Marine Weather Review - North Atlantic Area
May to August 2007

By George P. Bancroft, NOAA National Center for Environmental Prediction

Introduction

The period of May to August 2007 including the normally least active summer season was unusually stormy in the North Atlantic, producing twenty low-pressure systems that developed winds of at least storm force, a minimum of 48 kts. In stark contrast, the North Pacific produced only nine, including those with tropical origin. Many of the lows developed storm conditions as they moved out over the North Atlantic from the Canadian Maritime Provinces or passed near Greenland. Some of these were mainly Greenland events. May was the most active month, accounting for eight storms, of which five produced hurricane-force winds. July, which is normally the least active month, produced only two storm-force lows. Most of the activity occurred north of 45N as the lows were forced over high pressure that was often found over the southern or eastern waters. The exceptions were two cutoff lows that developed storm-force winds, one early in June and the other late in August. These developed over the south-central waters near 40N as they were trapped by high pressure to the north.

There were two tropical or subtropical systems affecting OPC’s marine area north of 31N during the four-month period, including the early part of the North Atlantic hurricane season. One was Subtropical Storm Andrea early in May and the other Tropical Storm Chantal, forming at the end of July. Tropical activity is described in more detail below.

Tropical Activity

Subtropical Storm Andrea: Andrea originated as a non-tropical low-pressure area which intensified as it moved off the North Carolina coast (Figure 1). Although the lowest pressure attained was a modest 1000 hPa, strong high pressure building on its north side helped produce an area of hurricane-force east to northeast winds on its north side, between the occluded front and the high pressure to the north. The cyclone was forced south and then southwest on an unusual track into subtropical waters, where the winds slowly weakened but the cyclone developed subtropical characteristics. Figure 2 is an infrared satellite image taken a day after the valid time of the second part of Figure 1, showing the system developing convective-type clouds around the center but retaining frontal banding to the north and northeast. The next day, at 1500 UTC on May 9, TPC’s National Hurricane Center classified it as a subtropical storm, named Andrea, with maximum sustained winds of 40 kts with gusts to 50 kts when the center was located off the north Florida coast near 31N 79W. A day later, the system weakened to a subtropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 kts with gusts to 40 kts off the north Florida coast and then dissipated as a remnant low early on the 11th. The cyclone had its greatest impacts on OPC’s waters when it was a hurricane-force low. The QuikSCAT pass shown in Figure 3 depicts a band of easterly winds to 70 kts occurring in the tight pressure gradient north of the cyclone’s occlusion. Selected conventional observations taken during the storm are listed in Table 1.

OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts

Figure 1. OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts (Part 2) valid 1200 UTC May 6 and 7, 2007.
(Click the image to enlarge)

GOES-12 infrared satellite image of the storm in Figure 1

Figure 2. GOES-12 infrared satellite image of the storm in Figure 1, valid at 1200 UTC May 8, 2007. Satellite senses temperature on a scale from black (warm) to white (cold) in this type of imagery. The valid time is twenty-four hours later than the valid time of the second part of Figure 1.
(Click the image to enlarge)


High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image




Figure 3. High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image of satellite-sensed winds around the storm in Figure 1. The valid time of the pass is 0954 UTC May 7, 2007, or about two hours prior to the valid time of the second part of Figure 1. The center of the storm appears near 32N 72W. Image is courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS/Office of Research and Applications.




OBSERVATION POSITION DATE/TIME(UTC) WIND SEAS(m/ft)
Sea-Land Performance (KRPD) 32N 78W 07/0000 NE 45 5.0/16
  34N 76W 07/1800 N 60 9.5/31
  34.4N 76W 07/2000 N 55 11.0/36
  34.6N 76W 07/2200 NE 55 13.5/44
PBHU 37N 67W 07/0000 NE 45 4.0/13
Cape Charles (3EFX5) 36N 71W 07/1200 NE 50 11.5/37
DAQZ 32N 80W 08/0600 N 40 9.0/30
  32N 79W 08/1800 NE 50 12.0/39
Maasdam (PFRO) 34N 77W 08/0900 N 45 9.0/29
Buoy 41001 34.7N 72.7W 07/0500 NE 54 G70 11.0/36
    07/0700 NE 50 11.5/38
    07/1400 NE 35 12.5/41
Buoy 41025 35N 75.3W 07/0200 N 40 4.5/14
    07/2200 maximum 8.0/26

Table 1. Selected ship and buoy observations taken during early May’s hurricane-force low off the southeast coast of the U.S., preceding its transition into Subtropical Storm Andrea.

