Automation: Data Observations and Interpretations from Hurricane Laura’s Landfall

Radar Image from Hurricane Laura at Landfall.

For those of you unfamiliar with where I live in relation to the path of Hurricane Laura, we are located just under the “O” in New Orleans in the map above. We are fine and so far, have only gotten wind and rain here. Very grateful that the we have been spared this time.

Now to the meat of this article…a buddy of mine, (Shawn Abney), posted a link to Facebook for the Calcasieu Pass Tide/Current/Weather sensor array run by NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services. He pointed out that the data was available for the point of impact for Hurricane Laura’s landfall. I took a look and was amazed at what I could discern from the data provided.

I’ll present the charts for the specific measurements and what I can infer from them below.

Location

“Where in the hell is this sensor array?” you might ask. It sits just inside the mouth of Calcasieu Pass, below Cameron in Cameron Parish, La. It is just “up the bayou”, as we like to say in the Houma-Thibodaux area, from the public fishing pier. See the map below:

This station collects a lot of data and is part of a network of data collection sites across the Gulf Coast that can show tidal effects for storms or be used for planning when or where to fish.

Calcasieu Pass Station

Another point I want to make before I get started is that this is raw data that has not been QC-checked. What this means is that a sensor may have been off or in the case of the maximum water depths, it is just the raw measurement, not the actual amount of surge. See the raw data statement from the site, below:

These raw data have not been subjected to the National Ocean Service’s quality control or quality assurance procedures and do not meet the criteria and standards of official National Ocean Service data. They are released for limited public use as preliminary data to be used only with appropriate caution.

NOAA CO-OPS Station Page

Tidal Height

So, based on tidal height measured, we can infer storm surge height. Based on the chart below, at landfall (+/- 01:00 or 1:00 AM), Laura showed a tidal height of 11.07 feet maximum. I believe these points are measured every six minutes, so it is a fairly high data frequency to infer from. The predicted tidal height was 2.19 feet at the maximum measured tidal height. Based on a non-scientific observation of the previous month’s data, the actual measured data can sometimes be up to 1.5 feet or so higher than the predicted tidal height. Based on this, the storm surge height inferred from this preliminary data was somewhere between 7.4 feet and 8.9 feet. (Caveat: This is just me looking at the data without knowing how NOAA actually calculates storm surge.)

Tidal Height

Wind Speed / Direction

The next chart shows sustained wind speed, gusts, and wind direction. It’s kind of a neat chart in that you can see the sustained wind was blowing in one direction as the storm approach landfall, then drops off to almost nothing as the eye passes over the measurement station, then picks up again with the wind blowing in the opposite direction as the eye departs.

The maximum sustained winds measured at landfall were 69 knots or 79.4 miles per hour with the maximum gusts measured at 110 knots or 126.8 miles per hour.

Wind Speed

Air Temperature

The air temperature is interesting in that you can see the temperature dropping as the storm gets closer to landfall, then rises a few degrees as the eye passes, then drops again as the winds pick up. As the storm passes, it gradually rises back to ambient.

Air Temperature

Water Temperature

You can observe the water temperature changes as the storm surge rolls in bringing cooler “offshore” water to the local area, dropping the temperature. I suspect the continued drop in temperature may be contributed to by rainfall and runoff/flowback from the inland flooding.

Water Temperature

Barometric Pressure

Barometric Pressure is another parameter measured by the station and it is interesting not so much for variation, but to see how far the pressure dropped. Initially, the chart only data down to about 980 millibar. Someone must have updated the chart range because as I am writing this, the chart now shows data with a lowest point of 940 millibar. That is low!

Barometric Pressure

Hopefully this provided a little insight into data interpretation and helps you to understand data and data interpretation better.

An update on where the predicted surge was actually seen…

And, as always, let me know what you think in the comments. Ask questions, tell your story.

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Business – Open For Business as Clint C. Galliano, REALTOR®

As I have alluded to in the last few articles I have written, I have started my new career as a real estate salesperson licensed in the state of Louisiana.

My wife and I made the decision that since I loved real estate so much, why not jump in full time? So, I attended an online real estate school during the pandemic lockdown, then passed the test slightly less than a month after starting.

This new career is also a little out of my comfort zone because I am reaching out to people proactively to talk. Not something I have done on a regular basis outside of a close circle of friends. Time to grow. Time to expand my capabilities.

I am, little by little, becoming a more public person. I have doubled my Facebook friends list and continue to add people. I am making videos and live streams, (though not very good ones – LOL), for open houses and putting them out there.

I am enjoying this!

Why Keller Williams?

A few people have asked me why I chose the local Keller Williams team. I have a few reasons. The main one is that I am a fan of Gary Keller. I started reading his books when I began to educate myself on real estate investing. I like his approach to things. A lot of it dovetails with my own philosophy. I also like the way the company has and is adapt(ed/ing) to the changing world with the use of technology. KW also has some of the best training out there.

Then there is the family aspect of things. Family is one of the guiding principles of the company. Everyone here is very supportive and will do just about anything to help you.

And, on top of that, the company has a profit-sharing structure that is designed to ensure the long-term life of the company in addition to providing you and your beneficiaries with profit-sharing income.

So if you are interested in joining the Keller Williams family, get in contact with me here.

Clint C. Galliano, REALTOR®

I am working under Keller Williams Realty Bayou Partners, an independently owned and operated office serving the Houma, Thibodaux, Terrebonne Parish, Lafourche Parish, Assumption Parish, and St. Mary Parish areas.

If you are interested in buying in one of these areas, I would love to help you find the perfect home.

Go here to my website to search for properties. Or, if you are on a mobile device, you can also download my real estate app here.

  • If you are interested in selling your home or property, allow me to get it sold for you.
  • If you are an investor and want to acquire properties in the area, let me help you find the investment deals that fit your criteria.
  • If you currently manage your own rental property, but want someone else to take that on, give me a call. We can go over how we can help make your life easier.

And, as always, let me know what you think in the comments. Ask questions, tell your story.

If you like my posts, please share them with others and subscribe to this blog.

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