Question

[weatherlover427]

Why can't tropical systems punch through troughs and/or cold fronts? :?

[ColdFront77]

Basically, cooler, drier air replaces the warm, humid air... thus a cold front moves a tropical system parellel to it.
Hurricanes Gloria and Bob accelerated up the east coast ahead of a cold front. Most tropical cyclones move very fast into New England.

Sometimes a tropical system moves a frontal system northward as a warm front.

[weatherlover427]

Ah I see, that sounds logical. Thanks Tom.

[wxman57]

Actually, it has more to do with the vertical atmospheric profile ahead of and along the front. Consider that a hurricane can only travel within the air currents in the middle and upper parts of the atmosphere. The structure of a cold front is such that these winds blow parallel to the front. Since the hurricane lacks a means of self-propulsion, it cannot cut across the jet stream winds along a cold front. It approaches the front, begins encountering winds parallel to the front, and turns N-NE up the front. Now if the front is VERY weak, lacking upper-level support (i.e., a jet stream parallel to the front), then a TS/Hurricane can track right across the weak boundary. But we're talking about a front that's almost not there to begin with.

[ColdFront77]

I understand what you mean, wxman. Sorry I can't articulate myself like I wish I could. I keep trying and it doesn't work.

[Stephanie]

You're doing well Tom!

I've often heard that strong hurricanes do tend to create their own "track", but I guess that they would still need the help of a weak trough to help them do that.

The troughs and fronts that roll through the US and off the eastern seaboard are really the only things that do protect us (at least up in my neck of the woods) from a catastrophic storm.

[ColdFront77]

Thank you Stephanie, I appreciate it.

I should of explained myself at least somewhat the same way wxman did. Just seems as though my wording doesn't indicate my knowledge.

[Stephanie]

Thank you Stephanie, I appreciate it.

I should of explained myself at least somewhat the same way wxman did. Just seems as though my wording doesn't indicate my knowledge.

We all know how knowledgable you are about the weather. Don't be so hard on yourself.

[wxman57]

CF, you're doing fine. Sometimes one of the hardest things for a meteorologist (or an amateur met) to do is to explain things to the general public. We understand the reasoning, but we forget what it's like to be a non-met. I keep trying to get that through to the other hurricane forecasters on my team. For example, I'll never use the term "convection" to our customers, I use "thunderstorms" or "squalls" instead. Everyone knows what a thunderstorm is, few may understand what we mean by a common meteorological term like "convection".

[mf_dolphin]

wxman57, thanks for taking the time to help us non-mets! You are doing a great job of explaining things for all of us. It's people like you and other more knowledgable members that take the time to explain things in common terms that helps the rest of us learn. Thanks again!

[ColdFront77]

CF, you're doing fine. Sometimes one of the hardest things for a meteorologist (or an amateur met) to do is to explain things to the general public. We understand the reasoning, but we forget what it's like to be a non-met. I keep trying to get that through to the other hurricane forecasters on my team. For example, I'll never use the term "convection" to our customers, I use "thunderstorms" or "squalls" instead. Everyone knows what a thunderstorm is, few may understand what we mean by a common meteorological term like "convection".

Thank you very much, wxman. I greatly appreciate your comments and the information you out to all of us here at Storm2K... it is a pleasure to correspond with you about the tropics.

My understanding of meteorology (even subconsciously) is very good, however I would like to word my posts differently than I do. I may mention something that isn't happening with a tropical cyclone for discussion and hope members here understand that I am discussing issues with a storm, not thinking that it will do something that isn't expected. Sometimes, pointing something out may actually be true and others didn't see, which may actually be going against the current thinking by most, including the professionals forecasting a particular system. As has been said on a number of occasionals, a majority of the Storm2K members understand where I and others are coming from and aren't lambasted, like I was on GoPBI last year.

wxman57, thanks for taking the time to help us non-mets! You are doing a great job of explaining things for all of us. It's people like you and other more knowledgable members that take the time to explain things in common terms that helps the rest of us learn. Thanks again!

Absolutely right, Marshall.

There is only one thing I would be, if I went into the work force and that would be a "behind scenes meteorologist." A number of you know my situation. I have had vast amounts of time to teach myself meteorological factors and even have corresponded with some meteorologists online. I am extremely happy that I have met some professionals in the field here at Storm2K. I would very much love to have one-on-one conversations with them if they have some free time.