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Michael Lowry

@michaelrlowry.bsky.social
6.9K followers 221 following 598 posts

Hurricane Specialist and Storm Surge Expert at Miami's WPLG-TV Local 10 News. Posts my own. linktr.ee/michaelrlowry

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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 11h
Fay was declared done yesterday by the National Hurricane Center but it's trying to mount another comeback this morning. Today I discuss why we can't quite rule out Fay having been our first Atlantic hurricane. Plus an update on what we're watching late next week in the Gulf. ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Mostly Quiet Start to October for the Atlantic
Keeping an eye on development trends for late next over the southern Gulf
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
If you're sick of hearing about Eastern Pacific hurricane records, I have bad news. The basin just set a record for the highest activity to date. Also we now have Hanna in the Atlantic but don't expect it to pick the basin out of the hurricane gutter. ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Eastern Pacific Soars to New Seasonal Highs While Atlantic Activity Stagnates at Record Lows
Another weak and short-lived system likely this week over the open subtropical Atlantic as Tropical Depression Fay slowly spins down
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cira-csu.bsky.social @cira-csu.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Hurricane Nolo is at Category 2 strength as it nears Hawai'i.
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Polo's been a Category 5 hurricane for a total of 48 hours so far, longer than any other Category 5 hurricane on record for the Northeastern Pacific. 2026 also just tied 1997 and 1994 for the most Category 5 hours in a single season and should be the new recordholder by tonight.
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The Eyewall @theeyewallwx.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The nor’easter continues to slowly, very slowly come into better focus. We explain the tidal flooding, wind, and heavy rainfall risks for New England and the Mid-Atlantic. We also rundown Hurricane Polo’s latest, as well as Nolo’s threat to Hawaii. Details below or at theeyewall.com.
theeyewall.substack.com
Weekend nor'easter crawling into focus, but some details are still to be ironed out
Plus the latest on Nolo and Polo in the Pacific and Fay’s revival in the Atlantic
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Nolo is revving up south of Hawaii and threatens to be a record 3rd hurricane impact for the state this year. The Big Island has never recorded a major (Category 3 or stronger) hurricane as close as NHC is forecasting Nola to get this weekend. More ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Hawaii Under Unprecedented 3rd Hurricane Watch this Year Ahead of Nolo
Nolo forecast to make its closest approach to the Big Island of Hawaiʻi Saturday as a major Category 3 hurricane
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
In today's newsletter I recap all the Hurricane Polo superlatives from Tuesday, including gnarly record warmth hurricane hunters measured while passing through its eye. Plus, another Hawaii hurricane inbound? Could be one of the stronger approaches yet. ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Polo Puts on a Show Over the Eastern Pacific
The Big Island of Hawaiʻi at risk for a major close-call hurricane by the weekend
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cira-csu.bsky.social @cira-csu.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
An extraordinary high-resolution view of a Category 5 Hurricane Polo this afternoon, seen from NOAA-20.
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Kim Wood @drkimwood.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
If we use a 35-kt intensity reference point (minimum TS strength) to count hours to category 5 strength... - Linda 1997: 48 hours, 35->155 kt - Patricia 2015: 42 hours, 35->150 kt - Otis 2023: 45 hours, 35->145 kt - Polo 2026: 36 hours, 35->140 kt 140 kt = lowest 5-kt increment for cat 5 strength.
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Kim Wood @drkimwood.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
However, if *any* TS strength counts (35-60 kt), we get these stats... - Linda 1997: 30 hours, 55->155 kt - Patricia 2015: 24 hours, 60->150 kt - Otis 2023: 21 hours, 55->145 kt - Polo 2026: 24 hours, 55->140 kt By this definition, Otis was faster than (preliminary) Polo. Thresholds matter! :)
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cira-csu.bsky.social @cira-csu.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
An incredible satellite view of a monstrous Category 5 Hurricane Polo this morning.
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Chris Vagasky @coweatherman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Seeing the lightning in the inner core of Polo become more widespread and completely enveloping the eye of this extreme storm is a thing of beauty. What's it called when the eyewall is completely enveloped in lightning? The Enveloped Eyewall Lightning Signature: nwafiles.nwas.org/file/nwafile...
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Today's newsletter is all about Polo, which underwent extreme rapid intensification – strengthening faster than any other east Pacific hurricane in the reliable record besides Patricia in 2015 – and became the record-tying 3rd Category 5 this season for the basin.
