Marine Weather Review

TROPICAL REVIEW September 2001 - December 2001

Dr Jack Beven National Hurricane Center

Daniel Brown Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch

Introduction that the storm might be acquiring ships were reporting 30 kt or less tropical characteristics The This indicated the storm had The Tropical Prediction Center/ Tellus began its encounter with developed a strong inner core National Hurricane Center (TPC/ the storm at 0000 UTC 5 characteristic of a tropical NHC) became much busier as November (Table 1) as it traveled cyclone, even though its activity in the Atlantic significantly westward into the now northward- appearance on satellite images increased A total of 20 tropical moving circulation The key was less than classically tropical storms and hurricanes occurred in observations were at 1200 UTC The 1400 UTC observation of 65 the Atlantic and eastern Pacific and 1400 UTC Figure 1 shows an kt indicated that the system was during the summary period image of the soon-to-be Noel at at hurricane strength Subsequent Several non-tropical events 1145 UTC with the 1200 UTC Tellus observations helped also affected the TPC high seas ship observations plotted on it determine the size of the wind forecast areas Note that while Tellus was field on the southwest side of the reporting 60 kt and 992 0 hPa storm from near the center, other nearby The Tale of the Tellus Table 1 Observations from the Tellus during its encounter with , 5-6 November Most hurricane seasons bring many encounters between ships and tropical cyclones, and examples of how ship observations aid the TPC in analysis and forecasting One of the best such examples from the 2001 season was that of the Tellus (WRYG) and the storm that became Hurricane Noel

A non-tropical low formed in the eastern Atlantic late on 1 November near 32°N 40°W This system strengthened into a storm center the next day as it drifted northwestward began to increase near the center on 3 and 4 November, which suggested

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Based on the observations from different than indicated in forecast eastern North Pacific basin the Tellus and satellite or analysis products produced ten tropical cyclones, microwave data indicating the including one tropical depression, system was warm-core, the TPC/ The 2002 Hurricane Season four tropical storms and five NHC wrote the first advisory on hurricanes, with Hurricane Juliette Hurricane Noel at 1500 UTC 5 The 2002 hurricane season begins reaching Category 4 status on the November (Figure 2) After this in the eastern Pacific on 15 May Saffir-Simpson scale time, Noel continued northward and in the Atlantic on 1 June Both and weakened to a tropical storm seasons run through 30 1 Atlantic later that day It became November The names for this extratropical about 285 nmi season’s storms are listed in the : Erin formed southeast of Cape Race, table below from a on 1 on 6 November September and quickly became a and was soon absorbed into Significant Weather of the tropical storm about 660 miles another extratropical low Period west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands (Fig 2) It moved The TPC normally requests in its A Tropical Cyclones: Twelve west-northwestward over the next Forecast/Advisories that all ships tropical cyclones occurred in the few days, with maximum with 300 nmi of a Atlantic basin during the summary sustained winds reaching 50 kt on send three-hourly observations period, making this one of the 3 September After that, westerly Increased observations (three- most active September-December wind shear caused the cyclone to hourly and hourly) are also useful periods ever These included one weaken to an area of disturbed when a tropical cyclone is first tropical depression, two tropical weather about 400 miles east of forming regardless of whether it storms, and nine hurricanes Four the northern Leeward islands on 5 forms from a non-tropical low or a of the hurricanes reached September The shear then tropical disturbance, or when the Category 3 or higher on the Saffir- decreased and a new center observed weather is significantly Simpson Hurricane Scale The formed the next day about 475 miles north-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands The reborn Erin moved north- northwestward and strengthened into a tropical storm on 7 September and to a hurricane on 8 September It passed about 90 nmi east of on the 9 September just before maximum winds peaked at 105 kt (Fig 3) After a slow recurvature from 11 to 13 September, Erin accelerated northeastward and passed near Cape Race on the 14 September at just below hurricane strength It became extratropical shortly thereafter

