How strong was todays south Atlantic cyclone?

[WindRunner]

I'd say 30-35kts, but that wasn't an option in the poll, so I went lower since it was most likely on the low end of that 30-35kt range.

[JonathanBelles]

if it was a TS why wasnt it named?

[senorpepr]

if it was a TS why wasnt it named?

1) Offically, it was not a TS.
2) No meteorological agency referred to it as a TS.
3) There is no RSMC coverage of the South Atlantic. With that, there are no names prepared for South Atlantic storms. Therefore, South Atlantic storms will NOT be named. With that said, if a South Atlantic storm makes landfall, unofficial names may be given. That is the case of Catarina, which made landfall in Catarina Province.

[JonathanBelles]

if it was a TS why wasnt it named?

1) Offically, it was not a TS.
2) No meteorological agency referred to it as a TS.
3) There is no RSMC coverage of the South Atlantic. With that, there are no names prepared for South Atlantic storms. Therefore, South Atlantic storms will NOT be named. With that said, if a South Atlantic storm makes landfall, unofficial names may be given. That is the case of Catarina, which made landfall in Catarina Province.

why isnt there rsmc coverage?

[senorpepr]

if it was a TS why wasnt it named?

1) Offically, it was not a TS.
2) No meteorological agency referred to it as a TS.
3) There is no RSMC coverage of the South Atlantic. With that, there are no names prepared for South Atlantic storms. Therefore, South Atlantic storms will NOT be named. With that said, if a South Atlantic storm makes landfall, unofficial names may be given. That is the case of Catarina, which made landfall in Catarina Province.

why isnt there rsmc coverage?

Lack of activity. The cost of having an RSMC out-weighs the benefits of providing coverage.

[WindRunner]

Yeah - 4 storms in 15 years isn't enough to need a group of people to track them (though it would be nice )

[senorpepr]

Yeah - 4 storms in 15 years isn't enough to need a group of people to track them (though it would be nice )

Even if you task an existing group, there will still be a large amount of money toward training, additional manning, plus you have all the costs involved with adding South Atlantic nations to the WMO tropical program. Althought it would be nice, it wouldn't be cost effective.

[JonathanBelles]

so why doesnt miami take over?

[senorpepr]

so why doesnt miami take over?

Even if you task an existing group (such as the NHC), there will still be a large amount of money toward training, additional manning, plus you have all the costs involved with adding South Atlantic nations to the WMO tropical program. Althought it would be nice, it wouldn't be cost effective.

[HURAKAN]

It could have been a minor tropical storm, but I'm a little conservative and will say 25 - 30 knots.

[HURAKAN]

I think Brazil should take over the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Brazil, in conjunction and help with the US, should build a satellite or satellites that will constantly monitor the South Atlantic Ocean. For most of the time the satellite(s) will work to monitor and track extratropical and subtropical storms that very often affect South America, but in case a tropical system develops they could start issuing bulletins using the latest information provided by the satellite(s).

[Derek Ortt]

Couldn't the official agency be activated only when there is a cyclone, like is the case with CPHC, whihc would allow for an existing agency, such as NHC, to not have to spend much in the way of additional money to monitor the system (may just mean a few extra shifts during January and February)

[senorpepr]

Derek... I hadn't thought of the CPHC and their mission. That probably would work, but only if an agency like the NHC covered it. Brazil or a new organization would need a lot of training, so NHC would be the better choice.

Sandy... as for satellite coverage... there already is plenty of coverage of the South Atlantic. GOES-E provides much of the SW Atlantic while Meteosat covers the SE Atlantic... both meshed together giving at least hourly data over the water. In addition, there are plenty of NOAA and DMSP satellites orbiting around for additional coverage.

[JonathanBelles]

Couldn't the official agency be activated only when there is a cyclone, like is the case with CPHC, whihc would allow for an existing agency, such as NHC, to not have to spend much in the way of additional money to monitor the system (may just mean a few extra shifts during January and February)

they should use that idea

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Last year there was also a invest(2004-2005)around early January. Also this year I'v seen a couple system try to form but get sheared apart. So yes things seem to becoming more active. Maybe its climate change if it where to become 1 or 2 storms a year I would think the price would become worth it.

[P.K.]

Last year there was also a invest(2004-2005)around early January. Also this year I'v seen a couple system try to form but get sheared apart.

Here you go http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=54952&start=0

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Yeah a system or two a season seems to be forming...

2003-2004
January 19th tropical storm
March 23 to 31 south Atlantic hurricane

2004-2005
December 31st possible td?

2005-2006
Tropical depression/storm 22-24 Feb.

Interesting...I'm kind of scared because the met office of the uk did not count that one you posted Pk.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

http://www.typhoon2000.ph/garyp_mgtcs/jan05sum.txt



South Atlantic Tropical Activity for January
--------------------------------------------

Only ten months earlier certain portions of Brazil's southeastern
coastline were severely damaged by the rather potent Cyclone Catarina.
(I'll leave the qualifier 'tropical' off in the interest of not stirring
up another hornets' nest!) On the 30th of January a low-pressure system
near 20.5S/37.5W began to show a few signs of the first stages of
evolving towards a subtropical or tropical cyclone. There was a big
blow-up of convection and some evidence of upper-level outflow. John
Diebolt of Tucson, Arizona, stated that he'd place it near the dividing
line between an extratropical and subtropical cyclone. Alexandre
Aguiar of the Climatologia Urbana Weather Center in Brazil passed along
a forecast from an amateur meteorological site in Brazil which quite
confidently forecast the development of a strong tropical storm.
Needless to say, this did not materialize. I received no further
information on the system, and if it had continued to develop into a
tropical-like system, it would surely have attracted much attention among
tropical cyclone discussion groups.

[P.K.]

Interesting...I'm kind of scared because the met office of the uk did not count that one you posted Pk.

I doubt the page with unusal sat images is updated very often, they have better things to be doing.

[Jim Hughes]

Wow so most of you think this was a TD at least....Looks like we will probably see something again....next month.....??? 3/19 - 3/25.....more later.


Jim