 

Tropical Storm Chantal: Chantal formed from a non-tropical low at 33N 68W early on July 30 which moved north-northeast. The TPC/National Hurricane Center classified it as Tropical Depression Three near 36N 67W at 0300 UTC July 31 with maximum sustained winds of 30 kts with gusts to 40 kts. It became Tropical Storm Chantal twelve hours later when passing near 40N 63W, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kts with gusts to 55 kts. That was the strongest it became as a tropical cyclone as it headed into cooler waters. Chantal became extratropical at 0600 UTC August 1 and then rapidly intensified as an extratropical low over the North Atlantic (Figure 4). The second part of Figure 4depicts the cyclone near maximum intensity with a hurricane force label. The central pressure fell 26 hPa in the twenty-four hour period ending at 1800 UTC August 2, a remarkably rapid rate of pressure fall for a low near the height of summer. The lowest central pressure attained was 964 hPa at 0600 UTC on the 3rd, making the cyclone the deepest of the period and one of several lows that developed pressures in the 960s in the North Atlantic during this period. The satellite image in Figure 5 shows extratropical Chantal at its maximum intensity. Such characteristics as a broad "comma head" and a frontal cloud band of substantial depth wrapping around a well-defined center are indicative of a very deep cyclone. The high-resolution QuikSCAT image in Figure 6 reveals winds as high as 65 kts south of the storm center. OPC often uses such imagery in surface analysis (Reference 1), including determining wind intensity. Table 2 is a list of selected ship, buoy and platform observations taken during passage of this cyclone. The storm subsequently turned east and began to weaken, maintaining storm-force intensity until early on August 4 when it passed south of Iceland. The system then turned northeast through the Norwegian Sea on the 5th.

OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts

Figure 4.OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts valid 1200 UTC August 1 (Part 2) and 0000 UTC August 3, 2007 (Part 1).
(Click the image to enlarge)

GOES-12 infrared satellite image of the storm in Figure 1

Figure 5. METEOSAT-9 infrared satellite image valid at 0600 UTC August 3, 2007, showing the storm in Figure 4, former Tropical Storm Chantal, near maximum intensity as an extratropical low. The valid time is six hours later than the valid time of the second part of Figure 4.


High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image




Figure 6. High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image of satellite-sensed winds around the storm shown in the second part of Figure 4. The valid time of the pass is 2106 UTC August 2, 2007, or about three hours prior to the valid time of the second part of Figure 4. The center of the storm appears near 59N 32W near the upper-right corner of the image, and the southern tip of Greenland is near the upper-left corner. Image is courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS/Office of Research and Applications.


OBSERVATION POSITION DATE/TIME(UTC) WIND SEAS(m/ft)
Westward Venture (KHJB) 39N 59W 7/31/1200 S 40 3.5/12
VRBN8 41N 59W 8/1/0000 SW 35 8.0/27
Hibernia Platform (VEP717) 46.7N 48.4W 01/1800 SW 60 5.0/16
Henry Goodrich (HP6038) 46.4N 48.4W 01/1800 SW 55  
BATEU00 57.6N 32W 02/1800 SW 40 8.0/27
  57.8N 29W 03/0200 SW 55  
  58N 23W 03/2100 SW 40 9.5/31
BATEU00 Discovery (GLNE) 58.7N 21.5W 03/1800 SW 40 10.5/35
Buoy 44141 43N 58W 01/0400 SW 37 G47 5.5/18
Buoy 62108 53.5N 19.5W 04/0300 maximum 9.0/30

Table 2. Ship, buoy and oil platform observations taken during Tropical Storm Chantal and subsequent transition to an intense extratropical storm.

