Hurricane Helene Path
An example of an Atlantic storm that made headlines during the hurricane season is Hurricane Helene, which took quite a meandering track across the ocean.
Like so many tropical systems that originate in the Atlantic, Helene started out as a tropical wave moving westward off Africa.
While still in an immaturity stage of development, conditions favorable within the atmosphere led to quick intensification into something of more consequence that now required monitoring for its possible impacts.
Formation and Early Path
Hurricane Helene developed from a tropical disturbance in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, a part of the world often called the hurricane nursery since it has been responsible for so many storms.
Located just off the west coast of Africa—where sea surface temperatures are warm and wind shear is relatively low—this is prime climate for storm growth.
Helene took an initial west-northwesterly track, passing the Cape Verde islands. When the storm pushed past these islands, Helene had reached tropical storm stage, with weather forecasters monitoring it closely as it neared maturity.
Days later it achieved hurricane status, spinning over the warm waters of the central Atlantic.
Peak Intensity
Helene proceeded on a west-northwest course and 2018-07-26-goes-east-helene-imageA4 intensified to a Category 2 hurricane.
These relatively quieter conditions up at the top of the atmosphere helped keep it in place. Helene reached peak sustained winds of over 105 mph (169 km/h), while an eye became well-defined.
While this level of intensity is noteworthy, Atlantic hurricanes in September — the peak month of hurricane season — frequently strengthen to category 3 status or higher.
Most Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes are steered westwards by a large high-pressure ridge that sits over the central or eastern North Atlantic, but weakening as it moves towards Helene this weekend.
However, a ridge weakened, directing Helene to the north; eventually helping steer her away from populated land.
Path Shift and Extratropical Transition
Helene also began to tilt north as it moved into the central Atlantic, which ultimately made a significant difference and helped keep it from threatening land.
Any chance at providing ameliorated conditions to all coastal islands in the Caribbean and the East Coast of America sailed right over them with the system moving over open water and outside of any desired direction fan.
At this time, Helene was entering an area of cooler water and increasing wind shear, which began to force the storm to weaken.
Helene would be a tropical storm by the time it reached the higher latitudes near the Azores. Finally, [trade winds] blew the storm so far toward the north it lost its tropical aspect entirely and changed into an extratropical cyclone as it moved on to northeast.
That transformation marked the conclusion of Helene’s time as a hurricane, although it continued to hurry rain and have strong winds into parts of Europe, primarily throughout the British Isles and also Ireland where it ultimately made its final landfall like a post-tropical system.
In a Nutshell
Though Helene remained over open water for the most part, and no populous landmasses suffered from a direct hit as it churned here, it was still an impressive storm by way of its girth and strength.
When the storm turned to the north, it showed how atmospheric patterns can influence a hurricane’s course — an important take home given how unpredictable and meandering hurricane tracks can be.
What Helene’s trek across the Atlantic calls for is ongoing monitoring and forecasting, as even if a storm appears to be steaming into open water, it can pose hazards to shipping lanes and coastal regions.
