Meteorological history of Hurricane Gordon

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Template:Infobox Hurricane History The thirteen day meterological history of Hurricane Gordon was erratic, persistent, and highly unusual. The hurricane formed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on November 10 1994 and brushed Nicaragua before winding its way north through the Greater Antilles, into the Gulf of Mexico, across Florida, into the Atlantic Ocean, and back to the continental United States. Hurricane Gordon was the seventh named tropical storm and third hurricane of the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season. In its meandering course, the storm made six separate landfalls, four as a tropical storm and two as a tropical depression.[1] Three of its landfalls were in the U.S. state of Florida.

Formation

During the first week of November a large area of disturbed weather accumulated just north of Panama over the southwestern Caribbean Sea. A tropical wave passed through the area and gave it mild convection. A second wave passed through the area on November 6 and introduced cyclonic circulation to the disturbance. Over the next two days the system gradually organized and sparked deep convection off Nicaragua's southeast coast.[1] This organization, with an initial intensity of 30 mph (45 km/h), warranted that the system be classified Tropical Depression Twelve.[2] Moving northwest, the storm began a very slow strengthening pattern[1] and developed a favorable upper outflow.[3] Spots of convection flared on the morning of November 9[4] and banding features appeared shortly thereafter even as its center made landfall on the northeastern Nicaraguan coast near Puerto Cabezas that afternoon.[5] A full day later a trough to the storm's northeast over the Gulf of Mexico moved the depression offshore,[6] to the northeast, and over the warm waters of the western Caribbean Sea.[1] Fueled by these warm waters, on the night of November 9 it strengthened into Tropical Storm Gordon.[7]

Weak steering currents could not give Gordon a firm movement[7] and it meandered north-northeast in the presence of mild west-southwesterly wind shear,[8][9][1] unable to strengthen beyond 40 mph (65 km/h) under the adverse conditions.[10] Eventually a trough prodded Gordon to the north-northeast at 8 mph (13 km/h),[11] and it strengthened slightly to 45 mph (75 km/h) as it moved through the central Caribbean Sea.[12] The trough continued steering Gordon, bending it eastward towards Jamaica on the afternoon on November 12. Despite the warm waters, Gordon did not strengthen that day as strong upper-tropospheric shear retarded development,[13][14] and eventually eroded the upper level circulation which reduced the winds to 40 mph (65 km/h).[15]

Through the Greater Antilles

Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants in Haiti
Highest-known totals
Precipitation Storm Location Ref.
Rank mm in
1 1,447.8 57.00 Flora 1963 Miragoâne [16]
2 654.8 25.78 Noel 2007 Camp Perrin [17]
3 604.5 23.80 Matthew 2016 Anse-á-Veau [18]
4 410.0 16.14 Lili 2002 Camp Perrin [19]
5 323.0 12.72 Hanna 2008 Camp Perrin [20]
6 273.0 10.75 Gustav 2008 Camp Perrin [21]
7 168.0 6.614 Laura 2020 Port-Au-Prince [22]
8 65.0 2.56 Fox 1952 Ouanaminthe [23]

November 13 was a busy day for Tropical Storm Gordon. The trough over southern Florida and the Gulf of Mexico pushed Tropical Storm Gordon eastward towards Jamaica.[24] In the pre-dawn hours the storm clipped the eastern edge of the island,[1] leaving 7.44 in (18.9 cm) of rainfall.[25] Southwesterly wind shear kept the storm from developing beyond 45 mph (75 km/h), but the landfall did not significantly disturb the cyclone's organization.[26] Accelerating, Gordon turned towards the northeast.[1] Continued shear prevented the upper-level development needed for typical cyclonic organization, but a strong lower level circulation had formed. Its sustained winds were still only 40 mph (65 km/h), but as the system approached eastern Cuba a gust of 120 mph (192 km/h) was reported.[27] The center crossed near Guantanamo Bay and the storm dumped heavy rainfall as it passed over the eastern portion of the island,[1] but even heavier rain fell in Haiti to the west, where 22.94 in (58.27 cm) of rain was recorded at Camp-Perrin.[28]

Meanwhile, the broad-scale circulation that was covering most of the Caribbean Sea (of which Tropical Storm Gordon was only a part) was interacting with an upper-tropospheric trough near the Straits of Florida.[29] The trough strengthened the broad upper-level cyclone, which in turn strengthened Gordon and spawning several other low-level circulations in the western Caribbean Sea.[1] By nightfall that day the tropical storm had not only made two landfalls, but had also gained subtropical characteristics.[30][1]

Gordon during it's hybrid tropical/sub-tropical stage with a frontal band dropping rain over Haiti

