Hurricane Irma After Action Report
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Hurricane & Tropical Storm
5.8 HURRICANE & TROPICAL STORM SECTION 5.8 HURRICANE AND TROPICAL STORM 5.8.1 HAZARD DESCRIPTION A tropical cyclone is a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or sub-tropical waters and has a closed low-level circulation. Tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes are all considered tropical cyclones. These storms rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere around the center and are accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds (NOAA, 2013). Almost all tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic basin (which includes the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea) form between June 1 and November 30 (hurricane season). August and September are peak months for hurricane development. The average wind speeds for tropical storms and hurricanes are listed below: . A tropical depression has a maximum sustained wind speeds of 38 miles per hour (mph) or less . A tropical storm has maximum sustained wind speeds of 39 to 73 mph . A hurricane has maximum sustained wind speeds of 74 mph or higher. In the western North Pacific, hurricanes are called typhoons; similar storms in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean are called cyclones. A major hurricane has maximum sustained wind speeds of 111 mph or higher (NOAA, 2013). Over a two-year period, the United States coastline is struck by an average of three hurricanes, one of which is classified as a major hurricane. Hurricanes, tropical storms, and tropical depressions may pose a threat to life and property. These storms bring heavy rain, storm surge and flooding (NOAA, 2013). The cooler waters off the coast of New Jersey can serve to diminish the energy of storms that have traveled up the eastern seaboard. -
Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
FLORIDA HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS 1871-1995: An Historical Survey Fred Doehring, Iver W. Duedall, and John M. Williams '+wcCopy~~ I~BN 0-912747-08-0 Florida SeaGrant College is supported by award of the Office of Sea Grant, NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce,grant number NA 36RG-0070, under provisions of the NationalSea Grant College and Programs Act of 1966. This information is published by the Sea Grant Extension Program which functionsas a coinponentof the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, John T. Woeste, Dean, in conducting Cooperative Extensionwork in Agriculture, Home Economics, and Marine Sciences,State of Florida, U.S. Departmentof Agriculture, U.S. Departmentof Commerce, and Boards of County Commissioners, cooperating.Printed and distributed in furtherance af the Actsof Congressof May 8 andJune 14, 1914.The Florida Sea Grant Collegeis an Equal Opportunity-AffirmativeAction employer authorizedto provide research, educational information and other servicesonly to individuals and institutions that function without regardto race,color, sex, age,handicap or nationalorigin. Coverphoto: Hank Brandli & Rob Downey LOANCOPY ONLY Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms 1871-1995: An Historical survey Fred Doehring, Iver W. Duedall, and John M. Williams Division of Marine and Environmental Systems, Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL 32901 Technical Paper - 71 June 1994 $5.00 Copies may be obtained from: Florida Sea Grant College Program University of Florida Building 803 P.O. Box 110409 Gainesville, FL 32611-0409 904-392-2801 II Our friend andcolleague, Fred Doehringpictured below, died on January 5, 1993, before this manuscript was completed. Until his death, Fred had spent the last 18 months painstakingly researchingdata for this book. -
P1.28 a Digital Archive of Significant Florida Weather Events to Improve the Public’S Response to Future Warnings
P1.28 A Digital Archive of Significant Florida Weather Events to Improve the Public’s Response to Future Warnings Charles H. Paxton1,2, Jennifer M. Collins2, Kortnie J. Pugh1,2,3, and Jennifer L. Colson1 1. National Weather Service, Tampa Bay Florida 2. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 3. National Marine Fisheries Service, St. Petersburg, FL I. Introduction other artifacts. These resources are of immense The past is our guide, our manual, it helps value not only to NOAA but also the American illuminate actions for the future. Through a NOAA people their true owners. Two frail leather-bound Preserve America Initiative grant obtained in U.S. Weather Bureau means books dating back to collaboration between the NWS (Tampa Bay 1890 needed rebinding. The office also has a region) and the University of South Florida (USF) wealth of other record books, older original two students were hired by NMFS Regional office weather maps depicting major events, news to work at the Tampa Bay Area NWS to document articles, and photos of major past events. historic weather events (Fig 1) and preserve weather relics. In an effort to save items of historical content, President Bush through his Preserve America executive order (E.O. 13287) called on NOAA and other federal agencies to inventory, preserve, and showcase federally- managed historic, cultural, or "heritage" resources and foster tourism in partnership with local communities. Fig. 2. Scanned weather photos. Many old weather artifacts from the past have been photographed and existing photographs of past weather events were scanned too (Fig. 2). When in electronic form, the pages of the books make accessible viewing on the Internet. -
