Tropical Storm Erika Named Just East Of Leeward Islands

September 1, 2009 – Tropical Storm Erika is named in the Atlantic. The tropical disturbance we’ve been tracking for days east of the Leeward Islands, has continued to organize over the last few days. Earlier today, a recon flight out to the system found tropical storm force winds of 50mph and a low-level circulation. Erika is currently experiencing wind shear similar to Tropical Storm Danny, and only slow strengthening is forecasted at this time.

The National Hurricane Center’s forecast track keep Erika just northeast of the northern Caribbean Islands the next few days, and as a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for the northeastern Caribbean Islands at 5pm.

It will be interesting to see how Erika evolves over the next 72 hours, and if she will become another fish storm or a threat to the Bahamas or further west.

Storm Chasers On Location For Hurricane Jimena Intercept

August 31, 2009 – Major category 4 Hurricane Jimena in the eastern Pacific remains a very dangerous hurricane that continues to track towards Baja California with 155mph winds. This huge wave picture was taken earlier today from Hurricane Chaser Jim Edds on location about 50 miles north of Cabo San Lucas. Jim and fellow Storm Chaser Jeff Piotrowski flew into the target area early this morning. They are there to intercept and document the major hurricanes tomorrow afternoon into the evening hours. I’m in communication with them, and expect picture and video updates over the next few days. I post the latest information from them and any new videos and images from the target area as I receive them.

Stay tuned…

Tropical Storm Danny Comes To Play East Of Bahamas

August 26, 2009 – Tropical Storm Danny comes alive in the western Atlantic this morning as a 45mph disorganized tropical storm. Danny is moving to the west-northwest near 18 mph, but is expected to begin a more northwest turn over the next 24-36 hours just east of the Bahamas Islands. Then turn more north-northwest coming close to the Outer Banks of North Carolina maybe at or just below hurricane strength. As of right now, and mostly likely, Danny will not become an issue for Florida outside of maybe some small surf later in the week.

If Tropical Storm Danny organizes more, taking a little longer making the turn northward by tracking more to the west over the next day or two, and looks to be a hurricane with a more direct impact on North Carolina, there could be a hurricane chase intercept planned. More updates on Danny throughout the week.

Hurricane Bill To Be Huge Wave Maker For US And Bermuda

August 21, 2009 – Major Hurricane Bill remains a dangerous hurricane that continues to make his gradually turn to the northwest in the western Atlantic Ocean. His forward speed remains to be at a steady track around 18mph to the northwest. A more gradually turn to the north-northwest is expected later today, as Hurricane Bill rounds the western side of the Atlantic ridge. As of this post, Bill’s winds were 125mph with much higher gusts, and this makes him a Category 3 hurricane. Bill could regain category 4 strengthen over the next 24 hours before reaching cooler water temperatures further north in the Atlantic.

At this time Hurricane Bill looks to be a major large wave / swell producer for the entire United States east coast. Bermuda could see a brush with Bill, and experience Tropical Storm conditions as Bill tracks to the west of the island. Bermuda is under a Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch.

There are no Hurricane Chase Intercept plans for Bill as he is expected to remain well east of the United State. New England could feel some affects from Bill, and we are continuing to monitor this, but do not expect any chase plans.

Could We See Tropical Storm Ana Develop This Week?

August 10, 2009 – The Tropical Atlantic basin is showing some signs of life after a very inactive June and July 2009. Normally this is the case as you move into mid August through September. The tropical Atlantic basin hurricane season peaks around September 10th each summer and will end November 30, 2009.

Tropical Depression 2
Update: 6:00am ET – Tropical Depression Two developed early this morning the 11th of August, west of the Cape Verde Islands. The system could become our first named Tropical Storm Ana of the season in the next 24 hrs. -

Yesterday we began to monitor the newly labeled low pressure tropical wave Invest 99L that recently moved off the African coast. This wave is currently moving westward at around 10mph, and is located west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. It’s still too early as of this post to know if this will become a Tropical Depression in the next 24 hours or so, and possibly Tropical Storm Ana. Thunderstorm activity with this system has become more disorganized today, and the system seems to be interacting with drier air to it’s north and some moderate wind shear. Will continue to monitor the wave for further signs of development if it survives the next few days as it is forecast to continue westward.

Tropical Wave Caribbean Invest -

This afternoon the National Hurricane Center began taking a closer look at a small tropical wave with associated low pressure located just to the east and/or over the Windward Islands in the eastern Caribbean. Right now this has a low percentage for development during the next 48 hrs as it moves westward at 10-15mph into the Caribbean Sea. Convection has increased somewhat with the system today, and it will be interesting to see if it can maintain it overnight. This also could become something to monitor for tropical storm development if it organizes further.

Tropical Weather Heating Up After Long Lull -

We’re getting into that time of the hurricane season when typically things ramp up from the normally slower months of June and July. You’ll likely see more tropical weather related posts and content on the site the next several weeks as we move into the more active part of the season. We’re always standing by for hurricane chase interceptions, and will once again continue it this season, so be sure to check back often when there is activity in the tropical Atlantic Ocean basin.

Slow Start To Atlantic Hurricane Season 2009 – Invest 97L

July 19, 2009 – The Tropical Atlantic basin has remained nearly non-active since the start of the season back on June 1st. There has been only a few small tropical waves of interest in the western Caribbean Sea in late June last month, but outside of that, the quiet tropics have been the norm.

June and July are normally the slowest months for Tropical Storm or Hurricane activity, but you still tend to get a few Tropical Depressions or disturbances to track mostly in the Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean Sea. The problem so far here in 2009 is, there has been a significant amount of strong mid to upper-level winds across the Gulf, Caribbean and Western Atlantic region. This has made the environment very hostile for tropical cyclone formation throughout the first half of Summer. Florida has seen a significant amount of troughs digging in over the state making a very wet season, with records amounts of rain and thunderstorm days. The normal easterly wind flow of Florida’s summers has been seen little this year, with westerlies keeping the storms more active over the eastern coasts rather than the west coast.

