Typhoon Nida Monster Swells For Surfers In Guam

November 29, 2009 – Slow moving Typhoon Nida has been producing very impressive clean and large swells along the western coast of Guam. Surfers and body-boarders have been cranking out some major surf sessions the last 24 hours, and the swells could increase a little more into Monday.

Jim Edds remains on the Island of Guam in the western Pacific Ocean, on his two month typhoon expedition. These were the latest scenes from Guam on Sunday.

Hurricane Ida Ongoing Chase Updates

November 8, 2009 – Currently en-route to the Florida Panhandle for Hurricane Ida chase. It’s not known if she will remain fully tropical at the time of nearing, and/or making landfall along the Northern Gulf coast. But, I decided it would be a close enough call to justify making the trip, plus, this being the only possible hurricane landfall of the 2009 season. Nevertheless, there will be likely strong winds and heavy rains regardless if she’s a true tropical cyclone, or transitioning into a extratropical system.

LIVE UPDATES BELOW: I will update this blog post throughout my chase to make it easier on me. So refer back to this page for further updates on the road, and watch for new video updates in the right side video player. Thanks – Jeff Gammons

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Update: 11/11/09 9:42am ET - Back home in South Florida after our 36 hour chase to Pensacola Beach for Tropical Storm Ida. I’d have to say the most impressive part of Ida, had to be the very large waves about 12 hours before she reached the coast. I will be posting pictures and video in the coming day or two, and I’ll post a link to them here. Otherwise, this is the last update on this page concerning Ida.

Update: 11/10/09 8:50am ET – A very disorganized Tropical Storm Ida, made landfall along the Alabama coast just to our west, with 45mph winds. The winds are onshore here now in Pensacola, and the Gulf is extremely rough. Were going to get some breakfast down stairs, and then head back down to the water for some last minute video and pictures. After that, back on the highway eastbound, and then south towards home in South Florida. I’ll post a Tropical Storm Ida picture gallery once back home of the last 24 hours of our adventures here in Pensacola Beach.

Update: 11/10/09 12:31am ET - Tropical Storm Ida continues to weaken, remains just offshore the Alabama and Florida coasts. In the last two hours, we have started to receive low-end tropical storm force winds, along with very heavy rainfall here on Pensacola Beach. A heavy band of rain on the northern side of Ida, has been stationary dumping 2-3 inches of rain and hour. The winds have also become more sustained with embedded gusts, but nothing to impressive. Going to get a few hours of sleep, and get up once the onshore flow takes over here on the beach.

Update: 11/9/09 6:36pm ET - We’ve taken the last few hours to relax here on Pensacola Beach in our 3rd floor room at the Hampton Inn beachside. There are thunderous crashing waves just out the window, and the winds are becoming a little more sustained. Looking at radar, some of the last few scans maybe show that Ida may be beginning to make the north-northeast turn towards the Alabama / Florida border. I will be heading out on foot in the next hour, as she looks to make landfall sooner than first thought. It should be a interesting next 6-8 hours here in Pensacola Beach.

Update: 11/9/09 12:02pm - Kersten and I have been around Pensacola Beach, FL the last several hours shooting (AS SEEN ABOVE) some video and pictures of the large swells. Went out to the end of the Pensacola Beach pier to shoot impressive large waves pounding the coastline. Tropical Storm Ida continues to weaken, but still expecting Tropical Storm force winds this evening and heavy rains.

Update: 11/9/09 4:47am ET - Passing Crestview, FL in the Panhandle. Ida Satellite looking much weaker, and looks like cooler water and wind shear are now slowly weakening her as expected. Still en-route though.

Update: 11/8/09 10:40pm ET - Passing central Florida northbound. Learned that Hurricane Warnings now active along the northern gulf coast.

Update: 11/8/09 8:37pm ET - I have departed South-Central Florida, and currently on the road towards the Florida western Panhandle.

Update: 11/8/09 7:19pm ET - Everything is packed and ready to go. Having dinner and then heading out northbound towards the Florida Panhandle.

Late Season Tropical Storm Ida Forms Southwest Caribbean

November 4, 2009 – Tropical Storm Ida organizing in the southwestern Caribbean Sea this afternoon. A recent reconnaissance flight into the Tropical Depression, found winds that have now increased into the moderate Tropical Storm force range. Tropical Storm Ida has winds of 60mph with higher gusts, and slowly moving west-northwest around 6mph. Visible satellite loop trends throughout the day, have showed a fairly organized system, with nice banding of deep convection. I’m surprised that recon found an already impressive 60mph tropical storm with a pressure reading of 996mb. What would we do without solid data from recon missions.

A lot is up in the air about the future track and strength of Ida. If she continues to slowly track a little more west-northwestward, she will remain very close to the Nicaragua coastline, and is forecast to move inland overnight and on Thursday. This would significantly affect the strength, and sustaining of a organized system, especially once it moves fully over land. Right now I’m more focused on it’s future track over the next 48 hours, while interacting with Central American. It is forecast to track out into the western Caribbean and slowly re-intensify.

