#4 Postby weatherwindow » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:04 am
castastrophic is the right word...luckily, the prospects of such a synoptic setup are fairly low...ie, look at the relative rarity of true cape verde systems(forming east of 40degW) impacting the southeast coast. the track dynamics of a US landfalling cape verde system require fairly contiguous upper level ridging from the area of formation to ~80degW. the typical synoptic pattern in the tropical atlantic during the season peak(aug-mid sept) would suggest ridging from the eastern atlantic west to ~50degW and weaker, less reliable ridging west of 70degW to ~80deg. these areas are typically separated by a persistent, upper level trough in the vicinity of the lesser antilles(60degW). super imposed on this pattern is the impact of midlatitude troughing on the steering flow. although seasonal patterns in this troughing tend to emerge, the steering setup as a system approaches a given longitude cannot be specified with any degreee of certainty beyond the forecast period. given the above factors, a US landfalling cape verde system would the unusual coincidence of: uninterrupted ridging in the eastern atl, a weaker, more northerly mid ocean trough, and the absence of significant troughing from the islands to 80degW. no wonder we dont have to face cape verde monsters very often...thank god.........rich
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