Wind waves with significant height of more than 6 m were generated by the winds associated to a cyclone off the Brazilian coast in May 2011. The cyclone, which can be classified as subtropical due to its characteristics of hybrid system and the strong contrast between the ocean temperature and air temperature at 500 hPa, had completely abnormal trajectory, moving towards the north/northwest, in a stage of its development. Data from oceanographic buoys, numerical modeling results and satellite images were used to characterize the event. Although this cyclone had not touched the continent and there were no reports of human or material losses, this type of development is similar to Hurricane Catarina, occurred in March 2004, especially its trajectory opposites to the mean atmospheric flow.
extreme waves; subtropical cyclones; Brazilian coast
