As Ian Becomes Post-Tropical Cyclone Leaving Over 20 Dead in its Wake, a Disturbance Emerges From African Coast With Potential for Development

  • Staff Consortium
  • September 30, 2022
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A new disturbance emerges from the African coast as Hurricane Ian disintegrates. By. NOAA

Hurricane Ian, which struck Florida Wednesday afternoon and left at least 21 dead before moving to South Carolina, has been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone by the National Hurricane Center. However no sooner than Ian's dissipation, a new system has left the African coast and NHC says weather conditions appear conducive for development. 

According to NHC, the tropical wave is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the far eastern tropical Atlantic.

"Environmental conditions  are forecast to be conducive for gradual development of this  system, and a tropical depression could form early next week  as the system moves westward to west-northwestward over the eastern  tropical Atlantic," reads the 2:00 p.m. Friday advisory.

NHC has given the system a 10 percent chance of development through the next 48 hours, and a 60 percent chance of development through the next five days.

Regarding Ian, NHC said at 5:00 p.m. that the center of post-tropical was moving toward the north near 15 mph. Ian is forecast to move farther inland overnight over  eastern South Carolina, move across central North Carolina early  tomorrow and western Virginia by early Sunday.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 70 mph with higher gusts.  These winds are occurring primarily over water.  Ian should continue to weaken overnight and dissipate over western North Carolina or Virginia late tomorrow.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km) from the center.  A WeatherFlow station at Oak Island, North  Carolina recently reported sustained winds of 54 mph  with a gust to 78 mph.

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