Atlantic-wide satellite view for the aviation industry showing the trio of tropical cyclones, Igor, Julia and Karl, which are currently simultaneously active as we have entered the second half of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.
Three tropical cyclones are active in the Atlantic and Caribbean basins: IGOR, JULIA and KARL. Julia became the 11th named storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season as it entered the period that historically has been the peak of the annual season, so there is more to come.
We have known this trio of storms for quite some time as they were mere tropical waves or areas of disturbed weather, emerging from equatorial Africa over the warm waters of the Atlantic to ride on Hurricane Alley as Igor and Julia have done or crossing into the Caribbean as just a blob of bad weather generating plenty of rain over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and Hispaniola as what is now Tropical Storm Karl did. You can actually follow this storms from genesis to current stage through earlier postings on this site. All of these storms have been part of the “belt” of tropical activity we have highlighted and illustrated on this blog.
Visible light satellite view of category 4 Hurricane IGOR on 14 September 2010 at 2015 EST
Projected track for hurricane IGOR on 14 September at 2000 EST developed by the Navy Research Laboratory
Visible light satellite view of Hurricane JULIA on 14 September 2010 at 2015 EST as the cyclones was some 400 west of the Cape Verde Islands
Projected track for Hurricane JULIA on 14 September 2010 at 2000 developed by the Navy Research Laboratory; the storm was a category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 85 mph
Visible light satellite view of Tropical Storm KARL on 14 September 2010 while the storm was in the western Caribbean aiming for the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico
Forecast track for Tropical Storm KARL on 14 September 2010 at 2000 EST developed by the Navy Research Laboratory
As we look eastward toward the Cape Verde Islands, the eastern Atlantic and equatorial Africa, there are more tropical waves being generated above the hot and humid tropical forests in Africa and moving west toward the Atlantic, which continues to be quite warm. What is noticeable already is how these tropical waves are being generated farther south and closer to the equator than say six weeks ago, a sign of the approaching change in seasons; as summer winds down and fall approaches the warmest Atlantic waters and coupled atmosphere are shifting southward.
Color-enhanced infrared satellite view of the Eastern Atlantic and the western region of equatorial Africa showing Hurricane Julia and several tropical waves over the hot and humid equatorial region of AfricaGlobal mosaic, a composite of several satellite views, showing the Atlantic basin, equatorial Africa and the Indian Ocean on 14 September 2010 at 2045 EST. Active tropical cyclones are identified by name and solid yellow outlines, while several tropical waves are identified by dashed-line outlines.
Global mosaic, a composite of several satellite pictures on 14 September 2010 at 2045 EST, showing the three active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and Caribbean, plus tropical waves over equatorial Africa, and a view of the Indian Ocean.
Both hurricanes IGOR and JULIA sytengthened during the night, and this moprning of 15 September 2010 both are powerful category 4 hurricanes. Julia followed the example of IGOR just a few days ago going from tropical storm intensity to major hurricane strength in just a few hours. Over in the western Caribbean tropical storm KARL with 65 mph winds is approaching the coastline of Quintana Roo state in Mexico, a good swath of the ‘Riviera Maya’ is in for some rough weather over the next day or so. Several tropical waves are moving westward over equatorial Africa aiming for the warm Atlantic waters near the Cape Verde Islands. The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season appears to be in full swing approaching a peak in activity. Pay attention! Be prepared!! MITIGATE!!!