2020 Hurricane Season (Atlantic & East Pacific)

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

1. A large area of disturbed weather, associated with the remnants of
eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Amanda, is located over the Yucatan
peninsula of Mexico. This disturbance is forecast to move
northwestward over the southeastern portion of the Bay of Campeche
later today or tonight where environmental conditions are expected
to be conducive to support development, and a new tropical
depression is likely to form within within the next day or so. The
system is then forecast to drift west or west-southwest over the
southern Bay of Campeche through the middle of the week. Interests
along the coast of the Bay of Campeche should monitor the progress
of this disturbance. Regardless of tropical cyclone formation,
heavy rainfall is likely to continue over portions of southern
Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, and western Honduras during
the next few days. For additional information on the rainfall
threat, see products from your national meteorological service.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...high...80 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...80 percent.

Today marks the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, which
will run until November 30. Long-term averages for the number of
named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes are 12, 6, and 3,
respectively.

The list of names for 2020 is as follows:

Name Pronunciation | Name Pronunciation

---

Arthur AR-thur | Laura LOOR-ruh
Bertha BUR-thuh | Marco MAR-koe
Cristobal krees-TOH-bahl | Nana NA-na
Dolly DAH-lee | Omar OH-mar
Edouard ed-DWARD | Paulette pawl-LET
Fay fay | Rene re-NAY
Gonzalo gohn-SAH-loh | Sally SAL-ee
Hanna HAN-uh | Teddy TEHD-ee
Isaias ees-ah-EE-ahs | Vicky VIH-kee
Josephine JOH-seh-feen | Wilfred WILL-fred
Kyle KY-ull

Two tropical storms, Arthur and Bertha, already formed this year in
May. The next named storm that develops this season will be
Cristobal.

Meteorite58 wrote: »

A new record, third named storm to form so early in the season. Looks like heading towards the Gulf coast at the weekend making landfall maybe Sunday or Monday, big uncertainty on track , timing and strength.

Tropical Storm Fay Special Discussion Number 4
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL062020
800 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

Surface observations and radar data from the KDOX WSR-88D radar
indicate that there is now an area of 34-kt winds extending north
and northwest of the center of Fay. These winds will be approaching
the coast of Delaware and the southern Delaware Bay in the next few
hours, and as a result the Tropical Storm Warning has been extended
southward to Fenwick Island, Delaware and the southern Delaware Bay.

No changes were made to the previous track or intensity forecasts,
however 34-kt wind radii were introduced in the northwest quadrant
at the initial time and at the 12-h forecast. No other changes
were made to the wind radii analyses or forecasts.

Note that this special advisory is being issued in lieu of the 800
AM EDT (1200 UTC) intermediate advisory.

Key Messages:

1. Fay is expected to produce 2 to 4 inches of rain with isolated
maxima of 7 inches along and near the track from the lower Maryland
Eastern Shore and Delaware northward into New Jersey, eastern
Pennsylvania, southeast New York, and southern New England. These
rains may result in flash flooding where the heaviest amounts occur.
Widespread river flooding is not expected at this time.

2. Tropical storm conditionsare expected along portions of the
mid-Atlantic and northeast coast today and tonight, and a
Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coasts of Delaware, New
Jersey, New York and Connecticut, including Long Island.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 10/1200Z 37.6N 74.7W 45 KT 50 MPH
12H 10/1800Z 38.9N 74.6W 45 KT 50 MPH
24H 11/0600Z 41.5N 73.8W 35 KT 40 MPH...INLAND
36H 11/1800Z 45.2N 72.7W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
48H 12/0600Z 48.6N 70.9W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
60H 12/1800Z 51.8N 68.8W 25 KT 30 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
72H 13/0600Z...DISSIPATED

...1200 PM EDT POSITION UPDATE...
...STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL...AND TORNADOES OCCURRING OVER SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD NORTHWARD ALONG THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST THIS AFTERNOON...

A Weatherflow weather station at Long Beach Island Surf, New Jersey, recently reported a sustained wind of 46 mph (74 km/h) and a gust to 59 mph (94 km/h). Around 1053 AM EDT, this same weather observing station measured a wind gust of 109 mph (176 km/h), which was associated with a tornadic thunderstorm.

Doppler weather radar data from Ft. Dix, New Jersey, indicated Doppler velocities as high as 112 mph (180 km/h) at an altitude of 1,590 above ground level at this same location. However, this wind is not considered to be representative of Isaias' larger wind field.

