Near Portugal/Spain:
Fri 18Sept 1230pEDT/AST,430pGMT,530pGMT+1/WEST,630pGMT+2/CEST:
Sub-Tropical Storm Alpha forms (formally 99L) in far Northeastern Atlantic along coast of Portugal. Not the earliest “Alpha/Alfa” on record technically...previous record May 1972 (NATO phonic naming then), but Greek alphabet as we know it was only used previously 23Oct 2005.
Winds 50mph(85km/h)
Moving NE 17mph(28km/h)
Pressure 999mb
Center about 75miles(125km) N of Lisbon Portugal.
See local weather departments for any storm Warnings. Very small storm with Tropical Storm Force winds(39mph+/63km/h+) up to 35miles(55km) from center. NHC says rainfall of 1-2inch(25-50mm), isolated 3in(75mm) along its path of across Northern half of Portugal, then Northwest Spain then exits into Bay of Biscay Saturday as falls apart. Not expected to strengthen much if any before landfall then quickly weaken once center comes ashore.
NHC says storm has developed enough tropical characteristics to be classified as sub-tropical using Portugal radar, ASCAT radar imagery, Microwave imagery & other satellite imagery.
Official updates by NHC every 6hrs at 5 & 11a/pEDT/AST:
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
This satellite image helps show how tiny Alpha is:
https://twitter.com/nwseastern/statu...01089284345858