gulf loop current

[windycity]

can anyone tell me why the loop current seems larger this year. The water in some areas also seems warmer. I have sisters in clearwater that just moved down from Nebr, and im a little nervous about this coming season. I think where they live is practiclly at sea level. ( they live on the beach ...) Does the loop current effect any areas more than others?

[JonathanBelles]

1st of all what is the loop current

[windycity]

its a warm clockwise flow ( part of the gulf stream) that extends from the gulf of mexico to the yucatan . Hope that helps. knowing that you can understand why im keeping up on this cause of family on the gulf.

[Cookiely]

can anyone tell me why the loop current seems larger this year. The water in some areas also seems warmer. I have sisters in clearwater that just moved down from Nebr, and im a little nervous about this coming season. I think where they live is practiclly at sea level. ( they live on the beach ...) Does the loop current effect any areas more than others?

Good explanation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_Current

[tailgater]

Does it look like ocean temps in general are lowering since 2003? Just looking at some SSTA maps this seems to true. That could mean more systems getting acroos the ATL. and into the Carribean before developing( along with lots of other factors.

[mike815]

i disagree i think there will be a strong cape verde season this year also what happ last year was a trouf in the central atlantic the stops waves from developing or killed them till they got closer to the us.

[Extremeweatherguy]

early last season we also expected a somewhat strong cape verde season...and look at what happened...only one "true" hurricane on the east coast (Ophelia) and everything else was in the Caribbean, Gulf, or near Florida. In my opinion, I think we will see a year mixed between 1999 and 2005...may be slightly more cape verde than last year, but a little less than in 1999. BTW, a hurricane hit Texas in both 1999 and 2005 which means that I expect one this year.

[windycity]

i also beleive sal was a factor with last years storms. again the loop current may again pose a risk in the gulf. there are areas of warm waters you dont wanna see this trime of the year.

[SouthFloridawx]

Here ya go

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

Interesting how the anomalies graphic shows warmer than normal (1 to 3) Sea Surface Temps in the far North Atlantic around the Labrador Current. Which is the coldest part of the whole damn Ocean! Still wouldn't recommend taking a swim there anytime soon , but it should be interesting to see how this plays out as we progress towards Spring and Summer.

[mike815]

yes thanks for pointing that one out it is warmer there isnt it

[vacanechaser]

here is a good map to see the loop current




Jesse V. Bass III
http://www.vastormphoto.com
Hurricane Intercept Research Team

[windycity]

that map is pretty sweet!

[Jim Cantore]

1st of all what is the loop current

Its what helped Katrina and Rita explode into cat 5's

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

Speaking of the relatively warm water for this time of year surrounding the Labrador Current. Check out the below story. It covers the lack of the usual Ice seen in said waters this time of year:


http://www.cbc.ca/nb/story/nb_straitwarm20060109.html

[windycity]

every week iv been comparing sst s in the gulf an checkin out the loop current for any changes, its got me nervous. it looks like a cape season but if a storm doesnt fish we could have a east co. fl hit, then tampa from the back,only to reemerge ,strengthen, in the gulf. I hate to think of this happenen. The loop current is quite large compared to last year. can anyone tell me why???

[f5]

1st of all what is the loop current

Its what helped Katrina and Rita explode into cat 5's

they were very stong CAT 5s(super typhoon like)they both had 170+ mph sustained winds far above the 156 threshold which aslo makes for a great satallite presentation

[windycity]

also, temps in contained areas seem higher than last year,in areas you normally dont see it.

[f5]

think of the loop current as Canearade .the loop current is a pool of hot water that goes down about 300-500 ft.Katrina and Rita were moving at turtle speed once they got over the loop current.when they got over the loop current all that water they were drinking was causing those 2 storms to have WPAC windspeeds which is insane in the atlantic basin

[windycity]

can anyone find any season in which the loop current was so stinkin big? I hate to go on and on about this topic but i havent been able to find any explinations for it.