Other Significant Events of the Period

North Atlantic Storm (Greenland area), May 4-6: Figure 7 depicts the development of this storm from a frontal wave of low pressure ("developing storm") south of Newfoundland at 0000 UTC May 3 and its subsequent appearance forty-eight hours later as the 988-hPa low southeast of Greenland at 0000 UTC on the 5th. The lowest central pressure reached was 985 hPa twelve hours prior when the center was near 54N 33W. As the system approached Greenland, a stationary arctic front formed to its northwest with a QuikSCAT pass (Figure 8) revealing northeast winds as high as 65 kts northwest of the front blowing against the southeast coast of Greenland. This is an area of sparse or nonexistent ship observations. The cyclone then drifted east away from Greenland and the winds diminished to gale force with the center near 58N 30W at 0600 UTC on the 6th and then to below gale force as the center passed southeast of Iceland on May 8.

Northeastern Atlantic Storm, May 5-6<: Referring again to Figure 7, a frontal wave of low pressure appears on the front south of the parent low center. In the following twenty-four hours this low rapidly developed as it tracked northeast, and became a storm 350 nmi southeast of Iceland with a 988-hPa center at 0000 UTC on the 6th. As the center passed just north of Scotland six hours later, with a 983-hPa central pressure, the ship V2RU (62N 12W) reported northeast winds of 60 kts. The cyclone then headed northeast into Norway later that day as a gale.

OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts

Figure 7. OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts valid 0000 UTC May 3 (Part 2 – west) and 0000 UTC May 5, 2007 (Part 1 – east).
(Click the image to enlarge)

High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image




Figure 8. High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image of satellite-sensed winds around the storm shown in Figure 7. The resolution is 12.5 km, versus 25 km in the coarser version of such imagery. The valid time of the pass is 2141 UTC May 4, 2007, or about two and three quarters hours prior to the valid time of the second part of Figure 7. The center of the storm appears in the right-center portion of the image, in the area of light winds near 56N 34W. Image is courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS/Office of Research and Applications.
(Click image to enlarge)


Northwestern Atlantic Storm, May 11-13: This cyclone intensified as it moved northeast across Quebec and northern Labrador on May 11 and then stalled near 60N 56W early on the 12th with the central pressure down to 980 hPa. The cyclone briefly developed hurricane-force winds as its frontal system approached Greenland’s southwest coast. The winds took on an appearance similar to Figure 8 except this time the winds were from the southeast. The cyclone then weakened slowly, becoming a gale-force low by 0000 UTC on the 14th on its way to passing north through the Davis Strait on the 15th.

North Atlantic Storm of May 16-18: This unseasonably intense cyclone formed from the merger of two lows, the gale and the developing storm shown in Figure 9. The system, given a "hurricane force" label in the second part of Figure 9, attained a lowest central pressure of 965 hPa six hours later, making it second only to extratropical Chantal in intensity by a narrow margin in the four-month period. Winds around this cyclone are revealed in a QuikSCAT pass (Figure 10) in an area of sparse ship and buoy reports. Winds to 65 kts were on the southwest side of the well-defined storm center. Available conventional reports were mainly on the periphery. The strongest wind reported by ships was from the vessel SCKB (49N 26W), a west wind of 45 kts along with 8.0-m seas (27 ft). Among buoys west of the British Isles there were several reports of seas higher than 9.0 m (30 ft). The buoy 62105 (55.2N 10W) reported the highest seas at 12.0 m (39 ft) along with a 35-kts west wind. The system subsequently turned east and weakened to a gale-force low while passing just north of Scotland late on the 18th, before passing northeast of OPC’s oceanic analysis area on May 20.

OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts

Figure 9. OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts (Part 1) valid 1800 UTC May 16 and 17, 2007.
(Click the image to enlarge)


High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image

Figure 10. High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image of satellite-sensed winds around the storm in Figure 9. The valid time of the pass is 2105 UTC May 17, 2007, or about three hours later than the valid time of the second part of Figure 9. The center of the storm appears near 59N 36W in the upper right side of the image. The southern tip of Greenland is in the upper left side. The numbered diagonal lines are cross-track time lines of the satellite pass. Image is courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS/ Office of Research and Applications.
(Click image to enlarge)


North Atlantic Storm (Greenland-Iceland area), May 19-21: This development was a quick spin-up of a new cyclone on a frontal zone that crossed Greenland from the west late on May 19. The new storm center had a 986-hPa central pressure near 63N 40W at 0000 UTC on the 20th, and deepened to 969 hPa (63N 33W) twenty-four hours later. The Godafoss (V2XM) reported a west wind of 60 kts near 60N 32W at 1200 UTC on the 20th, followed by a report of southwest winds of 60 kts (62N 28W) twelve hours later. The cyclone weakened the next day, and then tracked northeast across Iceland as a gale on May 22.