The deep-layered cyclone within which Tropical Storm Gordon was imbedded steered the storm west-northwest, south of Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas on November 14.[1] A deep-layered ridge near the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast increased the pressure gradient around the storm, so although its sub-tropical elements (namely a lack of deep convection) precluded a core of strong winds immediately around the center, strong winds were supported well outside the storm's circulatory center. These winds inched up to 50 mph (85 km/h), but did not strengthen any further.[31] The deep-layered ridge continued to steer the hybrid tropicial/subtropical storm Gordon west-northwestward past the western Bahamas.[32][1][33] This brought the southern portion of the storm's circulation over nothern Cuba, while the strengthening northern circulation produced 60 mph (90 km/h) winds near Palm Beach.[34] The storm's fourth landfall occurred on November 15 when Tropical Storm Gordon passed over Key West, Florida.[1] The storm then continued west over the lower Keys and into the Straights of Florida, wheer the storm's center began to warm[35] and deep convection signaled the return of Gordon's tropical characteristics.[36]

Florida, Atlantic, repeat

Hurricane Gordon near peak intensity on November 18 at 1308 UTC

Steering currents remained weak[37][38] giving the storm a chance to full re-develop its deep convection while imobile at sea.[39][38][1] During this time, Tropical Storm Gordon began to spawn tornadoes. As the storm center was well offshore most were probably unreported, but six tornadoes touched down on the Florida coast. Four of the tornadoes were rated F0 on the Fujita scale, two were rated F1, and one was given an F2 rating with estimated wind speeds of 113–157 mph (181–253 km/h).[40] After stalling offshore for almost a day, a mid- to upper-tropospheric trough over the central U.S. slowly pulled Tropical Storm Gordon northward then north-northeastward towards Florida's west coast.[1] The storm made landfall between Ft. Myers and Naples with 50 mph (85 km/h) winds.[41] The eastward component of the storm's movement increased, and Gordon moved northeastward onto the Florida peninsula at a healthy 10 mph (17 km/h).[42] The storm barely weakened as it crossed the landmass keeping its 50 mph (85 km/h) winds.[42] Crossing the peninsula in a mere 6 hours, the storm continued to pick up speed.[43] Early on November 17, back over the open ocean, the storm's central pressure began to fall.[44] Improved organization was not apparent[44] and wind shear was bitting into the core of the deep convection[45] when, on November 17, Gordon suddenly spawned 75 mph (120 km/h) winds and was upgrade to a Category 1 hurricane.[46] The shortwave trough that had been steering Gordon across Florida moved ahead of the storm and its influence was replaced by a mid-tropospheric ridge over the eastern United States.[1] Under the influence of this new ridge the storm, which had been spedding northeast at 25 mph (40 km/h),[47] initiated a turn to the north late on November 17.[48][49][1] The hurricane's loop continued and as it moved to a west-northwesterly heading Gordon briefly threatened North Carolina's Outer Banks[50] before stalling offshore once again.[51] In the presence of weak steering currents once again, Gordon lost a little strength and slipped back to tropical storm status with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds.[52][1] On November 18, about 80 nautical miles off the Outer Banks, Gordon began a southward drift away from the North Carolina coast.[53] Warm waters improved its organizational structure,[54] but this did not result in stronger winds[55] and the storm continued its weakening trend. Strong upper-level winds sprung up and sheared away Gordon's upper-level convection while polluting the storm with colder and dryer air that weakened its lower level convection.[56]

Total rainfal in the eastern United States caused by Hurricane Gordon

A high pressure system over the central United States drifted east and added a westward component to Gorodn's southward motion,[55] pulling the storm southwest towards Florida.[57] The persistent shear and a continued lack of deep convection eventually reduced the storm's winds to below tropical storm force, and on the morning on November 20 Gordon was reduced to a tropical depression.[58] The high pressure system over the continent continued pulling the depression west[59][60] until it made its final landfall near Cape Canaveral that night with winds of 30 mph (45 km/h).[61] Between its three landfalls, Hurricane Gordon dumped 5-10 in (13-25 cm) of rain on Florida, with a station at Cooperstown recording 16.1 in (40.9 cm).[62] The storm moved northward across Florida,[63][64] northeastward across Georgia, and finally merged with a frontal system over South Carolina.[64][1]

See also

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References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Pasch, Richard J. (1995-01-10). "Preliminary Report Hurricane Gordon 8-21 November 1994". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  2. ^ Avila (1994-11-08). "Tropical Depression Twelve Discussion Number 1". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  3. ^ Mayfield (1994-11-08). "Tropical Depression Twelve Discussion Number 2". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  4. ^ Rappaport (1994-11-09). "Tropical Depression Twelve Discussion Number 3". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  5. ^ Avila (1994-11-09). "Tropical Depression Twelve Discussion Number 5". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  6. ^ Avila (1994-11-09). "Tropical Depression Twelve Duscussion Number 4". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  7. ^ a b Avila (1994-11-10). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 9". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  8. ^ Pasch (1994-11-10). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 10". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  9. ^ Mayfield (1994-11-11). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 11". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  10. ^ Avila (1994-11-11). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 12". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  11. ^ Avila (1994-11-11). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 13". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  12. ^ Pasch (1994-11-11). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 14". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  13. ^ Mayfield (1994-11-12). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 15". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  14. ^ Avila (1994-11-12). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 16". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  15. ^ Avila (1994-11-12). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 17". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  16. ^ Dunn, Gordon E; Moore, Paul L; Clark, Gilbert B; Frank, Neil L; Hill, Elbert C; Kraft, Raymond H; Sugg, Arnold L (1964). "The Hurricane Season of 1963" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. 92 (3). American Meteorological Society: 136. Bibcode:1964MWRv...92..128D. doi:10.1175/1520-0493-92.3.128. ISSN 0027-0644. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  17. ^ Brown, Daniel P (December 17, 2007). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Noel (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  18. ^ Stewart, Stacy R (April 3, 2017). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  19. ^ Finnigan, Sean (October 4, 2002). Hurricane Lili almost drowns Camp-Perin, Haiti (PDF) (Report). Organisation for the Rehabilitation of the Environment. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  20. ^ Brown, Daniel P; Kimberlain, Todd B (March 27, 2009). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Hanna (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  21. ^ Beven II, John L; Kimberlain, Todd B (January 22, 2009). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Gustav (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  22. ^ Jeff Masters and Bob Henson (August 24, 2020). "Laura expected to hit Gulf Coast as at least a Category 2 hurricane". Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  23. ^ Roth, David M. (January 3, 2023). "Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 6, 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  24. ^ Jarrell (1994-11-12). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 18". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  25. ^ Rafi Ahmad (2003-08-20). "GEOHAZ2001 page 016". Department of Geography and Geology, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  26. ^ Mayfield (1994-11-13). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 19". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  27. ^ Pasch (1994-11-13). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 20". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  28. ^ ORE (1995-01-01). "Rainfall - ORE - Camp-Perrin, Cayes, Haiti - 1994" (PDF). Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Environment. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  29. ^ Pasch (1994-11-13). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 21". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  30. ^ Lawrence (1994-11-13). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 22". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  31. ^ Mayfield (1994-11-14). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 23". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  32. ^ Pasch (1994-11-14). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 24". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  33. ^ Pasch (1994-11-14). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 25". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  34. ^ Rappaport/Jarrell (1994-11-14). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 26". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  35. ^ Mayfield (1994-11-15). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 27". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  36. ^ Avila (1994-11-15). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 28". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  37. ^ Avila (1994-11-15). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 29". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  38. ^ a b Avila (1994-11-16). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 31". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  39. ^ Rappaport (1994-11-15). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 30". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  40. ^ Staff Writers (2008-05-11). "Infamous Florida Hurricanes" (PDF). 2008 Governor's Hurricane Conference. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  41. ^ Lawrence (1994-11-16). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 32". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  42. ^ a b Lawrence (1994-11-16). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 33". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  43. ^ Rappaport (1994-11-16). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 34". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  44. ^ a b Rappaport (1994-11-17). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 35". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  45. ^ Lawrence (1994-11-17). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 36". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  46. ^ Lawrence (1994-11-17). "Hurricane Gordon Special Discussion Number 37". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  47. ^ Lawrence (1994-11-17). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Number 38". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  48. ^ Rappaport (1994-11-17). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Number 39". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  49. ^ Rappaport (1994-11-18). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Number 40". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  50. ^ Avila (1994-11-18). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Number 41". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  51. ^ Rappaport (1994-11-18). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Number 42". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  52. ^ Mayfield (1994-11-18). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 43". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  53. ^ Lawrence (1994-11-18). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 44". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  54. ^ Avila (1994-11-19). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 45". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
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  56. ^ Mayfield (1994-11-19). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 47". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  57. ^ Lawrence (1994-11-19). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Number 48". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  58. ^ Pasch (1994-11-20). "Tropical Depression Gordon Discussion Number 49". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  59. ^ Mayfield (1994-11-20). "Tropical Depression Gordon Discussion Number 50". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  60. ^ Mayfield (1994-11-20). "Tropical Depression Gordon Discussion Number 51". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  61. ^ Lawrence (1994-11-20). "Tropical Depression Gordon Discussion Number 52". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  62. ^ "Subtropical Storm/Hurricane Gordon - November 11-22, 1994". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. 1995-01-01. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  63. ^ Pasch (1994-11-21). "Tropical Depression Gordon Discussion Number 53". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  64. ^ a b Jarrell (1994-11-21). "Tropical Depression Gordon Discussion Number 54". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-07-15.

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