Oct 21, 2024 06:23 PM
https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/10/...near-cuba/
EXCERPTS: A hurricane so small that it could not be observed by satellite formed this weekend, surprising meteorologists and even forecasters at the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Oscar developed on Saturday near Turks and Caicos, and to the northeast of Cuba, in the extreme southwestern Atlantic Ocean. As of Saturday evening, hurricane-force winds extended just 5 miles (8 km) from the center of the storm.
This is not the smallest tropical cyclone—as defined by sustained winds greater than 39 mph, or 63 kph—as that record remains held by Tropical Storm Marco back in 2008. However, this may possibly be the smallest hurricane in terms of the extent of its hurricane-force winds.
[...] Oscar's development shocked forecasters. There was only a modest indication from satellite imagery, as of Friday, that anything would form; and none of the major global models indicated development of any kind. It was thought that the area of low pressure would get swamped by vertical wind shear this weekend as it neared Cuba.
However, the tiny size of Oscar confounded those expectations. Weather models struggle with the development of small hurricanes, and this is largely because the micro-physics of the smallest storms occur below the resolution of these models. Additionally, tiny hurricanes organize much more quickly and efficiently... (MORE - missing details)
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2024 Atlantic hurricane season (systems)): On October 10, a tropical wave producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms being monitored by the NHC moved off of the west coast of Africa. Later that day, a broad low pressure area producing near gale winds formed along the wave. After moving over Cape Verde the following day, the disturbance moved westward within an unfavorable environment for development, causing its activity to diminish greatly.
The disturbance remained disorganized as it passed to the north of Puerto Rico on October 18, though strong convection persisted around an emerging mid-level center of circulation. The disturbance developed a closed circulation the next morning, and was designated Tropical Storm Oscar. A Hurricane Hunters flight found that Oscar was much stronger than originally estimated, and at 18:00 UTC on October 19, Oscar was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph. At 21:50 UTC on October 20, Oscar made landfall as a category 1 hurricane at Baracoa, located in the Cuban province of Guantánamo. In the Bahamas, numerous residents had to evacuate after their homes were damaged. In Cuba, 6.5 ft swells hit Baracoa, damaging walls and roofs of numerous structures.
EXCERPTS: A hurricane so small that it could not be observed by satellite formed this weekend, surprising meteorologists and even forecasters at the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Oscar developed on Saturday near Turks and Caicos, and to the northeast of Cuba, in the extreme southwestern Atlantic Ocean. As of Saturday evening, hurricane-force winds extended just 5 miles (8 km) from the center of the storm.
This is not the smallest tropical cyclone—as defined by sustained winds greater than 39 mph, or 63 kph—as that record remains held by Tropical Storm Marco back in 2008. However, this may possibly be the smallest hurricane in terms of the extent of its hurricane-force winds.
[...] Oscar's development shocked forecasters. There was only a modest indication from satellite imagery, as of Friday, that anything would form; and none of the major global models indicated development of any kind. It was thought that the area of low pressure would get swamped by vertical wind shear this weekend as it neared Cuba.
However, the tiny size of Oscar confounded those expectations. Weather models struggle with the development of small hurricanes, and this is largely because the micro-physics of the smallest storms occur below the resolution of these models. Additionally, tiny hurricanes organize much more quickly and efficiently... (MORE - missing details)
- - - - - - - - - - -
2024 Atlantic hurricane season (systems)): On October 10, a tropical wave producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms being monitored by the NHC moved off of the west coast of Africa. Later that day, a broad low pressure area producing near gale winds formed along the wave. After moving over Cape Verde the following day, the disturbance moved westward within an unfavorable environment for development, causing its activity to diminish greatly.
The disturbance remained disorganized as it passed to the north of Puerto Rico on October 18, though strong convection persisted around an emerging mid-level center of circulation. The disturbance developed a closed circulation the next morning, and was designated Tropical Storm Oscar. A Hurricane Hunters flight found that Oscar was much stronger than originally estimated, and at 18:00 UTC on October 19, Oscar was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph. At 21:50 UTC on October 20, Oscar made landfall as a category 1 hurricane at Baracoa, located in the Cuban province of Guantánamo. In the Bahamas, numerous residents had to evacuate after their homes were damaged. In Cuba, 6.5 ft swells hit Baracoa, damaging walls and roofs of numerous structures.