NOAA OPC Surface Analysis 1200UTC 20 Feb 2018
An intense hurricane-force storm low over the central North Atlantic was producing significant wave heights of an incredible 19 meters (62 feet) today, according to the National Weather Service Ocean Prediction Center.
After dumping some moderate to heavy snow in the US Northeast, this low rapidly intensified overnight on Saturday, developing hurricane force winds in excess of 64 knots by Sunday morning.
A satellite pass showing a max significant wave height of 61.23 feet (18.7 meters) in the North Atlantic on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. Credit: NOAA
Extreme Wave Heights
The latest NOAA Ocean Prediction Center (OPC) analysis for 20th 12 00 UTC shows and extreme max significant wave height of nearly 19 meters. This storm could set a new record for this part of the Atlantic.
Note: Significant wave height is the average height of the tallest one-third of waves (from trough to crest), so individual waves are likely to be much, much bigger.
Danger to Shipping
This storm poses an extreme danger to maritime shipping as it has tracked eastward at a fairly low latitude over some of the main shipping channels connecting North Europe and Mediterranean ports and US East Coast and Gulf ports.
The good news, however, is this monster is forecast to weaken rapidly over the next 24 hours.
