Meteorological Analysis
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Alex had a complex origin. On July 26th, a surface trough began generating
a disorganized area of showers a few hundred miles E of the northwestern
Bahamas. An upper level low moved west of this area, and its diffluence helped
to continue the shower activity. A tropical wave moved into the area of showers
on July 28th and the activity began to increase and organize. A surface low
pressure formed on the 30th, and by the 31st the low had enough organization
to be considered a tropical depression. The depression was 175 nm east of
Jacksonville, Florida. Initially, the depression was meandering as it was trying to
get through a break in the sub-tropical ridge. Environmental conditions weren't
very favorable due to dry air and shear. On August 1st however as the trough
approached, conditions improved and the depression became tropical storm
Alex. The trough induced Alex to begin moving northeast on the 2nd, and
the environment continued to become more favorable. Convection wrapped
around the whole storm and by the 3rd Alex became a hurricane. Alex made
its closest approach to the Carolinas on the 3rd as well, missing land by only
9 nm. Radar indicated that the eye wall scraped land, Cat 1 conditions were
reported. Alex was a 100 mph Cat 2 at closest approach. Alex continued to
accelerate NE and reached major hurricane status on the 5th, at nearly 40N
which is very unusual. Alex's winds hit their maximum of 120 mph that day,
with a pressure of 957 mb. Alex moved north of the Gulf Stream by the 6th
and quickly weakened into a tropical storm. Alex became extra-tropical shortly
afterwards and was absorbed into another low on the 7th.
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Casualty and Damage Overview
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One casualty was attributed to Alex, a person drowned off of North Carolina
due to rip tides generated by Alex. There was extensive wind and surge damage
across the Outer Banks, as the main bands and eye wall raked those areas.
Surprisingly though, total U.S. damage was only $5 million.
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Alex Hurricane Research Division Products
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Imagery
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Tracking Data
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Hurricane Alex
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
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18 GMT 07/31/04 30.3N 78.3W 30 1010 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 08/01/04 31.0N 78.8W 30 1009 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 08/01/04 31.5N 79.0W 30 1009 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 08/01/04 31.6N 79.1W 35 1009 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 08/01/04 31.6N 79.2W 40 1009 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/02/04 31.5N 79.3W 40 1007 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 08/02/04 31.4N 79.4W 45 1005 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 08/02/04 31.3N 79.0W 60 992 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 08/02/04 31.8N 78.7W 60 993 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/03/04 32.4N 78.2W 70 987 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 08/03/04 33.0N 77.4W 80 983 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/03/04 34.2N 76.4W 100 974 Category 2 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/03/04 35.3N 75.2W 100 972 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 08/04/04 36.0N 73.7W 90 974 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/04/04 36.8N 72.1W 90 973 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/04/04 37.3N 70.2W 100 973 Category 2 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/04/04 37.8N 68.3W 110 965 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 08/05/04 38.5N 66.0W 120 957 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/05/04 39.5N 63.1W 120 957 Category 3 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/05/04 40.8N 59.6W 115 962 Category 3 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/05/04 42.7N 55.0W 105 970 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 08/06/04 44.5N 49.3W 85 978 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/06/04 46.1N 44.2W 75 984 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/06/04 47.0N 37.5W 60 987 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 08/06/04 47.4N 32.7W 35 992 Extratropical Storm
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Tracking map courtesy of Plymouth
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Courtesy of NHC
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Selected Satellite Image
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