Tag Archives: Ocean Weather

2025 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Fred Pickhardt

As of April, conditions in the North Atlantic appear to favor a somewhat more active season than normal, however, less active than in 2024. Several hurricane outlooks have already been published, predicting between 10 and 18 named storms with 5-10 becoming hurricanes and 2-6 becoming major hurricanes. The normal season will produce 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. Continue reading →

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Who needs a Forensic Marine Weather Expert? 

Posted on August 22, 2024 by Fred Pickhardt

When weather events at sea cause damage to ships and cargo or injure crew members, just how do you determine what happened? All ship masters make frequent log entries regarding the ship’s position, vessel condition, fuel and water reserves, as well as the weather encountered. When tens of thousands to millions of dollars are at stake, the various parties involved in a marine venture need to know what actual weather conditions were encountered. Continue reading →

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Top Tropical Cyclone Tracking Sites

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Fred Pickhardt

Now that the hurricane season is approaching, here are my thoughts on the best tropical  cyclone  tracking sites: Continue reading →

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2024 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook Update

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Fred Pickhardt

The 2024 Hurricane Season outlook is predicted to be well above normal due to two primary factors: El Nino and warm ocean water. Currently, a weakening El Niño is expected to transition to a La Niña state by late summer or early autumn. This transition should produce low wind shear conditions, favoring tropical cyclone development over the North Atlantic. Continue reading →

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La Niña and the Azores-Bermuda Ridge: Impact on the 2024 Hurricane Season

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Fred Pickhardt

Currently, El Niño is weakening rapidly, and meteorologists anticipate the development of a La Niña event by the main 2024 hurricane season. La Niña is characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Just how will this transition affect the Atlantic hurricane environment? Continue reading →

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A Second Hurricane-Force Storm heads for English Channel Approaches

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Fred Pickhardt

A 2nd rapidly deepening storm low east of Newfoundland will move east then east-southeast with winds to 65 kts building significant wave heights to 14 meters (46 feet) during the next 36 hours over the eastern North Atlantic north of the Azores. Continue reading →

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Two Hurricane-Force North Atlantic Storms

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Fred Pickhardt

A hurricane-force storm low over the eastern North Atlantic will move rapidly across southern England and into the North sea with winds to 70 kts and significant wave heights to 12 meters (about 40 feet) in the English Channel Approaches and portions of the Bay of Biscay during the next 18-24 hours. Continue reading →

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Intense Storm Heads for English Channel Approaches

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Fred Pickhardt

gale low over the western North Atlantic will move ENE at 45 kts, deepening rapidly into a hurricane-force 953 mb storm low over the English Channel Approaches by 0000 UTC November 2nd with winds to 65-75 kts and significant wave heights to 12 meters south of England and Ireland and portions of the Bay of Biscay. Continue reading →

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Hurricane-Force Storm to affect Bay of Biscay and English Channel Approaches

Posted on October 29, 2023 by Fred Pickhardt

A low pressure disturbance will move off the New England coast early Monday, moving rapidly ENE deepening to a gale low south of Newfoundland then deepening rapidly into a hurricane force storm reaching the English Channel Approaches by 0000 UTC November 2nd Continue reading →

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Catastrophic Cat 5 Otis makes landfall near Acapulco

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Fred Pickhardt

Major Hurricane Otis continued to strengthen until near the time of landfall in southern Mexico near Acapulco, reaching a catastrophic Category 5 with max wind of 145 kts (165 mph).  Continue reading →

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