But the wind above that boundary layer continues to blow at high speeds. We think the interaction between those two layers might be an important part of the process that causes locally damaging events within the hurricane, including tornadoes and strong vertical or straight line wind. That insight might help them do a better job of predicting when and where locally damaging wind will occur. Unlike National Weather Service Doppler radar units, all three instruments in the UAH package point straight up, giving Knupp new information about rainfall, temperature, cloud cover, and wind speed and direction at several points from the ground up to about 10 kilometers. About 9 p.m. the cloud layer drops and the storm over Tallahassee peaks as Earl's eye approaches the Florida coast between Panama City and Apalachicola.
Rain leaks around door frames into the van.
From time to time, Knupp checks to make sure water isn't seeping into the electronics. The computers perch atop a folding cafeteria table. The van has seen better days. We're biting the bullet and doing this trip on a shoestring budget so we can gather some preliminary data. That will help us do a better job of preparing a competitive research proposal when the time comes.