Hurricane Epsilon (2005)
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | November 29, 2005 |
Remnant low | December 8, 2005 |
Dissipated | December 10, 2005 |
Category 1 hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 85 mph (140 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 981 mbar (hPa); 28.97 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | None |
Damage | None |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season |
Hurricane Epsilon was the twenty-seventh named
Epsilon persisted into December, extending the 2005 season beyond its stated November 30 end date.
Meteorological history
On November 27, a surface storm with
Epsilon moved westward after its development, steered by a ridge to its north.[6] Initially, Epsilon was embedded beneath an upper-level low that provided an area of low wind shear and instability.[2] An eye-like feature briefly developed in the center of the convection, although the thunderstorms waned late on November 28 due to restricted inflow. However, banding features and outflow improved at the same time.[7] By November 30, the NHC anticipated extratropical transition to occur within two days, although some strengthening was still expected.[8] That day, there was an increase in convection over the center of a ragged eye-feature.[9] The winds briefly increased to 65 mph (105 km/h),[2] although the intensity of the thunderstorms diminished. Initially Epsilon was predicted to continue westward and eventually turn to the north and northeast.[10] Instead, it turned toward the southwest and executed a cyclonic loop; the unexpected motion caused larger than normal errors in the extended track forecast.[2] As it moved to the south, the storm crossed over an area of warmer water temperatures, and the NHC remarked that "just a modest increase in convection [would be] needed to make Epsilon a hurricane." At the time, forecasters assessed the winds in Epsilon to be around 70 mph (115 km/h),[10] although in a post-season re-analysis it was found to have been 10 mph (15 km/h) weaker. Late on November 30, Epsilon made its closest approach to Bermuda, passing about 645 miles (1045 km) east-southeast of the island.[2]
Tropical Storm Epsilon began its motion to the east and northeast on December 1,[2] due to an approaching trough.[11] Its structure became that of a "shallow hybrid-type tropical cyclone", and an eye-feature again developed within the convection. At the time, the NHC and several computer models anticipated extratropical transition within 36 hours as it accelerated northeastward near the Azores. However, four computer models predicted an alternate scenario, and forecaster Stacy Stewart stated such transition would only occur "barring any southward motion over warmer water that would prolong both the lifetime of Epsilon and the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season."[12] As it continued northeastward, the storm separated from upper-level low it was previously beneath.[2] After a decrease in convection, the thunderstorm activity again increased over the center, and there were more banding features.[13] Despite moving over slightly cooler water temperatures, Epsilon attained hurricane status late on December 2, following the development of a well-defined eye 29 miles (46 km) in diameter.[14] A few hours after reaching hurricane status, the NHC thought Epsilon reached peak winds, as the storm was about to move over cooler water temperatures. Additionally, the hurricane was expected to stall near the Azores, in contrast to the original forecast of continued acceleration to the northeast.[15] On December 3 it turned due eastward, still maintaining an eye, modest amounts of convection, and outflow.[16] Despite moving into an area of cooler waters and generally unfavorable atmospheric conditions, Epsilon retained its hurricane status; the only entity supporting its intensity was its warm upper-level temperature.[17] By late on December 3, its presentation was described as "remarkably well-organized for a hurricane at high latitude in December... embedded in a strong upper-level westerly wind environment and moving over [70–72 °F (21–22 °C)] water."[18]
As it continued eastward, Epsilon developed characteristics of an
On December 6 the hurricane turned to the south and southwest.[2] As it did so, Epsilon passed beneath a mid-level trough that sheltered it from the wind shear.[24] After weakening during the evening, the convection redeveloped around the large and distinct eye in the daytime, a process Epsilon had done repeatedly in its duration.[25] However, late on December 7, an approaching trough began increasing wind shear over the system,[26] displacing the convection from the center and causing the eye to dissipate. After maintaining hurricane status for five days, Epsilon weakened to tropical storm status about 920 mi (1480 km) southwest of the Azores.[2] Once weakened to a tropical storm, Epsilon began rapidly deteriorating. On December 8, it was downgraded to a tropical depression as the convection had totally dissipated.[2] The NHC issued their final advisory on Epsilon at 1500 UTC that day, after the cyclone consisted of a tight swirl of low clouds with no convection. On issuing the last advisory, Lixion Avila remarked, "I hope this is the end of the long lasting 2005 hurricane season."[27] There was ultimately one more tropical storm – Zeta.[28] Late on December 8, Epsilon transitioned into a remnant low pressure area. The remnant circulation elongated in advance of a frontal zone, and it dissipated late on December 9.[2] The front absorbed the remnants the next day.[29]
Records
- Epsilon established a record formation date for the season's 27th tropical or subtropical storm, a mark that stood until 2020, when Hurricane Zeta formed on October 25.
- Epsilon is one of only four Atlantic storms since 1851 that have attained hurricane status in December, along with an unnamed storm in
- Epsilon maintained hurricane status for five days, longer than any other Atlantic hurricane in December.[2]
See also
- Tropical cyclones in 2005
- List of off-season Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Category 1 Atlantic hurricanes
- Timeline of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
References
- ^ Dorst, Neal (June 1, 2018). "Hurricane Season Information". Frequently Asked Questions About Hurricanes. Miami, Florida: NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t James L. Franklin (January 7, 2006). Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Epsilon (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Eric Blake (2005-11-27). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
- ^ Richard Pasch (2005-11-28). "Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
- ^ Jack Beven (2005-11-28). "Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
- ^ a b Stacy Stewart (2005-11-28). "Tropical Storm Epsilon Discussion One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (2005-11-28). "Tropical Storm Epsilon Discussion Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- ^ Lixion Avila (2005-11-29). "Tropical Storm Epsilon Discussion Four". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (2005-11-29). "Tropical Storm Epsilon Discussion Five". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- ^ a b Stacy Stewart (2005-11-30). "Tropical Storm Epsilon Discussion Six". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- ^ Richard Knabb (2005-12-01). "Tropical Storm Epsilon Discussion Eight". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (2005-12-01). "Tropical Storm Epsilon Discussion Nine". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- ^ Richard Knabb (2005-12-02). "Tropical Storm Epsilon Discussion Twelve". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (2005-12-02). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Thirteen". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (2005-12-02). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Fourteen". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- ^ Richard Pasch (2005-12-03). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Sixteen". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- ^ Lixion Avila (2005-12-03). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Seventeen". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- ^ Lixion Avila (2005-12-03). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Eighteen". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- ^ Knaff, John A.; Kossin, J.P.; DeMaria; M. (April 2003). "Annular Hurricane" (PDF). Weather and Forecasting. American Meteorological Society. pp. 204–223. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- ^ James L. Franklin (2005-12-04). "Tropical Storm Epsilon Discussion Twenty". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- ^ Lixion Avila (2005-12-04). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Twenty-One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
- ^ James L. Franklin (2005-12-04). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Twenty-Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- ^ Lixion Avila (2005-12-05). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Twenty-Five". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- ^ Richard Knabb (2005-12-06). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Thirty". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- ^ Lixion Avila (2005-12-07). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Thirty-Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- ^ Richard Knabb (2005-12-07). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Thirty-Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- ^ Lixion Avila (2005-12-08). "Tropical Depression Epsilon Discussion Thirty-Seven". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- ^ "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Gladys Rubio (2005-12-10). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (December 2, 2005). "Hurricane Epsilon Discussion Number 14". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Chris Landsea; Craig Anderson; William Bredemeyer; Cristina Carrasco; Noel Charles; et al. (August 2011). Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT (Report). Miami, Florida: Hurricane Research Division, National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 5, 2020.