Iselle has been battering Hawaii’s eastern chain throughout the past 12-24 hours with damaging wind and flooding rain. The system however has been rapidly weakening on final approach with a downgrade to TS status ahead of landfall. Therefore there was technically no ‘first hurricane landfall in 22 years’.

Poor representation of a tropical cyclone this morning with dry air entrainment taking it’s toll now for some time.

Water vapour shows big ingestion of dry air.

Here’s a radar image of Iselle making landfall on the SE shore of the Big Island!

Regardless of whether Iselle was a hurricane or strong storm, the system has still brought damage and cut power to well over 20,000 on the Big Island with gusts topping 60 mph. Waves have also battered the islands with heights topping 20-30ft. Jim Cantore reported spray soaring to 75ft as waves battered east facing cliffs.

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Rainfall is likely to bring the greatest impact with flash flood warnings issued for much of the eastern chain. However, the complex and lofty topographic of these islands mean a distinct contrast in precip amounts dependant upon location. On the windward side and particularly UPSLOPE areas, one can expect 4-8, locally 12 inch totals while places on the other side may get very little.

Here’s a great graphic representing topography vs precip. Via Greg Postel of TWC.

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As for the Lower 48, the focus of heavy rains turns to the eastern side of the country this upcoming 5-7 days.

While it’s turned seasonably hot again over the South and Southeast, yet another big trough digs south down the Plains with shower and thunderstorm activity greatly ramping up along a boundary next week.

Any time it’s tried to get hot, more cool air has dropped south out of Canada. The Bermuda high has largely remained out over the Atlantic rather than sit over the East Coast like we’ve seen in recent hot summers. This is why 90s have been pretty sparse this summer up the East Coast. They’ve been non-existent for cities such as Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and State College and given the fact troughiness rules through the rest of August and by Sept the chances of major heat decreases, we have find one of the few summers where NO 90 has been achieved in some OH Valley/Appalachain cities.

GFS 7-day mean 500mb height anomalies through the next 16 days shows no real warmth STILL!

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Full write-up and video again on Sunday… Taking tomorrow off!

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Tags: hawaii, hurricane iselle, iselle