Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 11th day of the month at 19:13Z
Aircraft: Air Force Aircraft (Last 3 digits of the tail number are 309)
Storm Number & Year: 02L in 2008
Storm Name: Bertha (in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 1
Observation Number: 16
A. Time of Center Fix: 11th day of the month at 18:47:20Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 28°54'N 62°04'W (28.90N 62.07W) (View map)
B. Center Fix Location: 286 miles (460 km) to the SE (145°) from Hamilton, Bermuda (GBR).
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 2,872m (9,423ft) at 700mb
D. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind: 69kts (~ 79.4mph)
E. Location of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind: 29 nautical miles (33 statute miles) to the NE/ENE (56°) of center fix
F. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 145° at 91kts (From the SE at ~ 104.7mph)
G. Location of Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 34 nautical miles (39 statute miles) to the NE (55°) of center fix
H. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 976mb (28.82 inHg)
I. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 8°C (46°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,049m (10,003ft)
J. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 13°C (55°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,046m (9,993ft)
K. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 5°C (41°F)
K. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
L. Eye Character: Closed
M. Eye Shape & Diameter: Circular with a diameter of 55 nautical miles (63 statute miles)
N. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind, Pressure and Temperature
N. Fix Level: 700mb
O. Navigation Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
O. Meteorological Accuracy: 1 nautical mile
Remarks Section:
Maximum Flight Level Wind: 99kts (~ 113.9mph) in the southeast quadrant at 17:17:20Z
General Notes About Vortex Messages:
- Reported winds are usually averaged over a 10 second period. (NHC advisory wind speeds are the highest expected winds averaged over a 1 minute period.)
- The maximum flight level temperature outside the eye (item I.) "is taken just outside the central region of a cyclone (i.e., just outside the eyewall or just beyond the maximum wind band). This temperature may not be the highest recorded on the inbound leg but is representative of the environmental temperature just outside the central region of the storm."
- The maximum flight level temperature inside the eye (item J.) is the "maximum temperature observed within 5 nm of the center fix coordinates. If a higher temperature is observed at a location more than 5 nm away from the flight level center (item BRAVO), it is reported in Remarks, including bearing and distance from the flight level center."
(Quotes from National Hurricane Operations Plan - NHOP)