Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Tropical Depression Six arrives
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 5:14 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010 +4
Tropical Storm Tropical Depression Six is here, but it will not be a threat to land for at least the next five days. Tropical Depression Six is a classic "Cape Verdes"-type storm common during the peak part of hurricane season. Cape Verdes-type storms are so named because they form from tropical waves that come off the coast of Africa and pass near the Cape Verdes Islands just west of Africa. Cape Verdes hurricanes are the largest and most dangerous types of hurricane in the Atlantic, since they spend a long time over water have and have of opportunity to reach full maturity. Tropical Depression Six has a ways to go before it becomes a hurricane, as the storm is embedded in a strong easterly flow of wind courtesy of the African Monsoon that is generating a moderately high 15 - 20 knots of wind shear. There is also a tropical disturbance to the northeast of TD 6 that is sucking away some moisture and is interfering with the storm's circulation. Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) are a warm 28°C, and the storm is embedded in a moist environment, so wind shear is the primary inhibiting factor for development. The strong east winds imparting the shear are keeping any heavy thunderstorms from developing on the east side of the center of circulation, which is exposed to view in satellite imagery (Figure 1.)


Figure 1. Afternoon satellite image of Tropical Depression Six.

Forecast for Tropical Depression Six
A ridge of high pressure will force Tropical Depression Six to the west-northwest for the next five days, and the system should increase its forward speed from its current 10 mph to 15 mph by Monday night. A powerful trough of low pressure over the mid-Atlantic Ocean will begin to pull Tropical Depression Six more to the northwest late this week, and the storm should pass well to the northeast of the Lesser Antilles Islands. It remains to be seen, however, it this trough will be strong enough to fully recurve Tropical Depression Six out to sea. The GFS predicts that Tropical Depression Six may pass close to Bermuda about eight days from now, and it is also possible that Tropical Depression Six could eventually hit the U.S. East Coast 9 - 15 days from now. However, we have no skill in making these sort of ultra-long range forecasts, and the long-range fate of TD 6 is uncertain.

Elsewhere in the tropics
The ECMWF and NOGAPS models are predicting formation of a tropical depression off the coast of Africa 3 - 4 days from now.

Jeff Masters
Categories: Hurricane
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752. Hurricanes101 8:53 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
bye bye 3-1-0

it is now 4-1-0


ah NHC notes a turn toward the WNW on satellite, interesting
Member Since: Marzo 10, 2010 Posts: 1 Comments: 6930
755. thewindman 8:53 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Backing off on Strength again in the discussion. My feeling is 60mph tropical strom at best. Shear is abudant in the Atlantic this year and therefore it has been a SLOWER than average hurricane season. Sorry you overpaid experts
Member Since: Agosto 21, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 143
759. david276 8:55 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
i dont have as much faith in it re-curving as much as everyone wants it to/ thought. As i did earlier this weekend. my 2 cents.
Member Since: Septiembre 12, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 48
760. plywoodstatenative 8:55 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Is there any reason that the waves that hit the caribbean moving too fast are doing more in the Pacific than they are in the Atlantic Basin?
Member Since: Noviembre 15, 2005 Posts: 16 Comments: 4147
761. IKE 8:55 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GFDL...THE INTENSITY GUIDANCE HAS
CONTINUED TO SCALE BACK ON THE INTENSIFICATION OF THE CYCLONE.
SLOW STRENGTHENING IS ANTICIPATED FOR MUCH OF THE FORECAST PERIOD
SINCE VERTICAL SHEAR IS CURRENTLY NOT IDEAL...AND SOME DRY AIR
APPEARS TO SURROUND THE SYSTEM. THE STATISTICAL GUIDANCE SEEMS TO
SUGGEST THAT THE VERTICAL SHEAR COULD INCREASE AGAIN AFTER DAY
3...AND THE LGEM DOES NOT EVEN STRENGTHEN THE CYCLONE TO A HURRICANE
DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD. FOR NOW...THE OFFICIAL INTENSITY
FORECAST IS LEFT UNCHANGED OUT OF RESPECT FOR CONTINUITY.


Interesting.
Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070
769. washingtonian115 8:57 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting hydrus:
Or storms...The waves are lined up...Link
Reminds me of 2008.A follow the leader type situation?.I think so.
Member Since: Agosto 14, 2010 Posts: 6 Comments: 11210
772. hydrus 8:58 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting washingtonian115:
Good the blog is beack on track.Now we finally hve our 5th named storm.The chances of this hitting bermuda have increased.
Fourth.
Member Since: Septiembre 27, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 14721
773. IKE 8:58 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting FLdewey:
Bermuda is NOT a fish. We should all be concerned about such an important tax haven.

LOL!
Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070
774. Seastep 8:58 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting floridiancanuck:
I haven't posted anything yet this season but reading the comments here is totally a guilty pleasure of mine. Y'all get so passionate during storm season.

On that note, I have a question. I read a lot of heated discussions on here about the computer models and it seemed that for this current storm in the making people were making predictions based on the models right off the bat, when we were looking at a disorganized blob of thunder storms emerging off Africa. Do forcasting sciences really give any weight to computer models this early? Also, is there any rule of thumb to guage when computer models are reliabe vs when they aren't? Thanks, and happy tracking! =)


72hrs

Modified: And NHC is very good, and getting better by the year, out to 72hrs.

For that, just look at how narrow the cone now is compared to 5 years ago at that time.

