LarryWx wrote:beoumont wrote:NDG wrote:
Don't think it has to do much with the Bermuda high, more to do with with persistent wind direction, parallel to the coast and or offshore winds. This phenomenon also happens along the northern coast of South America and northern coast of Yucatán Peninsula.
Upwelling along the NE Florida coast is a fairly common occurrence. This TV news piece from 2009 touches on the cause; stating it is a SW offshore wind that sets it off; as NDG notes. The story mentions several times during past summers when this has occurred in 'Daytona Beach.
I recall going on Spring Break in the late 1960s to Daytona and the water temps were 10 degrees colder than areas not that far south (65 F during this case in spring).
The Bermuda Hi is indirectly responsible, as when the Atlantic ridge is suppressed south to the Straits or extreme S. Florida, the lower level wind flow north of the ridge is SW / offshore.
Link: https://youtu.be/4vwvEzg0inU
I wonder if this tends to protect the Daytona area somewhat by reducing the strength of H's just before landfall vs how much stronger they would otherwise be. Or would it make much difference since storms do their own upwelling, regardless? Any opinions?
I have seen SSTs warm up very quickly in just a few days as soon as the wind shifts and ocean current changes back to as warm in the mid 80s. Usually during the heart of the hurricane season the temps stay above 80 through October. The warm gulf stream is just a few miles away.