Subtropical Storm Oscar Develops East of Bermuda

Subtropical Storm Oscar developed east of Bermuda on Friday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Subtropical Storm Oscar was located at latitude 26.7°N and longitude 45.7°W which put it about 1210 miles (1940 km) east-southeast of Bermuda.  Oscar was moving toward the north-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gust to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface temperature was 1005 mb.

More thunderstorms developed closer to the center of a low pressure system east-southeast of Bermuda on Friday night and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Subtropical Storm Oscar.  The strongest winds were occurring in a band of showers and thunderstorms about 80 to 100 miles (130 to 160 km) east of the center of the low pressure system.  Several other bands were forming southeast of the center of circulation.  Bands in other parts of Subtropical Storm Oscar consisted primarily of showers and low clouds.

Subtropical Storm Oscar will move through an area somewhat favorable for intensification.  Oscar will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 27°C.  An upper level low will move just to the south of Subtropical Storm Oscar.  The upper level low will produce easterly winds which will blow toward the top of the subtropical storm.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear which will inhibit intensification on Saturday.  In a day or so Oscar will move northwest of the upper level low and the vertical wind shear will decrease.

The upper level low will steer Subtropical Storm Oscar toward the north-northwest on Saturday.  When Oscar moves farther way from the upper level low, it will move south of a ridge of high pressure over the Atlantic Ocean.  The ridge will steer Subtropical Storm Oscar toward the west on Sunday and into early next week.  On its anticipated track Subtropical Storm Oscar could be southeast of Bermuda by Monday night.