The cone is 67% chance based on the past 5 years of forecasting.
Member Since: Septiembre 9, 2008 Posts: 6 Comments: 3407
775. hydrus 8:58 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting MoltenIce:
THIS is a fish, and a big one too.

...and hello Danielle!
That is one cool looking fish!
Member Since: Septiembre 27, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 14721
776. IKE 8:58 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting DestinJeff:


you got to give respect to get respect, Continuity.

maybe setting the stage for a weaker storm missing the trough.


Please don't let that happen.
Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070
777. scott39 8:59 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting IKE:
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GFDL...THE INTENSITY GUIDANCE HAS
CONTINUED TO SCALE BACK ON THE INTENSIFICATION OF THE CYCLONE.
SLOW STRENGTHENING IS ANTICIPATED FOR MUCH OF THE FORECAST PERIOD
SINCE VERTICAL SHEAR IS CURRENTLY NOT IDEAL...AND SOME DRY AIR
APPEARS TO SURROUND THE SYSTEM. THE STATISTICAL GUIDANCE SEEMS TO
SUGGEST THAT THE VERTICAL SHEAR COULD INCREASE AGAIN AFTER DAY
3...AND THE LGEM DOES NOT EVEN STRENGTHEN THE CYCLONE TO A HURRICANE
DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD. FOR NOW...THE OFFICIAL INTENSITY
FORECAST IS LEFT UNCHANGED OUT OF RESPECT FOR CONTINUITY.


Interesting.
Sounds like dry air and wind shear may keep this at bay after day 3. Weak system will go more W. IMO
Member Since: Junio 13, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 6221
781. IKE 9:00 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting scott39:
Sounds like dry air and wind shear may keep this at bay after day 3. Weak system will go more W. IMO


Two words I hate now....

(1)Fish.
(2)West.
Member Since: Junio 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37070
783. AllStar17 9:00 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
If it were to be weak and miss the trough....it may become stronger in the long run.
Member Since: Junio 29, 2009 Posts: 13 Comments: 5145
785. catastropheadjuster 9:01 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
I just got a text and we have Danielle
Member Since: Agosto 24, 2006 Posts: 21 Comments: 3559
787. smuldy 9:01 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting DestinJeff:
Don't forget about Frances!
nhc didn't, which is why in their discussion they are not even speculating about longer term track tendencies despite the model guidance, which in of itself is noteworthy. Will be interesting to see where this is moving in two days, that should be the key. nice to see the dry air and shear it will be interacting with over the next two days, that should at least protect wherever this goes from seeing the 4/5 everyone was calling for yesterday.
Member Since: Julio 23, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 516
789. scott39 9:02 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting IKE:


Two words I hate now....

(1)Fish.
(2)West.
I hate the thought of West alot more than fish!
Member Since: Junio 13, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 6221
790. markot 9:02 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
nhc said earlier it will miss trof, and slow down and turn west day 4=5
Member Since: Septiembre 2, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 226
792. smuldy 9:03 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting thewindman:
Backing off on Strength again in the discussion. My feeling is 60mph tropical strom at best. Shear is abudant in the Atlantic this year and therefore it has been a SLOWER than average hurricane season. Sorry you overpaid experts
this WILL be a hurricane. Just might not be our first major, which is good for everyone involved if the westward trend and stronger ridging continues.
Member Since: Julio 23, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 516
793. scott39 9:03 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting IKE:


Two words I hate now....

(1)Fish.
(2)West.
What about left and out to sea!
Member Since: Junio 13, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 6221
795. wunderkidcayman 9:03 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
TS Danielle is now moving W-WNW dispite what the NHC is saying and also if you look in this Grapic you can see the track



look at the last few miles of movement you will see it
Member Since: Junio 13, 2009 Posts: 2 Comments: 5997
797. TropicalAnalystwx13 9:04 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting markot:
nhc said earlier it will miss trof, and slow down and turn west day 4=5


Yes, but there will be another one
Member Since: Julio 6, 2010 Posts: 92 Comments: 25992
798. JLPR2 9:04 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Quoting MiamiHurricanes09:
May I add:

3. Deported
4. Reported


#1 should be poof. -.-

I wonder if we could see a yellow circle with the wave at the coast by tomorrow.
Member Since: Septiembre 4, 2007 Posts: 7 Comments: 7534
801. plywoodstatenative 9:04 PM GMT en Agosto 22, 2010    
Statement as of 5:00 PM AST on August 22, 2010

strong showers and thunderstorms...with very cold cloud tops to near
-85c...have recently formed in association with the cyclone...and
the low-level center is now embedded beneath the convective canopy.
Dvorak final T-numbers from TAFB and SAB are now both 2.5...35
kt...and the most recent 3-hour average ADT from UW-CIMSS is 2.7.
The depression is therefore upgraded to a 35-kt tropical storm.
Given the northward movement of the center of Danielle through much
of the day...the estimated initial motion is 310/10. However...
recent satellite images suggest that the center is turning back
toward the west-northwest...and this motion is expected to continue
for the next 72 hours as the system is steered by the subtropical
ridge to its north. A break in the ridge by day 3 could allow the
cyclone to turn toward the northwest...but Danielle is expected to
slow down as it approaches a new ridge to its north on day 5.
Member Since: Noviembre 15, 2005 Posts: 16 Comments: 4147

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About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

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