Unprecedented Tropical Storm Tomas Forms off S America

by FishOutofWater

Never in historic records has a tropical storm formed so far south and east in the north Atlantic this late in the season. Never. And Tomas has the potential to become a major hurricane in the Caribbean, possibly threatening Haiti, Jamaica or Cuba next week.

Tropical Storm Tomas forms Friday afternoon north of South America in the tropical Atlantic.

8pm EST Update: Tomas strengthening rapidly

AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE DATA INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS
HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 60 MPH...95 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  SOME
ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS...AND
TOMAS COULD BECOME A HURRICANE BY LATE SATURDAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES...165 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE ESTIMATED BY RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS 999 MB...29.50 INCHES.

continued at Daily Kos....

Arctic Melt Causing Harsher Winters & More Hurricanes

by FishOutofWater

Last winter's harsh snowy winter in eastern North America and western Europe is connected to climate change caused by melting Arctic sea ice, according to polar scientists.

"The exceptional cold and snowy winter of 2009-2010 in Europe, eastern Asia and eastern North America is connected to unique physical processes in the Arctic," said James Overland of the NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in the United States.

"In future, cold and snowy winters will be the rule rather than the exception" in these regions, Overland told IPS.

High pressure in the Arctic and lower than normal pressure across the temperate Atlantic brought cold and snowy weather to the east coast of the U.S. and western Europe.

continued at Daily Kos....