Hurricane Gustav (2002)

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Hurricane Gustav
Newfoundland, Atlantic Canada
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Part of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Gustav was a

Bahamas, Gustav passed just to the east of the Outer Banks, North Carolina as a tropical storm before traveling northeastward, making two landfalls in Atlantic Canada as a Category 1 hurricane. The storm was responsible for one death and $100,000 in damage, mostly in North Carolina. The interaction between Gustav and a non-tropical system produced strong winds that caused an additional $240,000 (2002 USD) in damage in New England
, but this damage was not directly attributed to the hurricane.

Gustav spent the early part of its existence as a subtropical storm, and was the first such storm to be named from the current lists by the National Hurricane Center. Previously, subtropical storms were not given names.[1] The cyclone was also the latest-forming first hurricane of the season since 1941.

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

An area of disturbed weather in association with a weak

Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance aircraft indicated that the system had strengthened into Subtropical Storm Gustav.[3]

Gustav moved erratically to the west-northwest toward the North Carolina-South Carolina border over the next two days. During this time it slowly strengthened, acquiring more tropical characteristics. On September 10, a poorly organized band of stronger winds developed around the center, and Gustav was designated a fully tropical storm[4] Gustav then began to curve toward the north, brushing Cape Hatteras, before accelerating toward the northeast and away from the coast.[2] On September 11, while under the influence of a non-tropical system over New England, Gustav quickly strengthened into a hurricane.[2] Gustav reached its peak intensity of 100 mph (160 km/h) later that same day.[2]

By early September 12, the hurricane had begun to slowly weaken and lose tropical characteristics, as it moved over colder waters and encountered increasing

extratropical shortly after.[6] The extratropical low continued moving slowly to the northeast before dissipating over the Labrador Sea on September 15.[2]

Preparations

Tropical Storm Gustav near the Outer Banks on September 10

On September 8, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center predicted that Gustav would approach the

tropical storm watch from Cape Fear to the North Carolina – Virginia border. The tropical storm watch was upgraded to a tropical storm warning on September 9, and a new tropical storm watch was issued later that day for areas of southeastern Virginia, from the North Carolina – Virginia border to New Point Comfort. The new watch was upgraded to a tropical storm warning on September 10. As Gustav began to turn to the northeast and away from the Mid-Atlantic coast, the tropical storm warnings were gradually discontinued. The last warning was discontinued on September 11.[2]

As Gustav approached Atlantic Canada,

Environment Canada and the Canadian Hurricane Centre issued heavy rain and wind warnings for southern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland.[7]

Impact

The Carolinas and Virginia

Total rainfall map of Gustav in North Carolina

Although the center of Gustav passed just to the east of Cape Hatteras, areas of North Carolina and southeastern Virginia experienced heavy rain and tropical storm force winds. Parts of the Outer Banks received 2–5 inches (51–127 millimetres) of rain and winds of up to 50 mph (80 km/h), and the Coast Guard station at Cape Hatteras reported a wind gust of 78 mph (126 km/h). The storm produced storm surges of 3–6 feet (0.91–1.83 m) along the Outer Banks, and 1–3 feet (0.30–0.91 m) along the southeastern coast of Virginia. These surges, combined with strong winds and high sea swells, resulted in minor flooding, mainly in Ocracoke and Hatteras Village, North Carolina.[8] A weak waterspout also touched down on Silver Lake near Ocracoke and moved onshore, but only minor roof damage was reported.[9] Sporadic power outages were also reported.[10] One person died at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina after suffering injuries in the high surf, and 40 other people had to be rescued from riptides and storm surges.[2] Damage in North Carolina amounted to $100,000 (2002 USD).[2]

New Jersey

Although the center of Gustav remained well offshore, the difference in pressure between it and a

West Amwell Township, where a tree limb fell on two elderly women, killing one and injuring the other. Elsewhere, while there were reports of trees falling on vehicles, no other serious injuries or deaths were reported.[11]