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Polo Undergoes Extreme Rapid Intensification Over the Eastern Pacific, Becomes Basin’s Record-Tying 3rd Category 5 Hurricane
Tropical Atlantic stays mostly quiet this week as a nor’easter gears up along the Eastern Seaboard
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Fay did its best to try to put an end the record Atlantic hurricane drought but fell just short in an unusual place. Meanwhile a nor'easter-like event will be shaping up for late week with models giving it a small chance of turning tropical. My latest ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Fast-Forming Fay Nearly Ends Record Atlantic Hurricane Drought, Now Quickly Fading
Poorly forecast Fay overachieves outside the lines over the weekend, falling just short of the Atlantic’s first hurricane of 2026
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National Hurricane Center @nhc-atlantic.extwitter.link · 19/09/2026
8 am EDT Sat, Sep 19: A short-lived tropical depression or tropical storm is expected to form later today or tonight while moving north-northeastward at about 5 mph, remaining well southwest of the Azores. Conditions will become less favorable for further development beginning l... 🔗 hurricanes.gov
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Dr. Jeff Masters @drjeffmasters.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Fascinating: "After the hurricane, Miami appointed John Farrey its first chief building inspector, tasking him with developing and enforcing the first universal building code not just in Miami but in the U.S. It became known as the Miami Standard and was adopted in over 5,000 other cities."
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
100 years ago today, Miami was leveled by its worst hurricane. To this day, there's not been anything like the Great 1926 Miami Hurricane in terms of natural disasters on the City of Miami. Today I look back at how one storm forever reshaped South Florida. ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Remembering Miami’s Worst Hurricane a Century Later
The Great 1926 Miami Hurricane struck the vibrant city 100 years ago today, pricking Florida’s land boom and forever reshaping South Florida
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The Atlantic hurricane season's struggles continue, and not just from record-setting, El Niño-driven wind shear. The basin has been plagued with high pressure and sinking air, starving systems like the one today of organized storminess. My latest ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Atlantic Hurricane Season’s Struggles Continue
System being tagged for development over the central Atlantic is in no hurry to organize
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The National Weather Service is proceeding with renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America in all forecast products and maps. These sort of changes require extensive coding time for NOAA and NWS personnel to implement across so many different products that regularly reference them.
NOUS41 KWBC 141530
PNSWSH
Public Information Statement 26-69
National Weather Service Headquarters Silver Spring MD
1130 AM EDT Mon Sept 14 2026
To: Subscribers:
 -NOAA Weather Wire Service
 -Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
 -NOAAPort
 Other NWS Partners, Users and Employees
From: Courtney Draggon, Director
 Business, Operations and Accountability Office
Subject: National Weather Service (NWS) Implementation of Updated Naming 
Conventions per Executive Order 14422 
NWS is in the process of implementing Executive Order 14422, “Honoring 
the American History of the Great Lakes and Renaming Lake Ontario as Lake 
America”. Work is underway to update naming conventions as quickly as 
possible on online maps, weather products, websites and other materials 
across the NWS. Caution will be exercised to avoid disruptions to 
operations.
Users may notice a phased implementation of these changes as the agency 
works to update all products, services, and documentation with the utmost 
expediency. Service Change Notices (SCNs) will be issued as needed for 
modifications made to NWS products and services with additional details 
for users.
If you have any questions concerning these changes, please contact:
National Weather Service Web Feedback
nws.webfeedback@noaa.gov
National Public Information Statements are online at:
https://www.weather.gov/notification/
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Steve Bowen @stevebowen.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
A reprieve from hurricane activity in the Atlantic is obviously welcome. But a consequence is fewer people feeling the need to have flood insurance. Latest statistics from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) shows continued active policy declines; notably in key states such as FL, TX, LA.
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Brian McNoldy @bmcnoldy.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I know it's crickets out there in the Atlantic, but I wanted to put this Starter Pack back out there as a reminder. Also, I may be missing some folks who should be in here, so please let me know!
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
This week will be a good test case for newer AI-based forecast models versus legacy physics-based models. The AI models are noticeably more bullish on development over the subtropical Atlantic with Google DeepMind leading the charge, but will it stick? ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
New Area to Watch Over the Middle Atlantic this Week
Google’s DeepMind ensemble system suggests the system could bust the record Atlantic hurricane drought, but conventional physics-based models aren’t as impressed
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
We've never gone this deep into a hurricane season in the reliable record without a hurricane and the Great 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Drought doesn't look to end anytime soon. The only outside development shot is over the open subtropical Atlantic next week. ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Breaks Record for Number of Days without a Hurricane
The Atlantic basin has never gone beyond September 11th without a hurricane. Until this season.
