Five Tropical Systems on Similar Tracks

Abstract

GOES imagery from 7 September 1981 shows five tropical disturbances in various stages of development. While the photo appears to indicate that they may be recurving under the influence of a persistent weakness in the subtropical ridge, analyses show that two were probably deflected northeastward by separate short waves in the upper troposphere. A slight change in amplitude or position of those waves or of the ridge could have resulted in unusually frequent activity on the U.S. Atlantic Coast.