Hurricane Tomas
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | October 29, 2010 |
Extratropical | November 7, 2010 |
Dissipated | November 11, 2010 |
Category 2 hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 100 mph (155 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 982 mbar (hPa); 29.00 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 44 total |
Damage | $463 million (2010 USD) |
Areas affected | Windward Islands, Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles and Lucayan Archipelago |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season |
Hurricane Tomas was a moderately powerful late-season
Along the hurricane's path, 44 fatalities occurred, 8 of whom were in Saint Lucia. In the wake of the storm in
Meteorological history
A
On its inception, Tomas turned toward the northwest and decelerated
Tomas continued to strengthen through October 30 as it moved generally west- to west-northwestward. Around 20:00 UTC, the eye traversed the northern shores of
Following its deterioration, Tomas diverged toward the northwest over the central Caribbean.[1] The circulation lost further definition, adjoining a wide stretch of low pressures spanning the western Caribbean. A Hurricane Hunters mission to determine whether Tomas retained its status as a tropical cyclone found that the mean low-level circulation had reformed to the northeast of the previous center. Tomas reattained tropical storm strength late on November 3,[17][18] and although the low- and mid-level centers were initially nonaligned, slow restrengthening ensued into the next day.[19] Tomas turned northward ahead of an unseasonably strong deep-layered trough, circumnavigating the western periphery of the subtropical ridge.[1][20] Over a six-hour period, the cyclone's core thunderstorm activity became much more concentrated, with a corresponding quick drop in central pressure.[21] While turning northeastward into the Windward Passage, Tomas regained hurricane status around 0600 UTC on November 5, just 36 miles (58 km) west-southwest of the western tip of Haiti.[1][22]
Over the course of November 5, the hurricane accelerated northeastward in response to the approaching trough, passing right between eastern Cuba and western Haiti. Due to its proximity to land, the convection became disrupted near the center;
Preparations
Prior to the development of Tomas, the NHC noted the potential for heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts to spread across the
In Barbados, people were able to evacuate to schools and shelters for safety during the storm.[27] On St. Lucia, the government closed the island's two airports and ordered the closure of all businesses. Additionally, a large Creole festival was canceled due to the storm.[28] Officials in Trinidad and Tobago closed beaches across the country.[29] In St. Vincent, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) issued advisories that a tropical system was approaching the country. The rapid intensification of Tomas caught many citizens in St. Vincent off guard. Early on October 30, the Prime Minister addressed the nation and informed the country of the situation it was facing.
Following the west-southwesterly motion of the storm, swells generated by Tomas produced breaking waves on coastal sections of the
Impact
County/Region | Deaths | Damage | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Barbados | None | $8.5 million | [1] |
Cuba | None | Unknown | [32] |
Curaçao | 1 | $115 million | [1][citation needed] |
Haiti | 35 | Unknown | [1] |
Martinique | None | Minimal | |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | None | $3.3 million | [1] |
Saint Lucia | 8 | $336 million | [1] |
Trinidad and Tobago | None | $629,000 | [33] |
Total | 44 | $463 million |
Barbados and the Windward Islands
As Tomas passed 20 miles (32 km) to the south of Barbados, it produced a wind gust of 63 mph (101 km/h), which damaged homes and power lines on the island.[34][35] There were also reports of blown off roofs, impassable roads and uprooted trees.[36] Later, a station on Saint Lucia recorded sustained winds of 48 mph (77 km/h), with gusts to 69 mph (111 km/h).[37] There was widespread damage to homes and power lines.[38] The winds destroyed the roof of a hospital and a school, with several trees and power lines blown down.[28] Additionally, a station on Martinique reported sustained winds of 72 mph (116 km/h), with gusts to 108 mph (174 km/h).[39]
On
Saint Lucia arguably had sustained the worst damage from the storm overall. Throughout Saint Lucia, severe flooding and mudslides resulted in at least 7 fatalities confirmed by the Chief Medical Officer. According to a government minister, several other people were missing and buried in landslides.[40] By the morning of November 2, two more fatalities were confirmed on the island.[41]
Other Caribbean Islands
While passing the Windward Islands into the Caribbean Sea, Tomas produced strong winds and heavy rainfall on
Although the storm did not directly strike the
Following hours of heavy rainfall, widespread floods made most roads in the region impassable, with dozens of cars swept away or stranded.