2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins Now Is the Time to Get Ready for a Hurricane
SUMMER 2020 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins Now is the time to get ready for a hurricane he 2020 Hurricane Season started June 1. Hurricanes are El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions are expected to either among nature’s most powerful and destructive phenomena. remain neutral or to trend toward La Nina, meaning there will not be an T Early forecasts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric El Nino present to suppress hurricane activity. Also, there are warm- Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is predicting er-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic above-normal activity for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Ocean and Caribbean Sea, coupled with reduced vertical wind NOAA is a division of the National Weather Service. shear, and weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds. Similar con- The outlook predicts a 60 percent chance of an above-nor- ditions have been producing more active seasons since the mal season, a 30 percent chance of a near-normal season and current high-activity era began in 1995. only a 10 percent chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic Hurricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30. however, tropical storms and depressions can also be devastating. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a likely range of 13 The primary hazards from tropical storms, tropical depressions, and to 19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could hurricanes, are storm surge flooding, inland flooding from heavy rains, become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hur- destructive winds, tornadoes, and high surf and rip current. -
New England Hurricanes of Note (PDF)
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY _____________________________ MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY 400 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702-5399 Cristine McCombs Mitt Romney Director Governor Tel: 508-820-2000 Fax: 508-820-2030 Website: www.mass.gov/mema Kerry Healey Lieutenant Governor Robert C. Haas Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Peter Judge June 1, 2006 (508) 820-2002 NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES OF NOTE FRAMINGHAM, MA – Although the approaching Hurricane Season in New England is defined as June 1st through November 30th, the vast majority of the 40 tropical systems that have impacted our region over the past century have struck during the months of August and September. Because Massachusetts is such a relatively small state, it is important to realize that these are not just ‘coastal events’, but, in fact, everyone in the Commonwealth can be severely impacted by a major storm. “New England is in the unenviable position of receiving all three types of Hurricane Threats,” states Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Cristine McCombs. “Depending upon the storm’s track and landfall location, we can experience coastal inundation from storm surge, widespread inland river flooding, and widespread wind damage.” To best prepare ourselves for the future, it is important to revisit the past, and examine a dozen of the most notable New England Hurricanes and their catastrophic impact upon our region. The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 August 25, 1635 This was the first historical record of an intense hurricane striking New England. The highest winds have been estimated at Category 3 or greater, with winds of 115-plus mph. -
Landslides Triggered by Hurricane Hugo in Eastern Puerto Rico, September 1989
Caribbean Journal of Science, Vol. 28, No. 3-4, 113.125, 1992 Copyright 1992 College of Arts and Science University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Landslides Triggered by Hurricane Hugo in Eastern Puerto Rico, September 1989 M ATTHEW C. LARSEN AND A NGEL J. TORRES S ANCHEZ U.S. Geological Survey, P.O. Box 364424, San ]uan, Puerto Rico, 00936-4424 ABSTRACT . – On the morning of September 18, 1989, a category-four hurricane struck eastern Puerto Rico with a sustained wind speed in excess of 46 m/sec. The 24-h rainfall accumulation from the hurricane ranged from 100 to 339 mm. Average rainfall intensities ranging from 34 to 39 mm/h were calculated for 4 and 6 h periods, respectively, at a rain gage equipped with satellite telemetry, and at an observer station. The hurricane rainfall triggered more than 400 landslides in the steeply sloping, highly dissected mountains of eastern Puerto Rico. Of these landslides, 285 were mapped from aerial photography which covered 6474 ha. Many of the mapped landslides were on northeast- and northwest-facing slopes at the eastern terminus of the mountains, nearest the hurricane path. The surface area of individual landslides ranged from 18 m2 to 4500 m2, with a median size of 148 m2. The 285 landslides disturbed 0.11% of the land surface in the area covered by aerial photographs. An approximate denudation rate of 164 mm/1000 yr was calculated from the volume of material eroded by landsliding and the 10-yr rainfall recurrence interval. RESUMEN. — En la manana del 18 de septiembre de 1989, un huracan de categoria cuatro paso por el sector este de Puerto Rico con vientos sostenidos de mas de 46 metros por segundo. -
