Hurricane Eçaí was the first recorded major hurricane in the South Atlantic basin. Originating from a non-tropical low in February 2019, the low developed persistent deep convection near the center and became a tropical depression on February 18. Eçaí peaked as the equivalent of a category 4 hurricane, based on Dvorak satellite estimates.
Meteorological History[]
The track of Eçaí, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
On February 17, 2019, an area of disturbed weather developed in the Southern Tropical Atlantic. Unprecedented rapid intensification took place on February 20 when Eçaí strengthened into a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. Eçaí's rapid intensification was caused by record warm water temperatures in addition to an upper-level anticyclone atop Eçaí, causing virtually no wind shear atop the cyclone.
After Eçaí, the South Atlantic Hurricane Center was officially established, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to track tropical cyclones in the South Atlantic basin.