[UPDATED] Raw data on RITA from the Air Force! (and what to do with it)

MilongaMan

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Wednesday September 21, 2005 · 1:25 PM PDT

2005/09/21 · 13:25

Update [2005-9-21 17:23:30 by MilongaMan]: Latest recon gives max wind speed at 700mb of 161 knots, equivalent to 163-168 mph surface wind speed. See this. Check the Vortex Message (Latest From the Eye) link from this page

Here is some info for those who like to get as close to the raw data as possible and calculate their own maximum sustained surface wind speed projections.

The Recon flights that measure different parameters inside a hurricane are either NOAA flights or AF flights. I found the raw flight data on Rita at the website of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron.

The latest flight is at Supplementary Vortex (Storm Wind Profile) (Also see item F on The Latest From The Eye.)

The explanation of what the numbers are is here.

Jump below the fold to see in part what the report reads, with explanations, and to learn how the surface wind speed is calculated from the data: Read More

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