Hurricane Gordon (2006)
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | September 10, 2006 |
Extratropical | September 20, 2006 |
Dissipated | September 24, 2006 |
Category 3 major hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 120 mph (195 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 955 mbar (hPa); 28.20 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | None |
Damage | $3.8 million (2006 USD) |
Areas affected | Azores, Iberian Peninsula, British Isles |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season |
Hurricane Gordon was the first tropical cyclone since 1992 to affect the Azores while retaining tropical characteristics. The eighth tropical storm, third hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season, Gordon formed on September 10 in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. It gradually matured into a hurricane as it tracked northward, reaching its peak intensity with winds of 195 km/h (121 mph) early on September 14 while located about 925 km (575 mi) southeast of Bermuda. After becoming nearly stationary, Gordon weakened to minimal hurricane status, although it re-intensified after accelerating to the east. It weakened again after moving over cooler waters, and passed through the Azores on September 20. Shortly thereafter, it became an extratropical cyclone and subsequently affected Spain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
The only land area affected while Gordon was tropical – the Azores – sustained little damage, in spite of wind gusts' reaching hurricane force on
Meteorological history
On September 1, a
Upon developing, the depression, small in physical size, moved slowly west-north-westward. Initially, the NHC faced difficulties in forecasting the future of the system due to the potential for resumed strong wind shear, as well as uncertainty in its path of direction.
After becoming a hurricane, Gordon underwent
On September 18, Hurricane Gordon began accelerating to the northeast around a strengthening ridge, and later toward the east as guided by a trough. Wind shear decreased, which allowed for convection to redevelop near the eye. Unexpectedly, the hurricane began restrengthening, despite moving over slightly cooler waters; instability from cooler upper-level temperatures allowed for the reintensification.
After passing the Azores, Gordon began interacting with an approaching cold front. Early on September 21, it completed the transition into an extratropical storm while simultaneously weakening below hurricane-force, located about 443 km (275 mi) west-northwest of the west coast of Portugal. The cyclone maintained its identity as the system turned sharply northeastward and later northward, after passing about 160 km (99 mi) northwest of the Spanish province of Galicia. Its forward motion accelerated to about 97 km/h (60 mph), steered by another extratropical storm, while still maintaining sustained winds of 105 km/h (65 mph). After moving along the west coast of Ireland, the extratropical remnants of Gordon turned to the northwest and intensified to hurricane-force winds. It turned to the southwest and later to the southeast, completing a large cyclonic loop before dissipating on September 24 to the south of Ireland.[1]
Preparations and impact
Precipitation | Storm | Location | Ref. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | mm | in | |||
1 | 150.0 | 5.91 | Bertha 2014 | Inverness, Highland | [13] |
2 | 135.0 | 5.31 | Charley 1986 | Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd | [14] |
3 | 130.0 | 5.12 | Nadine 2012 | Ravensworth, North Yorkshire | [15] |
4 | 76.0 | 2.99 | Lili 1996 | Chale Bay, Isle of Wight | [16] |
5 | 61.7 | 2.43 | Zeta 2020 | Chipping, Lancashire | [17] |
6 | 48.8 | 1.92 | Grace 2009 | Capel Curig, Conwy | [18] |
7 | 42.2 | 1.66 | Gordon 2006 | Wainfleet All Saints, Lincolnshire | [19] |
8 | 38.0 | 1.50 | Gonzalo 2014 | Glenmoriston, Highland | [20] |
9 | 31.0 | 1.22 | Bill 2009 | Shap, Cumbria | [21] |
10 | 30.0 | 1.18 | Laura 2008 | Windermere, Cumbria | [22] |
Late on September 18, while Gordon was beginning to accelerate to the northeast, a tropical storm watch was issued for all of the Azores. The hurricane was expected to weaken to tropical storm-force before affecting the islands. When it became apparent that Gordon would continue intensifying, a hurricane warning replaced the watch about 27 hours before the strongest winds affected the region.[1] The advance of the storm forced the closure of all schools in the region. Concurrently, officials increased the number of emergency workers on stand-by. The two westernmost islands – Corvo and Flores – were placed under a red alert, the highest on a four-level scale, which indicated the greatest threat for severe weather. The remainder of the archipelago was placed on low alert.[23] Ultimately, the Azores escaped significant damage as the hurricane passed farther south than expected. Overall impact was limited to toppled trees and power lines, leaving portions of Santa Maria Island without electrical service.[24] Santa Maria recorded sustained winds of 56 mph (90 km/h), with gusts to 82 mph (132 km/h).[1]
In Portugal, coastal regions were put under a yellow alert, the second lowest level, since the extratropical remnants of Gordon were expected to produce rough seas and heavy rains.[25] In Spain, the Galicia region was placed on red alert by authorities in anticipation of the storm. Classes on September 21 were also suspended by the regional education ministry. Eleven other regions of Spain, extending as far east as Madrid and as far south as Andalusia, received lower levels of warning.[26] The storm's threat also prompted the cancellation or delay of flights along the coast.[27] While passing northwest of Spain, the remnants of Gordon produced strong wind gusts, reaching 183 km/h (114 mph) at Punta Candieira in Galicia on the country's northwest coast. The nearby city of A Coruña recorded sustained winds of 43 mph (69 km/h),[1] while further inland, a station near Madrid reported winds of 107 km/h (66 mph). Along the coast, waves reached 7 m (23 ft) in height, while rainbands dropped heavy precipitation, including a total of 65.5 mm (2.58 in) in Canfranc.[28] Wind-blown debris injured four people in the country,[1] and a fifth storm-related injury occurred as the result of a tree falling onto an occupied vehicle. The winds downed trees, traffic lights, and power lines,[27] leaving about 100,000 people without power.[1][27] Throughout Galicia, total monetary losses reached €3 million (US$3.8 million; 2006 USD).[29]