Hydrology of Tropical Storms Irene and Lee
Hydrology of Tropical Storms Irene and Lee Britt E. Westergard, Senior Service Hydrologist National Weather Service, Albany, NY with Joseph Villani, Hugh Johnson, Vasil Koleci, Kevin Lipton, George Maglaras, Kimberly McMahon, Timothy Scrom, and Thomas Wasula Photo by Tim Scrom of NWS Lake near Hensonville, Greene County NYSFOLA Meeting May 4, 2012 National Weather Service • High Impact Weather • Warning the U.S. Public • Decision Support Services • Economic Preservation “To provide weather, water, and climate forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy.” National Weather Service • 122 Forecast Offices • 13 River Forecast Centers • 9 National Centers, including: • Storm Prediction Center • National Hurricane Center • Hydrometeorological Prediction Center • Climate Prediction Center Local NWS Office • Open 24 x 7 x 365 • Approx. 23 on staff • Meteorologists • Hydrologist • IT/Electronics • Administration Hydrology Topics Tropical Storm Irene Remnants of T.S. Lee • Antecedent conditions • Antecedent conditions • Forecasts / Outlook • Rainfall • Storm Track • Flood magnitude • Rainfall • Operational challenges • Flood magnitude • Storm surge on Hudson • Operational challenges Irene: Antecedent Conditions http://hydrology.princeton.edu/~luo/research/FORECAST/current.php http://www.erh.noaa.gov/mmefs/ Irene: MMEFS Outlook http://www.erh.noaa.gov/mmefs/ Irene: MMEFS Outlook Irene: Forecast Rainfall Aug 27-29, 2011 (HPC) Forecast maximum 9.29 – Actual maximum just over 18 inches! Irene: Hydrologic Forecasts • Flood watch issued at 4:47 am Friday Aug. 26th WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ARE LIKELY. LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE CATSKILLS...BERKSHIRES...LITCHFIELD HILLS AND GREEN MOUNTAINS COULD REACH 10 INCHES. IF THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN OCCURS MANY MAIN STEM RIVERS WOULD FLOOD. -
Review July - December, 2017 (Special Irma Issue)
Rookery Bay Review July - December, 2017 (special Irma issue) Inside... • Director’s Message • Hurricane Irma impacts • Team OCEAN wins award • SURVIVORS’ new digs • Volunteer Superstar • Welcome, Anne! • Plover Discovery The official newsletter for Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve year in review 2017 issue 2.indd 1 2/27/2018 11:30:40 AM Director’s Message Dear Friends of the Reserve, As a native Floridian, I am always keenly aware of hurricane season. This past summer was already shaping up to be a particularly busy season when Irma formed. For two weeks, long- range models insisted on a major hurricane landfall somewhere in South Florida. Even on the morning of Sept. 10, 57 years to the day that Hurricane Donna made landfall in Collier County, no one knew where Irma was going or how strong she would be. She made her first Florida landfall that day on Cudjoe Key at 9:10 a.m. as a Category 4 storm, and again at 3:30 p.m. as a Cat 3 storm with 115 mph winds just 10 miles south of the Rookery Bay Research Reserve headquarters. Thankfully, Hurricane Irma lacked the 10- to 15-foot storm surge that was expected: Only 4 to 6 feet of surge hit the reserve. Our neighbors to the south in Chokoloskee and Everglades City, however, saw much more of a devastating effect. In consultation with research staff, we made a gamble earlier that week and left our data sondes in place to record the water quality conditions as Irma came and went. We made this decision because there are very few opportunities in science to gather real-time information about a major change event. -
Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms, 1871-1993: an Historical Survey, the Only Books Or Reports Exclu- Sively on Florida Hurricanes Were R.W
3. 2b -.I 3 Contents List of Tables, Figures, and Plates, ix Foreword, xi Preface, xiii Chapter 1. Introduction, 1 Chapter 2. Historical Discussion of Florida Hurricanes, 5 1871-1900, 6 1901-1930, 9 1931-1960, 16 1961-1990, 24 Chapter 3. Four Years and Billions of Dollars Later, 36 1991, 36 1992, 37 1993, 42 1994, 43 Chapter 4. Allison to Roxanne, 47 1995, 47 Chapter 5. Hurricane Season of 1996, 54 Appendix 1. Hurricane Preparedness, 56 Appendix 2. Glossary, 61 References, 63 Tables and Figures, 67 Plates, 129 Index of Named Hurricanes, 143 Subject Index, 144 About the Authors, 147 Tables, Figures, and Plates Tables, 67 1. Saffir/Simpson Scale, 67 2. Hurricane Classification Prior to 1972, 68 3. Number of Hurricanes, Tropical Storms, and Combined Total Storms by 10-Year Increments, 69 4. Florida Hurricanes, 1871-1996, 70 Figures, 84 l A-I. Great Miami Hurricane 2A-B. Great Lake Okeechobee Hurricane 3A-C.Great Labor Day Hurricane 4A-C. Hurricane Donna 5. Hurricane Cleo 6A-B. Hurricane Betsy 7A-C. Hurricane David 8. Hurricane Elena 9A-C. Hurricane Juan IOA-B. Hurricane Kate 1 l A-J. Hurricane Andrew 12A-C. Hurricane Albert0 13. Hurricane Beryl 14A-D. Hurricane Gordon 15A-C. Hurricane Allison 16A-F. Hurricane Erin 17A-B. Hurricane Jerry 18A-G. Hurricane Opal I9A. 1995 Hurricane Season 19B. Five 1995 Storms 20. Hurricane Josephine , Plates, X29 1. 1871-1880 2. 1881-1890 Foreword 3. 1891-1900 4. 1901-1910 5. 1911-1920 6. 1921-1930 7. 1931-1940 These days, nothing can escape the watchful, high-tech eyes of the National 8. -
Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
FLORIDA HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS 1871-1995: An Historical Survey Fred Doehring, Iver W. Duedall, and John M. Williams '+wcCopy~~ I~BN 0-912747-08-0 Florida SeaGrant College is supported by award of the Office of Sea Grant, NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce,grant number NA 36RG-0070, under provisions of the NationalSea Grant College and Programs Act of 1966. This information is published by the Sea Grant Extension Program which functionsas a coinponentof the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, John T. Woeste, Dean, in conducting Cooperative Extensionwork in Agriculture, Home Economics, and Marine Sciences,State of Florida, U.S. Departmentof Agriculture, U.S. Departmentof Commerce, and Boards of County Commissioners, cooperating.Printed and distributed in furtherance af the Actsof Congressof May 8 andJune 14, 1914.The Florida Sea Grant Collegeis an Equal Opportunity-AffirmativeAction employer authorizedto provide research, educational information and other servicesonly to individuals and institutions that function without regardto race,color, sex, age,handicap or nationalorigin. Coverphoto: Hank Brandli & Rob Downey LOANCOPY ONLY Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms 1871-1995: An Historical survey Fred Doehring, Iver W. Duedall, and John M. Williams Division of Marine and Environmental Systems, Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL 32901 Technical Paper - 71 June 1994 $5.00 Copies may be obtained from: Florida Sea Grant College Program University of Florida Building 803 P.O. Box 110409 Gainesville, FL 32611-0409 904-392-2801 II Our friend andcolleague, Fred Doehringpictured below, died on January 5, 1993, before this manuscript was completed. Until his death, Fred had spent the last 18 months painstakingly researchingdata for this book. -
Storm Summary for Superstorm Sandy Preliminary Estimates Suggest Sandy Was the Secondcostliest Atlantic Hurric
Storm Summary for Superstorm Sandy Preliminary estimates suggest Sandy was the secondcostliest Atlantic hurricane on record (behind Hurricane Katrina). More than 120 people perished from the effects of Sandy, approximately 24 in the Mount Holly County Warning Area (CWA) alone. Dollar estimates of damage to homes and infrastructure range into the billions of dollars in New Jersey, with over nine million dollars of damage reported in Delaware. Hurricane Sandy was the eighteenth named storm of the 2012 Hurricane Season, and the tenth hurricane. A surface high pressure blocking pattern over northern New England coupled with a strong midlevel trough moving east from the Midwest were the two primary features which established Sandy's eventual landfall trajectory into southern New Jersey on the evening of October 29th. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) classified Tropical Depression 18 as a tropical storm on Monday October 22nd at 11 am EDT when it was located in the Caribbean Sea (Fig 1). After slow movement for several days, a northward motion began which increased as Sandy reached category one hurricane strength at 11 am on October 24th. Figure 1: Track of Sandy source: Weather Underground A landfall occurred in Jamaica at 3:20 pm that afternoon. Sandy then strengthened overnight to category two strength at 110 mph before making another landfall in Cuba (Fig 1). Sandy continued a northward movement through the Bahamas before making a northwest then west turns due to the blocking pattern and approaching trough, with some weakening followed by fluctuations in strength. Landfall occurred Monday evening just south of Atlantic City at 8 pm (fig 1). -
VA Hurricane History
THE HURRICANE HISTORY OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA Continuous weather records for the Hampton Roads Area of Virginia began on January 1, 1871 when the National Weather Service was established in downtown Norfolk. The recorded history of significant tropical storms that affected the area goes back much further. Prior to 1871, very early storms have been located in ship logs, newspaper accounts, history books, and countless other writings. The residents of coastal Virginia during Colonial times were very much aware of the weather. They were a people that lived near the water and largely derived their livelihood from the sea. To them, a tropical storm was indeed a noteworthy event. The excellent records left by some of Virginia’s early settlers and from official records of the National Weather Service are summarized below. Learning from the past will help us prepare for the future. SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES 1635 August 24 First historical reference to a major hurricane that could have affected the VA coast. 1667 September 6 It appears likely this hurricane caused the widening of the Lynnhaven River. The Bay rose 12 feet above normal and many people had to flee. 1693 October 29 From the Royal Society of London, There happened a most violent storm in VA which stopped the course of ancient channels and made some where there never were any. 1749 October 19 Tremendous hurricane. A sand spit of 800 acres was washed up and with the help of a hurricane in 1806 it became Willoughby Spit. The Bay rose 15 feet above normal. Historical records list the following tropical storms as causing significant damage in Virginia: September 1761; October 1761; September 1769; September 1775; October 1783; September 1785; July 1788.