WILMINGTON — Tropical Storm Chris, which has been lingering off the North Carolina coast for several days, has finally begun to move northward, as well as develop the qualities of a hurricane.
According to the National Hurricane Center, “[Tropical Storm] Chris has developed a well-defined eye in both satellite and radar imagery at times, with a diameter that has varied in size from 30 nautical miles to the present 20 nautical miles. The overall convective pattern has also become more symmetrical with well-established outflow present in all quadrants.”
The storm is still expected to be upgraded to hurricane status, which would make it the second hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season.
Despite the appearance of a hurricane, Chris was lacking in one important factor — windspeed.
“Chris certainly has the satellite appearance of being a hurricane. However, the intensity is being maintained at 60 knots for this advisory due to significant cold upwelling that has occurred beneath the cyclone when Chris was moving slowly during the previous 48 hours. The colder waters have likely stabilized the boundary layer, which has inhibited stronger winds aloft from mixing down to the surface,” according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Chris has lingered off the coast of North Carolina for several days, but according to the NHC the storm has begun moving northeast with increasing speed.
“The narrow subtropical ridge to the southeast of the cyclone is getting pushed northward by the remnants of Beryl, which has helped to finally nudge Chris toward the northeast. A further increase in forward speed is expected as a strong deep-layer trough digs southeastward along the U.S. east coast, accelerating the cyclone at forward speeds of 25-30 kt by 48 hours and beyond,” according to the NHC.
Chris is still expected to be labeled a hurricane, but it is not projected to make landfall in the United States.
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