Tropical Storm 17P (Southern Pacific)

Low 17P Has a Good Chance for Tropical Reformation This Weekend

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is the forecast center that issues advisories for tropical cyclones in the Southern Pacific Ocean, and they noted on February 26, "Available data does not justify issuance of numbered tropical cyclone warnings at this time" That may change over the weekend, as maximum sustained winds are near tropical depression strength, 34 mph (30 knots) and environmental factors are looking more favorably for further development.

17P's center is near 16.3 degrees South latitude and 163.6 West longitude, that’s about 425 nautical miles east-southeast of Pago Pago. The system is crawling south-southwestward at 2 mph (2 knots).

Tropical Low 17P

Tropical Low 17P May Get a Second Chance

Tropical cyclone 17P may be a low pressure area right now, but environmental conditions have become more favorable to give it a likely comeback as a tropical storm. Forecasters are using satellite imagery and observing various factors to see if 17P may be reborn.

When the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite known as GOES-11 flew over 17P's center on Feb. 25 at 1622 UTC (11:22 a.m. ET), it captured in infrared image of its clouds. The satellite image showed that the storm appears to be getting re-organized, as seen in the circular shape of its clouds.

Tropical Storm 17P

17P low on Feb. 24 at 0709 UTC (2:09 a.m. ET). The rainfall was scattered around the low’s center. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour. The small red area indicates heavy rainfall at almost 2 inches per hour.

Tropical Storm 17P (Southern Pacific)

Cyclone Gelane Reaches Category Four Strength

Gelane on February 19 at 09:45 UTC (4:45 a.m. ET) that clearly showed the eye of this Category 4 cyclone.

Cyclone Gelane

TRMM Saw 16S Explode in Strength as Cyclone Gelane

Tropical Cyclone 16S was a tropical storm yesterday, and today the storm is at Category Two Cyclone (hurricane) strength.

Tropical Cyclone 16S

Tropical Storm 16S on February 15 at 5:05 a.m. ET (1005 UTC) when it was still coming together and noticed that some strong convection (purple) was flaring up in its center.

Tropical Cyclone Rene (Southern Pacific Ocean)

Cyclone Rene Slams Tonga, Moves Into Open Waters

Tropical Cyclone Rene (15P) when it was off Pago Pago on February 14 at 01:15 UTC.

Tropical cyclone Rene / 15P

SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN
Tropical cyclone Rene / 15P
Fiji designation 10F
Warning 07 from JTWC for 2100 GMT
The jump in warning number from 04 to 07 between 1500 and 2100 GMT has been noted
Position 14.3S 168.6W
Location 115 miles E of Pago Pago
Movement 245° (WSW) at 13 knots
Maximum sustained windspeeds 60 knots gusting to 75 knots
Winds of 34 knots or higher occur within 60 to 65 miles of the centre
Comparative strength Tropical storm
Maximum significant waveheight 23 feet
Threatened landmasses American Samoa, New Zealand
Next update from JTWC at 0900 GMT

Environmental conditions will deteriorate after the weekend, prompting a weakening trend. The storm is now forecast to move on a more southerly course later in the forecast period. Whether Rene will actually impact New Zealand as a tropical system is as yet beyond the forecast’s scope.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE WATER VAPOR IMAGERY

DARK RED-ORANGE: DRY; WHITE-MULTI COLOR: MOIST

Tropical Depression Fami Fading Fast

Fami on Feb. 3 at 09:35 UTC (4:35 a.m. ET), and showed the system more resembling a cold front than a tropical cyclone, as it appears stretched out from northwest to southeast. There are also very few strong thunderstorms left in what was once the center.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued their last advisory on the system at 1 p.m. ET on February 2 after it crossed Madagascar, and entered the Southern Indian Ocean. At that time it was located approximately 150 nautical miles southwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar, near 21.0 South and 45.5 East. It had maximum sustained wind near 34 mph, but was rapidly fading. Fami tracked eastward at 11 mph (10 knots) into open waters.

Tropical Storm Fami (Southern Indian Ocean)

Tropical Storm Fami Form, Fast and Furious

image reveals that once Fami made landfall, the storm was developing an eye (blue) in the upper levels of the storm.

At 1 a.m. ET (0600 UTC), Tropical Storm Fami had maximum sustained winds near 46 mph (40 knots) and was located in southern Madagascar, about 235 nautical miles west-southwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar. That’s near 21.2 South and 43.8 East. Fami is moving east-southeast near 9 mph (8 knots).

Tropical Storm Oli Kicking Up Waves in South Pacific

Tropical Storm Oli Kicking Up Waves in South Pacific

Tropical Cyclone Olga

Olga Now Raining On the Third of Five Australia Territories