Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Danielle

Tropical Depression Five Strengthens to Tropical Storm Danielle

Former Tropical Depression Five strengthened to Tropical Storm Danielle west of the Azores on Thursday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Danielle was located at latitude 38.1°N and longitude 44.7°W which put it about 960 miles (1545 km) west of the Azores. Danielle was moving toward the east at 2 m.p.h. (3 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1012 mb.

The circulation around former Tropical Depression Five organized quickly on Thursday morning and the National Hurricane Center upgraded it to Tropical Storm Danielle. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Danielle’s circulation and an eye was apparent on visible and microwave satellite images. The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Storm Danielle. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Danielle.

Tropical Storm Danielle will be in an environment favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. Danielle will be over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are 27˚C. It will be in a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Danielle will intensify during the next 48 hours. Danielle could intensify to a hurricane during the next 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Danielle will be in an area where the steering winds are weak during the next 48 hours. Danielle is likely to meander slowly over the North Atlantic. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Danielle will remain far to the west of the Azores during the next 48 hours.

TD 4 Intensifies to Tropical Storm Danielle As It Nears Mexico

A large area of thunderstorms developed near the center of Tropical Depression 4 during during the overnight hours.  An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance aircraft found sustained winds to tropical storm force and at 8:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the National Hurricane Center classified the system as Tropical Storm Danielle.

At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Danielle was located at latitude 20.6°N and longitude 96.0°W which put it about 95 miles (150 km) east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico.  Danielle was moving toward the west-northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1008 mb.  The government of Mexico has issued a Tropical Storm warning for the portion of the coast from Laguna Verde to Rio Panuco.

The center of an upper level ridge moved near the center of Danielle on Sunday night, which caused the upper level winds to be weaker over the core of the circulation.  As a result, a large area of thunderstorms was able to develop and persist around the center of circulation.  Since Danielle was over water where the Sea Surface Temperature was near 30°C, the circulation was able to extract energy from the ocean and Danielle intensified into a tropical storm.

The thunderstorms at the core of Danielle are generating upper level divergence that is pumping mass out in all direction.  The pressure at the surface is likely to decrease which should produce an additional increase in the wind speed.  Danielle will be over very warm water until it makes landfall on the coast of Mexico later today.  It is likely to intensify further before it reaches the coast.

An ridge of high pressure extends from the Atlantic Ocean into the Gulf of Mexico.  The ridge is steering Danielle toward the west-northwest and that general motion is expected to continue.  On its anticipated track the center of Danielle could be very near Tuxpan on the coast of Mexico in about 12 hours.  Danielle could produce a storm surge of several feet along the coast.  It could also cause some wind damage, although that should be minimal.  The increase in thunderstorms near the center of circulation means that Danielle will produce locally heavy rain when it moves inland.  The heavy rain will create the risk of flash floods and mudslides on steeper slopes.

Danielle was designated a tropical storm on June 20, which makes it the fourth Atlantic tropical storm of 2016.  June 20th is the earliest date on record on which the fourth Atlantic tropical storm has formed.  The previous record was June 23, which was the date when Tropical Storm Debbie was named in 2012.   During the record setting year of 2005, the fourth Atlantic tropical storm was not named until July 5.