I've been working all day. What the hell is this:

[Subdivisions]

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/nwatl/loop-vis.html

[Subdivisions]

1. And the Water Vapor version:

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/natl/loop-wv.html

That is some massive rotation there. Very impressive!

[Aviation Pro]

3. It's the almost perpetual low pressure center that....

...sits off Newfoundland throughout the year. The only time it presents a problem is when the large, synoptic long waves (also known as Rossby waves) stagnates or retrogrades giving this cyclone an opportunity to become a nor'easter.

[Fridays Child]

7. So that's a nor'easter, huh?

I've heard of those but didn't know they looked like that.

[Aviation Pro]

10. It can become a nor'easter in the winter....

...right now, global circulation keeps it safely tucked away from mainland.

[Yael]

11. Interesting! Thanks for the explanation.

[Subdivisions]

12. Have you seen any descriptions of what it looks like

directly beneath that circulation? What I mean is, is there turbulent weather on the ground like in a hurricane, it just doesn't move?

[Aviation Pro]

13. Oh, yeah, it can be a monster....

...I've seen charts that show a pressure as low as 972 mb. That's about equivalent to a Cat 2. Here's what it looks like when it comes close to the east coast.



And another:



Here's what they can do:

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

16. I'm guessing that was where "The Perfect Storm" came from (n/m)

[nebenaube]

8. I'd say

it's probably why we are almost 25 degrees cooler than it was just two days ago (here in WI).

[Colorado Progressive]

2. Why is it forming so far north? Is that "normal"? nt

[Aviation Pro]

4. See above.....

....

[Colorado Progressive]

6. aaaah. Interesting. Fun to watch! nt

[Fridays Child]

5. Wow! Does that thing have a name yet?

[Aviation Pro]

9. No name, not a tropical cyclone....

...it's also called a mid-latitude cyclone. It has some of the same characteristics of a hurricane, but if you notice there's no eye. Here's the surface analysis chart that shows the cyclone with a wrapped occlusion.

[Fridays Child]

14. I don't really understand that chart but...

...isn't an occlusion when a cold front meets a warm front and pushes it upward? Also, looking at the looping graphic in the OP, it's amazing to see how that system is pulling in the clouds from across so much of the country.

[Aviation Pro]

15. Yep, that's a classic cold occlusion....

...which is what this one is. The cold air from the polar cell is meeting the insanely warm air (and warm sea-surface temperatures). How insane are the water temps? Here:



The temperature off New Foundland is approaching 70 degrees F.