January 14 2016- Today Alex was upgraded to a hurricane. This storm in the far eastern Atlantic is only a threat to the Azores islands, and will track both towards Greenland, where it could disrupt the jet stream to a more favorable cold pattern for the eastern United States. This has nothing to do with El Nino, which in fact is a weather pattern that limits normal tropical development in the Atlantic. Winds for Alex at the latest report from the National Hurricane Center were up to 85 mph. The storm itself is raising eyebrows but has some company in the history books.
When Alex formed as a subtropical storm yesterday on January 13, that was the first tropical system in the Atlantic since Zeta in 2006. But that formed on December 30, 2005. This isn’t the only time for January Atlantic tropical development, but it is very rare. Below: The latest storm information, satellite images, and forecast maps. Also a list of Atlantic tropical storm history in January.
Storm Stats:
LOCATION...32.6N 28.0W ABOUT 415 MI...670 KM S OF FAIAL ISLAND IN THE CENTRAL AZORES MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 20 MPH...31 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...981 MB...28.97 INCHES
Satellite Images:
[metaslider id=32807]
Sea Surface Temperature???
A tropical cyclone of any variety needs water temperature of 77°F or 25°C minimum to supply the energy. Hurricane Alex seems to defy that.
Maps:
National Hurricane Center Forecast
Computer Model Forecast Tracks
Subtropical Storms In January:
Yes, it has happened before.
1938: Hurricane (unnamed) January 3-6 – Reached Category 1. Located in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean
1954: Subtropical Depression – January 27-28. Winds 35 mph. Located in the Central Atlantic Ocean
1955: Hurricane Alice- Formed on December 30 1954, lasted until January 7 1955. Winds topped at 80 mph. Located in the Lesser Antilles.
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In Satellite Era
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1978: A subtropical storm developed on January 18 and dissipated five days later on the 23rd. It was a central Atlantic system drifting west. Not the same as this.
2005-2006: At the end of the record 2005 season, Subtropical Storm Zeta formed on December 30, 2005 and lasted until January 6th 2006. The longest surviving subtropical storm in the Atlantic in any January.
2016 – Hurricane Alex: Formed January 15. Became a hurricane on the 16th with 85 mph winds.
Naming Alex: Since we are in a new calendar year, the name Alex is taken from the 2016 list of WMO approved named for the Atlantic tropical season. Should the rest of the season behave normally, then we would pick back up with Bonnie as the next name in June or July.
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