Several ships encountered Erin, with the most notable observation

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Figure 1 GOES-8 infrared image of hurricane Noel at 1145 UTC 5 November 2001 with 1200 UTC ship observations overlaid on the imagery coming from the Semyonovosk There are no reports of damages tracked steadily west- (UCTR) which reported 48kt or casualties northwestward and became winds at 1500 UTC 14 Tropical Storm Felix on 11 September Also noteworthy was : A tropical September During the next two data from the Sealand Pride wave developed into a tropical days Felix turned northwestward (WDA367) which intermittently depression on 7 September and then northward, becoming a reported tropical storm winds southwest of the Cape Verde hurricane late on 12 September from 1200 UTC on 12 September Islands (Fig 2) Late on 8 Maximum winds reached 100 kt to 0000 UTC on the 14 September, the westward-moving as Felix curved northeastward late September Other significant ship depression encountered strong on 13 September Slow weakening observations in Erin are included shear and weakened to a tropical occurred thereafter Felix turned in Table 2 wave As the wave continued eastward on 15 September and westward, the shear relaxed continued this motion until it Erin brought strong winds and enough to allow a new center to weakened back to a tropical storm heavy rains to portions of form early on 10 September about on 17 September, at which time it southeastern Newfoundland, with 1000 miles east of the Lesser stalled about 350 miles southwest Cape Race reporting 46-kt Antilles This made the system the of the Azores Increasing shear sustained winds and gusts to 58 kt season’s fourth topical cyclone to and cooler waters caused Felix to at 0200 UTC 15 September dissipate in the deep tropics and weaken to a depression early on Bermuda reported a gust to 36 kt then regenerate The depression 18 September and to dissipate Spring/Summer 2002 3 Marine Weather Review

Figure 2 - Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes of 2001

later that day about 400 miles southwest of the Azores Table 2 - Selected ship and buoy observations of 34 kt or greater Only a few ships encountered winds for Hurricane Erin, 1-15 September, 2001 Felix The LTC Calvin P# Titus (KAKG) reported 35 kt winds at 1800 UTC on 16 September, while the Nariva (C6PW2) reported 34 kt winds at 1200 UTC on 17 September There were no reports of damages or casualties

Hurricane Gabrielle: Gabrielle formed over the southeastern Gulf of on 11 September from a non-tropical low (Fig 2) It looped slowly for two days before moving northeastward on 13 4 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

some ships it affected are given in Table 3 The most significant observations were from the KRPDD (name unknown) which reported 58-kt winds at 0000 and 1800 UTC 16 September Additionally, a buoy off the southwest Florida coast reported 44-kt sustained winds with a gust to 85 kt at 1210 UTC on 14 September At the shore, the Coastal Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) station at St Augustine, Florida reported 51-kt sustained winds with gusts to 65 kt, while a marine laboratory at New Pass, Florida also reported 51-kt sustained winds Figure 3 - Close-up of image of Hurricane Erin with winds peaked at 105 kt Image is MODIS data acquired by direct broadcast from the NASA Gabrielle is blamed for one death Terra spacecraft at the Space Science and Engineering Center, and $230 million in damage in the University of Wisonsin-Madison United States

September as it became a tropical storm Gabrielle moved inland Table 3 Selected ship and buoy observations of 34 kt or greater winds for near Venice, Florida on 14 Hurricane Gabrielle, 11-19 September, 2001 September as a tropical storm with 60-kt tropical storm winds After meandering across the Florida Peninsula, the storm moved northeastward into the Atlantic near Cape Canaveral on 15 September Gabrielle continued northeastward and became a hurricane with 70-kt winds on 17 September while located about 250 miles north of Bermuda It weakened to a tropical storm on 18 September and became extratropical the next day about 330 miles south of Cape Race

Even while it was a hurricane, Gabrielle had a large wind field similar to that of an extratropical low Selected observations from

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Tropical Depression Nine: A tropical wave moving through the Caribbean spawned a tropical depression about 50 nmi north- northwest of San Andres Island on 19 September (Fig 4) The system moved west- northwestward and made near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua early on 20 September It dissipated over land later that day, and there were no reports of damages or casualties

