Hurricane Arlene (1987)
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| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Arlene over the Atlantic Ocean. |
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| Formed | August 10, 1987 | |
| Dissipated | August 24, 1987 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 987 mbar (hPa; 29.16 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | None reported | |
| Damage | Unknown | |
| Areas affected |
Bermuda, Spain | |
| Part of the 1987 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Arlene was the third depression, second storm and first hurricane of the 1987 Atlantic hurricane season. Arlene jogged across the open Atlantic Ocean, affecting only Bermuda. Bermuda would again be affected by Hurricane Emily later in the 1987 season. No casualties nor damage was reported. Intensification was slow; Arlene spent more than 12 days strengthening from depression to hurricane status. Peak winds were 75 mph (120 km/h) on August 22 and August 23.
Arlene formed as a low pressure area on August 8, strengthened into a depression on August 10 and became a storm the next day. After fluctuating in strength for 10 days, Arlene strengthened into a hurricane on August 22. Cold waters and interaction with a frontal low resulted in extratropical transition on August 24. The leftover system continued east to hit the Iberian Peninsula several days later.
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[edit] Storm history
Arlene originated from a 15 mph decaying frontal zone off of Wilmington, North Carolina on August 8.[1] Satellite imagery and surface reports indicated that a low had formed in the same area at 0000 UTC. The low pressure area strengthened slightly and moved southward, but still did not meet base Dvorak classifications. Due to a subtropical ridge to the east, a weak or flat gradient area of pressure was formed.[1] The low passed near the vicinity of Andros Island and interacted with a cold-core low nearby, allowing it to intensify. Estimations based on Dvorak classifications showed that the low pressure area became Tropical Depression Three at 1800 UTC on August 10.[1]
The system spent 18 hours as a tropical depression, and was upgraded to a 40 mph tropical storm after reconnaissance reports found winds of 50 mph at an altitude of 1,500 ft.[1] Arlene began interacting with a trough of low pressure near Bermuda which inhibited strengthening. Arlene moved past Bermuda on August 13. For the next 4 to 5 days, steering currents weakened due to an elongated ridge that had developed north of Arlene.[1] Cells formed in the ridge and another short wave trough spurred northeastward movement on August 18. Despite this, Arlene returned to its quasi-stationary state on August 20.
Arlene was upgraded to a hurricane when a eye formed in satellite imagery on August 20. However, a later re-examination revealed that Arlene did not reach hurricane status until August 22 at 0600 UTC.[1] During the stall period, a ridge had formed east of Arlene, which shot the storm northward and soon northeastward.[1] At this point, Arlene began interacting with a frontal low and with the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Arlene became extratropical on August 24.
The remnants of Arlene moved further east, entering the Gulf of Cadiz, and eventually dissipating in central Spain on August 28.[1]
[edit] Preparations
As Arlene approached, islanders of Bermuda were warned to board up their homes, expecting 50 mph winds.[2] A 41-year old blind sailor on a trip across the Atlantic was unable to make it to a harbor in Bermuda and decided to sit Arlene out in open sea.[3]
[edit] Impact
Bermuda experienced winds of 35 mph with gusts up to 49 mph.[1] Rainfall totalled 1.25 inches (31.8 mm) in Rota, Spain, a new record from the previous 1.02 inches, which was set in 1971.[1][4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hurricane Arlene Preliminary Report
- ^ BERMUDA BOARDS UP FOR ARLENE
- ^ Blind sailor to ride out storm at sea
- ^ 1987 Monthly Weather Review
