Usercane Anthony

Usercane Anthony is a very powerful and exceptionally large tropical cyclone currently active in the central Atlantic. Forming from a very well-organized tropical wave in December 2015, the cyclone underwent rapid intensification from the day it formed and attained tropical storm-force winds less than an hour after formation. From early on, forecast models predicted a very intense storm late in the forecast period; all in all, these predictions were largely accurate. Moving very slowly westward while embedded within an environment extremely conducive for tropical cyclogenesis, Anthony attained minimal hurricane status while stationed south of the Cape Verde islands on January 14. Within days, the cyclone rapidly intensfied to Category 2 status. The unprecedented strengthening continued well into February at a torrid pace, as Anthony became the season's final major hurricane on February 7. The rate of weakening did not cease to slow, and Anthony unexpectedly became a large and powerful Category 4 hurricane on February 26 following the landfall and eventual collapse of Hurricane Nkechinyer, leaving conditions much more beneficial to intensification for other storms located within the vicinity of the region.

Intensification slowed somewhat throughout latter months due to increased shear generated by Hurricane Hype across much of the Atlantic basin as it attained an unprecedented peak intensity of 215 miles per hour. Nevertheless, Anthony continued to gain strength, and soon attained Category 5 status, alongside Hurricane Bob, in late April 2016. Anthony then entered a steady state of intensification, becoming the fourth-strongest usercane on record by July 2016 - behind only Hurricane Hype, Hurricane Sjmaven, and Hurricane Bob. By late August 2016, Anthony attained a peak intensity of 185 miles per hour coupled with a pressure of 898 millibars. Anthony remained steady state until September 11, when massive upwelling induced by a rapidly expanding radius of winds, caused Anthony to unexpectedly collapse and transition to an extratropical cyclone the same day, all the while a ridge of high pressure forced a turn northward. The extratropical cyclone lingered about the central Atlantic for less than a month, executing a small barocyclonic loop as it re-entered the more favorable part of the Main Development Region. By late September, Anthony regenerated as a weak, 45 kt subtropical storm. By early October, Anthony shed its subtropical characteristics as it began to undergo explosive intensification. By October 9, Anthony intesnfied from a strong tropical storm to a Category 3 major hurricane. Less than 24 hours subsequent to that, Anthony attained Category 4 status. Continuing the trend of rapid intensification, eight days later Anthony acquired Category 5 status once again. It is expected to be one of the strongest usercanes on record by 2017.