As hurricane season begins, Colorado State lowers its prediction for the year
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31 May 2018
As hurricane season begins, Colorado State lowers its prediction for the year
Today's post highlights the updated seasonal hurricane forecast from the pioneers of the science, Colorado State University... and formally introduces the names and products of the 2018 season (Alberto was a sneak peak!).
As hurricane season begins, Colorado State lowers its prediction for the year
As hurricane season begins, Colorado State lowers its prediction for the year
30 May 2018
It’s not every day you see a tropical depression over Indiana
Although it has been two days since Alberto made landfall, it is still making news! My update on this exceptional cyclone is available on the Capital Weather Gang blog:
It’s not every day you see a tropical depression over Indiana — but here it is
It’s not every day you see a tropical depression over Indiana — but here it is
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28 May 2018
Subtropical Storm Alberto to make landfall on Florida’s panhandle Monday
Happy Memorial Day! My Monday morning update on Subtropical Storm Alberto is available on the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang blog:
Subtropical Storm Alberto to make landfall on Florida’s panhandle Monday
Subtropical Storm Alberto to make landfall on Florida’s panhandle Monday
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27 May 2018
Severe impacts from Subtropical Storm Alberto beginning in Florida and parts of the Southeast
Subtropical Storm Alberto is strengthening, and impacts are spreading to more areas. Landfall is still expected on Monday morning. My Sunday morning update is available on the Capital Weather Gang blog:
Severe impacts from Subtropical Storm Alberto beginning in Florida and parts of the Southeast
Severe impacts from Subtropical Storm Alberto beginning in Florida and parts of the Southeast
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25 May 2018
Subtropical Storm Alberto forms, kicking off hurricane season 1 week early
On Friday morning, the tropical disturbance we have been watching for what seems like forever was upgraded to Subtropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. It also makes 2018 the 4th consecutive year with a pre-season named storm, an unprecedented string.
Alberto is expected to transition to a fully tropical storm later, but as of now it does meet the criteria. The difference between the two is really just academic, as it pertains to the structure of the system... not the impacts. If and when it becomes Tropical Storm Alberto, nothing will be magically different about it, other than the distribution of the wind field and perhaps the symmetry of the thunderstorms around it. Cyclones come in many shapes and sizes across a spectrum!
Just as before it was named, the biggest impact will be extremely heavy rain over a large region. The forecast 5-day rainfall totals are shown below:
Secondly, storm surge flooding will become a concern along Florida's west coast and along the northern-to-northeastern Gulf coast.
Models remain in pretty good agreement on the track and timing, but with any tropical cyclone, it's big, so impacts will extend far beyond the center line. A series of 3-day track forecasts from dynamical models is shown below. Wind shear should keep the system lopsided, so the messier, rainier side will be to the east of center, including the Florida peninsula.
Stay tuned to the National Hurricane Center website for the latest forecasts, watches, and warnings.
It is interesting to note that since 1851, only 3 other tropical cyclones formed within 200 miles of where Alberto is now during May (plus one in February 1952). All three May ones formed on May 31st!
Alberto is expected to transition to a fully tropical storm later, but as of now it does meet the criteria. The difference between the two is really just academic, as it pertains to the structure of the system... not the impacts. If and when it becomes Tropical Storm Alberto, nothing will be magically different about it, other than the distribution of the wind field and perhaps the symmetry of the thunderstorms around it. Cyclones come in many shapes and sizes across a spectrum!
Just as before it was named, the biggest impact will be extremely heavy rain over a large region. The forecast 5-day rainfall totals are shown below:
Secondly, storm surge flooding will become a concern along Florida's west coast and along the northern-to-northeastern Gulf coast.
Models remain in pretty good agreement on the track and timing, but with any tropical cyclone, it's big, so impacts will extend far beyond the center line. A series of 3-day track forecasts from dynamical models is shown below. Wind shear should keep the system lopsided, so the messier, rainier side will be to the east of center, including the Florida peninsula.
Stay tuned to the National Hurricane Center website for the latest forecasts, watches, and warnings.
It is interesting to note that since 1851, only 3 other tropical cyclones formed within 200 miles of where Alberto is now during May (plus one in February 1952). All three May ones formed on May 31st!
