| This is the eyewall of Super Typhoon Forrest in September 1983. We are 350 miles northeast of Manila. Remember that last picture? This one was even stronger! A "super typhoon" is like a regular typhoon on steroids. This eyewall was about 5 miles wide, which is VERY small. A very small eyewall means a VERY strong storm. The pilots actually had a tough time keeping the plane in the center of the storm and not hitting the eyewall! I can recall to this day everyone in the plane being very quiet and just gazing open-mouthed at what you see here. I can also recall flying out of this storm, through the eyewall and watching the wings flapping up and down like a bird (they are not supposed to do that!). For you weather types out there, the estimated sea surface pressure at the time this picture was taken was 883 millibars, not far from the world record of 870 millibars of Super Typhoon Tip in 1979. For you pilots out there, 883 millibars would mean an altimeter setting of 26.07! |
