Another Rainmaker Forms in the Atlantic

5-Day Forecast Cone for Subtropical Depression 17 (Credit: NOAA NHC)

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NHC issuing advisories on Hurricane OTTO

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Cruise Ship Advisories:  Click HERE

UPDATE: 1100 AM AST SUN OCT 10 2010
...OTTO NOW POST-TROPICAL...

EXPECTED TO MOVE NORTH OF THE AZORES ON MONDAY...

500 PM AST FRI OCT 08 2010
...OTTO STRENGTHENS A LITTLE MORE AS IT MOVES NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE
OPEN ATLANTIC...

(5 AM AST Wed. Oct 6 ) We are just starting to watch a developing tropical cyclone in the Western Atlantic as the NHC issues the first warning of this system.   Locally heavy rainfall from this storm is possible over the next couple of days in the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. It appears that this storm will increase in speed and strength and become a named storm within the next 48 hours.

THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER ON OTTO.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON OTTO CAN BE FOUND IN HIGH
SEAS FORECASTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ...UNDER
AWIPS HEADER NFDHSFAT1 AND WMO HEADER FZNT01 KWBC...AND BY
METEO-FRANCE UNDER WMO HEADER FQNT50 LFPW.  

NHC predictions show Tropical Storm Otto staying to the east of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, and heading into the Atlantic, away from land.

As a service to our readers, we have RSS feeds from the NHC which can provide up to date information about these tropical storms.   We will also monitor the cruise lines for any itinerary changes as a result of the storms.

Discussion & Outlook

WATCHES AND WARNINGS 

THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.

SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION (10 Oct)

LOCATION...37.3N 41.1W
ABOUT 770 MI...1245 KM W OF THE AZORES
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 55 DEGREES AT 43 MPH...69 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...987 MB...29.15 INCHES

A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED TONIGHT...
FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE EAST ON MONDAY AND 
A TURN TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST BY EARLY TUESDAY. 
 
ON THE FORECAST TRACK...
THE CENTER OF POST-TROPICAL OTTO WILL PASS
NORTH OF THE AZORES ON MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. 

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MPH...100 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS. 

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 205 MILES...335 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 987 MB...29.15 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

NONE

This is the first time this hurricane season where we've seen a subtropical storm.    For those wondering what that means, here is the NHC definition:

Subtropical Cyclone:

A non-frontal low pressure system that has characteristics of both tropical and extratropical cyclones. This system is typically an upper-level cold low with circulation extending to the surface layer and maximum sustained winds generally occurring at a radius of about 100 miles or more from the center. In comparison to tropical cyclones, such systems have a relatively broad zone of maximum winds that is located farther from the center, and typically have a less symmetric wind field and distribution of convection.

Cruise Line Advisories

Norwegian Sun is swapping its planned northern route crossing of the Atlantic Ocean for a more southerly one to avoid 35 knot winds and 24 foot swells kicked up by Hurricane Otto. The new route will force it to skip its call in Punta Delgada, Azores, on Saturday. The ship will arrive on schedule in Orlando on October 16. 

Carnival Liberty skipped its call in Grand Turk yesterday. Instead of a sea day today, the ship will add a call in Nassau. It returns to Miami as planned on Saturday.

Due to the storm, Celebrity Solstice is unable to dock in St. Maarten on Thursday.

Instead, the ship will spend tomorrow at sea and will add a call in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Friday before returning to Fort Lauderdale as scheduled on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Resources (click links below)
HURRICANE OTTO	National Hurricane Center
Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook	National Weather Service
Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion	Hurricane Preparedness
Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (ATL)	Real-Time Hurricane Information
Active Storms	NOAA Satellites & Information
NASA: Latest Storm Images	WMO Severe Weather Information Centre
Real-time Monitoring (Atlantic)	The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
Real-time Weather Sites	Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking