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Storm-force low in the central Atlantic Ocean

By Scott Bachmeier •

GOES-16

GOES-16 “Red” Visible (0.64 µm) images [click to play MP4 animation]

The compact circulation of an occluded surface low over the central Atlantic Ocean could be seen on GOES-16 (GOES-East) “Red” Visible (0.64 µm) images on 29 January 2018 (above); surface analyses indicated that the system was producing Storm Force (48-55 knot) winds.

This surface low was located beneath a larger upper-level low, as seen on GOES-16 Low-level (7.3 µm), Mid-level (6.9 µm) and Upper-level (6.2 µm) Water Vapor images (below). Very dry air (yellow to red enhancement) was evident just to the south and southwest of the storm.

GOES-16 Low-level (7.3 µm, left), Mid-level (6.9 µm, center) and Upper-level (6.2 µm) images [click to play MP4 animation]

GOES-16 Low-level (7.3 µm, left), Mid-level (6.9 µm, center) and Upper-level (6.2 µm, right) images [click to play MP4 animation]

Hourly images of a (preliminary, non-operational) GOES-16 Deep-Layer Wind Shear product (calculated using Low-level and Mid-upper level GOES-16 Derived Motion Winds) are shown below — they revealed that the surface low was protected within the favorable low-shear environment of the upper low circulation, with more unfavorable high values of shear immediately surrounding it.

GOES-16 Deep-layer Wind Shear products [click to play animation]

GOES-16 Deep-layer Wind Shear products [click to play animation]

Categories: GOES-16, Satellite winds