Tropical Storm LEE

Su Campu

Lee has never really looked like a Tropical Storm, and indeed the NHC even said that in their discussion. It's really a sub-tropical storm. Elongated circulation, which has now split in two, large swathe of strong winds extending far from this centre, convection never present on its western half, and dodgy outflow. If this were before 2002 it would probably not have been given a name, but since then they decided to give them names from the list. This of course means some seasons are now being put down as more active than they would have been before, bumping up the stats....and of course feeding the AGW fire!

Here are the NHC definitions of both types:

Subtropical Cyclone:A non-frontal low pressure system that has characteristics of both tropical and extratropical cyclones. This system is typically an upper-level cold low with circulation extending to the surface layer and maximum sustained winds generally occurring at a radius of about 100 miles or more from the center. In comparison to tropical cyclones, such systems have a relatively broad zone of maximum winds that is located farther from the center, and typically have a less symmetric wind field and distribution of convection.

Tropical Cyclone:A warm-core non-frontal synoptic-scale cyclone, originating over tropical or subtropical waters, with organized deep convection and a closed surface wind circulation about a well-defined center. Once formed, a tropical cyclone is maintained by the extraction of heat energy from the ocean at high temperature and heat export at the low temperatures of the upper troposphere. In this they differ from extratropical cyclones, which derive their energy from horizontal temperature contrasts in the atmosphere (baroclinic effects).

maquiladora

...SOGGY LEE LUMBERING NORTHWARD TOWARD SOUTHERN LOUISIANA... TROPICAL STORM WARNING EXTENDED EASTWARD...

4:00 PM CDT Sat Sep 3
Location: 29.4°N 92.1°W
Max sustained: 60 mph
Moving: N at 4 mph
Min pressure: 989 mb

LEE IS DRIFTING ERRATICALLY
TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 4 MPH...6 KM/H. A SLOW AND POSSIBLY ERRATIC
MOTION TOWARD THE NORTH OR NORTH-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED DURING THE
NEXT 24 HOURS...FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST. ON THE
FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF LEE IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE
LOUISIANA COAST LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING...THEN MOVE SLOWLY
ACROSS SOUTHERN LOUISIANA ON SUNDAY.

weatherman9999

Just came across this thread thought I was the only one following it!
Doesn't look good for the Gulf Coast.
Will US Gulf Coast Be Affected?

Su Campu

The Gulf Coast is being affected for the past 3 days!!

Wertz

Centre of circulation seems to have moved over land the past couple of hours. Be interesting to see what happens with the rain bands...still plenty of WV flowing towards it from it's W and S. Tornado watch in effect for S Alabama and E Loiusiana.

fizzycyst

Any news on Lee, still dumping rain in the gulf?

Wertz

Combined forces with a stationary front and creating floods from Alabama to New England. Big threat from new rains on areas affected by Irene in the coming days.
Good city by city reports on TWC;
http://www.weather.com/weather/hurricanecentral/article/city-by-city-heavy-rain-threat_2011-09-03