Evidence of the Gulf Stream's influence on tropical cyclone intensity

Historical storm data and satellite imagery are analyzed to determine the intensity changes and storm‐related characteristics of 53 coastal and landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) from Florida to North Carolina that passed over the Gulf Stream (GS) during the period 1944–2000. It appears that less intense storms (Category 2 or weaker), as well as those occurring earlier in the Atlantic hurricane season, are more likely to be strengthened by the GS. In addition, 81% of the Category 2 or weaker storms that intensified based on both maximum wind speed (MWS) and minimum central pressure (MCP) had tracks approximately parallel to the GS, while 3 of the 5 major (Category 3–5) hurricanes that intensified based on both MWS and MCP tracked perpendicular to the GS. The presence of an upstream mid‐latitude trough could have contributed to the intensification of the weaker TCs by steering them along the GS.