The northern hemisphere tropics continue to run in hyper-drive, especially in the Atlantic, the northwestern Pacific and to a lesser degree the eastern Pacific of the coast of Mexico and Central America.
On 1 September in the Atlantic there is Hurricane EARL, a large and category 3 storm, which as of 18:00 EST was to the east of the Bahamas moving toward the northwest at 16 mph in the general direction of Cape Hatteras in the Carolinas. Based on its current track Hurricane Earl is projected to come rather close to the North Carolina coastline to then continue moving roughly paralleling the USA Atlantic northeastern coastline as it re-curbs toward the north and then the northeast.
Satellite view of Hurricane EARL on 1 September 2010 at 15:45 EST under visible light, The system is more than 600 miles in diameter and at the time this photo was taken if packed sustained winds of 125 mph as it moved toward the northwest in the general direction of the USA mid-Atlantic coastline.
Projected five-day track for Hurricane Earl developed by the Navy Research Laboratory.
Following Earl there is Tropical Storm FIONA also to the east of the Bahamas moving northwest with sustained 60 mph winds and showing signs of strengthening. Should Fiona stay within its projected track it will re-curb toward the north to move in the general direction of Bermuda.
Visible light satellite view of Tropical Storm FIONA on 1 September 2010 at 15:45 EST as in interacted with the northermost Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands.
Navy Research Laboratory five-day track for Tropical Storm FIONA showing the storm's position on 1 September 2010 as of 18:00 EST.
While the remnants of what once was powerful Hurricane Danielle continue to dissipate in the north Atlantic close to the Azores, tropical depression #9 has generated in ‘hurricane alley’ in the Atlantic. “Number Nine is showing signs of strengthening and it may become a tropical storm at any time as it moves westward toward the Lesser Antilles, in an environment that appears favorable for further development.
Farther east yet another tropical wave emerges from equatorial Africa over the Atlantic south of the Cape Verde islands, while several other waves of disturbed tropical weather are active over the ‘tropical wave assembly line’ and farther east in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
Global Mosaic, a composite of several satellite views on 1 September 2010, showing the Atlantic basin, equatorial Africa and the Indian Ocean. Hurricane earl, Tropical Storm Fiona and Tropical Depression #9 are all identified, as well as several tropical waves over the eastern Atlantic, equatorial Africa and farther east.
It appears September might live up to its historical position as the most active month of the Atlantic hurricane season, for the moment at least the signs are there to forecast continued tropical activity over the next few days.
Tropical depression #9 is now Tropical Storm GASTON riding along the Atlantic ‘hurricane alley’ basically following the same track taken earlier by now exticnt Danielle, which was briefly a category 5 hurricane, currently active major hurricane EARL, and a strong Tropical Storm FIONA. Not far behind Gaston another tropical wave has emerged from the assembly line in equatorial Africa over the warm waters of the eastern Atlantic south of the Cape Verde Islands. Other tropical waves are active over equatorial Africa and the Indian ocean all moving westward. There appears to be plenty of fuel for tropical cyclone activity over the Atlantic in September, historically the most active month of the annual Atlantic hurricane season. Pay attention! Be prepared!! MITIGATE!!!