Cindy — 2023

A tropical wave that moved off West Africa on 18 June developed into Tropical Depression Four on 22 June 2023 well east of the Caribbean. The system strengthened into Tropical Storm Cindy on 23 June and moved generally west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic. Cindy was short-lived, lasting from 22 June until it dissipated by 26 June, and remained well east of any landmass during its life. Cindy did not make any landfalls. There were no coastal watches or warnings issued, and no land-based or ship reports of tropical-storm-force winds associated with the storm. The storm’s peak intensity occurred on 24 June when Cindy reached maximum sustained winds of 50 kt (about 58 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 1004 mb. That intensity corresponds to a moderate tropical storm (below hurricane strength). Aircraft reconnaissance around 24 June provided flight-level and surface wind measurements that supported the peak estimate. Storm surge was not reported because Cindy stayed over the open Atlantic and did not approach coasts. Rainfall impacts were also not reported for any cities or counties; the only notable in-situ observations were from NOAA buoy 41044, near which Cindy passed on 25 June. That buoy recorded a minimum pressure of 1011 mb and maximum sustained winds of 22 kt (about 25 mph). There were no reported deaths or damage related to Cindy. The storm’s formation location was accurately highlighted in NHC tropical weather outlooks prior to genesis, and NHC’s intensity forecasts for Cindy performed particularly well compared with recent five-year averages.