|
|
MRG Interactive DevelopmentsMesoscale Research Group, McGill/SUNY |
Atlantic Hurricane Alex (2004) was tracked by the NHC from 31 July to 6 August 2004. Following a tropical transition between 29 and 31 August, the storm reached its peak intensity on 5 August with windspeeds of 105 kt (Category 3). It tracked along the Eastern Seaboard without ever making landfall and underwent extratropical transition southeast of Newfoundland. A detailed discussion of Hurricane Alex's lifecycle can be found in the NHC Summary for the storm. The NHC Best Track map from that summary is shown here for convenience (courtesy of NHC at www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004alex.shtml).
A set of diagnostics has been produced from the full-resolution GFS analysis grids (1 degree gridspacing). Each of these java animations displays images at 6-hourly intervals between 24 July and 9 August 2004 over a domain centered over North America but including much of the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans as well. Brief descriptions of the fields are provided here; details are available on the individual animations.
An additional set of high-resolution images centered on the development region over the period 24 July to 8 August are provided below. The wind barbs on these images are plotted at every gridpoint (1 degree separation).
A pair of animations showing the mean 925-850 hPa winds and relative vorticity show the development and track of an easterly wave that appears to play a role in the development of Hurricane Alex. The "tropical strip" plots begin on 24 July and the "development" plots begin on 27 July - both sets of animations end on 2 August once the vortex is fully-formed.
A trajectory analysis of parcels near the incipient "easterly wave" apparent in the vorticity field in the tropical strip animation at 1200 UTC 24 July near 20N, 40W. Back-trajectories are plotted for parcels in the "easterly wave" region at 850 hPa at 1200 UTC 24 July extending back to 0000 UTC 15 July.
MRG Interactive is a supporter of open source initiatives and,
Questions or Comments? Contact our WebMaster.