Why don't E Pacific Storms Hold Our Interest Like Atlantic?

[ConvergenceZone]

Even a Cat 1 storm that's going fishing holds our interests more than a Cat 4 in the Eastern Pacific. Why is that?
I'm not sure myself why. Maybe it's the coverage that the East Pacific storms don't get?

The reason I'm asking that is because there have been plenty of us that have remarked how fascinating it is to watch a storm from a wave to a depression, to a storm, then to a hurricane. Yes, when the cycle is happening in the Pacific (even if it's headed for Baja California), we have very little interest...

I can't answer it, because I don't even know the answer. I live in California, so you think a Hurricane threatening Baja California would interest me more than a Hurricane in the Atlantic that's curving out to sea, but still prefer to follow the Hurricanes in the Atlantic.

What phenomena is this?

[Florida1118]

Even a Cat 1 storm that's going fishing holds our interests more than a Cat 4 in the Eastern Pacific. Why is that?
I'm not sure myself why. Maybe it's the coverage that the East Pacific storms don't get?

The reason I'm asking that is because there have been plenty of us that have remarked how fascinating it is to watch a storm from a wave to a depression, to a storm, then to a hurricane. Yes, when the cycle is happening in the Pacific (even if it's headed for Baja California), we have very little interest...

I can't answer it, because I don't even know the answer. I live in California, so you think a Hurricane threatening Baja California would interest me more than a Hurricane in the Atlantic that's curving out to sea, but still prefer to follow the Hurricanes in the Atlantic.

What phenomena is this?

Perhaps because theres Recon in the Atlantic? More Obs, Ships etc etc?? That all I got...I always watch storms in every basin, just dont post in the threads.

[KWT]

Its really only one thingn that makes people lose interest in EPAC storms and thats land threat...

Or more specfically land threat where people who go on this forum live, and thats overwhelming in the Atl.Basin, with very few people who live in say Mexico that can get hit by EPAC storms actually go on here.

WPAC is perhaps the most interesting basin with regards to posting patterns, it used to be like ther EPAc, then suddenly in the last 4 months of 2009 those threads suddenly took off...now most decent Typhoons will easily go into the 20-30 pages range even if they fish...a landfall threat will go upwards of 40-50...alot considering in the past to even get 10-15 was pretty major.

[JtSmarts]

Honestly most people are more interested in Atlantic storms either because they are potentially being threatened and want information or they enjoy the excitement that occurs when a storm sets it's sights on the US (although most really don't want to see actual destruction take place). Generally the people who really LOVE the fish storms are the ones who just enjoy tropical weather period and they usually pay close attention to tropical activity worldwide and not just the Atlantic basin.

[Scorpion]

I just can't get excited for EPAC storms, I just feel like that basin is a rival or something. When that basin is pumping out Cat 4's or 5's then that usually means that Atlantic is very quiet. And also almost none of them threaten land so that means no obs or footage of them as they come ashore which is what excites me about hurricanes.

[psyclone]

it's not as much fun to chuck a rock at a hornet nest if they can't sting. most of us on here live near the atlantic basin. we're watching our backyard. we're immune to the action out there.

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

I just can't get excited for EPAC storms, I just feel like that basin is a rival or something. When that basin is pumping out Cat 4's or 5's then that usually means that Atlantic is very quiet. And also almost none of them threaten land so that means no obs or footage of them as they come ashore which is what excites me about hurricanes.

Pretty much how I feel about the situation, though some of them do produce wonderful sat pics.

[CrazyC83]

Most EPAC storms are fishes and only a handful seriously threaten land. Almost every Atlantic storm, on the other hand, at least starts as a land threat.

[ConvergenceZone]

Some great responses, thanks everyone.....

[lonelymike]

Eastpac has never had a Katrina or Ivan

[srainhoutx]

There are folks that follow the EPAC and particularly as we near the fall season. Many in AZ/MX/NM and TX have dealt with remnants of the Eastern Pacific cyclones. One such example is Rosa (1994). While some may find the EPAC ‘less entertaining’, the true tropical enthusiasts/forecasters understand we do need to follow these systems as the can come back E to cause a great deal of problems.

[Kitrin]

I think that one of the contributing factors is the enormous number of outcomes that can occur from any given Atlantic storm, as opposed to the East Pacific. Those Pacific storms will spin up (or not) and then go one of two ways: inland to Mexico and the desert Southwest, or across the Pacific, possibly threatening Hawai'i.