Northeastern Atlantic Storm, May 26-27: This small but intense cyclone developed rapidly over a twenty-four hour period as depicted in Figure 11. Development was aided by the ingestion of another low-pressure area to the northwest, and the central pressure dropped 22 hPa in twenty-four hours. The cyclone when fully developed appears as a small but intense cloud vortex in an infrared METEOSAT9 image (Figure 12). Figure 13 is a high-resolution QuikSCAT image of the storm near maximum intensity with storm-force winds concentrated in a small area close to the center in the west semicircle. Winds up to 65 kts appear southwest of the center. The cyclone then moved inland over France and weakened on May 27.

 

OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts

Figure 11. OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts (Part 1) valid 0600 UTC May 26 and 27, 2007.
(Click the image to enlarge)


METEOSAT-9 infrared satellite image

Figure 12. METEOSAT-9 infrared satellite image of the storm in Figure 11, valid at 0930 UTC May 27, 2007. Satellite senses temperature on a scale from black (warm) to white (cold) in this type of imagery. The valid time is three and one-half hours later than the valid time of the second part of Figure 11.
(Click image to enlarge)


High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image

Figure 13. High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image of satellite-sensed winds around the storm shown in the second part of Figure 11. The valid time of the pass is 0617 UTC May 27, 2007, close to the valid time of the second part of Figure 11. The center of the storm appears near the southwest tip of England. The numbered diagonal lines are cross-track time lines of the satellite pass. Image is courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS/Office of Research and Applications.
(Click image to enlarge)


Northeastern Atlantic Storm, May 30-31: A low-pressure system moving north out of the North Sea took an unusual track, turning west around the periphery of an upper-level low pressure area that was stationary west of the British Isles. The cyclone developed storm-force northeast winds to 50 kts in QuikSCAT data on its north side while passing south of Iceland, somewhat like the May 5-6 event except not quite as strong. The central pressure was as low as 986 hPa (61N 29W) at 0000 UTC June 1. The system then looped to the south into the central waters and weakened before being steered northeast by the upper low.

North Atlantic Storm, June 2-3: A low-pressure area moved northeast from Newfoundland early on June 2 and moved out over the central waters by 0600 UTC June 3, where it became a 986-hPa storm-force low, centered near 51N 44W. A high-resolution QuikSCAT pass from near that time, at 0819UTC, revealed winds to 50 kts around the west side. As the developing storm passed across the Grand Banks, Hibernia (VEP717) at 46.7N 48.7W reported south winds to 55 kts, but due to its elevation tends to report high. At 0600 UTC on the 3rd, the Henry Goodrich (HP6038) at 46.4N 48.4W encountered west winds of 40 kts and 4.5-m seas (14 ft), while the ship SCKB (47N 37W) reported south winds of 40 kts and 7.0-m seas (23 ft). The cyclone developed a lowest central pressure of 982 hPa near 51N 42W six hours later, and was similar to the late June storm in that area. The center then lifted north-northeast and weakened, passing west of Iceland as a gale late on the 5th.

North Atlantic Storm, June 6-7: Blocking high pressure developed in the northern waters by this time, cutting off a developing low near 40N 23W from the westerlies. It intensified from 1012 hPa to 1000 hPa as it drifted to 41N 24W in the eighteen– hour period ending at 1800 UTC on the 6th. It was one of two systems to form so far south and develop storm-force winds. Storm-force winds lasted until early on the 7th, when it began to move northeast. Winds were similar to those in the late August event described below. The cyclone then was absorbed into another stalled system to the north on the 10th.

North Sea Storm, June 27: A northeastward-moving frontal wave of low pressure west of France and another area of low pressure coming from the north merged near southern Great Britain early on June 25, moved into the North Sea early on the 26th, and then became a storm by the 27th as the center passed into the Baltic Sea. The ship OUIM2 (57N 8E) reported northwest winds of 50 kts at 1200 UTC June 27.

