"Rafael" Losing Tropical Characteristics... "Paul" Weakens Near Baja Peninsula......
Take note of the ragged cut-off & bad data over the far E. Atlantic. The problem is that the GOES-13 satellite is malfunctioning. Work is ongoing but for the time being the satellite -- GOES-15 -- that usually covers the Western U.S. & parts of the Pacific has been moved east to cover more of the Atlantic Basin. Click here for info. from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Studies (CIMSS) & to view other satellite sectors.
"Rafael" is becoming extratropical as the storm gains latitude, moves over cooler water & undergoes a good deal of southwesterly shear. After a glancing blow for Bermuda, "Rafael" will become a large ocean storm over the North Atlantic.
A large disorganized tropical wave is in the Eastern Atlantic well west of the Cape Verde Islands. The wave is already showing signs of turning north & should stay over the E. Atlantic.
Long range forecast models have been hinting at possible tropical development in or near the Caribbean next week. This is a climatologically favored region late season development, so it's an area to watch.
In the E. Pacific...."Paul" made landfall on the middle western coast of the Baja Peninsula & is rapidly weakening as it starts to shift west/northwest.
