South Atlantic tropical cyclone
South Atlantic tropical cyclones are unusual weather events that occur in the Southern Hemisphere. Strong wind shear, which disrupts the formation of cyclones, as well as a lack of weather disturbances favorable for development in the South Atlantic Ocean, make any strong tropical system extremely rare, and Hurricane Catarina in 2004 is the only recorded South Atlantic hurricane in history. South Atlantic storms have developed year-round, with activity peaking during the months from November through May in this basin. Since 2011, the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center has assigned names to tropical and subtropical systems in the western side of the basin, near the eastern coast of Brazil, when they have sustained wind speeds of at least, the generally accepted minimum sustained wind speed for a disturbance to be designated as a tropical storm in the North Atlantic basin. Below is a list of notable South Atlantic tropical and subtropical cyclones.
Theories concerning infrequency of occurrence
It was initially thought that tropical cyclones did not develop within the South Atlantic. Very strong vertical wind shear in the troposphere is considered a deterrent. The Intertropical Convergence Zone drops one to two degrees south of the equator, not far enough from the equator for the Coriolis force to significantly aid development. Water temperatures in the tropics of the southern Atlantic are cooler than those in the tropical north Atlantic.During April 1991, these assertions were proven false, when the United States' National Hurricane Center reported that a tropical cyclone had developed over the Eastern South Atlantic. In subsequent years, a few systems were suspected to have the characteristics needed to be classified as a tropical cyclone, including in March 1994 and January 2004. During March 2004, an extratropical cyclone formally transitioned into a tropical cyclone and made landfall on Brazil, after becoming a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. While the system was threatening the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, a newspaper used the headline "Furacão Catarina," which was originally presumed to mean "furacão threatening Catarina ". After international presses started monitoring the system, "Hurricane Catarina" has formally been adopted.
At the Sixth WMO International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones in 2006, it was questioned if any subtropical or tropical cyclones had developed within the South Atlantic before Catarina. It was noted that suspect systems had developed in January 1970, March 1994, January 2004, March 2004, May 2004, February 2006, and March 2006. It was also suggested that an effort should be made to locate any possible systems using satellite imagery and synoptic data; however, it was noted that this effort may be hindered by the lack of any geostationary imagery over the basin before 1966. A study was subsequently performed and published during 2012, which concluded that there had been 63 subtropical cyclones in the Southern Atlantic between 1957 and 2007. During January 2009, a subtropical storm developed in the basin, and in March 2010, a tropical storm developed, which was named Anita by the Brazilian public and private weather services. In 2011, the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center started to assign names to tropical and subtropical cyclones that develop within its area of responsibility, to the west of 20°W, when they have sustained wind speeds of at least.
Known storms and impacts
Pre-2004
1991 Angola tropical storm
A low pressure area formed over the Congo Basin on April 9. The next day it moved offshore northern Angola with a curved cloud pattern. It moved westward over an area of warm waters while the circulation became better defined. According to the United States National Hurricane Center, the system was probably either a tropical depression or a tropical storm at its peak intensity. On April 14, the system rapidly dissipated, as it was absorbed into a large squall line. This is the only recorded tropical cyclone in the eastern South Atlantic.2004-2009
Hurricane Catarina
Hurricane Catarina was an extraordinarily rare hurricane-strength tropical cyclone, forming in the southern Atlantic Ocean in March 2004. Just after becoming a hurricane, it hit the southern coast of Brazil in the state of Santa Catarina on the evening of March 28, with winds estimated near, making it a Category 2-equivalent on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The cyclone killed 3 to 10 people and caused millions of dollars in damage in Brazil.At the time, the Brazilians were taken completely by surprise, and were initially skeptical that an actual tropical cyclone could have formed in the South Atlantic. Eventually, however, they were convinced, and adopted the previously unofficial name "Catarina" for the storm, after Santa Catarina state. This event is considered by some meteorologists to be a nearly once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
2010s
Tropical Storm Anita
On March 8, 2010, a previously extratropical cyclone developed tropical characteristics and was classified as a subtropical cyclone off the coast of southern Brazil. The following day, the United States Naval Research Laboratory began monitoring the system as a system of interest under the designation of 90Q. The National Hurricane Center also began monitoring the system as Low SL90. During the afternoon of March 9, the system had attained an intensity of and a barometric pressure of 1000 hPa. It was declared a tropical storm on March 10 and became extratropical late on March 12. Anita's accumulated cyclone energy was estimated at 2.0525 by the Florida State University. There was no damage associated to the storm, except high sea in the coasts of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Post mortem, the cyclone was given the name "Anita" by private and public weather centers in Southern Brazil.Subtropical Storm Arani
Early on March 14, 2011, the Navy Hydrographic Center-Brazilian Navy, in coordination with the National Institute of Meteorology, were monitoring an organizing area of convection near the southeast coast of Brazil. Later that day a low pressure area developed just east of Vitória, Espírito Santo, and by 12:00 UTC, the system organized into a subtropical depression, located about east of Campos dos Goytacazes. Guided by a trough and a weak ridge to its north, the system moved slowly southeastward over an area of warm waters, intensifying into Subtropical Cyclone Arani on March 15, as named by the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center. The storm was classified as subtropical, as the convection was east of the center. On March 16, Arani began experiencing of wind shear because another frontal system bumped it from behind.Before it developed into a subtropical cyclone, Arani produced torrential rains over portions of southeastern Brazil, resulting in flash flooding and landslides. Significant damage was reported in portions of Espírito Santo, though specifics are unknown. Increased swells along the coast prompted ocean travel warnings.
