[TN-Bird] Tennessee positioned for Katrina fallout

  • From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "TN-birds" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 16:17:11 -0400

Remember that Hurricane Katrina has been picking up birds far out over the 
gulf.  The birds may be carried amazing distances.

Experience has shown us that the greatest fallout should begin at the point 
where Hurricane Katrina lowers it status from a hurricane to a Tropical 
Depression and over the areas covered in the following hours.

"Tropical Depression" is the operative word for our purposes.  Birders are 
going to have great difficulty in finding much wherever Katrina remains in a 
hurricane category.

You want to be studying Katrina carefully to get a feel for where 
possible bird fallouts will occur.

Hurricane Katrina should to a "Tropical Depression" when the pressure in the 
hurricane eye "increases" to 979 mb or 28.91 barrometric pressure and winds 
under 40 miles per hour.  



NOTE THAT ON THE MAP ABOVE, THE 979 MB AND 40 MILES PER HOUR 
APPARENTLY PUTS THE "TROPICAL DEPRESSION" FALLOUT NEAR THE TENNESSEE ALABAMA 
LINE IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE.  THIS IS ONLY A GENERAL 
GUIDE.

The bird fallout should approach its best potential at that point.  We can read 
the optimal conditions.  As the pressure goes to 980 mb and upwards with the 
winds dropping to 39 mph or less, conditions quickly optimize for bird fallout.

Hurricane Katrina is expected to come into Tennessee from the south Tuesday 
morning. Watch American flags on posts in your community and get a 
feel for the winds coming strongly from the east.  That is the approach of the 
outerbands. You want to know that wind direction to know the local movement of 
the storm approach.  As it passes the wind will blow from the north or west.

Otherwise, wind from the south means you are on the eastern edge.  Winds from 
the east means you are getting the front of the storm.  From the north means 
you are getting the west side of the storm and wind from the west means you are 
on the trailing edge of the storm.  All of this is based on the counter 
clockwise flow of the circular motion of the storm.

Also remember that in such a wide and massive storm that rare storm-driven 
birds could easily be dropped from Memphis to Bristol.

Be sure and post to TN-Birds all of your results, both what you do find and if 
you find nothing.

Let's go birding......

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN 


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