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Interception, penetration, and observation of Hurricane Lili as it made
landfall in Southwestern Louisiana near Abbeville and New Iberia. The
storm was an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane with sustained
winds of 145 MPH that weakened to a category 2 with winds just over
100 MPH at time of landfall near 8 AM.
The chase involved a long drive out of Florida on October 2 to the
primary target area of Abbeville, Louisiana. During the evening of
October 2, Jeff Gammons and Chris Collura met up with several
chasers from the central US including Scott Blair. The "base" was a
school in Abeville to observe the storm. Near midnight, Lili had 140
MPH+ winds and made a slight jog to the right so we all adjusted our
target using highway 18 to a hotel in New Iberia. Lili continued to
weaken over up-welled cooler water near the landfall point to 120 MPH,
then 100 MPH at landfall at 8 AM on Oct 3.
We began driving south and penetrated the hurricane forced wind-field.
Trees began falling and storm-surge began filling the marshes around
our vehicles. Law officials noted us we needed to turn around, so we
continued back towards New Iberia. The hurricane wind-field soon came
into this area, and we all set up in a parking lot to measure and
observe the winds. Winds gusted to over 75-MPH with a pressure drop
to 988 MB. Winds were strong ENE then shifted SE. This was our cue to
shift back west to Abeville along highway 18 because the eye took a
jog back west. The winds were ESE and gusted over 100 MPH.
Numerous powerlines and trees were observed falling. Many roof pieces
began flying across the roads along with leaves and other tree debris.
Just east of Abeville, we penetrated the primary energy cell (main
convection NE of the eye). Visibility dropped to ZERO with violent
sideways rain. The air was filled with debris and tree implements as
winds gusted over 100 MPH. We continued west and positioned
ourselves back in Abeville just E of the calm eye in the maximum
winds. ENE winds quickly shifted south, then south-southwest as a
notably clear area passed to our west. Road networks to our west
prevented us from penetrating the calm eye, but lowest pressure
measured was 975 MB in Abeville. Damage was moderate with
numerous downed trees and powerlines, even some major roof
damage and downed signs. Flooding was also major in some areas. Of
course, power remained out at all times.
The storm was now inland and weakened to 90 MPH sustained winds.
We headed back east along highway 18, back to New Iberia to
document damage and begin exiting the storm with many detours
around impassable streets due to power lines / tree damage. By
afternoon we were headed back east along interstate 10 for a 15 hour
drive back to Florida.
Total mileage on this chase was 2054 miles! Maximum stretch with no
sleep was 52 hours! Maximum wind gusts, near 110 MPH! Lowest
pressure was measured at 975 MB. Documentation was still photos, a
camcorder, and audio. A 2001 Ford Escape was used for our part of this
chase with many weather instruments mounted on its roof. The NWS
issues a flood warning, tornado watch, and hurricane warning for all
areas observed.
Some extremely severe thunderstorms were also observed on the
forward-right side of Lili. One such storm had some of the most violent
rain I have ever seen and a meso-low type feature where winds were SE
on its NE side and NE on its western side.
Participant Home City Callsign
----------- --------- --------
Chris Collura Miramar, FL KG4PJN
Jeff Gammons West Palm Beach, FL KG4PGA
Scott Blair Fort Smith, AR KD5POW
Blake Michaleski Louisiana KD5MWK
Derek Deroche
Chris Bannan
Blair Scholl
Andy Tingler
Special thanks to: The Abeville, and New Iberia, Louisiana Police
departments for giving us access to all parts of the local towns. Also
thanks to the locals of Abyville for making the highschool open for only
us to setup base during the storm. And...Thanks to the Best Western
in New Iberia for saving rooms for us after they closed.
phone interview.
local tv while wating for
Hurricane Lili.
Jeff Gammons
Storm Chaser
Videographer
P.O. Box 2748
Okeechobee, FL
34973-2748
888-296-6297
Websites:
Weathervine.com
stormvideographer.com
school the evening before.
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1996-2006
Weathervine /
Jeff Gammons
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