Approximately 960 miles southeast from Barbados, the surface of the sea was 820 Fahrenheit. An aerial funnel formed that rose to 38,000 feet.
Masses of vast cumulus clouds swirled and grouped together, and distributed high air currents. Heat and moisture from below gathered into the funnel. The earth’s rotation gave it a twist that generated Tropical Storm Aidan, the first of the Atlantic hurricane season.
A weather satellite took meteorological statistics and transmitted data to the output feed at the Severe Weather Bureau in Miami, Florida.
A tropical storm watch was now in effect.