However, in the Atlantic, the storm could develop or not. If it does develop, will SAL destroy it? Shear, maybe? Will it shoot through the islands or suffer a battering from mountains? Will it hit Florida? If it does, will it restrengthen in the Gulf for a "double strike?" Will that Bay of Campeche storm make it across the gulf or rapidly move into Texas or Mexico? The possibilities are endless and fascinating.

It is not merely the threat to people that demands our attention, it is also the threats to the storm itself. They seem like living creatures in some strange way. That is what fascinates me.

[expat2carib]

For me it's pure egoistic, self centered, survival instincts that are steering my interest for the Atlantic.

I'm in the Caribbean.

I'll watch it closely until it pass the Island where I'm anchored. Even when it passes a few hundred miles away you can observe, feel the symptoms of the system. You more or less get familiar (iidentify?) with the system.

I feel relieved when it pass and evaluate the fear I had within and feel some way guilty because I'm relieved and now other people are forced to feel fear.

I feel for those people and that's why I follow the system to the end.

That's how it works for me.

[beoumont]

Personally I find the Great Red Spot on Jupiter more of interest.

According to "Atlantic Hurricanes" (Miller and Dunn) 1960, there were only 2.2 hurricanes in the EPAC per year; and 5.7 named storms per year.

It is amazing that the surfers in S. Cal. did not conclude that those periodic large swell days in the summer had to be generated by something more than 2 hurricanes.

Since weather satellites, the avg. number in the EPAC has gone way up.

This is an indication that that basin has such little impact on humans; except those in the Mexican Navy that are stationed on Socorro Island.

The few that bother to hit Baja only have about 3 small areas in a several hundred mile stretch to hit that are populated by other than vultures, road runners, fugitive surfers, and desert sand.

Terry Nixon (Chaser from 1965-1992) and I did fly to Baja to try and intercept cat 4+ Hurricane Trudy in 1990 (924 mb. 135 knts); which was progged right over the tip. She stalled for over a day offshore, then turned west towards oblivion. We did get to see some huge surf generated by the hurricane, though. As a frame of reference, those straw chickees on the beach are 8 feet tall.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ssC4rAlTg[/youtube]

Actually, the most exiting part of the trip was the flight back to Mexico City, when we flew through a spiral band of intensifying Hurricane Vance. The nighttime lightning got so frequent, bright flashes were occurring almost 1 per second. Embedded in thick clouds with pounding precip. the turbulence was so intense, the aircraft seemed to rise and fall nearly 1000 ft. at a time, and the wings tilted back and forth like a crop-duster caught in a derecho in the Plains. Passengers were screaming and praying for nearly 1/2 hour; and I accidentally grabbed the strangers knee sitting next to me several times, trying to grasp the armrest for dear life. One of the first drops in altitude sent the stewardess to the ceiling for several seconds, only to crash to the ground, dropping her tray of drinks onto a passenger's lap.

I swore I saw a little green man on the wing, swinging a pick axe.

[brunota2003]

I watch both the EPAC and ATL...and occasionally some of the WPAC storms. To me, it is a combination of having grew up on the coast of NC, a pure fascination of weather/tropical weather...and the amazement of the difficulty in forecasting them. I like to do research, and the EPAC can help with that, because the storms aren't usually interfered with by land, and that I can usually "*ish" them as strong as possible without worrying about them hitting land.

[dwsqos2]

My happiness is directly correlated to the rapidity with which EPAC storms dissipate. I find them worthless. The only thing worse than an EPAC storm is a CPAC storm; for if the CPAC is even capable of producing storms, it generally
means a long wave pattern that isn't conducive to deep tropical Atlantic storms at all.

[beoumont]

My happiness is directly correlated to the rapidity with which EPAC storms dissipate. I find them worthless. The only thing worse than an EPAC storm is a CPAC storm; for if the CPAC is even capable of producing storms, it generally
means a long wave pattern that isn't conducive to deep tropical Atlantic storms at all.

You hit it on the head. Because, in most years there is an inverse relationship between the number of storms in the EPAC and the number of storms in the Atlantic Basin. There are a few exception years; but not many.

Not only are they worthless, they have negative worth when it comes to Atlantic development.