Topic: Atlantic Hurricane Season 2008

[Carlos E]

It officially (and literally) starts today (well if you want to be technical it's not the 1st of June in the US yet, but it sounds good).

Season has started with ex-Tropical Storm Alma from the northeast Pacific Ocean dissipating in the western Caribbean Sea after crossing central America, and another low from its remnants developing into Tropical Storm Arthur. The storm was incredibly close to land when it formed, and is expected to weaken back into a Tropical Depression/Disturbance in the next few hours. There is a slight chance it may develop back into a Tropical Storm again in the Bay of Campeche.

[Carlos E]

Tropical Storm Bertha has now developed. Has the potential to strengthen into a Hurricane.

[Carlos E]

Bertha is finally dying (lasted very long).

Christobal & Dolly have now developed, both Tropical Storms.

[Michael Bath]

Pretty impressive track by Bertha at this time of year.



A couple of records:

"Bertha easily broke the record for furthest east named storm formation
in the tropics (classified as south of 23.5N)  prior to 1 August since
1950.  It became classified as a tropical storm at 24.7W breaking the
old record set by Anna in 1969 (36.0 W)."

"Bertha was a named storm for 17.25 days  This is by far the longest
lived storm to have formed in July, breaking the old record set by Storm
2 in 1916.  Bertha was the fourth longest lived storm since
1950 to have formed in any month."

[Carlos E]

Thanks for the complete track of Bertha. I'm still amazed she lasted so long (even as far up as Canada...).

Sad thing is, Bertha might lose her record of being the farthest eastern storm in a matter of days, as another Tropical Low emerging off the coast of Africa is likely to develop into another Tropical Cyclone (although it might not make Storm status before Bertha did) as soon as it hits the tropical Waters.

Atlantic has had a busy July, 4 storms (very likely to be 5 by the end of the week). 2005 had 5 or 6 in July iirc, and that was their busiest ever. Will be interesting to watch.

[Carlos E]

Dolly managed to strengthen into a Hurricane, it's going to impact the US/Mexico border.
 
The Tropical Low I mentioned above decided to head north into cooler waters, so it's not likely to develop into a Cyclone for a couple of days yet.

[Carlos E]

Dolly looks absolutely amazing on the radar.

It's chucking out Tornadoes as well now.

[Carlos E]

Tropical Storm Edouard has developed in the Gulf of Mexico. It's expected to make landfall in Texas (again) as a strong Tropical Storm or a Weak Hurricane.

[Carlos E]

Tropical Storm Fay developed north of Puerto Rico and moved over Cuba, then turned northeast and is currently just off Florida's Coast. It's expected to swing back around and head inland.

[Harley Pearman]

Tropical Storm Fay 22/8/2008

Tropical Hurricane Fay / Tropical Storm Fay has stayed around longer and is causing mayhem and has left a trail of destruction and damage. Besides causing 50 fatalities as at 21/8/08 it has been notworthy due to:-

- Its speed. It is moving very slowly.
- It has crossed the Florida coast 3 times as at 22/8/08.
- The amount of rain that it is producing.

In addition, I was on CNN yesterday in the weather section and locals and weather forecasters had determined or confirmed that at least 7 tornadoes had been generated by this storm by Wednesday.

This storm has produced phenomenal rainfall of up to 30 inches being 750 mm in some localities due to its speed. It is moving at a snails pace. Briefly this is the situation in point form from the storey "Fay Inches across saturated Florida: Two drown" dated 22/8/2008.

- Large parts of Florida is declared a state of emergency and total rainfalls average between 10 and 20 inches (250 mm to 500 mm) although reports to the National Hurricane Centre confirms rainfalls as high as 30 inches or 750 mm by 8 pm Thursday (Florida time).

- The storm has made its third Florida landfall at Flagler Beach after being stationary for many hours and dumping rain in the same area.

- The storm was moving at 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h) and winds at the centre were around 60 miles or 100 km/h.

- A place called Melbourne (It is near the Kennedy Space Centre on the east coast) had received 26 inches of rain (650 mm) by 5 am Thursday that has flooded 80 neighbourhoods.

- Cape Canaveral had received 20 inches (500 mm of rain) by Thursday morning.

- A few large cats had escaped from a local zoo but had been recaptured.

The tropical storm is going to be around a while yet and storm warnings are in effect for northern Florida, parts of Georgia and parts of southern South Carolina.

Its impact is mainly it's speed and incredible rainfall and as a result, it has left a trail of major flooding in its wake.


Harley Pearman

[Carlos E]

Yeah Fay really didn't like Florida too much. When I said it would go inland surprise surprise, it changed track and is now going parallel to the Gulf coast. Hope it doesn't linger around New Orleans for very long. >_<

[Michael Bath]

Feel free to start new threads for specific events, especially if it looks like they will be major systems. Perhaps use this one for more general discussion.

regards, Michael

[Carlos E]

Thanks Michael.

Hanna did reach Hurricane strength, though she seems to have gone back to TS now.

Tropical Storm Ike developed yesterday, as did TD10; what a quiet season. -_-

[Mike]

Anyone like to comment on the theory that hurricanes following each other don't usually become severe repeatedly?  With Gustav and Hanna following, she did not eventuate into anything 'special' but with Ike who was following would have encountered cooler upwelled ocean temps would he not from the previous two hurricanes? Is there some kind of current that rejuvenates the ocean temps so soon to cause such events so often?

[Carlos E]

Hurricane Paloma, which is now a Category 4 Hurricane, is due to strike Cuba in the next 48 hours.

I must say I'm surprised that this strengthened this much.