Visible light satellite view of Tropical Storm IGOR on 11 September 2010 at 0947 EST.
Projected track for IGOR by the Navy Research Laboratory showing the storm on a westward track and then staring to veer off to the NW 4 - 5 days from now.
Tropical storm IGOR already had the nice spiral shape of a tropical cyclone as it rode along Hurricane Alley on the verge of becoming a hurricane on 11 September 2010 at 0947 EST, packing 70 mph sustained winds while mowing toward the west at a fast 21 mph some 2500 miles away from South Florida, still too far away from the USA coastline to predict where, and if, it might make it all the way here for landfall or if it will veer off into the open waters of the Atlantic. This current uncertainty is one more reason for all USA coastal Atlantic communities to remain vigilant and closely monitor Igor’s progress in coming days.
GOES satellite view showing water vapor in the atmosphere of 11 September 2010 at 1045 EST. Tropical Storm IGOR and the eastern Caribbean tropical Wave are identified by yellow outlines.
Color-enhanced infrared GOES satell;ite view of the Atlantic and Caribbean basins on 11 September 2010 at 1045 EST showing Tropical Storm IGOR and the strong Tropical Wave over the northeastern Caribbean
Satellite view showing the Tropical Wave in the Caribbean in visible light on 11 September 2010; most of Puerto Rico is shown covered by rains generated by the system as it continues moving toward the west.
Some 1200 miles to the west of Igor in the northeastern Caribbean to the south of Puerto Rico is a large tropical wave that has been getting better organized and stronger, both signs of potential tropical cyclone development, as it moves westward. This system has generated large amounts of rain over Puerto Rico and it may pose the same risk for Hispaniola, where the interaction with higher mountain ranges in Dominican Republic and Haiti raises the possibility of potential flash floods and damage, a daunting prospect especially in earthquake devastated Haiti where large numbers remain homeless.
Color-enhanced infrared GOES satellite view showing the strong tropical wave emerging over eastern Atlantic waters some 1,000 miles to the east of Tropical Storm IGOR on 11 September 2010.
As mid-September approaches so does the historical peak of the annual Atlantic hurricane season, which is taking place with a strong tropical wave just off the coast of equatorial Africa to the SE of the Cape Verde Islands starting its journey toward Hurricane Alley. Other tropical waves follow behind over the ‘assembly line’ in the African continent while around the globe we continue to see the “belt” of tropical activity circling the Earth just above the equator; at the same time we continue to see plenty of tropical cyclone activity in the far western Pacific affecting the Philippines- Korea – Vietnam triangle, such activity spills over most of Indonesia and into the Indian Ocean, which is a region that often originates the seeds for tropical waves that move westward over Africa and eventually emerge over the warm waters of the eastern Atlantic completing a full circle. In summary, there appears to be plenty of ‘fuel’ for tropical cyclone generation in the Atlantic as well as the Pacific when we still have more than ten weeks left in the “official” 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.
A composite of several satellite views on 11 Setmeber 2010 creates a global mosaic showing the Gulf, Caribbean, Atlantic and Indian Ocean basins, as well as equatorial Africa. Currently active tropical cyclones and tropical waves are outlined in yellowFull-disk satellite view of Earth's western hemisphere on 11 September 2010. The 'belt' of tropical activity circling the Earth just to the north of the equator is outlined in yellow.
Full-disk satellite view of Earth's western hemisphere on 11 September 2010. The 'belt' of tropical activity circling the Earth just to the north of the equator is outlined in yellow.
Tropical Storm IGOR is now a category 1 hurricane and appears to be growing stronger. The tropical wave over the eastern Atlantic south of the Cape Verde islands has strengthened considerably in the past 12 hours as is on verge of becoming the next tropical cyclone of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. The tropical wave in the Caribbean has become somewhat disorganized, but it still generating rainfall affecting Puerto Rico and sonn Hispaniola as well, raising the prospect of flash floods and mudslides in Haiti and the Dominican Republic where interaction of storm with mountains may increase precipitation.o, the Atlantic cyclonic activity continues. Pay attention! Be prepared!! MITIGATE!!!