Subtropical Storm Bapo
On February 5, 2015, a subtropical depression developed about to the southeast of São Paulo, Brazil. During the next day, low-level baroclincity decreased around the system, as it moved southeastwards away from the Brazilian coast and intensified further. The system was named Bapo by the Brazilian Navy Hydrography Center during February 6, after it had intensified into a subtropical storm. Over the next couple of days the system continued to move south-eastwards before it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone during February 8.Subtropical Storm Cari
On March 10, 2015, the Hydrographic Center of the Brazilian Navy began issuing warnings on Subtropical Depression 3 during early afternoon, while the Center for Weather Forecast and Climatic Studies already assigned the name Cari for the storm. At 00:00 UTC on March 11, the Hydrographic Center of the Brazilian Navy upgraded Cari to a subtropical storm, also assigning a name to it. On March 12, the Brazilian Hydrographic Center downgraded Cari to a subtropical depression, while the CPTEC stated that the storm had become a "Hybrid cyclone". During early afternoon of March 13, the Brazilian Navy declared that Cari became a remnant low.Cari brought heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides to eastern cities of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul states. Rain totals from were observed associated with the storms and wind topped in Cabo de Santa Marta. A Navy buoy registered a wave off the coast of Santa Catarina.
Subtropical Storm Deni
A subtropical depression formed southwest of Rio de Janeiro on November 15, 2016. It intensified into a subtropical storm and received the name Deni on November 16. Moving south-southeastwards, Deni soon became extratropical shortly before 00:00 UTC on November 17.Subtropical Storm Eçaí
An extratropical cyclone entered the South Atlantic Ocean from Santa Catarina early on December 4, 2016. Later, it intensified quickly and then transitioned into a subtropical storm shortly before 22:00 BRST, with the name Eçaí assigned by the Hydrographic Center of the Brazilian Navy. Eçaí started to decay on December 5, and weakened into a subtropical depression at around 00:00 UTC on December 6.Subtropical Storm Guará
According to the Hydrographic Center of the Brazilian Navy, on December 9, 2017, a subtropical storm formed over the southeastern tip of a South Atlantic Convergence Zone, being located close to the state border between Espírito Santo and Bahia, moving southeastwards away from land. On early December 11, as it moved more southwardly, Guará attained its peak intensity while transitioning to an extratropical cyclone. Shortly thereafter, Guará became fully extratropical, later on the same day.Tropical Storm Iba
A tropical depression formed within a monsoon trough on March 23, 2019, off the coast of Bahia. On the next day, the system intensified into a tropical storm, receiving the name Iba from the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center.Iba was the first tropical storm to develop in the basin since Anita in 2010, as well as the first fully tropical system to be named from the Brazilian naming list.
Subtropical Storm Jaguar
On May 20, 2019, a subtropical depression formed east of Rio de Janeiro. Later that day, the system strengthened into a subtropical storm, receiving the name Jaguar from the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center. However, the system did not intensify any further, as it soon encountered unfavorable conditions, and Jaguar eventually dissipated on May 22.2020s
Subtropical Storm Kurumí
On January 21, 2020, the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center began to monitor an area of persisting thunderstorms near São Paulo for potential subtropical cyclone development. Generally tracking southeastward, the system began to organize within the afternoon hours of January 22 and was designated a subtropical depression in the early hours of January 23. Several hours later, due to a lack of wind shear, the system intensified into a subtropical storm and was given the name Kurumí. After this bout of intensification, Kurumí moved southward and began to succumb to much more unfavorable conditions. It weakened back to a subtropical depression on January 25, while also beginning to merge with a large extratropical low to its south. The last advisory was issued on Kurumí later that same day.The front associated with Kurumí later played a role in the 2020 Brazilian floods and mudslides, dragging behind it heavy rainfall. Over 171.8 mm of rain fell in the Belo Horizonte metro area on January 24, triggering a landslide and killing 3 people and leaving 1 missing.
Other systems
Pre-2004
According to a presentation at the Sixth WMO International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones, satellite imagery from January 1970 showed that a system with an eyewall had developed behind a cold front and that the system needed further analysis to determine if it was tropical or subtropical. On March 27, 1974, a weak area of low pressure that had originated over the Amazon River started to intensify further. Over the next 48 hours the system quickly developed further and was classified as subtropical, as it developed a banding structure and deep convection near its warm core. On March 29, a north-westerly flow encroached on the systems environment, which caused the system to rapidly move towards 40S and the cold waters that were present to the south of 40°S. In March 1994, a system that was thought to be weaker than Catarina was spawned but was located over cool and open waters.2004–2009
During 2004, the large-scale conditions over the South Atlantic were more conducive than usual for subtropical or tropical systems, with 4 systems noted. The first possible tropical cyclone developed within a trough of low pressure, to the southeast of Salvador, Brazil on January 18. The system subsequently displayed a small central dense overcast and was suspected to be at the peak of its development as either a tropical depression or a tropical storm during the next day. The system was subsequently affected by some strong shear, before it moved inland and weakened along the coast of Brazil before it was last noted during January 21. Within Brazil the system caused heavy rain and flooding with a state of emergency declared in Aracaju, after the river overflowed and burst its banks which flooded homes, destroyed crops and caused parts of the highway to collapse. However, it was noted that not all of the heavy rain and impacts were attributable to the system, as a large monsoon low covered much of Brazil at the time. The second system was a possible hybrid cyclone that developed near south-eastern Brazil between March 15–16. Hurricane Catarina was the third system, while the fourth system had a well-defined eye like structure, and formed off the coast of Brazil on March 15, 2004.On February 22, 2006, a baroclinic cyclone intensified quickly and was estimated to have peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of, after radar data showed that the system had developed an eye and banding. However, there were questions about how tropical the system was, as it did not separate from the westerlies or the baroclinic zone it was in. Between March 11–17, 2006, another system with a warm core developed and moved southward along the South Atlantic Zone, before dissipating.
Two subtropical cyclones affected both Uruguay and Rio Grande do Sul state in Brazil between 2009 and 2010. On January 28, 2009, a cold-core mid to upper-level trough in phase with a low-level warm-core low formed a system and moved eastward into the South Atlantic. The storm produced rainfall in 24 hours of or more in some locations of Rocha and southern Rio Grande do Sul. The weather station owned by MetSul Weather Center in Morro Redondo, Southern Brazil, recorded in a 24-hour period. The storm caused fourteen deaths and the evacuation of thousands, with an emergency declared in four cities. It lasted until February 1, when the cyclone became extratropical.
2010–2016
On November 16, 2010, a cold-core mid to upper-level trough in phase with a low-level warm-core low developed a low-pressure system over Brazil, and moved southeastward into the South Atlantic, where it slightly deepened. The system brought locally heavy rains in southern Brazil and northeast of Uruguay that exceeded 200 millimeters within a few hours, in some locations of Southern Rio Grande do Sul, northwest of Pelotas. Damages and flooding were observed in Cerrito, São Lourenço do Sul and Pedro Osório. Bañado de Pajas, departament of Cerro Largo in Uruguay, recorded of rain. The subtropical cyclone then became a weak trough on November 19, according to the CPTEC.Between December 23, 2013 and January 24, 2015, the CPTEC and Navy Hydrography Center monitored four subtropical depressions to the south of Rio de Janeiro. The first one lasted until Christmas Day, 2013. Two subtropical depressions formed in 2014: one in late-February 2014 and the other in late-March 2014. A fourth one formed in late January 2015.
On January 5, 2016, the Hydrographic Center of the Brazilian Navy issued warnings on a subtropical depression that formed east of Vitória, Espírito Santo. On the next day, the system strengthened into a tropical depression and other agencies considered it as an invest, designating it as 90Q; however, on January 7, the tropical depression dissipated.
Storm names
The following names are published by the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center's Marine Meteorological Service and used for tropical and subtropical storms that form in the area west of 20ºW and south of equator in the South Atlantic Ocean. Originally announced in 2011, the list has been extended from ten to fifteen names in 2018. The names are assigned in alphabetical order and used in rotating order without regard to year. The names of significant tropical or subtropical systems will be retired.Kamby was replaced by Kurumí in 2018 without being used.
Climatological statistics
There have been over 80 recorded tropical and subtropical cyclones in the South Atlantic Ocean since 1957. Like most southern hemisphere cyclone seasons, most of the storms have formed between November and May.List of storms, by month
| Month | Number of recorded storms in the South Atlantic Ocean |
| January | 10 |
| February | 6 |
| March | 11 |
| April | 6 |
| May | 9 |
| June | 6 |
| July | 5 |
| August | 5 |
| September | 5 |
| October | 1 |
| November | 9 |
| December | 6 |
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List of storms, by decade
| Decade | Number of recorded storms in the South Atlantic Ocean |
| 1950s | 7 |
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 13 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 9 |
| 2000s | 19 |
| 2010s | 15 |
| 2020s | 1 |
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