Sign of life in the tropical Atlantic
A large mass of clouds, showers and thunderstorms stretching from the western Caribbean Sea to the Bahama waters of the Atlantic Ocean may generate the season's first system of interest during the 2010 tropical season.
While this system is not likely to be a true tropical system, it may take a track more typical to a tropical storm or hurricane.
Look for a weak area of low pressure to form somewhere near the Bahamas this weekend.
As this happens, it may begin to wrap drenching showers and gusty thunderstorms in a semi-circular pattern in the vicinity.
During early next week, the system may become a "hybrid" storm with part tropical characteristics and part non-tropical characteristics.
High pressure building east of New England next week may then create enough easterly flow to push this struggling system westward toward the southern Atlantic Seaboard.
While there will likely be enough dry air wrapping around into part of the storm to prevent it from being a closed, warm core system like a true tropical storm or hurricane, people in areas from the northern Florida coast to the Virginia will experience significant effects.
Along the southern Atlantic Seaboard through the first half of next week, people can expect building surf, increasing winds and rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Conditions may worsen to the point where beach erosion and coastal flooding occurs for a time.
Rip currents may become strong and frequent for early-season bathers.
The exact track of this system, after it forms, will determine which part of the southern Atlantic coast gets the worst conditions. Details will unfold over the next couple of days.
Away from the Southeast U.S. coast next week, the same weather pattern allowing the system to form in the western Atlantic will also build a sea of warmth over the eastern two-thirds of the nation.
Following this storm into June, the area of the western Caribbean to the Bahama waters of the Atlantic will remain as a general weak spot in the atmosphere, where additional perhaps more potent storms systems may form.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 113° | Death Valley, CA |
| Low | 30° | Bellemont, AZ |
| Precip | 9.70" | Miami, FL |
WeatherWhys®
A large, horrific tornado struck the city of Joplin, Mo., last year on this date. The twister cut a deadly path across the south side of the city, leaving over 159 dead and at least 1,150 injured. The Joplin tornado currently ranks as the 7th deadliest tornado in U.S. history.
This Day In Weather History
New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).
Rough Weather
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