Tropical Storm Earl (2004)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
This article is about the Atlantic tropical storm of 2004; for other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Earl
Tropical Storm Earl
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Tropical Storm Earl near peak intensity

Tropical Storm Earl near peak intensity
Formed August 13, 2004
Dissipated August 15, 2004
Highest
winds
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure 1009 mbar (hPa; 29.81 inHg)
Fatalities None
Damage Unknown
Areas
affected		 Windward Islands
Part of the
2004 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Earl was the fifth tropical storm of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a short-lived storm in mid-August 2004 that formed near the Windward Islands and remained weak throughout its short lifespan. It crossed over the Lesser Antilles on August 14 while a modest tropical storm, resulting in minor damage on several Caribbean islands, including Grenada. It was generally remembered for its early forecasts that did not transpire.

Contents

[edit] Storm history

Storm path
Storm path

The system that became Earl formed at an unusually low latitude (at around 8.9°N).[1] It remained around 9°N latitude up to its formation on the evening of August 13, when it was declared Tropical Depression Five.[2] The depression gradually organized while moving rapidly westward[3] and became Tropical Storm Earl on the afternoon of August 14, east of the Windward Islands. Earl slowly became more organized, but moderate shear hindered the development and the low-level circulation remained poorly defined despite solid organization on satellite. It passed near Barbados, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with winds just under tropical storm force in each of those areas.[2]

At first, there was considerable attention placed on Earl, especially from Florida which had just been devastated by Hurricane Charley.[4] Initial forecasts had indeed strengthened Earl to a formidable hurricane (over the same environment that allowed Charley to explode) and models suggested that it would approach, if not hit, Florida (as well as Cuba and Jamaica), following a fairly similar path as Charley, although the models were divided.[5] It was crossing the Lesser Antilles at the time as a moderate tropical storm, where it reached peak intensity of 50 mph (85 km/h).

However, before Earl could get anywhere near the western Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico, it degenerated into an open wave late on August 15; losing its low-level circulation while maintaining 40 mph (65 km/h) winds and strong upper-level circulations. At that time, advisories were discontinued. The wave was never able to regain a low-level circulation over the Atlantic basin.[2]

The poorly-defined remnants of Earl crossed the Caribbean Sea and Central America with little impact, and it reorganized into Hurricane Frank in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It was the first crossover storm since Hurricane Cesar-Douglas in the 1996 season, but unlike Cesar-Douglas, Earl degenerated and then regenerated into Frank.[2]

[edit] Preparations

Several hundred people in Grenada evacuated from low-lying areas to schools set up as shelters.[6] Shopkeepers boarded windows, while airports temporarily closed prior to the storm. [7]

With the initial forecasts predicting that Earl would strengthen considerably into a hurricane and head towards Florida which had already been impacted heavily by Hurricane Charley, the local officials urged residents to exercise caution, but not panic due to the large errors in long-range forecasts.[8]

[edit] Impact

Overall damage was generally minor. Gusty winds tore off the roofs of about 30 houses in Grenada[9], while ten homes experienced damage in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Airports were also closed in St. Vincent and in Grenada as a result of the storm.[10] Minor flooding and several landslides were also reported in Grenada.[11]

On Tobago, strong winds knocked down trees and power lines, leaving 90% of the island without electricity for a time. Throughout the region, some banana crops were also reported to have been damaged. [12] Damage to trees was also reported throughout the eastern Caribbean.[13] No fatalities were reported.

Due to the fact that the damage was minimal, the name Earl was not retired and is scheduled to be re-used in the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.stormcarib.com/hurr04a.htm
  2. ^ a b c d National Hurricane Center (2004). Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Earl. NOAA. Retrieved on 2006-10-26.
  3. ^ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/dis/al052004.discus.004.shtml
  4. ^ http://hurricane.weathercenter.com/MGBBFEENWXD.html
  5. ^ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/dis/al052004.discus.007.shtml?
  6. ^ http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/weather/special/storm/2004/atlantic/earl/news.html
  7. ^ http://wtvj.nbcweatherplus.com/weathernews/3655812/detail.html
  8. ^ http://www.tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGBU36FNWXD.html
  9. ^ http://www.belgrafix.com/gtoday/2004news/August/Aug%2028/Report%20on%20Tropical%20Storm%20Earl.htm
  10. ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040815T220000-0500_64587_OBS_KEEP_AN_EYE_ON_TROPICAL_STORM_EARL.asp
  11. ^ http://www.belgrafix.com/gtoday/2004news/August/Aug%2028/Report%20on%20Tropical%20Storm%20Earl.htm
  12. ^ http://wtvj.nbcweatherplus.com/weathernews/3655812/detail.html
  13. ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040815T220000-0500_64587_OBS_KEEP_AN_EYE_ON_TROPICAL_STORM_EARL.asp

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Tropical cyclones of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season
E
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS 1 2 3 4 5
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../t/r/o/Tropical_Storm_Earl_%282004%29_bb8f.html"