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Andrea Thompson @andreatweather.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
This is the kind of record you want to break... 🧪 (Hat tip to @michaelrlowry.bsky.social for the info on his blog.)
scientificamerican.com
The Atlantic hurricane season just quietly broke a new weather record
The Atlantic Ocean has never seen a year without a hurricane since reliable records began
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The AI-based Google DeepMind hurricane model is having a field day again this hurricane season, scorching the competition and topping the official National Hurricane Center track forecast by as much as 30%. Today I take a deep mid-season dive into all the latest AI developments ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
The AI Model that Continues to Blow Away the Competition
For the second straight hurricane season, Google’s DeepMind is topping even official National Hurricane Center predictions
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SFDB @sfdb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
"...don’t be surprised to see a hurricane or two on the back side of the season... But fewer hurricanes is something to celebrate and no hurricanes at all through September 9th is as good as it gets." The latest from @michaelrlowry.bsky.social... 🌪️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Atlantic Hurricane Season Silenced by El Niño at Its Traditional Peak
It’s the most likely week to find a tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin, but this year it’s crickets
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Only twice in the reliable records have we gone the entire week centered on the September 10th hurricane season peak with no tropical activity. This week marks only the 3rd time and the ongoing hurricane drought isn't about to be busted anytime soon. ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Atlantic Hurricane Season Silenced by El Niño at Its Traditional Peak
It’s the most likely week to find a tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin, but this year it’s crickets
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James Franklin @franklinjamesl.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
After landfalls I like to look at the consistency of the NHC official forecast, and one way to do this is to plot a sequence of 5-days' worth of OFCL forecast positions all verifying at the closest synoptic time to landfall (or in the case of Lowell, when it passed through the island chain).
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SFDB @sfdb.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
"The Atlantic basin is as dead as it gets for early September and we should easily blow past the record for the latest first-forming hurricane this season (September 11th)." The latest from @michaelrlowry.bsky.social... 🌪️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Lowell Lashes Parts of Hawaii, Conditions to Slowly Improve Today
Atlantic basin hits the snooze button through the traditional hurricane season peak
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Lowell deviated about 150 miles east of the official forecast from Friday, bringing its core dangerously close to Kauai and Niihau, the westernmost of the main Hawaiian islands. It's the strongest hurricane to affect this part of Hawaii in 30+ years. ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Lowell Lashes Parts of Hawaii, Conditions to Slowly Improve Today
Atlantic basin hits the snooze button through the traditional hurricane season peak
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Last year NHC wasn't fully leveraging Google DeepMind all season so comparing its performance to the NHC forecast wasn't exactly apples-to-apples. To see it still beating the official NHC forecast (and notably so) in 2026 speaks to how impressive it is relative to all other models.
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
To date the Atlantic hurricane season is the least active of the reliable record (since at least 1950) and that doesn't look to change anytime soon. This will be a record third consecutive Labor Day weekend without a system to speak of across the Atlantic.
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Atlantic Basin Stormless Over Labor Day Weekend for the Third Consecutive Hurricane Season
Not since at least the late 1930s has the Atlantic basin gone three consecutive Labor Day weekends with no active tropical systems
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Jared Rennie @jjrennie.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Preliminary Precipitation Estimates from #Edouard show over 16" of rain fell in a 24 hour period. About 25 square miles experienced a 1in100 rainfall event #TXwx #StateOfFlood @nws.noaa.gov @mattlanza.bsky.social
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Matt Lanza @mattlanza.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Seeing some credible voices say that Edouard’s healthy look is brown ocean effect related. I gotta push back on that. Normal tropical system behavior at night over Texas. And area was in antecedent drought. Not sure you can prove BOE.
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Edouard is proving to be a prolific rainmaker and significant flood event for parts of southeast and east-central Texas. Almost 20 inches of rain already observed so far with more to come. Today is a rare high risk flash flood day. My latest ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Edouard Moving Inland Over East-Central Texas, Significant Flash Flooding Northwest of Beaumont
Heavy rains and flash flooding from Edouard will continue into Thursday morning for parts of eastern Texas
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Hurricane Hunters in Edouard are finding a strengthening storm this morning. Based on a recent dropsonde on its south side, winds may be 50-60 mph now. It's only a few hours from moving inland but it's making the most of its time left over water. My latest ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Tropical Storm Edouard Sliding Toward the Upper Texas and Southwestern Louisiana Coasts
Edouard to move inland today, bringing the threat for heavy rain and scattered flash flooding through Wednesday
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Dolly the storm was a flash in the pan, unraveling only 24 hours after forming. The drought-stricken islands could use some beneficial rains which hopefully its remnants bring. As far as redeployment, odds remain low but not quite negligible. My latest ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Tropical Storm Dolly Forms but Quickly Unravels East of the Islands
Blustery conditions and periods of heavy rain could accompany Dolly’s remnants this weekend, but significant impacts not expected
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Bryce Maschino @bmaschino.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
"For the crossover weather enthusiasts and Dolly Parton fans (including yours truly), the very first time a tropical cyclone was named Dolly was for a western Pacific typhoon in 1946, the same year as Ms. Parton’s birth" @michaelrlowry.bsky.social
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Tropical Storm Dolly Forms in the Central Atlantic, Forecast to Unravel before Reaching the Islands
Blustery conditions and periods of heavy rain could accompany Dolly’s remnants this weekend, but significant impacts not expected
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Topical note from NHC on newly minted Tropical Storm Dolly
The timing of the use of the name Dolly for this storm is purely 
coincidental.  Tropical storm and hurricane names for the North 
Atlantic Basin originate from six pre-determined rotating lists 
established by the World Meteorological Organization Region IV 
Hurricane Committee.  The name Dolly replaced Diana after the 
1990 hurricane season and was first used in 1996.