Hurricane Humberto: Humberto had an unusual origin in that it formed from a trough extending southwestward from Gabrielle The cyclone developed on 21 September about 490 miles south Figure 4 - Best track of Tropical Depression Nine, 19 - 20 September of Bermuda (Fig 2) It moved 2001 northwestward and strengthened into a tropical storm on 22 and 23 September On 23 September Ships generally avoided Humberto that day, before rapidly Humberto gradually turned The Sealand Expedition intensifying while crossing the northward and became a (WPGJ) and the Onejskyi western Caribbean Maximum hurricane, passing about 140 miles (UCTI) reported 37-kt winds at winds reached 125 kt just before west of Bermuda Winds reached 1800 UTC 23 September and 1200 landfall near Monkey River Town 85 kt early on 24 September, UTC 27 September, respectively in southern on the evening followed by some weakening Bermuda reported a gust to 37 kt of 8 October Iris weakened while Humberto turned There were no reports of damages rapidly after landfall and dissipated northeastward The cyclone or casualties over eastern Mexico on 9 unexpectedly re-intensified on 26 October September, and maximum winds : Iris developed reached 90 kt while Humberto from a tropical wave near the Although Iris was a Category 4 was centered about 200 miles on 4 October hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson south-southeast of Sable Island, (Fig 2) Moving west- scale at landfall, the core was The hurricane turned northwestward into the Caribbean very small with hurricane force eastward and weakened to a Sea, it became a tropical storm on winds extending no more than 25 tropical storm on 27 September 6 October Iris turned westward nmi from the center Tropical- Humberto became extratropical and reached hurricane status on 7 storm force winds generally later that day, and the remnant October just south of the extended no more than 100 nmi circulation was eventually Barahona Peninsula of the from the center No ships reported absorbed by a larger low over the The tropical storm winds from Iris far north passed near the However, a marine tragedy southern coast of later occurred at landfall when the M/V

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Wave Dancer capsized in harbor Tropical Storm Karen early on 13 gusts to 85 kt These winds near Big Creek, Belize with the October and progressing to caused tree and power line loss of 20 lives hurricane status later that day damage, leaving more than 23,000 Karen moved generally people without power and causing Iris caused severe damage from northward for the next 2 days, the Norwegian Majesty to break winds and an 8- to 15-ft storm with maximum winds reaching 70 anchor at the height of the within a 60 nmi wide area of kt early on 14 October It made Cape George, Nova Scotia southern Belize Including those on landfall in western Nova Scotia reported 41-kt sustained winds the Wave Dancer, Iris was on 15 October as a 40-kt tropical with a gust to 56 kt when Karen responsible for 31 deaths, and storm and became extratropical made landfall damage in Belize was estimated at while moving toward western $66 million Newfoundland, where it merged Tropical Storm Lorenzo: with a large mid-latitude low Lorenzo formed from a non- Tropical Storm Jerry: Jerry pressure system tropical low in the eastern developed from a tropical wave on Atlantic that developed on 26 6 October about 540 nmi east- The Nordic Empress (ELJV7) October The low became a southeast of (Fig 2) was anchored at Bermuda while tropical depression on 27 October Moving west-northwestward, it the subtropical storm passed and about 850 miles southwest of the reached tropical storm strength reported 79-kt sustained winds Azores and moved slowly later that day Jerry moved with a gust to 103 kt at the westward (Fig 2) Late on 29 through the Windward Islands at anemometer height of 153 ft The October it reached minimal its maximum intensity of 45-kt ship also reported a 991 0 mb tropical storm strength about 1250 winds on 7 and 8 October The pressure Other ship observations miles west-southwest of the system then became disorganized for are included Azores Lorenzo turned to the in the eastern Caribbean Sea and in Table 4 northwest and then to the north on dissipated late on 8 October 30 October with little change in Official land observations on strength Accelerating rapidly to There are no ship reports of Bermuda included 58-kt sustained the north-northeast early on 31 tropical-storm-force winds from winds with gusts to 78 kt There October, Lorenzo lost tropical Jerry The town of Caravelle on were unofficial reports of characteristics ahead of an Martinique reported 39 kt sustained winds near 65 kt with approaching cold front about 700 sustained winds with gusts to 50 kt on 8 October There were no reports of damages or casualties Table 4 - Selected ship observations of 34 kt or greater winds associated with Hurricane Karen, 12-15 October 2001Best track of Tropical Hurricane Karen: A frontal Depression Nine, 19 - 20 September 2001 system stalled about 200 nmi southeast of Bermuda on 10 October A low formed on the front early on 11 October, and the low became a strong subtropical storm as it tracked northwestward just southwest of Bermuda early the next day (Fig 2) The storm turned northward later that day The cyclone then became better organized, transforming into

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miles west of the Azores There from the Scan Partner (call sign reportedly innudated the entire were no reliable reports of unknown) and the ELWU7 (name island Nassau, Bahamas reported tropical-storm-force winds from unknown) The Scan Partner a peak gust of 89 kt Winds of 35 Lorenzo, and there were no passed near the center of Michelle to 45 kt occurred over portions of reports of damages or casualties at 0730 UTC 2 November and south Florida In addition to the reported 34-47 kt winds and a main storm surge, above normal : This classic 988 0 mb pressure The ELWU7 tides and battering waves late-season hurricane started as a reported 60-kt winds and a 995 0 occurred in portions of , the broad low associated with a mb pressure at 1200 UTC on 5 Bahamas, the , tropical wave in the southwestern November Other significant ship and south Florida Seventeen Caribbean Sea on 27 October It and buoy observations are deaths are associated with the developed into a tropical included in Table 5 hurricane, including 6 in depression on 29 October along , 5 in Cuba, 4 in the east coast of Nicaragua (Fig Michelle was the strongest Nicaragua, and 2 in Jamaica 2) The depression then moved hurricane to hit Cuba since 1952 Widespread severe damage inland and meandered over and left a trail of damage and occurred across western and northeastern Nicaragua for two death from to the central Cuba, with additional days Late on 31 October it moved Bahamas Cayo Largo, Cuba damage over portions of Central into the northwestern Caribbean reported 108-kt sustained winds America, the Cayman Islands, Sea and became Tropical Storm with gusts to 115 kt, along with a Jamaica, and the Bahamas Michelle The cyclone moved 9- to 10-ft storm surge that slowly north-northwestward for the next two days as it strengthened into a hurricane The hurricane turned slowly northward on 3 November (Fig 5), with an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft measuring a central pressure of 933 hPa Michelle turned northeastward on 4 November as maximum winds reached 120 kt Later that day it hit western Cuba as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale A weakening Michelle continued northeastward through the Bahamas on 5 November and became extratropical over the southwestern Atlantic on 6 November The system was absorbed by a cold front late that day

Several ships encountered the Figure 5 - GOES-8 visible image of Hurricane Michelle at 1245 large circulation of Michelle The UTC 3 November Image courtesy of the Naval Research most significant observations were Laboratory, Monterey, CA

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Table 5 - Selected ship and buoy observations of 34 kt or greater winds Olga’s extratropical origin resulted for Hurricane Michelle, 29 October - 5 November, 2001 in a large wind field which affected many ships Selected observations are given in Table 7 The most significant reports were from the sailing yacht Manana Tres (call sign unknown), which indicated the system had formed a strong inner core, and from the Liberty Sun (WCOB), which passed near the center just before Olga became a hurricane

The only known damage from Olga was to the Manana Tres, which reported “lots of damage ” Swells generated by Olga affected portions of the U S east coast, the Bahamas, and the northeastern Caribbean islands then moved southwestward, Hurricane Noel: The story of weakening to a tropical storm on Noel is found above A few ships 29 November and a depression on 2 Eastern Pacific besides the Tellus encountered 30 November Olga turned the storm, and their reports are northwestward late on 1 Hurricane Gil and Tropical included in Table 6 There were December It then turned north- Storm Henriette: These two no reports of damages or northwestward and regained storms developed almost casualties from Noel tropical storm strength on 2 simultaneously and eventually November The cyclone turned interacted with each other Gil Hurricane Olga: Olga originated eastward on 3 November and formed from an area of disturbed from yet another non-tropical low again weakened to a depression weather associated with the over the central Atlantic The low the next day It dissipated later southern portion of the tropical formed on 22 November, and by that day about 600 nmi east of wave which spawned Dean in the 24 November it had sufficiently Nassau Atlantic The disturbance moved organized convection to be westward across Central America classified a subtropical storm about 780 nmi east-southeast of Bermuda (Fig 2) The storm Table 6 - Selected ship or buoy reports with winds of at least 34 kt for moved northwestward to Hurricane Noel, 4-6 November 2001 westward for a day or so as it acquired full tropical characteristics It became a hurricane about 435 nmi east of Bermuda on 26 November Olga made two loops from 26 to 28 November, during which time maximum winds reached 80 kt It

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to the east and southeast of the Table 7 - Selected ship reports with winds of at least 34 kt for Hurricane cyclones The ship Pacific Olga, 24 November - 4 December, 2001 Highway reported 40 kt winds and 22 ft seas at 0000 UTC 7 September in this flow while about 205 nmi southeast of the center of Gil

Tropical Storm Ivo: Ivo first formed about 100 nmi south- southwest of Acapulco on 10 September (Fig 6) It moved slowly west-northwestward through its lifetime with its circulation hugging the coast The cyclone became a tropical storm on 11 Septemberand reached a peak intensity of 45 kt on 12 September It then weakened to a depression on 14 September and dissipated the next day about 300 nmi west of Baja

The ship ZDEB2 (name unknown) reported 37 kt winds at 0600 UTC 12 September, which was the basis for on 24 August, but it did not moved faster and passed to the upgrading Ivo to a tropical storm become a tropical depression until north of Gil The two cyclones Although tropical-storm force 4 September when it was located began to rotate around each other winds occurred along portions of about 850 nmi southwest of Cabo on 7 September Henriette the coast of Mexico, there were San Lucas, Mexico (Fig 6) On became absorbed by the no reports of damages or the same day, early morning circulation of Gil and dissipated on casualties visible satellite images indicated 8 September However, its that another circulation was remnant disturbance made a Hurricane Juliette: This large organized enough to be classified counterclockwise loop of Gil over and powerful hurricane was the as a tropical depression about 300 the ensuing 24 hours Gil’s only eastern Pacific cyclone to nmi west-southwest of circulation persisted a little bit make landfall during 2001 Juliette Manzanillo, Mexico This was longer but gradually weakened and formed from the remnants of about 765 nmi east of Gil Gil dissipated on 9 September about Atlantic Tropical Depression Nine, reached hurricane intensity with 1150 miles east of the Hawaiian which entered the Pacific on 20 maximum winds of 85 kt on 6 Islands September The system organized September, while Henriette into a depression about 90 nmi strengthened to a peak of 55 kt The combination of Gil and south of the coast of on 7 September Initially, Gil Henriette created a large area of on 21 September and reached moved westward but Henriette southwesterly and southerly winds tropical storm strength later that

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day (Fig 6) Juliette moved Table 8 - Selected ship reports with winds of at least 34 kt for Hurricane west-northwestward about Juliette, 23-28 September 2001 100-200 nmi from the coast of Mexico from 21 to 26 September It became a hurricane on 23 September and reached a peak intensity of 125 kt on 25 September (Fig 7) On that date, an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft measured a central pressure of 923 hPa, the second lowest measured pressure of record in the eastern Pacific Juliette turned northward and began to weaken on 26 September It passed just west of Cabo San Lucas as a hurricane with 80 kt winds on 28 September and made landfall on the Baja affected several ships Selected 30 September Two deaths are California peninsula near San significant observations are shown attributed to Juliette: a fisherman Carlos as a tropical storm with in Table 8 The most significant near Acapulco whose boat 35-kt winds on 30 September observation was from the Zim capsized in high seas, and a surfer Juliette continued slowly Atlantic (4XFD), which reported who drowned near the Baja northward as a depression into the 55-kt winds at 0600 UTC 28 California coast According to Gulf of California and eventually September Mexican news agency reports, dissipated over the northern Juliette “clobbered’ the resort of portion of the Gulf on 3 October On shore, Cabo San Lucas Cabo San Lucas, isolating it for reported sustained winds of 76 kt several days Flooding in the state The large circulation of Juliette with a gust to 94 kt at 0000 UTC of Sonora drove more than 38,000 people from their homes Moisture from Juliette produced thunderstorms in southern California on 30 September, knocking down trees and power lines across the Coachella Valley

Hurricane Kiko: A portion of the tropical wave that spawned Atlantic Hurricane Felix likely spawned Kiko The cyclone formed on 21 September about 550 nmi southwest of Cabo San Lucas (Fig 6) Moving generally west-northwestward to westward, the cyclone became a tropical storm later that day and briefly Figure 6 - Eastern North Pacific tropical storms and hurricanes of 2001 became a hurricane with 65-kt

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Figure 7 - GOES-10 visible image of Hurricane Juliette near peak intensity at 2100 UTC 25October 2001 Image courtesy of the National Climatic Data

