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Tropical Storm Gaston has formed in the far eastern Atlantic.
As of Tuesday August 23, 2016 5amEST:
Winds 50mph, moving WNW at 20mph, pressure 1004mb. Expected to continue to strengthen and possibly a hurricane within 24 hours. Most models keep this one at sea but Bermuda should keep a close eye on the system.
Winds 65mph, moving WNW 21mph, pressure 1002mb. An eye like feature has been trying to pop up. Likely have a hurricane by days end. Should continue to strengthen over next 48 hours before hitting area of more shear. Re-strenghting possible in a few days with shear expected to weaken some and warmer waters nearby.
A Global Hawk drone being operated by NASA will launch in the morning for a 24 hour flight monitoring Gaston. These long rang, long term drone flights have aided in tropical system recon in the past. Hopefully we will see more of this to provide a better more constant data stream.
Still a Tropical Storm. Winds 70mph. moving NW at 16mph, pressure 990mb (29.24in).
Shear (basically shear blows the tops of developing storms away from it) currently keeping Gaston from reaching hurricane status...but it's looking pretty impressive tonight considering...wouldn't be surprised if it bumped up to hurricane tonight. Shear expected to weaken Gaston though over the next day or two but then lessen allowing Gaston to re-strengthen. It will be back over warm waters in the central/western Atlantic near Bermuda allowing it to re-intensify at that point. If we see Cat 2 or Cat 3 (major hurricane) out of this that would be it's best chance. VVEERRYY warm waters all the way out South East of Bermuda!!
HURRICANE GASTON TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072016
1215 AM AST THU AUG 25 2016
...GASTON BECOMES THE THIRD HURRICANE OF THE ATLANTIC SEASON...
Dropsonde data from a NASA/NOAA Global Hawk mission indicate that
Gaston has strengthened to a hurricane. The maximum winds are
estimated to be 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts.
SUMMARY OF 1215 AM AST...0415 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...18.7N 42.2W
ABOUT 1215 MI...1955 KM W OF THE CABO VERDE ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 310 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...988 MB...29.47 INCHES
Dropsonde data from a NASA/NOAA Global Hawk mission indicate that
Gaston has strengthened to a hurricane.....
Love that part! Drones can offer more constant recon data feeding models better information and can catch these small moments of a stronger storm. May not have been classified as a brief hurricane otherwise.
Here's the global Hawk..big!:
Image Credit: NASA/ Brian Kelly and Erin Czech
Winds 65mph, moving NW 17mph, pressure 997mb. Still expected to become a cat 2 or 3 hurricane in a few days. Bermuda should continue to watch it's path.
Hurricane Gaston peaked at a Cat3 Sunday with 120mph sustained winds.
Winds now 110mph, moving N at just 2 mph, pressure 963mb.
Track could take Gaston towards the Azores this weekend as a Tropical Storm as it turns away towards Europe.
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