Tag Archives: Five

Tropical Depression Five Forms West-southwest of Bermuda

Tropical Depression Five formed west-southwest of Bermuda on Saturday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression Five was located at latitude 31.1°N and longitude 68.7°W which put it about 245 miles (390 km) west-southwest of Bermuda.  The depression was moving toward the east-northeast at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1009 mb.

Visible satellite images showed that a small low pressure system west-southwest of Bermuda exhibited more organization on Saturday morning and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Depression Five.  The circulation around Tropical Depression Five was small but it was fairly well organized.  The depression had a well defined center of circulation.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands south and east of the center.  Bands in the northwestern part of Tropical Depression Five consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of circulation were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away to the east of the depression.

Tropical Depression Five will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 12 to 24 hours.  The depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 25.5°C.  It will move under the southern edge of the upper level westerly winds in the middle latitudes.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear, but the shear may not be strong enough to prevent some intensification.  Tropical Depression Five could strengthen into a tropical storm during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Depression Five will move around the northwestern part of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high will steer the depression toward the east-northeast during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Depression Five will move near Bermuda on Saturday night.  The depression could be a tropical storm when it passes by Bermuda.

Tropical Depression Five Forms East of Lesser Antilles

Tropical Depression Five formed east of the Lesser Antilles on Saturday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression Five was located at latitude 10.4°N and longitude 47.9°W which put it about 805 miles (1300 km) east-southeast of Barbados.  It was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1010 mb.

Data from satellites indicated that there was a closed circulation around an area of low pressure east of the Lesser Antilles on Saturday morning and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Depression Five.  The circulation around Tropical Depression Five was still organizing.  Many of the stronger thunderstorms were occurring in bands west of the center of circulation.  Bands in the eastern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  The circulation around Tropical Depression Five was relatively small.

Tropical Depression Five will move through an environment favorable for slow intensification.  It will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  The depression will move south of an upper level ridge over the western north Atlantic Ocean.  The ridge will produce easterly winds which will cause some vertical wind shear.  There will be some drier air just to the north of the depression.  If the depression pulls some of the drier air into the circulation, that could also interrupt intensification.  The combination of some wind shear and intrusions of drier air will limit the rate at which Tropical Depression Five strengthens.  The depression is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm.

Tropical Depression Five will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high will steer the depression toward the west-northwest during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Depression Five could approach the Lesser Antilles on Monday night or Tuesday.  The depression could be a tropical storm by that time.