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24 May 2018
2018 likely to be 4th consecutive year with pre-season named storm: Alberto
The tropical system I mentioned in last Friday's update is indeed getting better organized in the western Caribbean. Many models have been showing this for at least the past 10 days, so it comes as no surprise. As of Thursday afternoon, the system is centered inland over the eastern Yucatan peninsula and is tracking toward the north.
If this earns a name this weekend, which seems likely, it will be the unprecedented *4th* consecutive year with a pre-season named storm! The first name on this year's list is Alberto. (and coincidentally, the last time Alberto appeared in 2012 it was also a pre-season storm!)
Models have come into rough agreement on the track and timing of this potential tropical cyclone, but they still have differing opinions on the intensification. Invest 90L, or "pre-Alberto", will head north through the central-to-eastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Water temperatures ahead of it are in the 27-28°C ballpark (80.5-82.5°F), which is plenty warm to fuel a tropical storm or a hurricane.
The system is embedded in a very moist envelope, so dry air wrapping into to the circulation shouldn't be an inhibitor. The biggest obstacle facing this nascent cyclone is vertical wind shear. But even that may not be enough to stop it from intensifying by Saturday. As of now, models agree on a Monday morning landfall as a strong tropical storm or possibly even a hurricane... somewhere between eastern Louisiana and the eastern Florida panhandle. The exact location doesn't matter though, as impacts extend far from the center.
Unfortunately, it's hard to trust the intensity details too much yet since it's currently not even a Depression. But as time goes on (and it escapes the influence of land), confidence in the model guidance will increase.
By far, the biggest concern associated with this is flooding caused by heavy rainfall. Not only is very heavy rain expected in the northern Gulf coast region near the landfall location, but also over south Florida and up into Georgia and South Carolina in the coming week.
Depending on just how much this strengthens, the second-order concern will be storm surge along the west Florida coast and northeastern Gulf coast, so stay tuned!
On the topic of another pre-season named storm, I plotted up the formation date of the first named storm from the past 40 years. A very obvious trend appears! There may be a few reasons for this, but it's certainly interesting.
If this earns a name this weekend, which seems likely, it will be the unprecedented *4th* consecutive year with a pre-season named storm! The first name on this year's list is Alberto. (and coincidentally, the last time Alberto appeared in 2012 it was also a pre-season storm!)
Models have come into rough agreement on the track and timing of this potential tropical cyclone, but they still have differing opinions on the intensification. Invest 90L, or "pre-Alberto", will head north through the central-to-eastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Water temperatures ahead of it are in the 27-28°C ballpark (80.5-82.5°F), which is plenty warm to fuel a tropical storm or a hurricane.
The system is embedded in a very moist envelope, so dry air wrapping into to the circulation shouldn't be an inhibitor. The biggest obstacle facing this nascent cyclone is vertical wind shear. But even that may not be enough to stop it from intensifying by Saturday. As of now, models agree on a Monday morning landfall as a strong tropical storm or possibly even a hurricane... somewhere between eastern Louisiana and the eastern Florida panhandle. The exact location doesn't matter though, as impacts extend far from the center.
Unfortunately, it's hard to trust the intensity details too much yet since it's currently not even a Depression. But as time goes on (and it escapes the influence of land), confidence in the model guidance will increase.
By far, the biggest concern associated with this is flooding caused by heavy rainfall. Not only is very heavy rain expected in the northern Gulf coast region near the landfall location, but also over south Florida and up into Georgia and South Carolina in the coming week.
Depending on just how much this strengthens, the second-order concern will be storm surge along the west Florida coast and northeastern Gulf coast, so stay tuned!
On the topic of another pre-season named storm, I plotted up the formation date of the first named storm from the past 40 years. A very obvious trend appears! There may be a few reasons for this, but it's certainly interesting.
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18 May 2018
Can't wait for hurricane season to start? You may not have to.
I have a brief update on a potential development in the western Caribbean Sea which could affect Florida next Friday-Saturday... it is available on the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang blog:
Hurricane season technically starts June 1, but it could fire up early
Hurricane season technically starts June 1, but it could fire up early
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