Tracking the Tropics: Irene Recovery Continues, But All Eyes Turn Towards Katia...and Lee?

East Setauket, NY supermarket
still without water AFTER Irene
8/29/2011

Stores ran out of the essentials. Trees toppled. Power lines fell. Beaches eroded. All thanks to Irene. And she could have been even stronger. Now, it's time to continue gassing up the chainsaws and cleaning up the damage while simultaneously keeping an eye on what storm could be next.

Hurricane Irene spared many her full force, but left many others under water or without power, and in some cases, especially in North Carolina, left families without a home to come back to. And hundreds of thousands of people in several East coast states remain without power all thanks to Hurricane Irene.

Irene could have been a much stronger storm, but even as a category two storm over the Carolinas and then a category one/tropical storm over the New York tri-state area Irene caused extensive damage, even leaving roughly 25% of Long Island in New York without power.

East Setauket, NY street blocked by toppled tree - Hurricane Irene - 8/28/2011| Photo by Matt Hammer

Atlantic Ocean/Gulf of Mexico Update:
After Irene, there was briefly Jose, a tropical storm that seemed to strengthen and develop out of no where. Jose went out to sea and hardly bothered anyone, but some fish.

Unfortunately, this may not be all for the East coast this hurricane season. The open waters of the Atlantic Ocean are getting active. Meet Tropical Storm Katia. You'll hear her pronounced KAH-tyah. This is a storm that is expected to strengthen a lot over the next several days.

Tropical Storm Katia Satellite Image - Courtesy Wunderground.com

As of 11PM EST Tuesday, Tropical Storm Katia has top winds of 60 miles per hour and is moving WNW at 22 mph with an estimated minimum central pressure of 997 millibars.

You can see her latest projected track from the National Hurricane Center below.

Katia is expected to be a major hurricane by this weekend and her track will have to be monitored closely. Yes, this storm could take a track out to sea, or have potential East coast impact. Too early to tell which it'll be.

In addition to Katia is an interesting tropical wave over the Northwestern Caribbean Sea that could see some development over the next few days. This could potentially become "Lee." Even if this area of low pressure does not form into a tropical cyclone, believe it or not, it will bring some good news to parts of the South. It's likely this wave will provide parts of drought-stricken Texas will some much needed rainfall. You may remember that parts of Texas saw about a 40 day period of 100 degree temperatures without any rainfall and the drought is of serious concern as ponds continue to dry up.

Visible Satellite Image of What Could Become "Lee"

So, this is going to be a very interesting week to week-and-a-half or potentially longer period of time with plenty of activity in the warm Atlantic waters as well as the Gulf of Mexico.

Eastern Pacific Ocean Update:
As far as the Pacific Ocean goes, there are no organized tropical systems at this time; however, there is a tropical wave coming off the Southwest coast of Mexico that could potentially develop into a tropical cyclone over the next few days.

A lot to watch, but I will monitor it all closely for you and bring you the latest on these and future storms! I just want to keep you informed and hopefully we won't have anything to worry about, but if there is - we'll talk about it here! :)

Posted in: Atlantic Ocean,Bahamas,damaging winds,Dominican Republic,east coast,flooding,Gulf of Mexico,Hurricane Irene,Hurricane Season,Katia,Lee,Pacific Ocean,Texas drought,tropical storm,tropics