Twitter | National Hurricane Center
With the NHC now giving a 70 percent chance of a subtropical storm developing in the Atlantic and kicking off the hurricane season early, it brings up the question: What’s the difference between a tropical and subtropical storm?
While tropical systems and subtropical systems are similar, there are some important differences.
Tropical systems: Generally have organized convection that is typically 100-300 miles in diameter that originates in the tropics or subtropics.
A tropical depression has sustained surface winds of 38 miles per hour or less, while a tropical storm has maximum sustained surface winds up 39-74 miles per hour.
Subtropical systems: According to the National Hurricane Center, a subtropical storm, by definition, is: “A non-frontal low-pressure system that has characteristics of both tropical and extratropical cyclones.”
Subtropical systems are usually weaker, less symmetrical, and have a large, cloud-free center of circulation. They have heavy thunderstorm activity but in a band that is usually 100 miles from the center.
The differences between the winds a tropical and subtropical storm generates are not that important, according to the NHC. It should also be noted that there is no such thing as a subtropical hurricane.
If a subtropical storm intensifies to have hurricane-force winds, it is considered fully tropical.
Hurricanes: Maximum sustained surface winds of 74 miles per hour or higher. Strongest winds near the center of the low, fueled by water
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is now giving a 70 percent chance to an area of disturbed weather for developing into a depression or subtropical storm in the next five days.
If this occurs, it could become Subtropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the 2020 hurricane season, and kicking things off ahead of the “official” start of the hurricane season which begins on June 1 and extends through November 30.
The NHC tweeted:
“An area of low pressure is expected to form near the Bahamas in a couple of days, and it has a high chance of becoming a subtropical depression or storm this weekend while it moves northeastward over the western Atlantic. Visit hurricanes.gov for details.”
An area of disturbed weather near the Florida Straits is likely to develop into a tropical or subtropical depression or storm near or north of the northwestern Bahamas this weekend. Visit https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB for details. pic.twitter.com/pSKMsriZ37
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) May 14, 2020
Many experts, including Colorado State University scientists, are predicting 16 named storms for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, including 8 hurricanes, 4 of which are predicted to be “major” at Category 3 or higher.
The National Hurricane Center, which is a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will release its official hurricane forecast for the 2020 hurricane season on May 21.
Amid almost universal agreement by meteorologists and weather experts that the 2020 hurricane season will be more active than normal, FEMA, the Red Cross, and city officials in areas prone to hurricanes are working now to be prepared for dealing with the possibility of two simultaneous crises.
The Director of emergency management for the city of Charleston, South Carolina, is already preparing the readiness of the city’s high water vehicles.
Right now is the perfect time for not only agencies but the general public, to acquire new vehicles. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, vehicle sales slumped to 80% below normal. To get auto sales moving, vehicle dealerships have had to offer zero-interest financing for up to seven years. It is definitely a buyer’s market and cheap cars for sale are everywhere.
One of the foremost concerns for emergency management officials is personal protective equipment. With the coronavirus pandemic potentially extending for an unknown duration, the availability of masks will be crucial in case the need arises to shelter people in the aftermath of a hurricane.
