User talk:Ashbee55

2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season
The 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season was a sliughtly above average season. The season officially began on June 1, 2012, and ends on November 30, 2012. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones develop in the Atlantic basin.

Seasonal Forecasts
One of the expert teams Colorado State University (CSU) defined the average number of storms per season (1981 to 2010) as 12.1 tropical storms, 6.4 hurricanes, 2.7 major hurricanes (storms reaching at least Category 3 strength in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale) and ACE Index 96.1. Another one of the expert teams, NOAA defines a season as below-normal, near-normal or above-normal.

Pre-Season forecasts
Most forecasters called for an active hurrciane season, though the season did not quite meet most of their expectations, the season was still regarded as active as it comfortably exceeded the average.

Tropical Storm Andrea
In the early hours of June 10th, NOAA began obseving a disorganised area of showers and thunderstorms within a weak area of low pressure about 100 miles east of the Bahamas. Environmental conditions became more conducive over the next several hours, then on June 11th the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began issuing advisories on Tropical Depression One. By late on June 11th, the NHC upgraded Tropical Depression One to Tropical Storm Andrea with sustained winds of 40 mph as it moved gradually northward. Over the next few days, Andrea gradually strengthend before reaching maximum sustained winds of 55 mph on June 14th. However, shortly after, Andrea began to speed up and take a more north-eastward track, by the next day Andrea had encountered some cooler waters and began to weaken. Due to the unfavourable conditions, Andrea became a remenant low late on June 15th and dissipated soon after. Higher than average waves were reported along the coasts of Florida and Georgia but Andrea's damage was virtually non-existent as it stayed out to sea.

Tropical Storm Barry
Just after Andrea dissipated, Tropical Depression Two formed in the central Gulf of Mexico. As the depression moved north-eastward, high wind sheer prevented

any significant development, even so by June 17th Tropical Storm Barry formed. Over the next 24 hours, Barry intensified gradually, peaking at maximum sustained winds of 45 mph just 60 miles from landfall. Barry made Landfall in the Florida panhandle on June 18th, despite not being the strongest system Barry still caused minor flooding and resulted in $2.5 million in damages. Barry dissipated over Alabama later on June 18th

Tropical Depression Three
On June 29th, to the NHC's suprise, Tropical Depression Three formed about 270 miles East of Newfoundland, despite being over cold waters with relatively

unfavourable conditions present, the depression formed from an upper-level trough and concentrated showers. Once the depression formed it was anticipated that it would continue to develop and would soon become the most northerly tropical storm ever observed in the month of June in the Atlantic Basin. Unfortunately this never occurred and the folowing day Tropical Depression Three dissipated just as quickly as it had formed.

Tropical Storm Chantal
After a few inactive weeks in the Atlantic Basin a tropical wave of the West coast of Africa combined with an upper-level low to catch the NHC's attention. After a few days of organisation, the NHC attached a high chance of a Tropical Cyclone forming in the next 48 hours to this disturbance. Shortly after, Tropical Depression Four formed over the central Atlantic in Hurricane Alley on July 21st. The Depression intensified over the next few days, on July 22nd it was reclassified into Tropical Storm Chantal, on July 25th it reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 70mph while it was just over 100 miles East of the Lesser Antilles. Fortunately, Chantel did not attain hurricane status before it smashed into the Lesser antilles and caused the deaths of 3 people directly, 1 person indirectly. When Chantal emerged in the Caribbean Sea the next day she turned sharply North-Westward and impacted Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The change in direction was anticipated by NOAA and they issued due warnings and watches but the islands were still badly affected. Chantal weakend slightly with sustained winds of 65 mph due to an intake of dry air but the percipitation she posessed still caused havoc, 450 mm of rain was dumped on parts of the Dominican Republic which resulted in the deaths of 8 people, bringing Chantal's total upto 12. Chantal weakend over the mountainous tourraine she crossed, once she emerged into the Atlantic, East of the Bahamas, Chantel tailed off to the North-East and gradually weakend, becoming a remenant low on August 3rd. The total damages from Chantal's rampage through the Caribbean are estimated to be around $250 million.