AJC3 wrote:The traditional low end SST threshold of 26-27C (79-81F) assumes a barotropic atmosphere typical of the deep tropics.
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In any event, those are some of my initial thoughts on "Medicanes". I should probably read up on a journal paper or two about the subject before spouting off any more.
Just very good thoughts. A subtropical or tropical system doesn't need SSTs of 26 or 27C if the higher atmosphere is cold enough.
What did we saw in this case? It was a very small system with max winds near the center. There was a clear eye in visible images with an eyewall and no frontal system. In other cases like Grace near the azores or Vince we did call them a tropical system, why not this time? For me this had to be added to the 2014 list as a tropical storm with max winds of about 45 kts.