Hurricane Fay (2014)

Hurricane Fay

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Fay as a strong tropical storm on October 12
Formed	October 10, 2014
Dissipated	October 13, 2014
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 80 mph (130 km/h)
Lowest pressure	983 mbar (hPa); 29.03 inHg
Fatalities	None
Damage	$3.8 million (2014 USD)
Areas affected	Bermuda
Part of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Fay was the first hurricane to make landfall on Bermuda since Hurricane Emily in 1987. The sixth named storm and fifth hurricane of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, Fay originated from a broad weather disturbance several hundred miles northeast of the Lesser Antilles on October 10. Initially a subtropical cyclone with an expansive wind field and asymmetrical appearance, the storm gradually attained tropical characteristics as it turned north, transitioning into a tropical storm early on October 11. Despite being plagued by strong disruptive wind shear for most of its duration, Tropical Storm Fay significantly intensified. Veering toward the east, Fay briefly intensified into a Category 1 hurricane while making landfall on Bermuda early on October 12. Wind shear eventually took its toll on Fay, causing the hurricane to weaken to a tropical storm later that day and degenerate into an open trough early on October 13.

A few tropical cyclone warnings and watches were issued in anticipation of Fay's impact on Bermuda, and public schools were closed as a precaution. Despite its modest strength, Fay produced relatively extensive damage on Bermuda. Winds gusting over 80 mph (130 km/h) clogged roadways with downed trees and power poles, and left a majority of the island's electricity customers without power. The terminal building at L.F. Wade International Airport was severely flooded after the storm compromised its roof and sprinkler system. Immediately after the storm, 200 Bermuda Regiment soldiers were called to clear debris and assist in initial damage repairs. Cleanup efforts overlapped with preparations for the approach of the stronger Hurricane Gonzalo, which struck the island four days later. Overall, it is estimated that the hurricane left at least $3.8 million (2014 USD) in damage.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

A small circulation detached from a mid- to upper-level trough over the east-central Atlantic Ocean on October 7.^[1] By the following day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring a broad weather disturbance to the northeast of the Leeward Islands, characterized by a diffuse area of low pressure producing scattered thunderstorm activity.^[2] Showers and thunderstorms became somewhat better organized around the system over the next day,^[3] becoming a cold low pressure area on October 8, though it was still associated with a surface trough extending to the southwest. Initially, southwesterly wind shear prevented further organization. However, wind shear soon diminished, allowing for the development of comma-shaped rainbands on October 9.^[1] Located beneath a more established upper-level low, the disturbance was given a "high" chance of tropical or subtropical cyclogenesis within 48 hours on October 9.^[4][5] Early on October 10, satellite imagery indicated that the center of circulation had become better-defined, and a band of deep convection extended to the north and west of the low. Due to the system's involvement with the upper-level low, and its wide radius of maximum winds, ^[6] it was declared Subtropical Storm Fay at 06:00 UTC on October 10, while located about 615 miles (990 km) south of Bermuda.^[1] Operationally, the system was initially classified as Subtropical Depression Seven.^[6]

The storm moved northwestward around the periphery of a ridge of high pressure in the central Atlantic.^[6] In the National Hurricane Center's (NHC) first advisory on the cyclone, it was noted that the storm would dissipate within 72 hours as a weak tropical storm.^[6] However, Fay soon began organizing more quickly than anticipated. Relatively strong winds sampled by a Hurricane Hunters aircraft necessitated a special off-hour advisory to raise the cyclone's intensity estimate.^[7] Although the storm began to acquire the characteristics of a fully tropical system, strong southerly wind shear prevented thunderstorms from developing near the center.^[8] After convection became more symmetrical and the wind field contracted, Fay transitioned into a tropical storm at 06:00 UTC on October 11.^[1] At the same time, the system turned toward the north around the central Atlantic ridge,^[9] soon gaining an easterly component to its movement. Fay remained heavily sheared, with convection still distanced from the center.^[10] By early on October 12, the system was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane based on observations from buoys and land stations. At 08:10 UTC, the cyclone made landfall on Bermuda with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h); Fay was first hurricane to cross the island since Emily in 1987.^[1] Around that time, cloud tops in the storm cooled,^[11] and the structure of the inner core began to improve. The storm attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of the same speed and a minimum barometric pressure of 983 mbar (29.0 inHg) at 12:00 UTC on October 12, with the latter based on radar and surface data from Bermuda.^[1] Fay's satellite presentation became more symmetrical as a mid-level eye feature formed.^[12]

