#2703 "September Sunset Swells with Waves and Langmuir at Singleton"

#2703 "September Sunset Swells with Waves
and Langmuir at Singleton"
14x18 inches oils on canvas

Sometimes the most beautiful weather events are associated with those that are also the most destructive. The spectacular sunset at Singleton Lake on the last day of September was the result of Hurricane Ian. The hurricane was in the process of transforming into Post-Tropical Cyclone Ian. 

Post-Tropical Cyclone Ian crossing at sunset on
Friday September 30th, 2022 over South Carolina

The occurrence of such a tropical storm as Ian was just a matter of time as temperatures climb in a warming globe. Increases in the ocean and air temperatures provide fuel for tropical storms. Meteorologists typically use the 28-degree Celsius ocean isotherm as an operational standard for favouring tropical storm development. The atmosphere can also hold an additional 7 to 8 per cent more water vapour with each degree Celsius rise. These powerful storms were inevitable within the changing climate. 

Hurricane Ian made its first United States landfall on Wednesday, September 28th on Florida's west coast as a powerful Category 4 hurricane. Cat 4 Hurricanes cause extreme damage with sustained winds of 209 to 251 kilometres per hour. The winds of Hurricane Ian shredded homes and the wind gusts would have been even higher. The death toll could exceed 75 in Florida alone. The property damage in Florida was estimated to be "well over" $100 billion as a result of this Ian. This is something that meteorologists have been expecting and predicting for years. "Hurricane Ian's rapid intensification could prove to be another example of how a warming planet is changing hurricanes," said Kait Parker, meteorologist and climate scientist at IBM's weather.com. "Research shows we are seeing this far more often than we did in decades past." 

This brilliant sunset was a direct result of Post-Tropical Cyclone Ian. The water vapour image clearly revealed the origin of that colourful moisture. Atmospheric swells surged outward from the strong wind disturbances of Ian. Wind waves were superimposed on top of those swells. Langmuir streaks were perpendicular to the swells. It was a chaotic sunset sky for the last day of September - but nothing like the chaos of Florida and the Appalachian states still being affected by heavy rain and winds. Damaging winds and flooding rainfall would continue to pummel the southeastern United States as Ian pushed inland. The weather can have a tragic side to it as well. 

Hurricane Ian Damage Images

The title reflects my ongoing effort to never duplicate the name of an existing painting. Who is ever going to label a piece of art with a name like that? The number of this painting will certainly be unique. 

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Warmest regards and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick