Hurricane Ophelia (2005): Difference between revisions

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| highest winds=85 [[miles per hour|mph]] (135 [[kilometres per hour|km/h]])
| highest winds=85 [[miles per hour|mph]] (135 [[kilometres per hour|km/h]])
| lowest pressure=976 [[mbar]] ([[hPa]])
| lowest pressure=976 [[mbar]] ([[hPa]])
| total damages=$1.6 billion <ref name="TWSAT">http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/NHC/TWSAT</ref>
| total damages=$70 million <ref name="TCR">[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL162005_Ophelia.pdf Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane Ophelia] (PDF)</ref>
| total fatalities=1 direct, 2 indirect
| total fatalities=1 direct, 2 indirect
| areas affected=Northeast [[Florida]], [[North Carolina]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Atlantic Canada]]
| areas affected=Northeast [[Florida]], [[North Carolina]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Atlantic Canada]]
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'''Hurricane Ophelia''' was the fifteenth named [[tropical cyclone]] and the seventh hurricane of the [[2005 Atlantic hurricane season]]. It caused significant damage and beach erosion along the [[United States]] coastline from [[Florida]] to [[North Carolina]] as a [[Category 1 hurricane]], as well as in [[Atlantic Canada]].
'''Hurricane Ophelia''' was the fifteenth named [[tropical cyclone]] and the seventh hurricane of the [[2005 Atlantic hurricane season]]. It caused some damage and beach erosion along the [[United States]] coastline from [[Florida]] to [[North Carolina]] as a [[Category 1 hurricane]], as well as in [[Atlantic Canada]].


==Storm history==
==Storm history==

Revision as of 02:12, 25 January 2006

Hurricane Ophelia
hurricane
FormedSeptember 6, 2005
DissipatedSeptember 17, 2005 (date Ophelia became extratropical - identity lost September 23)

Hurricane Ophelia was the fifteenth named tropical cyclone and the seventh hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It caused some damage and beach erosion along the United States coastline from Florida to North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane, as well as in Atlantic Canada.

Storm history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The storm formed from the western of two low pressure centers generated from a trough which extended east-west along the Bahamas from Tropical Storm Lee. (The eastern low became Hurricane Nate.) Tropical Depression Sixteen formed over the northern Bahamas on the morning of September 6, making landfall on Grand Bahama at about noon EST (1600 UTC). Early on September 7, it strengthened to become Tropical Storm Ophelia, and it became the seventh Atlantic hurricane of the season for 6 hours the next day. It churned nearly stationary for two days off the coast of Florida, causing warnings to be raised for the state and fears of heavy, prolonged rainfall.

From September 9 to September 11, Ophelia fluctuated in strength, being downgraded to a tropical storm only to regain hurricane intensity three more times; during this time it moved only very slowly and erratically in a northeasterly direction. Through September 12 the storm completed a clockwise loop, then adopted a more north-westerly motion towards North Carolina, while still moving only slowly and fitfully. It dropped again just below hurricane strength when the inner core of convection collapsed, possibly due to passing over cooler water that it upwelled earlier in its track. Ophelia regained hurricane strength over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. After the collapse of the inner core of convection, the hurricane acquired an unusually large eye over 115 miles (185 km) across. The eye stayed offshore, although the northern and western eyewall passed over the coastal areas of North Carolina throughout September 14-September 15.

Ophelia brushed past Nantucket Island in Massachusetts and then affected Atlantic Canada with heavy rain and tropical storm-force winds. The storm became extratropical late on September 17 (0000 UTC September 18), but continued to affect Newfoundland and Labrador before it moved out to sea on the 19th. It reached the eastern Atlantic on September 21 and dissipated on September 23 over the North Sea. [2]

Impact

Florida

Before Ophelia made its closest approach to land near the Outer Banks on September 15 and 16, it caused a significant coastal erosion event for coastal Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, as the storm's slow movement resulted in several continuous days of rough surf. [3] At Flagler Beach, Florida, the erosion endangered the foundation of highway A1A, and 140 dump trucks were brought in to buttress the road with rocks and sand. [4]

In southeastern Florida, a man drowned in the high surf generated by Ophelia. His was the only direct death caused by the storm. [5]

North Carolina

Ophelia moved extremely slowly in and around North Carolina, meaning that greater than 10 inches/254 mm of rain was dumped into many coastal areas. The highest amount measured was from Oak Island, where 17.50" was registered. The storm total rainfall graphic can be found here. In addition, storm surges of 7 to 12 feet (2-4 m) were recorded, particularly in low-lying inlets of Pamlico Sound. At the storm's peak, over 240,000 customers were without power [6] in coastal North Carolina. [7] One indirect fatality was reported due to a traffic accident related to Ophelia, although no direct deaths were recorded. [8] It is believed that with Hurricane Katrina fresh on people's minds, few people took any chances with this storm, which minimized casualties.

Damage was heaviest in Salter Path, North Carolina and along the Outer Banks near that community, where (despite being only a Category 1 storm) many buildings suffered significant damage as a result of the storm surge, which has been described as worse than Hurricane Isabel in 2003 and even compared to Hurricane Hazel in 1954 (which was a Category 4 storm). It should be noted that nearly all of the significant damage occured on the sound side, or the side facing the mainland.[9] In addition, several piers and many boats were damaged or destroyed by Ophelia's storm surge. Damage was generally lighter on the mainland, and overall structural damage was relatively light, although there was considerable flooding reported in the Wilmington area. [10]

President Bush declared a state of emergency in 37 counties in North Carolina as a result of Ophelia. [11] Damage is estimated to be about $1.6 billion [12].

Canada

In Atlantic Canada, considerable preparations were taken for Ophelia, primarily because of memories of Hurricane Juan in 2003 which caught authorities off-guard. However, overall damage was minimal there, and only brief, sporadic power outages were reported. One storm-related fatality was reported in Nova Scotia as a result of a person falling during minor roof repairs. [13] In Newfoundland, over 50 millimeters (1.96 inches) of rain fell over parts of the eastern region of the province. [14]

Trivia

The 2005 season was the first time a storm was named "Ophelia," and only the fifth time since naming began in the Atlantic in 1950 that the 'O' name was used. The only other 'O' storms have been Opal, Olga, Odette, and Otto in the 1995, 2001, 2003, and 2004 seasons, respectively.

See also

Template:Tcportal

Notes

  1. ^ Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane Ophelia (PDF)
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference TWSAT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/nation/12606151.htm
  4. ^ http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=43998
  5. ^ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/tws/MIATWSAT_sep.shtml
  6. ^ http://rdu.news14.com/content/hurricane_info/?ArID=74479&SecID=431
  7. ^ http://www.wral.com/news/4981365/detail.html
  8. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/hurricane_ophelia;_ylt=AsJmeeP315NmB_IyPlZ.IJOs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--
  9. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/hurricane_ophelia;_ylt=AsJmeeP315NmB_IyPlZ.IJOs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--
  10. ^ http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=3854569&nav=2gQaeZ0g
  11. ^ http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?S=3853315
  12. ^ http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/NHC/TWSAT
  13. ^ http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2005/09/18/f177.raw.html
  14. ^ http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=569bb90f-47d8-46ba-a20d-330578bb0b8b

External links

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