MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) -- A vigorous low-pressure center in the western Atlantic Ocean is producing gale-force winds, but has a low-end chance to transition into an off-season subtropical system.
The storm system, which gained some additional strength from favorable upper-level cyclonic flow in the southern jet stream flow, has an impressive circular cloud structure observed from satellite imagery. The system is moving to the northeast over the open Atlantic, with Bermuda just a few hundred miles northeast of the storm's center.
Peak winds of around 60 to 65 mph have been reported, extending considerably far from the central circulation of the disturbance.
Overall conditions don't favor development of a subtropical or tropical low in the near-term, but water surface temperatures are still marginally warm in the upper 70s in the west Atlantic. Cold atmospheric conditions in the vicinity of the low should heavily limit its chances to become a true tropical system.
The storm may gain subtropical characteristics (that is, a mix of cold- and warm-air influences in the circulation) within the next five days, according to forecasts from the National Hurricane Center.
Regardless of future changes, the system will remain over the ocean and not pose a direct threat to the U.S. mainland.
Tropical and subtropical systems in January are uncommon in the Atlantic. Only two exist on record, the most recent being a subtropical storm in January 1978.
