Effects of Synoptic Surveillance on model forecasts for
21 September 2005 1200 UTC
Rita.


Quicktime movie of AVN DLM wind model forecast
Quicktime movie of DLM wind data increment


TRACK AND INTENSITY PERFORMANCE

TRACK (km)
MODEL12 h24 h36 h48 h60 h72 h84 h96 h108 h120 h
AVNN 46 74120164208275388529746
AVNO 42 69 89166213246369542764
%IMP 9% 7%26%-1%-2%11%-5%-2%-2%
GFNO 40101146202213264361499676
GFDL 62119141200201256331477705
%IMP-55%-17% 3% 1% 6% 3% 8% 4%-4%
INTENSITY (kt)
MODEL12 h24 h36 h48 h60 h72 h84 h96 h108 h120 h
AVNN-103-91-71-58-44 -2 0 -3 -4
AVNO -97-83-55-45-25 23 8 9 -1
%IMP 6% 9%23%22%43%-1050%und%-200%75%
GFNO-45-25 -9 -6 -5 22 9 -1 5
GFDL-56-38 -8 -3 -2 13 5 -1 14
%IMP-24%-52%11%50%60%41%44% 0%-180%

Landfall forecasts

24/0730 UTC 29.7N 93.7W between Johnson's Bayou, LA, and Sabine Pass 67.5 h into the forecast
MODELLATLONTIMEERRORLOCATION
AVNN 28.6695.82 74.0235.9Matagorda, TX
AVNO28.8395.42 74.5193.3Freeport, TX
%IMP -7% 18%
GFNO28.6595.93 68.5245.8Matagorda, TX
GFDL28.6895.75 66.0229.7Matagorda, TX
%IMP -50% 7%

Figure 1. NCEP 850 - 210 hPa mean wind analysis for 21 September 2005 1200 UTC (Hurricane Rita).

Figure 2. Track forecasts for the no dropwindsonde (NO or NN) and the all dropwindsonde (AL) runs for the AVN and GFDL models initialized on 21 September 2005 1200 UTC.

Figure 3. Initial condition differences in the 850 - 210 hPa mean wind between the no and all dropwindsonde cases for 21 September 2005 1200 UTC.

Figure 4. 12-h forecast differences in the 850 - 210 hPa mean wind between the no and all dropwindsonde cases for 21 September 2005 1200 UTC.