Hurricane Flossie (2007)

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Hurricane Flossie
Flossie at peak intensity on August 11
Meteorological history
FormedAugust 8, 2007
DissipatedAugust 16, 2007
Category 4 major hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds140 mph (220 km/h)
Lowest pressure949 mbar (hPa); 28.02 inHg
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone
DamageMinimal
Areas affectedHawaii
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 2007 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Flossie was a powerful

named storm, second hurricane, first and only major hurricane of the inactive 2007 Pacific hurricane season, Flossie originated from a tropical wave
that emerged off Africa on July 21. After traversing the tropical Atlantic, the wave crossed Central America and entered the eastern Pacific on August 1. There, a favorable environment allowed it to become a tropical depression and a tropical storm shortly thereafter on August 8.

Tracking generally west-southwestward, the storm entered a stage of

major hurricane, reaching its peak intensity with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). With cooler sea surface temperatures
and high wind shear in its path, the hurricane weakened steadily, deteriorating to a tropical depression by August 16. The storm's center became devoid of strong thunderstorms later that day, indicating Flossie no longer qualified as a tropical cyclone.

As a strong storm, Flossie prompted hurricane and tropical storm warnings for the Big Island of Hawaii. Residents were warned by emergency officials to prepare for over a foot of rainfall and wind gusts well within tropical storm force. However, impact was negligible; the peak wind gust on the Big Island of Hawaii reached 39 mph (63 km/h), and rainfall totals remained below 6 inches (150 mm).

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The formation of Hurricane Flossie is attributed to a poorly defined

sea surface temperatures, Tropical Depression Six-E continued its organizational trend, and was declared a tropical storm – earning the name Flossie – six hours after formation.[1]

Hurricane Flossie approaching Hawaii on August 13

Located on the southwestern periphery of a

barometric pressure. Early morning satellite images revealed a 15 nmi (28 km) eye with cloud tops cooler than −75 °C (−103 °F) surrounding the feature.[5][6] Further intensification ensued as the storm entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)'s area of responsibility that morning, and Flossie was upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane by 1200 UTC. Two hours later, the cyclone attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 949 mb (hPa; 28.02 inHg), the strongest tropical cyclone of the 2007 Pacific hurricane season.[1]

After peak intensity, Flossie was forecast to gradually weaken as wind shear increased. However, despite prediction of such, Flossie did not weaken at all and in fact remained a Category 4 hurricane for 36 continuous hours.[1] In its discussion during the morning hours of August 13, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center stated that Flossie "was not willing to give up."[7] By the pre-dawn hours of August 14, however, the cyclone began to feel the impacts of increasingly cool sea surface temperatures and higher southerly wind shear. While outflow in the northern semicircle of Flossie remained exceptional, outflow in the southern half of the circulation began to dissipate; additionally, the southern flank of the eyewall began to fall apart.[8] An aircraft reconnaissance flight into the system revealed surface winds of 122 mph (196 km/h) and warming cloud tops, and Flossie was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane.[9] Further passes through the eyewall of the storm depicted ever-decreasing surface winds and organization with Flossie, and the storm was downgraded once again, to a Category 2 hurricane, by 1200 UTC as it passed south of the Hawaiian Islands. Over 26 kn (30 mph) of vertical wind shear eroded the remainder of the storm's eyewall on August 15;[10] as such, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center downgraded the cyclone to a tropical storm. Further weakening to tropical depression status occurred by 0600 UTC on August 16 as shower and thunderstorm activity over the center faded away. By 1200 UTC, a lone low-level swirl remained on satellite imagery, and the storm dissipated thereafter, while located southwest of the Hawaiian Islands.[1]

Preparations and impact

Overcast skies from Flossie along the Kona Coast

Shortly after entering the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, the organization issued a

Governor Linda Lingle declared a state of emergency for the Island of Hawaii in advance of the storm, where residents were advised to stock up on necessary supplies.[12]

The

Hawaii Community College, forcing an estimated 26,000 college students to remain home.[14] Some libraries, parks, private schools, banks and other businesses were also closed. Non-essential state employees were advised to remain at home,[15] and emergency workers were mobilized to quickly assist in the aftermath of the storm.[16] In advance of the storm, many tourists canceled reservations.[17]

Forecast heavy rains over the southeast-facing slopes of the Big Island failed to occur, as Flossie turned westward before low-level southeasterly winds had a chance to produce mountain-enhanced rainfall. However, north and northeast-facing slopes received minimal rainfall; 1 to 2 in (0.025 to 0.051 m) of rain was reported in the

lava bench collapsed into the ocean on August 13, which may have been related to the hurricane's passage, or alternatively, a recent 5.4 magnitude earthquake.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Richard J. Pasch; David P. Roberts (January 10, 2008). Hurricane Flossie Tropical Cyclone Report (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  2. ^ Jamie Rhome (August 8, 2007). "Tropical Storm Flossie Discussion Number 2". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  3. ^ Lixion A. Avila (August 8, 2007). "Tropical Storm Flossie Discussion Number 3". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  4. ^ Jamie Rhome (August 9, 2007). "Tropical Storm Flossie Discussion Number 6". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  5. ^ Michelle Mainelli (August 11, 2007). "Hurricane Flossie Discussion Number 11". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  6. ^ Richard J. Knabb (August 11, 2007). "Hurricane Flossie Discussion Number 12". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Forecaster Houston (August 13, 2007). "Hurricane Flossie Discussion Number 20". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  8. ^ Mark Powell (August 14, 2007). "Hurricane Flossie Discussion Number 22". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  9. ^ Mark Powell (August 14, 2007). "Hurricane Flossie Discussion Number 24". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  10. ^ Mark Powell (August 15, 2007). "Hurricane Flossie Discussion Number 26". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  11. ^ Mark Powell (August 13, 2007). "Hurricane Flossie Forecast Number 21". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  12. ^ Staff Writer (August 14, 2007). "Hurricane Flossie weakens as it nears Hawaii". Reuters. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  13. ^ "Flossie downgraded again after swiping Hawaii". NBC News. Associated Press. August 15, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  14. ^ Brent Suyama (July 29, 2007). "Storm shelter, closure information". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  15. ^ Dan Nakaso (August 15, 2007). "Weakened Flossie begins battering Hawaii". USA Today. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  16. ^ Mark Niesse (August 13, 2007). "Hurricane Flossie Storms Toward Hawaii". Washington Post. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  17. ^ Dan Nakaso (August 14, 2007). "Skittish tourists back out before Flossie". USA Today. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  18. ^ Tim Craig; Sam Houston; Wes Browning. 2007 Tropical Cyclones Central North Pacific (PDF) (Report). Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 9, 2019.

External links

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