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(meteorobs) Leonid meteor shower Weather Outlook #2

    This is the second weather outlook issued for the Leonid meteor shower, 
due to reach its peak on the nights of November 16-17 and/or 17-18.  As 
explained in the first advisory, since the eastern US is most favored to see 
this year's display will will restrict this weather outlook to this part of 
the country.  More info on this year's Leonids can be obtained at:  
http://www.msfc.nasadot gov/news or at 
                 <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/theleonids/index.html">
http://hometown.aol.com/theleonids/index.html</A>

GENERAL SYNOPSIS: The latest long-range charts suggest that the low pressure 
system that we were concerned with in yesterday's discussion, is now being 
depicted to take a somewhat faster and more southerly track.  In addition . . 
. the system appears less intense as compared to yesterday.

THURSDAY NIGHT/FRIDAY MORNING

    The night starts off with an inverted low pressure trough over the 
eastern Gulf of Mexico.  A low pressure system is rapidly ejected from this 
trough, reaching the vicinity of Waycross, Georgia by daybreak on Friday.  
Showery rains and a few embedded thunderstorms could stretch from the Florida 
Panhandle, through much of northern Florida . . . on north through the 
Carolinas and southern Virginia by Friday morning.  The best region for 
visibility of the Leonids would appear to be in the northeast US, but even 
here viewing conditions appear marginal at best with scattered to broken 
cloudiness.

FRIDAY NIGHT/SATURDAY MORNING

    The storm is depicted to be ~150 miles east of Cape Hatteras at the start 
of the night and moving rapidly away to the east-northeast.  Lingering rains 
may still be affecting the Carolinas and areas just off the coastline of the 
northeast US at the start of the night.  As the night progresses and as the 
storm exits and intensifies offshore, a slot of dry and clear weather should 
develop to west and south of its projected track, bringing clear -- or 
clearing skies from Florida all the way north to perhaps NYC and southern New 
England by daybreak Saturday.  Of course, the peak of the shower is due at 
around 2:51 a.m., so assiduous observers might have to consider moving south 
if the clearing does not appear to be reaching them in time!  

Of the two viewing nights, this second night holds the most promise for east 
coast observers.

Next update: hopefully late morning/early afternoon on Saturday
-- joe rao
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