Fay then accelerated toward the northeast under the steering currents of the westerlies.^[11][12] However, the hurricane rapidly succumbed to the persistent wind shear, and the center of circulation once again became exposed later on October 12. Shortly thereafter, Fay weakened back to a tropical storm.^[1] By the early morning hours of October 13, Fay started transitioning into an extratropical cyclone as it entered a baroclinic environment and ingested colder, drier air.^[13] Fay's circulation rapidly deteriorated; consequently, the NHC issued its last advisory on the system at 21:00 UTC on October 12.^[14] Early the following day, the storm transitioned into an open trough, several hours before regenerating into an extratropical cyclone over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. The now-extratropical system accelerated eastward and then east-southeastward while well southwest of the Azores on October 14. By the following day, the extratropical cyclone became indistinguishable within a frontal system.^[1]

Impact

Fay as a subtropical storm on October 10

In advance of Tropical Storm Fay, a tropical storm watch was issued at 15:00 UTC on October 10. By 09:00 UTC the following day, the tropical storm watch was upgraded to a tropical storm warning. Additionally, a hurricane watch was issued at 21:00 UTC on October 11, as the storm was unexpectedly strengthening. As Fay began weakening later on October 12, the watches and warnings were discontinued at 15:00 UTC.^[1] All public schools on the island were closed for the storm.^[15]

Fay produced strong winds on the island, sustained at 61 mph (98 km/h) and gusting to 82 mph (132 km/h) at L.F. Wade International Airport,^[16] although there were unconfirmed readings of much higher localized wind gusts.^[15] The most intense winds occurred on the backside of the storm.^[17] Trees and tree limbs, including some that survived the more severe Hurricane Fabian in 2003, were downed,^[16] making several roads impassable.^[18] Additionally, the winds toppled at least a dozen utility poles,^[15] and inflicted roof damage on some buildings.^[16] Over 27,000 of the Bermuda Electric Light Company's 36,000 customers lost power at the height of the storm;^[19] restoration work was still underway on October 15.^[20] Several roads, including Front Street in Hamilton, were flooded. Many boats—some up to 60 ft (18 m) in length—broke their moorings and were damaged or destroyed.^[15][21] Hamilton city parks incurred extensive damage, and were closed due to safety hazards.^[22]

Fay damaged the roof of the airport's terminal building, causing the sprinkler system to malfunction and flood parts of the structure with water. The resulting inundation crippled computer systems crucial to processing passenger information. The airport's radar was also damaged in the storm. In response to the damage, the airport was closed to all flights, though it quickly reopened to emergency diversions and non-commercial flights.^[23] Bus and ferry services were canceled due to the dangerous conditions,^[17] and two cruise liners delayed their arrival into port to avoid the storm.^[24] Overall, the cyclone's effects were more severe than anticipated, with damage likely exacerbated by saturated soils after nearly 14 inches (360 mm) of rain on the island in August and above normal precipitation in September.^[1] By about a week after the storm, a local insurance company had received nearly 400 claims resulting from Fay, accounting for about $3.8 million in damage.^[25] However, with several insurers on the island, the actual damage total was likely much higher.^[1] Ten people suffered minor storm-related injuries, but no fatalities have been attributed to the storm.^[15]

Cleanup efforts after the storm were hastened as Hurricane Gonzalo approached from the south less than a week later, amid concerns that strewn debris from Fay could become airborne and exacerbate future destruction. The unanticipated damage from Fay prompted residents to prepare thoroughly for Gonzalo, with stores reporting an influx of customers purchasing emergency supplies.^[26] Two-hundred Bermuda Regiment soldiers were ordered to help clear debris and repair structural damage.^[27] Early on October 16, the Bermuda Electric Light Company switched its focus from service restoration after Fay to preparing for the onslaught of Gonzalo, leaving about 1,500 households without power. The remaining affected customers were asked to refrain from calling in to report outages, as repairs would not be attempted before Gonzalo's passage unless "an easy fix can be made [and] resources are available".^[28]

See also

• Lists of Atlantic hurricanes
• Other storms of the same name
• Hurricane Fabian
• Hurricane Karen (2001)

References

External links

• Hurricane Fay Advisory Archive

Tropical cyclones of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season 2 Arthur TD Two 1 Bertha 1 Cristobal TS Dolly 3 Edouard 1 Fay 4 Gonzalo TS Hanna Book Category Portal WikiProject Commons