TD 13 resurrected

Well, a few days ago TD 13 dissipated. But it seems now after basking in some more nice warm waters, it’s regenerated enough to become a tropical depression again. Fortunately it’s not forecast to become much more than a tropical storm (in which case it would be called Lee) and looks like it will be staying well out into the Atlantic.

VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW A WELL-DEFINED CYCLONICALLY CURVED CONVECTIVE BAND TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER BUT THE OUTFLOW IS RESTRICTED. IT APPEARS THAT THE DEPRESSION IS VERY NEAR TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH AND IF IT NOT ONE NOW…IT COULD BE ONE LATER TODAY. NO SIGNIFICANT STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED THEREAFTER.

Update:With the 5PM update, the NHC has decided to name TD 13 TS Lee

THERE IS AN UNCERTAINTY IN THE INTENSITY OF THE TROPICAL CYCLONE AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER…THE CLOUD PATTERN HAS BECOME A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED AND THE LOW-LEVEL CENTER IS ESTIMATED TO BE UNDER THE CONVECTION…BUT THE OUTFLOW IS LIMITED. BASED ON 2.5 DVORAK T-NUMBERS FROM TAFB AND SAB RESPECTIVELY AND AMSU ESTIMATES FROM CIMSS/NESDIS…THE INITIAL INTENSITY HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM 30 TO 35 KNOTS. THIS REQUIRES UPGRADING THE TROPICAL DEPRESSION TO TROPICAL STORM LEE…THE 12TH TROPICAL STORM OF THE 2005 SEASON. THE INTENSITY FORECAST CALLS FOR ONLY A SLIGHT STRENGTHENING SINCE THE OCEAN IS RELATIVELY WARM BUT THE UPPER-LEVEL ENVIRONMENT IS NOT VERY FAVORABLE.