Weather

Talking the Tropics With Mike: Sally over the Gulf... Mutiple systems over the Atlantic

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*** SALLY WILL NOT HAVE DIRECT IMPACTS ON JACKSONVILLE/NE FL./SE GA. THROUGH AT LEAST THE EARLY PART OF THE WEEK ***

TROPICS:

(1) an area of ‘disturbed’ weather (showers & storms) that developed over the Bahamas a few days ago was upgraded to tropical depression #19 Fri. making landfall on the southeast coast of Fl. not far from Miami about 2am EDT Sat. then re-emerged over the warm Gulf by midday Sat. then quickly became tropical storm “Sally” Sat. afternoon. Like most of the names this season... this is the fastest to 'S’ beating the record of “Stan” Oct. 2, 2005. Sally remained steady state Sunday while looking a little raged on satellite imagery. In general, however, conditions looks to be favorable for at least gradual intensification just about right up to landfall. Sally will turn more to the west/ northwest then northwest up to landfall by Tuesday along the Louisiana or Mississippi coast. Bursts of t’storms may cause the center to jump around some until - & unless - a decent core develops.

Models were having a difficult time “finding” the depression but now that the tropical cyclone is stronger, the models are much better in their initialization. Special N.W.S. balloon soundings - 4 a day vs. the normal 2 per day - will be released for at least the next several across the Gulf Coast & Southeast U.S. in an attempt to have better analysis data for the models which would then translate into better output (forecasts). Right now it looks like a steady west/northwest to northwest move through Mon. night. Upon approach to the Gulf Coast Mon. night into Tue., the upper level ridge becomes rather soft with westerlies - albeit rather weak - extending south to near the Gulf Coast. How this set-up evolves will be critical as to where exactly Sally - forecast right now to be a Cat. 1 hurricane - comes ashore & where it moves thereafter. It appears there will be a slow turn to the northeast after landfall resulting in very heavy rainfall. The GFS model is very near New Orleans... the European is a little more to the west... the UKMET is more to the east. There remains plenty of uncertainty in the “end game”.

In any case, everyone along the Gulf Coast - especially from the Fl. Panhandle to Louisiana - needs to stay up to date on the latest forecasts.

(2) Tropical depression #17 formed over the Eastern Atlantic Sunday & was upgraded to tropical storm “Paulette” Mon. The fastest ever to ’P’ easily beating the old record of Philippe Sept. 17, 2005. Paulette seems to have finally found that “sweet spot” & is becoming more organized & stronger. The forecast is for Paulette to continue the northward turn then sharply to the northeast through the upcoming week. Paulette continues to look like an “ocean storm” staying well east of the U.S. *but* will be very near Bermuda Mon. at which point the storm is expected to be a Cat. 2 hurricane before strengthening to Cat. 3+. Though far to the east, easterly swells & an increasing rip current risk affect Florida & much of the Eastern U.S. coast this week.

(3) Depression #20 formed Sat. from a westbound African tropical wave & is forecast to quickly intensify as “Teddy” while moving into the Central Atlantic. Early indications are indicating that the Bermuda High to the north will shift more to the east & north allowing for a turn to the north over the Western Atlantic. But the steering flow is by no means locked in yet once into the Central Atlantic. But this does look like a clear miss for the Antilles.

(4) Tropical depression #18 was upgraded just off the coast of Africa early Mon. then to tropical storm “Rene” Mon. afternoon before a weakening trend Tue. night followed by another strengthening trend Thu. Rene is now again struggling thanks to nearby dry air & shear. Rene should turn more west in the long run as the storm weakens & becomes more shallow & eventually dissipates.

(5) Another in a series of active tropical waves will roll off Africa early this week. There is the potential for development while moving west.

(6) A lowering of pressures has been indicated by forecast models over the Western Gulf of Mexico into next week. Low pressure may eventually develop... or there could be some interaction with other waves/disturbances. If so, it’s an area to keep an eye on for possible tropical development.

September is usually the most active month of the hurricane season:



Saharan dust:

2020 names..... “Teddy” is next on the Atlantic list (names are picked at random by the World Meteorological Organization... repeat every 6 years... historic storms are retired (Florence & Michael in ’18) & Dorian is certain to be retired from the ’19 list. Interesting side note: the last six of the names on the ’20 list have never been used with only 3 remaining (the Greek alphabet will be used if necessary)....

East Atlantic:


Mid & upper level wind shear (enemy of tropical cyclones) analysis (CIMMS). The red lines indicate strong shear:

Water vapor imagery (dark blue indicates dry air):

Deep oceanic heat content is impressive:

Sea surface temp. anomalies:

SE U.S. surface map:

Surface analysis centered on the tropical Atlantic:

Surface analysis of the Gulf:

Caribbean:

Global tropical activity: