Hurricanes and thermal flows

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CrazyC83
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Hurricanes and thermal flows

#1 Postby CrazyC83 » Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:30 pm

Is it true that if there is no fronts or other systems blocking, the counterclockwise flow of a tropical storm or hurricane will bring hot air to areas to the areas ahead of the storm to the north and east?

What I mean by that is if the hurricane is lying over the Gulf of Mexico (for example) making landfall, areas north and east of the storm will get the tropical air from the return flow from the south and southeast circulating around the storm (unless a front or another system is blocking the air)?

I remember that when Cindy and Dennis were to my south (and remained there with no fronts in sight), there was record heat (nearly 100 degrees on a couple days!) in my area. When Katrina was to my south (until a cold front - which eventually killed off Katrina - passed through), it was also really warm. More recently, it was quite warm (although not record breaking) when Ernesto was to my south. Were those warm spells related to the flow of the storms or just other systems?
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Re: Hurricanes and thermal flows

#2 Postby WindRunner » Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:11 pm

Yes, to an extent. What makes it tropical is that there is not a huge gradient in the temperatures or air masses in general, i.e. no front. The east side of a northward-moving storm, however, still creates a nice southerly flow and all that is associated with such a flow.
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Re: Hurricanes and thermal flows

#3 Postby CrazyC83 » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:38 pm

That seems to be more common in early-season storms, since later in the season it is more likely that a front or another system will intervene as cooler air dips farther south.
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Re: Hurricanes and thermal flows

#4 Postby tailgater » Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:36 am

Also on the prephery of a strong storm, there is a lot of sinking air from the outflow that can lead to extreme heat. but this may not be what you are speaking of?
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