Tropics Quiet Down After Helene…For The Time Being

Good evening everyone. On this first anniversary of the second worst hurricane to affect the United States in 2005, Hurricane Rita, we are enjoying some tranquility for the first time in about a month to six weeks. Hurricane Helene, which had become the strongest hurricane of 2006 on Monday morning with 125 mph winds, and a minimum central pressure of 28.17 inches of Hg, or 954 mb, weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday morning, and then by noon it became extratropical.

This season has been one for the fish and ships. Of the total of eight storms, four hurricanes, and two major hurricanes, only Alberto and Ernesto have made any impact on the United States while Florence tracked just west of Bermuda and brought its strongest effects to the island. Storms such as Gordon and Helene steered to the East of Bermuda, and bypassed the Azores although the Portuguese island chain has felt tropical storm force and gale force winds from the two systems. So the tranquility of the 2006 season has been a welcome break after the frenetic activity of 2005. Nonetheless, there is still a bit more than two months to go in this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season, and since we are in an active cycle, nothing can be ruled out.

As I view the satellite imagery from both Atlantic and Africa, I do see some possibilities. Now, of course, the wave associated with a 1009 mb low in the Central Atlantic some 1,000 miles to the East of the Northern Leeward Islands doesn’t appear to be the next named storm, or even a depression for that matter. According to the latest Tropical Outlook from the National Hurricane Center, upper level winds have become less favorable for development while the shower activity has become poorly organized.

There is another area of disturbed weather to the east of that in the Eastern Atlantic. This wave just left the African coast over the past day or so, and has a nice spin with it. Just have to see whether or not that the convection will become more bountiful, and organized. Then, across the African continent, there is a decent pipeline of shower and storm activity from the Atlantic coast to out in the Arabian Sea. So, I feel that we shouldn’t rule out the chance for another storm in the next week or two especially while we are still in the peak season period. On top of that, I repeat that Octobers and Novembers during this recent active cycle have been quite hectic. Moral of the story: Don’t let your guard down, and make sure you’re prepared.

One thought on “Tropics Quiet Down After Helene…For The Time Being

  1. […] My last post to the Hurricaneville Blogosphere mentioned that there was a period of peace and tranquility following the demise of Hurricane Helene in the Central Atlantic. Well, that period only lasted for three days. On late Wednesday afternoon, the ninth depression of the season formed in the waters of the Central Atlantic. Then, this morning the depression, which was already close to storm strength, became the ninth named storm of the season, Isaac. […]

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