New York and New England

The interaction between Gustav and the non-tropical system caused strong winds that affected areas of coastal New England, mainly in eastern New York and Massachusetts. Some areas reported storm-force wind gusts of over 55 mph (89 km/h), and a maximum wind gust of 67 mph (108 km/h) was reported by a weather spotter in Catskill, New York.[12] Wind gusts of up to 50 mph (80 km/h) were reported in areas of Massachusetts.[13] The winds downed trees and power lines, and several homes and cars were damaged by fallen trees. Over 29,000 homes were left without power in eastern New York,[12] and 19,000 homes lost power in Massachusetts.[13] In all, the winds caused $240,000 (2002 USD) in damage,[13] but this damage was not directly attributed to Gustav in the National Hurricane Center's analysis.[2]

In the

9/11 memorial service, though it continued as planned.[15]

Sustained winds of 25–35 mph (40–56 km/h), with gusts up to 55 mph (89 km/h), were reported throughout Long Island.[14] Damage on the island was mainly limited to downed trees and power lines, although the Long Island Power Authority reported that at least 93,000 homes lost power during the day on September 11. One person was killed when his boat capsized in the Long Island Sound.[14]

Hurricane Gustav near its first landfall in Nova Scotia on September 12

Atlantic Canada

Despite gradually losing its tropical characteristics, Gustav brought heavy rain, storm and hurricane-force winds, and storm surges to areas of

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island were left without power. Despite the heavy rain and wind, there were no reports of deaths or significant damage in Atlantic Canada.[16]

Distinctions

Gustav was the first subtropical storm to be given a name from the

NATO phonetic alphabet.[1][17]

Normally, an average of three hurricanes form by September 11 of each year. Gustav attained hurricane status on September 11, making it the latest first hurricane to form in any season for 60 years,[5] since the 1941 season, when the first hurricane developed on September 16.

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hurricane Gustav (2002).
  1. ^
    NOAA Atlantic Oceanic and Meteorological Laboratory. Archived from the original
    on October 11, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2006.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Jack Beven (January 14, 2003). "Hurricane Gustav Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  3. NOAA
    . Retrieved October 22, 2006.
  4. ^ National Hurricane Center (September 10, 2002). "Discussion #9 for Tropical Storm Gustav, 11 a.m. EDT, Sept. 10 2002". NOAA. Retrieved October 22, 2006.
  5. ^ a b c "Hurricane Gustav Storm Summary". Canadian Hurricane Centre. October 7, 2002. Archived from the original on September 27, 2005. Retrieved September 26, 2006.
  6. ^ National Hurricane Center (September 12, 2002). "Discussion #16 for Hurricane Gustav, 5 a.m. EDT, Sept. 12 2002". NOAA. Retrieved October 22, 2006.
  7. ^ Miles Lawrence (September 11, 2002). "Hurricane Gustav Public Advisory #12". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 27, 2006.
  8. ^ "NCDC Event Details, Event #475830". National Climatic Data Center. September 10, 2002. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  9. ^ "NCDC Event Details, Event #475831". National Climatic Data Center. September 10, 2002. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  10. ^ "Hurricane Gustav heads toward Nova Scotia". CNN. September 12, 2002. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2006.
  11. ^ a b c d "NCDC Event Report, Event #474063". National Climatic Data Center. September 11, 2002. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  12. ^ a b "NCDC Event Details, Event #475001". National Climatic Data Center. September 11, 2002. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  13. ^ a b c "NCDC Event Details, Event #467548". National Climatic Data Center. September 11, 2002. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  14. ^ a b c "NCDC Event Details, Event #474999". National Climatic Data Center. September 11, 2002. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  15. ^ Keith Olbermann (September 12, 2002). "An ill wind". Salon.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2006.
  16. ^ "Newfoundland hit with heavy rain, Gustav leaves land". CTV. September 12, 2002. Archived from the original on December 24, 2002. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  17. ^ R.H. Simpson and Paul J. Hebert (April 1973). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1972" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
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