Business is picking up! (from the Eglin wx guys)

#1 Postby **alicia-w** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 11:04 am

The tropical Atlantic is showing signs it may soon begin generating "Cape Verde" systems. These are the storms that spin up far out in the Atlantic between the Cape Verde Islands and the Caribbean Lesser Antilles after initially coming off Africa as disturbances. Mid-August through mid-September is the traditional Cape Verde season. Water temperatures in the eastern Atlantic have warmed up significantly over the last 10 days. This means African waves will begin feeding off those warmer waters soon after they move off the continent.
The first of these potential storms is brewing about 1200 miles east of the Caribbean. Models suggest it may develop into Tropical Storm Fabian over the next few days. The USAF Reserve Hurricane Hunters are being deployed to their forward operating location in St Croix, USVI, to investigate the system on Wednesday as it reaches 55 degrees west longitude. Behind it, another very well developed African wave is just moving into the Atlantic and is projected to perhaps become TS Grace later this week.
Both systems will take a long time to cross the Atlantic. Many Cape Verde storms begin curving northward before reaching the Caribbean and never threaten the US. The ones that stay tracking on a WNW course into the Caribbean or the Bahamas are the ones to watch for later entry into the Gulf of Mexico. At this point...there is no clear guidance yet on how any storms which develop will eventually move. We will monitor how the steering currents over the region evolve over the next few days, this will help determine whether they might pose any threat to the Gulf late this weekend or sometime early next week.

#2 Postby **wx247** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 11:53 am

Interesting discussion. Who are the Eglin wx guys?

#3 Postby **alicia-w** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:00 pm

46th Weather Squadron at Eglin AFB FL

mf_dolphin · #4 Postby **mf_dolphin** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:03 pm

Also known as the Hurricane Hunters :-)

#5 Postby **alicia-w** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:05 pm

negative, the hurricane hunters are out the 53rd Weather Reconaissance Squadron of Biloxi, Keesler AFB MS.

GulfBreezer · #6 Postby **GulfBreezer** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:06 pm

Eglin AFB!! Alicia, you are in my neck of the woods! I am currently in Gulf Breeze but lived in BWB for over a year!! Good to see ya here! Are you stationed at Eglin?

mf_dolphin · #7 Postby **mf_dolphin** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:06 pm

Sorry...my bad ;-)

#8 Postby **alicia-w** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:07 pm

yes, i am. "stationed" isnt exactly correct. am now civil service. hung up the uniform about 15 years ago...

we live in Lido Village, down bay drive on the way to the marina. just drove through YOUR neck of the woods on Friday.

#9 Postby **wx247** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:08 pm

OK. *Paints a stupid sign on my forehead.* :roll:

#10 Postby **alicia-w** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 12:10 pm

Stupid sign? I dont think so. Anyone who ventures out into the unknown to ask a question is far from stupid... and rarely arrogant. Glad to help out if and when I can.

chadtm80 · #11 Postby **chadtm80** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 1:27 pm

SOOOOOOOOOO True alicia... Thats the attitude we love around here... Thanks for the info :-)

Business is picking up! (from the Eglin wx guys)

Business is picking up! (from the Eglin wx guys)

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