Tropical Cyclone “Bart” forms SE of American Samoa
Tropical Cyclone "Bart" has formed southeast of American Samoa on February 21, 2017, as the 7th named tropical system of the 2016/17 Southern hemisphere tropical cyclone season.
At 15:00 UTC on February 21, the center of Tropical Cyclone "Bart" was located approximately 762 nm WSW of Papeete, Tahiti and has tracked ESE at 40.7 km/h (25.3 mph) over the past six hours.
Bart's maximum sustained winds at 12:00 UTC were reaching 74 km/h (46 mph) with gusts to 92 km/h (57 mph). At the same time, its minimum central pressure was 999 hPa.
Tropical Cyclone "Bart" forecast track by JTWC on February 21, 2017
Tropical Cyclone "Bart" on February 21, 2017. Credit: JTWC/SATOPS
The environmental conditions are forecast to degrade over the next 24 to 36 hours with increasing vertical wind shear, cooler sea surface temperatures and baroclinic interaction, which will lead to extra-tropical transition by 03:00 UTC on February 23.
Tropical Cyclone 7 has formed SE of American Samoa – the 7th named storm of 2016/17 S. Hemisphere season – the fewest on record thru Feb. 21 pic.twitter.com/a2Dl9ojDdO
— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) February 21, 2017
Maximum significant wave height at 12:00 UTC today was 4.2 m (14 feet).
Featured image: Tropical Cyclone "Bart" on February 21, 2017. Credit: JTWC/SATOPS
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