winds on 23 September Kiko that time; however, strong vertical Tropical Storm Manuel: Manuel weakened to a depression on 25 shear caused rapid weakening, formed from the remnants of September and degenerated into a and Lorena became a weak low Atlantic Hurricane Iris While Iris low cloud swirl later that day near on 4 October about 120 nmi dissipated over Central America 19oN 129oW There were no southwest of Puerto Vallarta, on 9 October, a new circulation reports of damages, casualties, or Mexico center formed over the adjacent tropical-storm-force winds Pacific This system became The ship ELXX7 (name organized into a tropical Tropical Storm Lorena: A unknown) reported 35-kt winds at depression on 10 October about tropical wave that crossed into the 1730 UTC 3 October, while an 175 nmi south of Acapulco (Fig Pacific on 27 September organized unidentified ship reported 35-kt 6) After becoming a tropical into a tropical depression on 2 winds a half-hour later There storm on 11 October, it moved October about 300 nmi south of were no reports of damages or westward to west-southwestward Acapulco, Mexico (Fig 6) The casualties away from Mexico and weakened cyclone moved west- to a tropical depression on 12 northwestward and became Tropical Depression Fourteen- October Manuel then turned Tropical Storm Lorena later that E: This short-lived system formed northwestward and regained day Lorena turned north- on 3 October about 800 nmi tropical storm status on 15 northwestward on 3 October as it southwest of Cabo San Lucas October It strengthened to its reached a peak intensity of 50-kt Maximum winds reached 30 kt peak intensity of 50 kt on 16 winds The storm appeared to be a before the system dissipated the October a little over 520 nmi threat to the coast of Mexico at next day south-southwest of Cabo San 12 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

Lucas Weakening occurred damages, casualties, or tropical- 25 October reached the thereafter, with Manuel becoming storm-force winds northwestern Caribbean on 27 a depression again on 17October October The front moved slowly and dissipating about 660 nmi southeast across the Gulf on 26 west-southwest of Cabo San B Other Significant Events: October, and by 1200 UTC that Lucas the next day There were day, a strong 1037 hPa high was no reports of damages, casualties, 1 Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of located well northwest of the front or tropical-storm force winds Mexico over the central United States Northeast winds increased to 20- Hurricane Narda: Narda formed West Atlantic Gale 30 25 kt across the northwest about 1150 nmi southwest of Cabo September: An early season Caribbean behind the front On 28 San Lucas on 20 October (Fig 6) cold front became stationary on 26 October, the front was stationary It became a tropical storm later September from the western across the northwestern that day and a hurricane with 75 Atlantic across south central Caribbean while a broad low kt winds on 22 October while Florida to the Bay of Campeche pressure area (the precursor of moving west-northwestward Winds increased late on 28 Hurricane Michelle) strengthened Narda then turned westward and September across the Gulf of over the southwestern Caribbean weakened, becoming a tropical Mexico and western Atlantic as a Sea By 1200 UTC on 29 October, storm on 23 October and a low pressure center formed along winds increased to gale force from depression on 24 October Strong the front just north of the Yucatan 16°N to 20°N between 78°W vertical wind shear caused the Peninsula At 1200 UTC 29 and 85°W At that time the ship tropical cyclone to dissipate about September, a 1005 mb low was Chiquita Schweiz (C6KD9) 520 nmi east-southeast of the analyzed near the Dry Tortugas, reported 34-kt winds and 4-m (13- Hawaiian Islands on 25 October Florida The low moved ft) seas near 18°N 80°W Later There were no reports of northeastward across south that day the broad low became a damages, casualties, or tropical- Florida and by 0000 UTC 30 tropical depression (Fig 2) Gale- storm-force winds September was located just east force winds were associated with of Palm Beach, Florida It the stationary front located well Hurricane Octave: Octave continued northeastward and north of the depression QuikScat developed from a large area of produced a brief period of data from just before 0000 UTC disturbed weather about 1000 nmi off the Georgia and north Florida 30 October indicated a large area southwest of Cabo San Lucas on coasts The ship A# V# Kastner of 30-40 kt winds over the 31 October (Fig 6) The west- (ZCAM9) reported northeast northern Caribbean The area of northwestward moving cyclone winds of 35 kt at 0000 UTC 30 gale-force winds spread became a tropical storm later that September By 1200 UTC the low northeastward, and by 1200 UTC day and a hurricane on 1 center was near 31°N 70°W , and on 30 October covered the entire November Octave turned gales had moved north of 31°N Caribbean north of 18°N At that northwestward and reached a Since no QuikScat data were time Chiquita Schweiz again peak intensity of 75 kt on 2 available due to the short duration observed gale force winds of 40 kt November before weakening to a of the event, the ship observations near the Windward Passage By tropical storm later that day On 3 were extremely useful in 1200 UTC 31 October, the high November, the system turned determining the magnitude of the pressure over the eastern United westward and weakened to a winds States began to weaken and move depression, and it dissipated later northeastward This weakened the that day about 1300 nmi west- Northwest Caribbean Gale 29- pressure gradient over the southwest of Cabo San Lucas 31 October: A cold front that northwestern Caribbean and winds There were no reports of moved off the coast of Texas on decreased below gale force