Also, a Weatherflow observing site located at Rutgers/Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, recently reported a sustained wind of 52 mph (84 km/h) and a gust to 70 mph (113 km/h).

SUMMARY OF 1200 PM EDT...1600 UTC...INFORMATION

---

LOCATION...39.6N 75.8W
ABOUT 10 MI...20 KM WSW OF WILMINGTON DELAWARE
ABOUT 35 MI...55 KM WSW OF PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH...110 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 35 MPH...56 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...993 MB...29.32 INCHES

Tropical cyclone activity over the western North Pacific Ocean
For the first time since at least 1949, no named storms (i.e. equivalent to a category 1 or stronger Australian tropical cyclone) developed in the western North Pacific basin in July 2020. In a typical year, this region sees between 3 and 4 tropical cyclones in July. This continues the well below-average tropical cyclone activity in the western North Pacific Ocean this year. Only one typhoon (equivalent to a category 3 Australian tropical cyclone) had been observed to the end of July 2020, compared to the long-term average of about 5.

In the past week, 2 named storms developed over the western North Pacific Ocean, bringing the 2020 total to 4 tropical storms, compared to an average of between 8 and 9.

Ex-tropical storm Sinlaku passed over Hainan Island and the east coast of northern Vietnam on 2 August as a weak tropical storm (equivalent to category 1 Australian tropical cyclone). Sinlaku generated strong winds and heavy rain as it made landfall. As it tracks further inland as a tropical depression, it is expected to produce heavy rains across parts of mainland China.

Typhoon Hagupit (Dindo) formed to the east of the Philippines and has recently tracked towards the north. It passed close to Taiwan in the last 24 hours and more recently made landfall on mainland China's east coast with mean winds estimated at more than 125 km/h.

The active MJO pulse over the Maritime Continent, along with another tropical atmospheric wave—an equatorial Rossy wave—contributed to the development of tropical cyclones Sinlaku and Hagupit.

Tropical Depression Thirteen remains very disorganized this morning. The associated convection is elongated from northwest to southeast, and the low-level center is located near the northwestern end of the convective area. Additionally, satellite imagery and model analyses indicate that the mid-level center is located several hundred miles to the southeast of the low-level center. Earlier aircraft and scatterometer data suggested the possibility that the system was an open wave. However, the currently available data is ambiguous on whether the system still has a closed circulation, so it will be maintained as a tropical depression. The initial intensity remains 30 kt.

The initial motion is west-northwestward or 285/18 kt. There is little change to the track forecast philosophy through about 96 h.
A strong subtropical ridge over the western Atlantic should remain north of the depression during the next few days, steering the
cyclone at a fast pace to the west-northwest. After that, the ridge weakens some over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Tropical
Depression Thirteen may interact with Tropical Depression Fourteen, which is also forecast to be in the Gulf by that time, with the
result of these things being a turn toward the northwest or north-northwest. The track guidance has shifted southward since the
last advisory, with the UKMET shifting far enough to the south that it takes the system over the Caribbean south of Cuba. The new
forecast track is also shifted a bit southward from the previous track. However, it lies to the north of the GFS, the UKMET, and the
various consensus models. It also lies north of the ECMWF model from 24-72 h.

The intensity forecast remains low confidence. The separation between the low- and mid-level centers, as well as some westerly
shear and dry air entrainment, suggests that significant strengthening is unlikely during the next 24 h or so. The dynamical
models suggests the centers will become more vertically aligned around 36-48 h and that the shear should diminish. However, the
system could be close to Hispaniola during this time, and be near Cuba thereafter, especially if it moves south of the forecast track.
The upper-level winds over the Gulf of Mexico should be generally favorable for development if the cyclone doesn't get too close to
Tropical Depression Fourteen. The possibilities range from the system degenerating to an open wave as seen in the GFS and ECMWF to
a major hurricane as seen in the HWRF. Given the uncertainty, the intensity forecast is unchanged from the previous advisory, and it
lies a little below the intensity consensus.

Key Messages:

1. Tropical storm conditions are possible across portions of thenorthern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the
southeastern Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos islands later today through Saturday night, and Tropical Storm Watches have been
issued for some of these islands. Heavy rainfall is likely across this area beginning today and could cause mudslides and flash
and urban flooding through Sunday.

