Braer Storm
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | 8 January 1993 |
Dissipated | 17 January 1993 |
Extratropical cyclone | |
Highest winds | 194 km/h (121 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 914 hPa (mbar); 26.99 inHg (Strongest extratropical cyclone over North Atlantic Ocean) |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | None |
Areas affected | North Atlantic, Greenland, Iceland, Western Europe |
Part of the 1992–93 European windstorm season |
The Braer Storm was the most intense extratropical cyclone ever recorded over the northern Atlantic Ocean. Developing as a weak frontal wave on 8 January 1993, the system moved rapidly northeast. The combination of the absorption of a second low-pressure area to its southeast, a stronger than normal sea surface temperature differential along its path, and the presence of a strong jet stream aloft led to a rapid strengthening of the storm, with its central pressure falling to an estimated 914 hPa (914.0 mb; 26.99 inHg) on 10 January. Its strength was well predicted by forecasters in the United Kingdom, and warnings were issued before the low initially developed.
Meteorological history
A weak frontal wave, a low-pressure system forming along a
The new low south of the main low strengthened quickly, and its central pressure dropped to 982 hPa (29.00 inHg). During the evening of 9 January, the main
The system's strongest winds were within 280 km (170 mi) of its centre. Early during the afternoon of 10 January, a tremendous pressure differential existed between the centre of the cyclone and a high-pressure area over Spain, which had a central pressure of 1,035 hPa (30.6 inHg). This caused an extensive area of gale-force winds which stretched from Newfoundland to Spain, and northeastwards between Greenland and northern Norway. A large area of hurricane-force winds existed within this area of gales. The centre of the low transcribed a loop before resuming a slow northeast motion into the far northeast Atlantic. However, the system began to weaken, and by the evening of January 10, its central pressure had risen to 920 hPa (27.17 inHg). By the evening of 12 January, its central pressure rose to 952 hPa (28.11 inHg). During the evening of 13 January, its central pressure rose to 961 hPa (28.38 inHg) while located in the far northeast Atlantic. Within four days, the low dissipated west of Norway.[3]
Preparations and impact
The strength of this storm was well forecast by the British
Periods of rain impacted the British Isles early in the morning of 10 January, progressing from west to east. Wet and windy weather was seen across the region during the day, with a wintry mix of precipitation falling across northern sections of Britain.
Record set
This cyclone was slightly stronger than an intense low pressure area which moved near Greenland on 14–15 December 1986, which was the strongest extratropical cyclone known to occur across the northern Atlantic Ocean at that time. Only three prior extratropical storms across the north Atlantic,[3] and two since,[8][needs update] have attained central pressures below 930 hPa (27.46 inHg). While at the time, the Braer Storm was considered the most intense extratropical cyclone on record, recent storms and recent studies estimate cyclones in the Southern Ocean are most intense. The most intense was an extratropical cyclone in October 2022, which a paper published by Geophysical Research Letters estimated the reach a pressure of 899.91 hPa (26.574 inHg). In addition, the same paper estimated that at least five cyclones in the Southern Ocean have had pressures equal to or less than 914 hPa (27.0 inHg), with one cyclone in August 1983 having a pressure of 913.54 hPa (26.977 inHg).[9]
See also
- Perfect storm
- Typhoon Tip
- Great Gale of 1880
- Columbus Day Storm of 1962
- 1993 Storm of the Century
- November 2011 Bering Sea cyclone
- January 2013 Northwest Pacific cyclone
- November 2014 Bering Sea cyclone
- Storm Dennis
References
- ^ .
- . Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ^ .
- ^ Groenert, David; Bosart, Lance; Keyser, Daniel; Grumm, Richard (August 2002). 6.6 Large-Scale Circulation Anomaly Indices in Relation to Cool-Season Precipitation Events in the Northeastern United States (PDF). 19th Conference on Weather and Forecasting. State University of New York-Albany.
- ^ Climate Prediction Center (12 May 2008). "North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
- ^ a b United Kingdom Met Office (8 June 2010). "Sunday 10 January 1993 (The Braer Storm)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
- ^ Bennett, Will (14 January 1993). "Shetland oil spill dispersing rapidly in storm-lashed seas". The Independent. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
- ^ George P. Bancroft (December 2003). "Marine Weather Review – North Atlantic Area: March to August 2003". Mariners Weather Log. 47 (2). Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- .