Tropical Storm Lee (2011): Difference between revisions

In late August 2011, much of the western [[Caribbean]] came under the influence of abundant tropical [[moisture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/TWDAT.201108301134.txt|title=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/TWDAT.201108301134.txt|title=Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|date=2011-08-30|accessdate=2011-09-01|first=Mike|last=Formosa}}</ref> Combined with favorable upper [[Deformation (meteorology)#Stretching direction|diffluence]], the moisture allowed for a perpetual area of disturbed weather to form; this in return contributed to the genesis of a weak [[tropical wave]], or an elongated [[Low-pressure area|low-pressure feature]] at the lower levels of the atmosphere.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/TWDAT.201108301751.txt|title=Tropical Weather Discussion|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|date=2011-08-30|accessdate=2011-09-01|first=Corey|last=Walton}}</ref> The wave initiated a more or less westward, then west-northwestward drift across the [[Yucatan Peninsula]] toward the [[Gulf of Mexico]], although it remained largely disorganized while doing so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/gtwo/atl/201108302331/index.php?basin=atl|title=Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook|date=2011-08-31|accessdate=2011-09-02|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|first=Dan|last=Brown}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/gtwo/atl/201108311434/index.php?basin=atl|title=Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook|date=2011-08-31|accessdate=2011-09-02|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|first=Richard|last=Pasch}}</ref> After its arrivalarriving in the gulf on August 31, the system failed to develop much under initially high [[wind shear]] inhibited significant development; however, the [[National Hurricane Center]] (NHC) forecast some potential for tropical cyclogenesis due to improved conditions in a day or two.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/TWDAT.201108311742.txt|title=Tropical Weather Discussion|date=2011-08-31|accessdate=2011-09-02|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|first=Patricia|last=Wallace}}</ref> Strong [[Atmospheric convection|convective activity]] increased mainly to its east over the next day,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/gtwo/atl/201109011155/index.php?basin=atl|titl=Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook|date=2011-09-01|accessdate=2011-09-02|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|first1=Richard|last1=Pasch|first2=John|last2=Cangialosi}}</ref> and by 2300 [[UTC]] data from a [[Hurricane Hunters|reconnaissance aircraft]] confirmed the presence of a closed circulation center. At this point, the system was considered sufficiently organized to be upgraded to a [[Tropical cyclone#Tropical depression|tropical depression]], with its center located 255 mi (360 km) to the southwest of the mouth of the [[Mississippi River]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2011/al13/al132011.discus.001.shtml?|title=Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion Number One|date=2011-09-01|accessdate=2011-09-02|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|first1=Dan|last1=Brown|first2=Lixion|last2=Avila}}</ref>