Thursday, August 05, 2004
Amazing Alex
Jason Samenow @ 7:20 AM
While Hurricane Alex is long gone and now in the middle of the Atlantic, he merits a mention this morning. Yesterday, he reached Category 3 status with maximum winds of 120mph at an usually high (northern) latitude. This satellite loop shows how well organized he remains even while crossing the 40 degree latitude line. The Tropical Prediction center wrote the following in its discussion last night:...ALEX [IS] THE STRONGEST MAJOR HURRICANE ON RECORD TO DEVELOP NORTH OF 38N LATITUDE...WITH HURRICANE ELLEN IN 1973 COMING IN SECOND AT 100 KT. THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO HURRICANES ON RECORD TO REACH MAJOR HURRICANE STRENGTH AT SUCH A HIGH LATITUDE. HOWEVER...THIS SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISING GIVEN THAT SSTS ARE RUNNING MORE THAN 2C ABOVE AVERAGE IN THAT AREA.Alex will finally weaken in the next day or so as he moves over cold water. About 30 degrees further south, Tropical Depression #2 is still around. More on that later...
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