Watching for Development in the Tropical Atlantic
AccuWeather.com meteorologists are monitoring the possibility that the large cluster of showers and thunderstorms above forms into a more organized tropical system in upcoming days.
The tropical Atlantic has remained quiet since the demise of Tropical Storm Bonnie last Saturday. However, that may change next week.
The AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center is monitoring the possibility that a tropical wave just west of the Cape Verde Islands ends the quiet spell in the Atlantic.
The wave is being accompanied by a large area of showers and thunderstorms, but it is rather disorganized at this time.
The wave could develop into a more organized tropical system as it moves westward in upcoming days. The wave is passing over water that is warmer than normal.
Strong winds high in the atmosphere, also known as wind shear, do not lie in the path of the wave. Strong wind shear rips apart tropical systems, and was the reason for the demise of Tropical Storm Bonnie last weekend.
The current track of the wave should allow it to cross the Lesser Antilles either on Wednesday or Thursday. Even if intensification has not occurred by this time, the wave still threatens to spread drenching showers and thunderstorms over the islands.
Another Area of Concern
While the tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic has the greatest potential of developing, a close eye is also being kept on another tropical wave in the southern Caribbean.
The latter wave is not being accompanied by significant shower and thunderstorm activity. However, that activity could increase, and the wave is moving through an environment that would support development.
The wave is passing over the very warm waters of the southern Caribbean and is not being hindered by strong wind shear.
However, even if the wave manages to develop, it will move into Central America before any significant strengthening takes place.
The next tropical storm that forms in the Atlantic Basin would acquire the name "Colin."
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 82° | Gila Bend, AZ |
| Low | -13° | Clayton Lake, ME |
| Precip | 1.24" | Spanish Fork, UT |
WeatherWhys®
The "Dead of Winter," the one-month period when normal temperatures reach their lowest levels, has come to an end for much of the United States. Some people may find it odd that the "Dead of Winter" does not encompass the darkest day of the year (the first day of winter). That is due to a seasonal lag in temperatures. More heat continues to be lost than is gained from the start of winter until this time of year.
This Day In Weather History
Gulf Coast 1 (899)
ry cold morning along Gulf Coast; New Orleans 6.8 deg.; Mobile -1 deg.; Pensacola 7 deg.; Tallahassee -2 deg (All time record for Florida. Brownsville 12 deg. (all time low).
North Dakota 1 (936)
this date the mercury plummeted to -60 deg. at Parshall, ND - the coldest temperature ever for the State of ND. Later the same year, the mercury soared to 121 deg. at Steele, ND - the hottest temperature ever for the state of ND.
Rough Weather
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