Early-Season Tropical Threat Brewing in the Atlantic
Updated: 1 day 20 hours ago
(May 24) -- The Atlantic hurricane season doesn't officially begin until June 1, but the first threat of the season is already lurking off the coast of the southeastern U.S.
A disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms in the southwestern Atlantic is being monitored for possible development during the next day or so, and it may become the first named storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. If the storm is named, it will be called Alex, most likely with the moniker of Subtropical Storm Alex as opposed to the more traditional name of Tropical Storm Alex.
That's because the storm would most likely be a hybrid storm -- one that has characteristics of a storm of both tropical and nontropical (normal low-pressure system) origins -- rather than a purely tropical storm. Sea surface temperatures in this region of the Atlantic, which are relatively cool at this time of year, are what would prevent the storm from obtaining pure tropical characteristics.
When a storm that contains both tropical and nontropical characteristics strengthens into a system that has a sustained wind of at least 39 mph (the wind criteria for a tropical storm), it is often treated the same as a purely tropical storm by the National Hurricane Center -- and with good reason. A subtropical storm creates the same effects as a tropical storm in terms of wind, waves and rain.
As of 10 a.m. EDT today, the area of disturbed weather was located about 475 miles southwest of Bermuda, meaning that it's located east of Florida. Since the storm has not yet been officially designated, the National Hurricane Center has not yet issued an official forecast track for the storm, but the system is expected to drift to the north-northwest during the next day or so.
Residents along the Southeast coast, especially in the eastern Carolinas, will need to monitor the development and track of the system in the coming days.
The National Hurricane Center is expected to issue its seasonal forecast later this week, and it's anticipated that the forecast will be for an active season, which would mirror forecasts already issued by some private forecasters.
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/early-season-tropical-threat-brewing-in-the-atlantic/19488973A disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms in the southwestern Atlantic is being monitored for possible development during the next day or so, and it may become the first named storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. If the storm is named, it will be called Alex, most likely with the moniker of Subtropical Storm Alex as opposed to the more traditional name of Tropical Storm Alex.
That's because the storm would most likely be a hybrid storm -- one that has characteristics of a storm of both tropical and nontropical (normal low-pressure system) origins -- rather than a purely tropical storm. Sea surface temperatures in this region of the Atlantic, which are relatively cool at this time of year, are what would prevent the storm from obtaining pure tropical characteristics.
When a storm that contains both tropical and nontropical characteristics strengthens into a system that has a sustained wind of at least 39 mph (the wind criteria for a tropical storm), it is often treated the same as a purely tropical storm by the National Hurricane Center -- and with good reason. A subtropical storm creates the same effects as a tropical storm in terms of wind, waves and rain.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
As of 10 a.m. EDT today, the area of disturbed weather was located about 475 miles southwest of Bermuda, meaning that it's located east of Florida. Since the storm has not yet been officially designated, the National Hurricane Center has not yet issued an official forecast track for the storm, but the system is expected to drift to the north-northwest during the next day or so.
Residents along the Southeast coast, especially in the eastern Carolinas, will need to monitor the development and track of the system in the coming days.
The National Hurricane Center is expected to issue its seasonal forecast later this week, and it's anticipated that the forecast will be for an active season, which would mirror forecasts already issued by some private forecasters.
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