[John H K]

This formed from a cut-off low and therefore didn't need the ITCZ.

It's hard getting decent model maps of the area so I'm not certain why there's no shear.

A person on a number of weather BBSes has theorized that it's similar to the "unnamed hurricane" that formed in the center of the "Perfect Storm" in 1991 as the Perfect Storm weakened....a larger area of low pressure is providing a "shear shield" around the storm.

[Wthrman13]

Hey John,

Yeah, that is something isn't it! I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw a satellite image of it. I guess it was bound to happen one of these days though.

Hope things are going well for you!