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Figure 8 - GOES-8 visible image of western Atlantic gale at 1815 UTC 15 November 2001 Image courtesy of the National Climatic Data Center

However, winds in that area soon Endurance (WAUU), and central Florida The low quickly increased with the approach of Grafton (ZCBO5) observed strengthened and became a 1006 Michelle northeast winds of 35 to 40 kt hPa gale center near 28°N 80°W near 30°N 50°W The storm at 0600 UTC on 15 November At Central Atlantic Gale 3-4 center moved northwestward on 3 0600 UTC, the Tellus and the November: This event was November A QuikScat pass from Kent Sprint (VGDX) observed associated with the low that 2108 UTC that day detected 30- 40-kt winds off the north Florida eventually became Hurricane 35-kt winds north of 30°N and Georgia coasts The ship Noel As the low intensified just between 48°W and 57°W Gales observations confirmed a 1023 north of the TPC high seas ended south of 31°N by 1800 UTC QuikScat pass which forecast area on 2 November, the UTC on 4 November as the showed an area of 30-40-kt winds increased to gale force over system turned northward easterly winds from 30°N to the area north of 29°N between 33°N west of 72°W At 1200 45°W and 55°W At 0600 UTC West Atlantic Gale: 15-16 UTC, the ship Lykes that day the ship Chiquita November: A weakening Discoverer (WGXO) Schweiz again encountered gale stationary front extended east to encountered northeast winds of 37 force winds of 36 kt near 29°N west across the western Atlantic, kt, while an unidentified ship 53°W This helped confirm while a strong high pressure reported 40-kt winds near 31°N QuikScat data a short time later center located along the mid- 78 5°W GOES-8 visible satellite By 1800 UTC that day, the low Atlantic coast produced strong imagery at 1815 UTC 15 had strengthened into a storm northeast to east winds north of November (Fig 8) showed the center near 33°N 44°W At that the front A low started forming well-defined low just off the east- time the ships Chiquita Schweiz, on the western end of the front central Florida coast The gale late on 14 November just east of center drifted northeastward and

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weakened while the high pressure center off the mid-Atlantic coast moved east into the central Atlantic By 0600 UTC on 16 November, gale conditions ended south of 31°N but continued over the Marine Prediction Center’s area north of 31°N At 1800 UTC, the gale center weakened to a low near 29°N 76°W , which eventually dissipated northeast of Puerto Rico on 21 November

Gulf of Mexico Cold Front 29- 30 November: A slow-moving cold front moved off the coast of southeast Texas around 0000 UTC 28 November Early on 29 November, the front accelerated southeastward as stronger high pressure moved southward across Figure 9 - QuikSCAT data at 0755 UTC 26 December 2001 Image the central United States By courtesy of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and 0600 UTC, the front extended Information Service from just east of Lake Charles, Louisiana to the southwestern north of 31°N , producing periods 18 ft) continued north of 25°N Bay of Campeche At that time of gale force winds over the east of 55°W through the rest of northwesterly gale force winds eastern portion of the TPC that day began over the southwest Gulf of forecast area Gales associated Mexico in the area south of 25°N with the first system began at The next cold front began west of the cold front The ship 0600 UTC 17 December Gale producing gales along 31°N Koeln Express (9VBL) conditions and seas of 4 5 to 6 m shortly before 1200 UTC 23 observed 37-kt winds at 1200 (15-20 ft) occurred over the TPC December At that time this fast- UTC and 33-kt winds at 1800 forecast area north of 29°N east moving front extend through UTC in the southwest Bay of of 50°W At 0600 UTC and 1200 31°N 42°W - 21°N 55°W to Campeche The short-lived gale UTC 17 December the ship near Puerto Rico QuikScat data event ended at 0000 UTC 30 Chiquita Nederland (C6KD6) at 2134 UTC that day showed a November encountered west to northwest 35 large area of 30 to35-kt winds to 40-kt winds near 30°N 45°W north of 29°N between 45°W Central and East Atlantic A day later the ship Coral Reef and 55°W On 24 December at Gales 17-18 December and (C6RO6) and the ship C6RO2 0000 UTC, the ship Licorne 23-26 December: A (name unknown) experienced Pacifique (J8CV5) reported predominant longwave trough was westerly gale force winds of 35- northwest winds of 35 kt near over the central and east Atlantic 40 kt near 30°N 45°W at 0600 29°N 53°W By 0000 UTC on 25 during the later half of December UTC and 1200 UTC By 0000 December, the cold front reached Several fast-moving cold fronts UTC 19 December, gale from 31°N 31°W -19°N 40°W and gale centers moved conditions ended south of 31°N ; to near 15°N 58°W At that time southeastward, then eastward just however, swells of 3 5-5 5 m (12- gale conditions covered the area

