In a recent Forbe’s article, recent Geography alum (and Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech) Dr. Stephanie Zick helped explain ‘Why have we seen a ‘blob’ east of Hurricane Matthew’s eye and why it should concern us‘.
In the article, she was quoted as saying: “I think there are multiple factors: 1) the stationary band complex, so there would be confluence downshear (east of the TC center), but combined with, 2) a surge in the trade winds and 3) confluence downstream of the South American landmass/terrain.” and “another factor (albeit more speculative) that I think might be enhancing the convection is a working hypothesis that asymmetries can develop during landfall as drier air from over land moves over the moist boundary layer (modifying moist static stability).”
Read the entire article to see more of Dr. Zick’s analysis.