Developing El Nino and The Atlantic Hurricane Season 2009

These same westerlies is what has put a cap on the 2009 Hurricane Season as of this time, and NOAA announced last week that El-Nino has begun and expected to intensify into the Winter 09/10. El-Nino is known for suppressing hurricanes from developing in the Atlantic basin by helping to produce stronger westerlies winds that create wind shear for developing storms. It’s still early in the season, and the peak hurricane months are still too come, and its not yet known how much El-Nino will have on the current season.

Tropical Wave Invest 97L – (SAL) Saharan Air Layer Dust – Wind Shear

Just recently in the last several days, we’ve been monitoring the first two noticeable eastern Tropical Atlantic waves that came off the coast of Africa. Both systems have struggled with strong wind shear and (SAL) Saharan Air Layer, which is African dust from the Saharan Desert. These dust storms can travel across the Atlantic as well creating subsidence and dry air, and can inhibit hurricane development as well. As a mater of fact, as I type this post, we here in Southeast Florida have been dealing with SAL the last several days with hazy skies.

The first wave of the two was ripped apart by the strong wind shear, but the second one has organized some, especially overnight and some today. It has been labeled Invest 97L and is currently being monitoring for any development. At this time the upper-air environment remains heavily sheared to the west of the system, and 97L might find itself being torn apart too in the coming days. Status updates on our Hurricane Chase Info page.

It will be interesting to see how the remainder of the season pans out, and if August and September will crank up in tropical weather activity. It only take one hurricane to strike your region to make it a busy season. In 1992 Category 5 Hurricane Andrew was the first hurricane of the season, and it struck South Florida on August 24th.

Hurricane Carlos Alive In The Eastern Pacific – Satellite Image

July 11, 2009 – Recently upgraded Hurricane Carlos in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, is looking a little better this afternoon. Although, as you can see in this Hi-rez satellite visible imagery, there seems to be a band of entraining drier air into Carlos convective circulation. You can see a very small eye, with dry air trying to wrap into the circulation on the western quadrants of the hurricane. This is likely to be short-lived as Carlos is expected to remain a hurricane into this upcoming week.

Hurricane Carlos is forecasted to intensify some in the coming days before encountering southwesterly wind shear, but remain over open waters of the Eastern Pacific, and move into the Central Pacific in a few days. Carlos is the second named hurricane of the 2009 East Pacific season.

Tropical Weather Video Update For Week of June 29 – July 4

June 28, 2009 – The Tropical Atlantic basin for the most part, has remained very quiet for the entire month of June 2009. The only recent area I was monitoring, was the tropical wave labeled Invest 93L in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on June 26-28, 2009. The system struggled to organized and develop a low-level circulation as it slowly tracked towards the Yucatan Peninsula. Then yesterday, northern wind shear from the Northern Gulf coast and Florida, finished off the rest of the tropical wave as it moved inland over the Yucatan.

Today some of the deep tropical moisture associated with the system, was helping to enhance showers and thunderstorms over the southern have of the Florida Peninsula. The rest of the tropics have no area’s of interest at this time, at least that I’m interested in.

Have a safe 4th of July weekend this week, and watch out for those lightning storms if your holiday activities will be outside. Look for another Tropical Weather video update in the next week or two, or sooner if something becomes of interest in the tropics.

You comments are greatly welcomed!

Related Tropical Weather Video: Watch Previous Tropical Weather Update 6/5/09

Hurricane Season 2009 Chase Coverage Introduction Video

June 5, 2009 – A little video introduction to the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season coverage planned here on Weatherzine. Expecting to have HD video updates from the field during hurricane intercept chase missions, along with track and forecasting thoughts on a particular storm. Look for frequent HD hurricane video updates throughout the season whenever there is a active storm and plans for a hurricane chase intercept mission.

Hurricane Charley DVD Super Holiday 2008 Sale, $5.00!

Weather and storm enthusiasts, here’s a special deal for you this holiday season.  Get your own copy of the award winning Hurricane Chaser DVD, “Hurricane Charley – Friday The 13^th, 2004 – Punta Gorda, FL”. This classic DVD was released in 2004 after the category 4 hurricane struck southwest Florida, and is on a very special sale while supplies last for only $5.00, plus shipping (U.S. sales only). That’s right only five bux for a very impressive Storm Chaser look into the eye of a dangerous category 4 hurricane with 6 different camera angles throughout the film. This DVD won best Documentary at the International Miami Film Festival in 2005, and is defiantly worth adding to your DVD collection whether you’re a hurricane enthusiast or just lived through Hurricane Charley.

Once supplies are gone, this DVD will never republished, so get your copy today. We must make room for new upcoming releases and all remaining Hurricane Charley DVD’s must be sold before the new year. Just choose the Buy button below, and order through Paypal. Once their gone, the order page will be removed. This DVD makes a great Christmas or Holiday give to that someone you know that is crazy about the weather.HURRICANE CHARLEY – FRIDAY THE 13^TH 2004 – PUNTA GORDA FLORIDA

 

Ride along with 6 Storm and Hurricane Chasers as they intercept the eyewall of deadly category 4 Charley. See daylight category 145mph winds slam into the small coastal town, and watch these six Videographer try and ride out the storm on the streets of ground zero. Some of the most impressive hurricane footage ever captured during daylight.

• Poly-wrapped Case
• DVD-5 Quality – Plays In All DVD players.
• 80 Minutes – 4:3 standard Definition.
• Produced by” BNVN and Weathervine Storm and Hurricane Chasers.

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