Stormy conditions threatened to affect the 2006 Ryder Cup in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland at the K Club, and September 25 was set aside as an additional "reserve day". The club's media center was briefly evacuated, and one woman at the event was injured after being struck by a tree branch broken by the storm.[30] The remnants of Gordon caused stormy conditions that left at least 5,000 people without power in eastern and southern Ireland. One electric company had more than 400 workers on duty to restore power in affected areas.[31] High winds blowing down trees were responsible for power outages[32] which affected 126,000 people in Northern Ireland.[1]
The remnants of Gordon affected the United Kingdom with strong winds, including gusts to 97 km/h (60 mph) in the
See also
- Other storms of the same name
- List of Azores hurricanes
- Tropical cyclone effects in Europe
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Eric Blake (November 14, 2006). "Hurricane Gordon Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ Jack Beven (September 2, 2006). "Tropical Weather Outlook" (TXT). National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (September 5, 2006). "Tropical Weather Outlook" (TXT). National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ Michelle Mainelli; Jack Beven (September 7, 2006). "Tropical Weather Outlook" (TXT). National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ Richard Knabb; Robbie Berg (September 11, 2006). "Tropical Depression Seven Discussion One". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ Hugh Cobb; Richard Pasch (September 11, 2006). "Tropical Storm Gordon Discussion Four". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ Lixion Avila (September 13, 2006). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Nine". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ Lixion Avila (September 15, 2006). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Thirteen". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ Michael Brennan; Richard Knabb (September 15, 2006). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Eighteen". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (September 17, 2006). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Twenty-Five". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Eric Blake; Richard Pasch (September 19, 2006). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Thirty-Three". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
- ^ Richard Pasch (September 20, 2006). "Hurricane Gordon Discussion Thirty-Seven". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
- ^ "Ex-hurricane Bertha" (PDF). Met Office. Met Office. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "Hydrological Data UK 1986 Yearbook" (PDF). Natural Environment Research Council. British Geological Survey Institute of Hydrology. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "Hydrological Summary for the United Kingdom - September 2012" (PDF). Natural Environment Research Council. British Geological Survey Institute of Hydrology. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ISBN 9781438118796. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ^ Finch, Fiona. "Warning over cost of record rainfall in Lancashire". Lancashire Post. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "Review of UK weather on 06/10/09". BBC Weather. October 7, 2009. Archived from the original on October 11, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
- ^ "September 2006 UK Review". United Kingdom Met Office. 2006. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ "Top UK wind speeds as Gonzalo's remnants felt". Met Office Blog. Met Office. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ Laura Harding (August 27, 2009). "More rain expected in parts of UK". The Independent. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
- ^ "Tropical storm brings floods". Westmorland Gazette. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ Staff Writer (September 18, 2006). "Portugal's Mid-Atlantic Azores Brace For Tropical Storm". Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
- ^ Staff Writer (September 20, 2006). "Azores escape worst of hurricane". BBC News. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ Alex Morales; Margot Habiby (September 20, 2006). "Hurricane Gordon Sweeps Through Azores, Heads Toward Iberia". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
- ^ Staff Writer (September 20, 2006). "Spain prepares for a weakened Gordon". Kansas City Star. Associated Press.
- ^ a b c Staff Writer (September 21, 2006). "Storm Gordon reaches Spain – one injured". The Raw Story. Deutsche Presse Agentur. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- Agencia Estatal de Meteorología. "Las Consecuencias de Gordon en Espana" (PDF) (in Spanish). Government of Spain. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 4, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ Unattributed (2006). "El Consorcio de Seguros tasa en unos 44 millones los daños por las inundaciones" (in Spanish). Farode Vigo. Archived from the original on May 27, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ Staff Writer (September 21, 2006). "High winds lead to power failures". BBC News. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Archivedfrom the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ Staff Writer (September 23, 2006). "Thousands of homes without power". BBC News. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ "Speke Keeill, Mount Murray Hotel, Isle of Man: Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results" (PDF). Wessex Archaeology. Wessex Archaeology. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016.
- ^ "September 2006 UK Review". United Kingdom Met Office. 2006. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ Helen McKenzie (September 22, 2006). "Strong Winds Hit the UK". BBC World Weather News. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ Staff Writer (September 22, 2006). "Storms hit power and rail tracks". BBC News. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
- ^ Lewis Smith and Paul Simons (September 22, 2006). "Gordon keeps the forecasters guessing". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
External links