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across the Gulf of Mexico on the 16-17 October, and a 1030 hPa high pressure center moved southward to eastern Texas by 0600 UTC on the 17th At that time gales began over the Gulf of Tehuantepec There were no ship observations of gale force winds during the event; however, QuikScat data detected 30 to35-kt winds during the event, which ended at 1200 UTC 19 October

The second event, beginning at 0600 UTC 28 October, was more prolonged Two ships reported gale force winds - the Chiquita Joy (ZCBC2), which observed north winds of 37 kt at 1800 UTC Figure 10 - GOES-8 visible image of eastern Atlantic gale at 1215 UTC 28 October and 38 kt at 0000 26 December 2001 Image courtesy of the National Climatic Data UTC 29 October, and the Marine Center Chemist (KMCB), which reported 35-kt winds at 0000 UTC on 29 October Several QuikScat north of 27°N east of 53°W On from the TPC forecast area, and passes during the event showed 25-26 December a fast-moving gale conditions moved north of gales with winds as high as 40 kt storm center moved 31°N However, northwest winds at 1232 UTC on 29 October southeastward and then eastward of 25-30 kt and seas of 3 5-5 5 m Subsequent QuikScat passes on just north of 31°N This caused (12-18 ft) continued north of 30-31 October showed 30-35 kt winds to increase 30-40 kt over 25°N east of 50°W until 28 winds The event ended at 1200 the TPC forecast area At 0600 December UTC 1 November UTC on the 26th, the 988-hPa storm was centered near 33°N 2 Eastern Pacific The next event began just before 42°W At that time the ship 1200 UTC 5 November and was Chiquita Rostock (ZCBD2) Six Gulf of Tehuantepec gale observed by several ships The experienced west winds of 40 kt events occurred during the period ship Tristan (SKWI) encountered near 29°N 42°W QuikScat beginning in the middle of winds of 37 kt and 38 kt at 1200 detected 40 to 50 kt winds just October, with the estimated and 1800 UTC, respectively southwest of the storm center and beginning and ending times given Other ships including the Saloma 30 to 40-kt winds south of 31°N in Table 9 These events were (VRVT2), Leverkusen Express at 0755 UTC that day (Fig 9) documented by QuikScat data or (DEHY), Overseas New GOES-8 satellite imagery at 1215 occasionally by reliable ship Orleans (WFKW), and the ship UTC 26 December (Fig 10) observations 30111 (name unknown) observed clearly detected the well-defined winds of 35-40 kt between 1800 storm By 0000 UTC on 27 The first event occurred between UTC on 5 November and 1800 December, the storm weakened 17-19 October A strong cold UTC on 6 November It is unusual and moved northeastward away front moved southeastward to receive so many ships’

16 Mariners Weather Log Marine Weather Review

Table 9 - Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Events (October - December 2001)

observations of gale force winds encountered 33-kt winds well The sixth event of the period during a single Tehuantepec south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec began just before 1200 UTC 20 event These observations were six hours later Therefore, it is December QuikScat data from very useful, as QuikScat data likely that gale-force winds 1208 UTC 20 December indicated only detected 30 to35-kt winds occurred over the Gulf of 35-kt winds over the Gulf Two The event ended at 1800 UTC 7 Tehuantepec Winds decreased subsequent QuikScat passes near November below gale force at 0600 UTC 12 0000 UTC and 1200 UTC on 21 November December showed winds of 35-40 The fourth event began a few kt days later, just before 0000 UTC The next event lasted only 24 10 November During the event hours Gales began just before There were no ship observations there were no ship observations 0000 UTC 10 December High- of gale-force winds during the of gale force winds; however the resolution QuikScat data event, but the ship Pearl Ace ship Zim Asia (4XFB) observed indicated 35 to 40-kt winds near (VRUN4) observed 30-kt winds 32-kt winds at 0600 UTC on 11 that time; however, no ship at 0600 UTC on 22 December November Another ship, the observations of gales were Gale conditions ended shortly Bosporus Bridge (3FMV3), received The event ended by before 1200 UTC that day 0000 UTC 11 December

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