North Atlantic Storm, June 27-29: An area of low pressure passed east-southeast off the southern Labrador coast early on June 27 and became a storm-force low early on June 28 as it passed east of the Grand Banks. Hibernia Platform (VEP717) near 46.7N 48.6W reported west winds of 50 kts at this time, while the GSF Grand Banks (YJUF7) near 46.8N 47.9W encountered west winds of 40 kts. At 1800 UTC on the 28th, the Atlantic Compass (SKUN) near 46N 40W reported west winds of 40 kts and 10.5-m seas (34 ft). The subsequent development of this low is shown in Figure 14. The second part of Figure 14 shows the cyclone at maximum intensity. The ship SCKM (46N 42W) encountered northwest winds of 50 kts at 0000 UTC on the 29th. This report was supported by available high-resolution QuikSCAT data showing satellite-sensed winds to 50 kts around the west side of the center. The system subsequently approached Great Britain on the 30th as a gale, and then drifted across the British Isles as a weakening low on July 3.

OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts

Figure 14. OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts (Part 1) valid 0600 UTC June 28 and 29, 2007.
(Click the image to enlarge)


North Atlantic Storm, July 9-11: A complex gale-force low moved northeast from the island of Newfoundland early on July 8 and tracked northeast to a position about 300 nmi south of Greenland where it made a counterclockwise loop to the southwest. The lowest central pressure occurred as the center approached Greenland (986 hPa). Its wind field interacted with the southern tip of Greenland to produce storm-force winds, with a QuikSCAT presentation similar to Figure 7 except not as strong (up to 50 kts). The system then moved away from Greenland and was absorbed by another low coming off Newfoundland on the 9th.

North Atlantic Storm (Greenland area, North Sea), July 23-27: In late July, low-pressure systems tracked over a large high-pressure area centered near 40N 44W. The strongest one developed a 989-hPa central pressure as it passed 180 nmi south of Greenland early on July 23. Storm-force winds were mainly on the north side near the southern tip of Greenland, with winds to 50 kts, and lasted during the day and night of the 23rd. After weakening to a gale on the 24th while moving east, the cyclone redeveloped to a new center in the North Sea (988 hPa) near 58n 3E by 0000 UTC on the 27th. Storm-force winds developed on the south side early on the 27th, with the ship ZCBU5 (57N 4E reporting west winds of 51 kts. The Lykes Navigator (WGMJ) encountered southwest winds of 40 kts and 4.5-m seas (14 ft) near 50N 4W at 1200 UTC on the 26th.The cyclone subsequently moved into Norway by the 29th.

Northwest Atlantic Storm, August 9-11: This intensifying low moved from the Gulf of St. Lawrence early on August 9 northeast into the Labrador Sea early on the 10th, where it developed a lowest central pressure of 980 hPa. Selected ship, platform and buoy observations taken in this storm are listed in Table 3. The cyclone stalled in the northern Labrador Sea late on the 10th and weakened to a gale the next day, before dissipating late on the 12th.

North Atlantic Storm, August 13-15: A complex low-pressure system developed off the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast early on August 11 and moved northeast across the Atlantic, developing a lowest central pressure of 984 at mid-ocean near 50N 35W at 1200 UTC on the 13th. At 2100 UTC on the 13th a high-resolution QuikSCAT pass showed remotely-sensed winds of 50 kts on the southwest side of the system. At 0000 UTC on the 15th when the storm center was near 48N 12W, the ship P3JA9 (45N 8W) reported southwest winds of 45 kts. Six hours later the Chiquita Italia (C6KD5) encountered northwest winds of 40 kts and 7.5-m seas (24 ft). Subsequently, the cyclone redeveloped as a gale-force low in the North Sea early on the 15th, intensified to 972 hPa in the Norwegian Sea on the 15th, and then moved into Norway on the 17th.

Northwest Atlantic Storm of August 19: The next storm system to develop followed a track similar to that of the August 9-11 event, but instead of stalling it continued to move north and dissipated over Greenland early on the 21st. The lowest central pressure was 986 hPa, when the center was near 57N 50W at 0000 UTC on the 20th. A high-resolution QuikSCAT satellite pass from two hours prior to this time revealed 50-kts west to southwest winds south of the center

Northeast Atlantic Storm, August 24-25: A frontal wave of low pressure originating near 41N 44W on August 22, moved rapidly northeast, taking only two days to pass north of the British Isles. The first part of Figure 15 shows this cyclone as it was passing between Scotland and Iceland. The cyclone developed a central pressure of 994 in the Norwegian Sea at 0000 UTC on the 25th. The vessel OZ2040 (61N 1W) reported southwest winds of 50 kts at 1800 UTC on the 24th. Twelve hours later the ship LF3F (64N 8E) encountered southwest winds of 45 kts and 6.0-m seas (19 ft). The cyclone passed northeast of OPC’s oceanic radiofacsimile chart area at that time.