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Forecast models soured overnight on 96L's chances this week. It could still clear the entry level threshold but will hit a staunch roadblock by this weekend. The bigger question is will it try to make a comeback over the southwestern Atlantic next week? ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Models Turn Cold on Development Odds for Invest 96L this Week
Could Invest 96L be another false start for the Atlantic hurricane season?
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Bob Henson @bhensonweather.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Hard to believe that Dolly is gone...and also hard to believe that through sheer coincidence, her name is next up on the Atlantic hurricane list. (As noted by @wxdam.com, the name "Dolly" replaced Diana when the latter was retired in 1990, and it's been used every six years since 1996.)
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
It's all about Invest 96L in today's newsletter. Lots of scenarios to discuss with this one and, not surprisingly, exceptionally wide bookends. DeepMind favors no devlopment this week and devlopment next. But will it survive the shear gauntlet first? ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Invest 96L Likely to Form but Will It Survive Into Next Week?
Models divided on whether the season’s healthiest tropical wave so far can survive the central Atlantic shear zone this weekend
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Could we see the first long-track Cabo Verde storm of the Atlantic hurricane season from the wave near Africa? Some models think so, but it may not find its footing until it breaks through the shear zone into the southwest Atlantic next week. My latest ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Atlantic Hurricane Season in Store for a Late August Awakening?
After a few failed attempts earlier in the month, the tropical Atlantic threatens to rebound this week
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National Hurricane Center Bot @nhcbot.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
August 21 8PM EDT: NHC is monitoring three systems in the Atlantic for tropical development, all of which currently have a low chance of development. Stay up to date with the latest information at hurricanes.gov x.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/209094846…
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Thought it interesting this poll (in which I was a participant) converged on the same 4 all-time hurricanes. For me, it was about the hurricanes with the biggest legacies, especially on how we build against, forecast, and respond to hurricanes. Glad to contribute my thoughts.
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Joe Boomgard-Zagrodnik @joeboomzag.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Final Hawaii precipitation maps from Hurricane Lala. I pulled gauge observations and blended that with model data to get the spatial pattern. My method estimates a max of 45 inches on the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa, but there were no gauges in that area to verify.
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Models have been hemming and hawing at development in the eastern Atlantic late next week but a strong signal hasn't stuck just yet. We've seen this story before with 92L amd 94L but it's late August, not mid August, an important distinction. My latest ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Atlantic Could Perk Up Late Next Week as Hawaii Eyes Another Weekend Storm Threat
Invest 90E expected to organize into Tropical Storm Moke this week and is forecast to move near or south of Hawaiʻi by Sunday
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David Roth @drmetwatch.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
While attention is being given to the Sep 1926 Great Miami Hurricane, there was a July Hurricane that year that remains unequaled in the century since its occurrence.
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Michael Lowry @michaelrlowry.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
We've been in a hurricane drought so far this season but if you believe the overnight runs of our computer models, the end of the month could be a drought buster. My latest on what could be an end-of-August Atlantic awakening. But will it stick? ⬇️
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Hurricane-Less So Far in the Atlantic. How Long Will It Last?
7 out of 10 Atlantic hurricane seasons record their first hurricane before August 19th. Will 2026’s hurricane drought get busted before the end of August?
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SFDB @sfdb.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
"We expect that by late August and if the overnight runs of our computer models – lit up like a December Christmas tree – are any indication, we may be in store for a flurry of activity to end the month." The latest from @michaelrlowry.bsky.social...
michaelrlowry.substack.com
Hurricane-Less So Far in the Atlantic. How Long Will It Last?
7 out of 10 Atlantic hurricane seasons record their first hurricane before August 19th. Will 2026’s hurricane drought get busted before the end of August?
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