Models are in agreement in bringing Ida northwestward into the western Caribbean Sea, and possibly the Gulf of Mexico as well. It’s way to early to know for sure if Ida would even make it that far north with some of the land obstacles ahead of her. I’m watching very closely as this late season Tropical Storm is positioned south of Florida in November. It will be interesting to track and see what she does into this weekend. Stay tuned!

Storm Chasers Jim Edds James Reynolds Typhoon Mirinae

November 1, 2009 – My good friend and chase partner Jim Edds from Pensacola Florida, along with fellow Typhoon Chaser James Reynolds, sent me in the latest incoming video scenes from Typhoon Mirinae to recently hit the Philippines. They filmed in and around the city of Manila during the duration of the Typhoon. Jim said the locals were friendly, and even had to give him a helping hand at one point when he found himself stuck in a hole as seen in this video update.

This has been Jim’s third Typhoon chase in the last month. He ventured out to the West Pacific Ocean in early October to chase / intercept Typhoons, after the Atlantic 2009 Hurricane Season remained very slow likely due to a developing El Nino. Jim plans to return the Florida sometime at the end of November or into early December once the season out there comes to a close.

Note: Most of the video shot in this segment are from James Reynolds (Typhoonfury.com). I need to edit the overlay credit on the video. Great work, James!

People Ready For Typhoon Lupit In Aparri Philippines

October 21, 2009 – Storm Chaser partner Jim Edds, is now on the ground in the city of Aparri, which is located on the northern coast of the Philippines. He is there to intercept and document Typhoon Lupit, which is forecast to track across the northern mainland coast. These are some images from the area once he arrived yesterday of local residents preparing for the storm. Expecting more updates over the next few days from him.

Storm Chaser Typhoon Parma Philippines Flooding Video

October 5, 2009 – Typhoon Chaser James Reynolds sends in the latest video scenes from Typhoon Parma. James’s footage feed was shot along a coastal highway from Laoag to Pampalona, in extreme northwest Philippines. He uploaded this latest video to us via satellite data phone. You can find out more on his Typhoon coverage at: Typhoonfury.com

Typhoon Melor Monster Waves Slam Cliffs Of Saipan Video

October 3, 2009 – The latest from Storm Chaser Jim Edds currently on the island of Saipan (northern Mariana Islands) in the West Pacific chasing Typhoon Melor. The intense Typhoon passed north of the island, but sent impressive large waves that were smashing into the 175 foot cliff’s. Gusty Tropical Storm force winds and monster waves pounded the northern coast of Saipan during the day Saturday.

Jim continues his two month Typhoon Chase Expedition in the west Pacific tomorrow, when he returns to Guam where he is based out of for this trip. More can be found on Jim’s website at: Extremestorms.com

Related Typhoon Melor Posts: Exclusive: Storm Chaser Jim Edds Saipan Typhoon Melor Video

Exclusive: Chaser Jim Edds Report Saipan Typhoon Melor

October 2, 2009 – My fellow Storm Chaser and partner Jim Edds, is currently on the island of Saipan for Typhoon Melor. This is a recent exclusive video update from him for Weatherzine. He has been driving around Saipan shooting scenes before the storm, and interviewing some of the locals of the island talking about the nearing storm. Typhoon Melor is expected to become a Super Typhoon and pass just to the north of the island as of the latest forecast track.

I’m in communication with Jim several times a day via Skype video, and expecting further updates from Jim during the passage of the large Typhoon over the next day or two. Jim is currently on a two month Typhoon chase expedition in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, and basing himself out of Guam. For more updates on Jim, visit his personal website at: Extremestorms.com

Related Typhoon Melor Posts: Typhoon Melor Monster Waves Slam Cliffs Of Saipan Video

Typhoon Koppu Slams Into Hong Kong Storm Chaser Video

September 14, 2009 – Storm Chaser James Reynolds recently films some impressive scenes from Typhoon Koppu, as the storm slams into Hong Kong. James was kind of enough to feed into us his latest video just shot intercepting the powerful storm. 100mph winds, impressive waves and storm surge filmed during the after dark cyclone. James is a fellow Storm Chaser based in Shanghai, China. Be sure to visit TyphoonFury.com for all of his work.

Thanks James for a great video feed in of Typhoon Koppu!

Storm Chasers Capture Hurricane Jimena Video In Baja

September 4, 2009 – Fellow Storm Chasers just returned from intercepting Hurricane Jimena in Baja. Chasers Jim Edds and Jeff Piotrowski flew in to intercept the storm a few days ago and was able to get into the eye of the weakening hurricane. Puerto San Carlos, Mexico turned out to be their final target and Jimena tracked right over this small community bringing 90mph winds and the calm of the eye. They also recorded a pressure reading of 973mb during the passage of the eye.

In this short video you can see what they experienced that early morning, but stay tuned also to their websites for further video and pictures likely to be released.

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