It's a long time since the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season started way back in January as Hurricane Alex headed for Greenland.
Today we bring you news of Hurricane Matthew, who swept through the Lesser Antilles into the Caribbean Sea as a mere tropical storm but has now turned north and strengthened into a major hurricane. Matthew briefly reached category 5 status yesterday with sustained wind speeds of 160 miles per hour, but those winds have dropped down to a mere 150 mph this morning. Like Alex, Matthew has several claims to fame, most notably as the southernmost category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic, at 13.3° north. Here's the current forecast from the National Hurricane Center:
More on Hurricane Matthew Aims At Haiti
Filed under Disasters by Jim Hunt
As we previously reported the extraordinary North Atlantic cyclone called Alex became a hurricane yesterday. This morning (UTC) we wake to discover that in their most recent update on his progress the National Hurricane Center are predicting that even though Alex has now weakened slightly he will carry his hurricane force winds all the way to Greenland:
More on Hurricane Alex Heads for Greenland
Filed under Climate by Jim Hunt
Further to our recent news about the unseasonally early formation of Hurricane Pali in the Pacific the National Hurricane Center has just announced that:
OUT OF SEASON SUBTROPICAL STORM FORMS OVER THE FAR EASTERN
ATLANTIC…
More on Subtropical Storm Alex Arrives in the North Atlantic
Filed under Climate by Jim Hunt
In an extremely early start to the 2016 Pacific Cyclone Season the Central Pacific Hurricane Center announced early this morning that Hurricane Pali had reached category 1 strength. They currently report that:
More on Pali in Early Start to 2016 Pacific Cyclone Season
Filed under Climate by Jim Hunt
Way back on May 9th we reported on an unusually early start to the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Things have been fairly quiet since then. There have been a few named tropical storms, one of which became Hurricane Danny on August 20th. Danny didn't pose much threat to life and limb, but another unusual tropical storm is about to change that. At 06:00 UTC this morning the National Hurricane Centre advised that:
More on Hurricane Fred Threatens Cape Verde Islands
Filed under Climate by Jim Hunt
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1st until November 30th. Last year the first named storm of the season was called Arthur and he formed on July 1st. This year the first storm of the 2015 season is called Ana, and the United States National Hurricane Center first mentioned the as yet unnamed storm on May 3rd 2015:
More on Early Start to 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Filed under Climate by Jim Hunt
The National Hurricane Center is one of the few US Government agencies still working normally during the current "shutdown". As they point out on their web site:
Due to the Federal Government shutdown, NOAA.gov and most associated web sites are unavailable. However, because the information this site provides is necessary to protect life and property, it will be updated and maintained during the Federal Government shutdown.
In a public advisory bulletin issued at 13:00 UTC yesterday the NHC reported that Tropical Storm Karen had formed. In their most recent bulletin about Karen at 09:00 UTC this morning they say about her that:
More on US Gulf Coast on Hurricane Watch
Filed under Disasters by Jim Hunt
According to the 10th public advisory bulletin concerning Ingrid, issued by the National Hurricane Center at 21:00 UTC yesterday evening:
INGRID BECOMES THE SECOND HURRICANE OF THE 2013 SEASON.
A HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED [BY THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO] FROM CABO ROJO TO LA PESCA. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM NORTH OF LA PESCA TO BAHIA ALGODONES…AND FROM SOUTH OF CABO ROJO TO TUXPAN.
As you can tell from that report, Ingrid has actually formed in the Gulf of Mexico close to the Mexican coast. According to the latest bulletin #12a:
More on Ingrid Becomes the Second "Atlantic" Hurricane of 2013
Filed under Disasters by Jim Hunt
After a very long wait it looks as though the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2013 season will be announced later today. Currently Humberto is a mere tropical storm, but according to the latest National Hurricane Centre public advisory bulletin:
More on Humberto Forecast to Become First Atlantic Hurricane of 2013 Later Today
Filed under Climate by Jim Hunt
After commenting on the "quiet start" to the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane season only a few days ago, I can now report that things are warming up off the west coast of North Africa. The first two tropical storms of the Atlantic season were born over in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. The third started in the central Atlantic. The fourth is called Dorian, and earlier this morning the National Hurricane Centre announced that the:
More on Tropical Storm Dorian is Born Near Africa
Filed under Climate by Jim Hunt
