going to cause extreme winds - Lake Michigan is actually expected to get near-hurricane force winds and waves as high as 30 feet, which is more than enough to flood the entire Lake Shore drive area; let the commuting nightmare begin. The 40 to 60 MPH winds are also holding steady after the main front passes, and won't subside for at least 24 hours.

I'm actually looking at NOAA's maps right now, and it already seems like storms are flaring up quickly, something that you don't see often without typical day-time heating and/or extreme moisture.

I wish I could stay awake to see the storm unfold, but I have to sleep because I start work at 9 AM tomorrow. Oh well.

[Izzy]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

It's raining here in Kansas. Should I be worried?

[fido123]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

I agree 100% especially in these types of situations. They're making a big deal out of it for a reason...and even if it was a bit over the top, who cares? The worst is that you spend a few extra hundred dollars gathering up supplies and preparing for a couple days without electricity.

Although I agree doing that sort of stuff is a good idea as it's good to be prepared for no electricity regardless of conditions, a lot of times they make things like this a big deal so people will get scared and pay way more attention to it than needed. The media is after only one thing and that's money and they want you to watch their programs.

[Emo_Saur_]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

Never mind what I just said, we're having 21 mph winds with up to 45 mph gusts and I am in Northern Missouri.

[Oni-Paranoia]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

Although I agree doing that sort of stuff is a good idea as it's good to be prepared for no electricity regardless of conditions, a lot of times they make things like this a big deal so people will get scared and pay way more attention to it than needed. The media is after only one thing and that's money and they want you to watch their programs.

I don't think you can "pay way more attention" to something ("Expect the unexpected"). But I get your point, because your absolutely right about the media. Competition for being watched the most can get real tricky with 'facts'.

EDIT: "This type of storm happens every 1-20 years (last one being in 1998)"
Source (The video afterward talks about what "Bombogenesis" means.)

[psychoangel691]

Re: The "Great Lakes Cyclone"

Was just looking at some of the damages from the storm already and it's pretty bad and this storm isn't near done yet. Everyone out there be safe don't take any chances please.