Preliminary Report
Tropical Storm Lorenzo
27 - 31 October 2001

2001 PRELIMINARY REPORTS

Tropical Storm Allison (TS)
Tropical Storm Barry (TS)
Tropical Storm Chantal (TS)
Tropical Storm Dean (TS)
Hurricane Erin (3)
Hurricane Felix (3)
Hurricane Gabrielle (1)
Hurricane Humberto (2)
Hurricane Iris (4)
Tropical Storm Jerry (TS)
Hurricane Karen (1)
Tropical Storm Lorenzo (TS)
Hurricane Michelle (4)
Hurricane Noel (1)
Hurricane Olga (1)

Lorenzo was a short-lived tropical storm with winds to 40 mph over the central north Atlantic Ocean.

 

a. Synoptic History

Lorenzo originated from a tropical upper tropospheric trough that had persisted over the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. On 26 October, a low-level circulation developed beneath this trough. On the next day, organized convection was sufficient to identify the system as a tropical depression, centered about 750 nautical miles south-southwest of the westernmost Azores. The "best track"of the tropical cyclone begins at 1200 UTC on the 27th.

The depression moved westward, steered by a deep-layer ridge located to its north. It gradually turned northward on the 30th, as a strong trough in the westerlies and frontal zone approached from the west. The low-level center was mostly exposed to the west of the convection until this turn when some deep convection flared up near the center. The depression is estimated to have strengthened to Tropical Storm Lorenzo early on the 30th. Lorenzo merged with the approaching frontal zone on the 31st, while located about 600 nautical miles west of the westernmost Azores.

b. Meteorological Statistics

The ship 3ESP7 reported winds from 43 to 49 mph on the 28th and 29th, as it moved near the depression. However, this ship is estimated to have a positive wind speed bias of 26 mph, based on a comparison with other ship reports by the Marine Prediction Center.

c. Casualty and Damage Statistics

No deaths or damages are attributed to Lorenzo.