Yesterday morning residents of Southeast Florida woke-up to find a dark sky and a wall of storm clouds covering the eastern horizon, rather than the bright orange, red and yellows signaling the sunrise in paradise. Satellite images revealed this bleak panorama was the view along the full length of Florida’s east coast as one of the tropical waves we’ve been monitoring over the weekend had crept close to shore, and appeared to be strengthening and getting better organized as the day progressed.
Projected track for Tropical Storm JULIA as on 14 September 2016
This tropical wave actually moved inland near Daytona generating copious rain over central and northern Florida, and all over offshore waters all the way into Georgia and the Carolinas. Gusty winds, rain and thunderstorms were the norm for most of northeastern Florida by nightfall yesterday. Further observations and additional data continue to show the potential for cyclonic development, suggesting Tropical Storm JULIA was about to develop around 10:00 P.M. last night. Sure enough, the 11:00 P.M. advisory from the National Hurricane Center confirmed Tropical Storm Julia was active over northeastern Florida.
Satellite image of 14 September 2016 showing tropical storm JULIA, in visible light, nearing Savannah, Georgia, while it generated copious rain over a large region and offshore waters.
This morning, 14 September 2016, we have a trio of storms active over the north Atlantic basin. Tropical storm JULIA, the tenth-named tropical cyclone of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season, moving inland toward Savannah, Georgia, joins Tropical Storm IAN now tracking NE over the central Atlantic.
GOES EAST infrared satellite image of 14 September 2016 showing tropical storms IAN and JULIA, and a strong tropical wave over the Cape Verde Islands, which maysoon become the newest tropical cyclone of the season
Farther to the south and east a large tropical wave over the Cape Verde Islands appears to be growing stronger and better organized, showing clear cyclonic tendencies, while it is being investigated by the National Hurricane Center for possible further development. Analysis of recent satellite imagery suggest we may already have a tropical depression over the Cape Verdes, the ‘seed’ for yet another tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin. All interests around the basin need to monitor this one closely, as well as tropical waves over Equatorial Africa as we have already entered what historically is the peak of the annual Atlantic hurricane season.
Elsewhere, a compact hurricane ORLENE is moving away from Mexico toward the Central Pacific. Farther west, Super-typhoon MERANTI is approaching landfall in China, a strengthening typhoon MALAKAS is near the Philippines making a turn to the NW that will bring it near Taiwan, while several strong and potentially cyclonic tropical waves populate the waters between the Central Pacific and the Philippines Sea. There is plenty of fuel for potential tropical cyclone development in that region over the next few days.
While the northern hemisphere tropics boil with activity,we must all remain alert. Be prepared. MITIGATE!
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