2015-16 Arctic Cyclone Season

'''This will be a holiday-themed season similar to Steve's "2013-14 North Pole Hurricane Season". However, since Steve is gone, I have decided to do one this year. I know it's not the holiday season yet, but it will be soon. This will be an as-it-unfolds season with frequent updates coming to this page between now and the week after Christmas.'''

The 2015-16 Arctic Cyclone Season is an ongoing event in the Arctic Ocean basin. The season will officially begin on November 1 and end on January 7, dates that typically delimit the start and end of the season. However, Polar Storm Angel formed nearly 4 weeks before the season officially begins on October 5. Angel later intensified into a Polar Cyclone, becoming the second-earliest polar cyclone on record. Another pre-season storm, Polar Storm Bell, formed on October 16, which was the earliest second named storm in the basin. Storm formation can also occur outside of the designated dates. The most common time for storms to form though is from mid-to-late December.

Storms, even tropical cyclones, can cross from other basins into the Arctic basin. Should this happen, the storm would keep their original name. These types of storms are more common early in the season.

Pre-Season Forecasts
Due to mixed reports on what conditions would exist in the Arctic Ocean, no predictions were issued for this season until late. The BNWC originally said that there was a near equal chance in a below-normal, near-normal, and above-normal season. Average activity in the basin has roughly 15 named storms, 8 polar cyclones, and 3 major cyclones, with roughly two to four storms making landfall in the north pole. However, on October 12, 2015, the BNWC announced their 2015-16 forecast of 18 named storms, 10 polar cyclones and 5 major cyclones, a slightly above-average season.

If you still want to make a pre-season prediction, make it here!

October
The season had a very early start. On October 4, the first invest of theseason formed, Invest 90N, and was first listed with 15 mph winds. The system then intensified into Polar Storm Angel on October 5. Angel later acquired hurricane-force winds on October 7, prompting an upgrade to Weak Polar Cyclone status. Angel acquired its peak intensity in the early morning hours on October 8 with winds of 90 mph. However, later that day, Angel was downgraded to a Polar Storm. Angel later became post-polar late on October 9. The storm completely dissipated on October 11. Invest 91N later developed in mid-October. On October 16, 91N developed into Polar Depression Two. Two was upgraded to Polar Storm Bell the next day, becoming the earliest second named storm in history.

Arctic Cyclone Discussion
For the Arctic/North Pole basin...north of 55°N latitude:

Polar Storm BELL - 11:00 PM EDT October 17, 2015

Max Sustained Winds: 45 mph; Min pressure: 1002 mbar

Polar Storm Bell has intensified some more this evening, with winds of 45 mph and a pressure of 1002 mbar now at the center of the storm. Some additional intensification is still possible during the next 12 hours as conditions remain somewhat favorable for polar cyclone formation. However, conditions are expected to become unfavorable by early Monday as wind shear and land interaction will inhibit the storm's development. However, the storm could survive the land interaction. If it does survive, it could enter the Baffin Bay, which has very favorable conditions for development. Due to this, we now predict that Bell will likely re-generate into a polar storm next week.

Forecast trajectory:

2AM Sun 10/18: 50 MPH

2PM Sun 10/18: 45 MPH

2AM Mon 10/19: 45 MPH

2PM Mon 10/19: 40 MPH

2PM Tue 10/20: 35 MPH

2PM Wed 10/21: 40 MPH

Next complete advisory likely at 11AM EDT. -BNWC -BNWC

Polar Cyclone Angel
On October 4, the Bob Nekaro Weather Center began monitoring a small area of low pressure producing snow showers, located about 400 miles south of the North Pole, directly north of Canada. At their first advisory at 4PM EDT, the BNWC predicted that the disturbance would have a 0% chance of development within the next 48 hours and a 20% chance of development within the next 5 days. However, the storm rapidly intensified, and was given an 80% chance of development by 3PM on October 5. Later that afternoon, satellite imagery from a BNWC Cyclone Hunters aircraft found a closed circulation and named the storm Polar Storm Angel nearly four weeks before the season officially begins. Angel later strengthened on October 6, and acquired Polar Cyclone status on October 7 at 3:00 PM. However, wind shear later inhibited development of the storm, and later on October 7 it was determined that it was highly unlikely that Angel would make landfall or reach major cyclone status. Angel weakened to a Polar Storm on October 8. Angel experienced steady weakening over the next 24 hours, and became post-polar late on October 9.

Polar Storm Bell
On October 12, the BNWC began monitoring an area of low pressure that was expected to form over Canada, for possible polar cyclogenesis. On October 14, the area of low pressure formed and moved off the coast of Canada into the Hudson Bay. Due to wind shear, development was initially viewed as unlikely for the next week. However, the storm moved much slower than originally expected, and wind shear relaxed slightly. This led to the system being designated Polar Depression Two on October 16 at 5PM. At 5:00 PM on October 17, it was upgraded to Polar Storm Bell. Bell is currently active with winds of 45 mph and a minimum pressure of 1002 mbar.

Scale
This scale is based off the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, but with different classifications.

Names Used
A Christmas-themed name list will be used. These names are all different from Steve's. Should all names be used, the Hebrew alphabet will be used to name the storms.