7.31.2009


Tropical Storm Lana Strengthens East-Southeast of Hawaii
Last Update: 31-JUL-2009 08:50am EDT
Tropical Storm Lana continues to churn in the central Pacific tropical basin and slowly get better organized. Lana is located 825 miles east southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, or near 13.3 north, 144.6 west. The storm is moving west-northwest at 20 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.
Tropical Storm Lana is embedded in a westerly steering flow caused by a mid-level ridge north of the storm's center. Lana is tracking over very warm water and has very favorable upper-level winds for further strengthening over the next 12-24 hours and could briefly attain hurricane status. However, an upper-level storm over the Hawaiian Islands is causing stronger-than-normal westerly winds in the path of Lana. Within the next 24 hours, Lana will start to interact with these unfavorable winds, which will result in a weakening trend. Lana will weaken to a tropical depression by early next week while staying south of the Hawaiian Islands. However, larger waves created by the storm could create larger surf along south-facing coastal areas of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend into early early next week.
There are a few other tropical waves of interest in the Pacific Basin as well. The wave near 125 west and 15 north is generating showers and thunderstorms and is in an environment for some gradual strengthening with low wind shear and very warm sea surface temperatures. Another tropical wave is located near 100 west. Both of these waves stand the chance of some organization if a low-level feature can become established. The steering flow will push these systems off to the west, away from any landmass.




After Mulberry-Bramble Liu’s Poem

I’d long felt these mountains and lakes
calling, and wouldn’t have thought twice,

but my family and friends couldn’t bear
talk of living apart. Then one lucky day

a strange feeling came over me and I left,
walking stick in hand, for my west farm.

No one was going home: on outland roads
farm after farm lay in abandoned ruins,

but our thatch hut’s already good as ever,
and our new fields look old and settled.

When valley winds turn bitter and cold
our spring wine eases hunger and work,

and though it isn’t strong, just baby-girl
wine, it’s better than nothing for worry.

As months and years circle on away here,
the bustling world’s ways grown distant,

plowing and weaving provide all we use.
Who needs anything more? Away – away

into this hundred-year life and beyond,
my story and I vanish together like this.

T’ao Ch’ien
Translated by David Hinton




SV TATOOSH POSITION 45* 44.044' N by 122* 51.695' W




Right now...much cooler. Garbage trucks. Barking dogs. Off to SV Tatoosh for bridge traveller installation.

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