Usercane Keranique

Usercane Keranique is the strongest usercane of 2016; and currently the strongest January usercane on record. Usercane Keranique formed from a vigorous tropical wave early from January that exited Cape Verde; the wave, only hours after exiting, was declared Tropical Storm Keranique. From then on, Keranique has steadily intensified and remains active as a 155mph category 4 hurricane.

Meteorological History
On the extremely late evening of January 15th, 2016, a tropical wave exited the coast of Africa; the wave rapidly began to develop convection and was noted by the NUC to have a 40% chance of developing only hours after exiting. After an ASCAT pass was declared, the tropical wave immediately developed tropical storm force winds and was declared Tropical Storm Keranique. Keranique moved extremely slowly and passed to the south of Cape Verde; Keranique was so small it did not even affect Cape Verde. Keranique later reached 60mph a week later; and strengthened to 70mph on February 1st; later that evening in EST time, Keranique reached hurricane status, becoming the first hurricane of the season.

Due to unusually warm SST's that existed southwest of Cape Verde, and unusually low shear Keranique rapidly strengthened to a category 2 hurricane within only two days; however only marginal favorable conditions were in Keranique's way, limiting intensification only until March 2nd; where it finally reached major hurricane status, aka 115mph on the Saffir-Simpson scale.