2. The details of the long-range track and intensity forecasts are more uncertain than usual since the system could move over portions
of the Greater Antilles this weekend. However, this system could bring some storm surge, rainfall and wind impacts to portions of
Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Florida this weekend and early next week. Interests there should monitor this system's progress
and updates to the forecast over the next few days.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 21/0900Z 17.8N 58.5W 30 KT 35 MPH
12H 21/1800Z 18.1N 60.7W 30 KT 35 MPH
24H 22/0600Z 18.8N 64.0W 35 KT 40 MPH
36H 22/1800Z 19.7N 67.5W 40 KT 45 MPH
48H 23/0600Z 20.6N 71.1W 45 KT 50 MPH
60H 23/1800Z 21.8N 74.9W 50 KT 60 MPH
72H 24/0600Z 23.2N 78.5W 55 KT 65 MPH
96H 25/0600Z 26.5N 84.0W 65 KT 75 MPH
120H 26/0600Z 30.0N 87.0W 65 KT 75 MPH

Recent METOP-A/B ASCAT overpasses and earlier aircraft reconnaissance data indicate that the depression's circulation is
not well-defined. In fact, the scatterometer data revealed multiple swirls, particularly, one newly developed circulation near a recent
strong burst of deep convection near the coast of Honduras. Highest sustained winds from the scatterometer pass were 25-30 kt. For this advisory, the initial position is an uncertain centroid position of the multiple surface centers and the intensity is held at 30 kt. A
53rd Air Force Reserve reconnaissance flight is scheduled for this morning and will hopefully paint a clearer picture on the
depression's location.

Deep convection has been increasing during the past few hours, especially in the north portion of the depression, so gradual
strengthening is still expected before it makes landfall on the east side of the Yucatan Peninsula in about 48 hours. After that time,
some weakening is forecast while the cyclone traverses the peninsula. The system is expected to enter the warm waters of the
southern Gulf of Mexico around the 60 hr period and restrengthen through the remainder of the forecast. Global models, however, are
indicating increasing south-southwesterly shear as the cyclone enters the northwest portion of the gulf which could prevent it from
reaching hurricane strength prior to landfall. For now, the forecast will reflect a low-end hurricane making landfall, similar
to the HCCA intensity model. The new intensity forecast is basically an update of the previous advisory and is based on a
compromise of the various multi-model consensus aids.

The initial motion is estimated to be west-northwestward, or 290/10 kt. The depression is forecast to be steered generally
northwestward during the next few days by a western extension of the atlantic subtropical ridge that stretches westward across Florida
and into the eastern and central Gulf of Mexico. This general motion should result in landfall over the northeastern Yucatan
Peninsula on Saturday, with the system entering the northwestern Gulf by the middle of next week. I think it's worth noting that
both the UKMET and the DWD, Germany ICON global models are showing some binary interaction between the depression and Tropical
Depression Thirteen around the 96-120 hr period while both systems are situated in the Gulf of Mexico. If this scenario actually
occurs, the interaction could delay or slow tropical depression Fourteen's landfall over the northwestern Gulf coast.

The NHC forecast track is again adjusted a little to the right of the previous forecast and lies close to the TVCA and HCCA
consensus solutions.

Key Messages:

1. Tropical Depression Fourteen is expected to strengthen over the northwestern Caribbean Sea through Saturday, and is likely to
produce tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall over portions of the coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras, including the Bay Islands,
through today. The system is expected be near or at hurricane strength when it reaches the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico late
Saturday where a Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning are in effect.

2. The system is expected to move into the south-central Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm on Sunday. Some strengthening is
anticipated while it moves northwestward over the western Gulf of Mexico early next week, but it is too soon to know exactly how
strong it will get or the location and magnitude of impacts it will produce along the central or northwestern Gulf Coast. Interests in
that area should continue monitoring the progress of this system over the next few days.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 21/0900Z 15.4N 83.1W 30 KT 35 MPH
12H 21/1800Z 16.3N 84.3W 40 KT 45 MPH
24H 22/0600Z 17.7N 85.4W 50 KT 60 MPH
36H 22/1800Z 19.2N 86.4W 60 KT 70 MPH
48H 23/0600Z 20.7N 87.5W 50 KT 60 MPH...INLAND
60H 23/1800Z 22.5N 88.8W 50 KT 60 MPH...OVER WATER
72H 24/0600Z 24.5N 90.2W 65 KT 75 MPH
96H 25/0600Z 28.1N 93.0W 65 KT 75 MPH
120H 26/0600Z 30.4N 94.6W 45 KT 50 MPH...INLAND