Thread: Unusual currents and temperature

Normally at this time of year there is a big bulge of warm water moving slowly north between Yucatan and Cuba (Yucatan Straits) and we've got pretty cold water here.

This year there is a big circulating low (altimetry) just above the straits and the currents are taking the water to the right around the low (Low on the Left, like in a hurricane) and we seem to be getting warmer water.

Buoy is 69 degrees this morning.

Should be interesting to watch.

Images from RipCharts (altimetry and currents, date 1/22) and Johns Hopkins (temps, 1/29)

It also looks like the current is short-circuiting a lot of the warm water through the Florida Strait and into the Gulfstream. While we and the west coast of Florida are getting more warm water than usual, if it persists it may have a cooling effect on the whole GoM.