OBSERVATION POSITION DATE/TIME(UTC) WIND SEAS(m/ft)
Hibernia Platfor (VEP717) 46.7N 48.7W 10/0000 S 54  
Henry Goodrich (HP6038) 46.3N 48.3W 09/1800 SE 43  
GSF Grand Banks (YJUF7) 46.8N 48.0W 10/0300 SW 48  
3FBE8 46N 44W 10/1200 SW 46  
Ozernitsa (UIDS) 54N 47W 10/1200 SE 41  
Galveston Bay (WPKD) 42N 55W 10/0000 SW 35 6.5/22
Buoy 44139 44.2N 57.0W 10/0100 NW 35  
    10/0600 maximum 5.5/18

Table 3. Ship, platform and buoy observations taken during the storm of August 9-11, 2007.


OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts

Figure 15. OPC North Atlantic Surface Analysis charts (Part 1) valid 1200 UTC August 24 and 25, 2007.
(Click the image to enlarge)


South-Central North Atlantic Storm, August 24-25: Figure 15 depicts the development of this storm from a frontal wave of low pressure on a stationary front trailing from the preceding low-pressure system described in the paragraph above. Instead of heading rapidly northeast like the preceding system, this cyclone became blocked by a strengthening high-pressure ridge which became wrapped around the east, west and north sides. The second part of Figure 15 shows this cyclone fully developed as a storm-force low and stationary. The central pressure fell 18 hPa in the twenty-four hour period ending at 1200 UTC on the 25th, an impressive deepening rate for its southern location and the time of year. The high-resolution QuikSCAT image in Figure 16 reveals a well-defined cyclonic circulation with storm-force winds of 50 kts around the south and west sides and even several 50-kts wind barbs north of the center near 46N. The cyclone was cut off from the westerlies, and, after initially weakening to a gale-force low on the 26th, persisted as a well-defined surface feature in that area for the remainder of the month. Table 4 contains a list of observations taken around this cyclone during late August.

High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image

Figure 16. High-resolution QuikScat scatterometer image of satellite-sensed winds around the storm shown in the second part of Figure 15. The valid time of the pass is 0901 UTC August 25, 2007, or about three hours prior to the valid time of the second part of Figure 15. The center of the storm appears near 43N 43W near the right-center portion of the image, and Cape Race, Newfoundland appears near the upper-left corner. The numbered diagonal lines are cross-track time lines of the satellite pass. Image is courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS/Office of Research and Applications.
(Click image to enlarge)


 

OBSERVATION POSITION DATE/TIME(UTC) WIND SEAS(m/ft)
V7MA7 41N 45W 25/1200 NW 40  
Hibernia Platform (VEP717) 46.7N 48.7W 25/1500 N 35  
    25/1800 N 35  
WDD3826 42N 43W 26/1200 SE 35 4.5/14
ZCDW8 49N 39W 26/1800 SE 50  
Manhattan Bridge (3FWL4) 43N 40W 28/0600 SE 35 6.0/19
WMLH 40N 37W 28/1800 SW 40 3.0/10
A8CF9 48N 35W 30/1200 SE 40 2.5/9
Buoy 44139 44.2N 57.0W 10/0100 NW 35  
    10/0600 maximum 5.5/18

Table 4. Ship observations taken around the stalled low-pressure system in the south-central waters in late August 2007.

References

  1. QuikSCAT in the Ocean Prediction Center, http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/quikscat/index.shtml
  2. Saffir-Simpson Scale of Hurricane Intensity, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml

Correction

In previous MWL articles (Marine Weather Review, North Atlantic) the author has given incorrect information about certain Grand Banks platforms, in particular those with callsigns VEP717 and HP6038. Please note that the correct names for these platforms are Hibernia (VEP717), a fixed structure, and Henry Goodrich (HP6038), a semi-submersible. The author would like to thank Bridget Thomas of the Climate Data and Analysis Section (Environment Canada) for providing this information, forwarded via NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center.