Damage on the other two islands was much more limited. Parts of Bonaire experienced heavy but brief periods of rain, with a maximum of 3 inches (76 mm) at Flamingo International Airport, causing localized flooding of property. On Aruba, some thunder and moderate rainfall occurred, without significant consequences.[42] All schools across the islands were closed on November 2 and 3 as a result of the storm.[51]
Greater Antilles
After days of anticipation, Tomas arrived just offshore in Haiti on the morning of November 5. The storm intensified while brushing the disaster-weary nation, reattaining hurricane strength near the westernmost tip of Haiti. Torrential rains and tropical storm force winds buffeted the entire region. Within hours of the storm's arrival, flooding began to occur. In earthquake-ravaged
Tomas passed just to the east of Cuba hours later, but no significant damage was reported on the island.
Elsewhere
Hurricane Tomas narrowly missed the
Aftermath
Estimates place the cost of damage in Barbados at
Damage from the storm on Trinidad and Tobago amounted to TTD$4 million (US$629,000).[33] Losses in Barbados reached BBD$17 million (US$8.4 million).[64] The Government of St. Lucia stated that damage from the storm could exceed US$100 million.[65] By November 5, the Prime Minister stated that damage from Tomas was roughly EC$1.3 billion (US$500 million), five times higher than initially stated.[66]
Retirement
Due to the extent of damage across the Caribbean, the name Tomas was retired from the 6-year rotating list of Atlantic hurricane names by the World Meteorological Organization in March 2011, and will never again be used as a storm name in the Atlantic basin. It was replaced with Tobias for the 2016 season.[67][68][69]
See also
- List of Category 2 Atlantic hurricanes
- Timeline of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season
- Hurricane Hazel (1954)
- Hurricane Noel (2007)
- Hurricane Matthew (2016)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Pasch, Richard J.; Kimberlain, Todd B. (March 7, 2011). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Tomas (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- ^ Patricia Wallace (October 25, 2010). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ a b Patricia Wallace (October 25, 2010). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ Pasch/Kimberlain (October 27, 2010). "Tropical Weather Outlook". Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ Pasch/Cangialosi (October 28, 2010). "Tropical Weather Outlook". Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ Stewart/Cangialosi (October 29, 2010). "Special Tropical Weather Outlook". Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ a b Stacy Stewart (October 29, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Discussion One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ a b Michael Brennan (October 30, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Discussion Four". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Berg/Brown (October 30, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Special Discussion Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Berg/Brown (October 30, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Discussion Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Berg/Brown (October 30, 2010). "Hurricane Tomas Discussion Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ a b Michael Brennan (October 31, 2010). "Hurricane Tomas Discussion Nine". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- ^ Cangialos/Brown (October 31, 2010). "Hurricane Tomas Discussion Ten". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- ^ Robbie Berg (November 1, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Discussion Twelve". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
- ^ a b Cangialosi/Brown (November 2, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Discussion Eighteen". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ Pasch/Roberts (November 3, 2010). "Tropical Depression Tomas Discussion Twenty-One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Jack Beven (November 3, 2010). "Tropical Depression Tomas Discussion Twenty-Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Jack Beven (November 3, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Discussion Twenty-Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Kimberlain/Pasch (November 4, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Discussion Twenty-Five". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Landsea/Beven (November 5, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Discussion Twenty-Seven". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (November 5, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Discussion Twenty-Eight". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Kimberlain/Pasch (November 5, 2010). "Hurricane Tomas Discussion Twenty-Nine". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Jack Beven (November 5, 2010). "Hurricane Tomas Discussion Thirty". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Brown/Berg (October 29, 2010). "Tropical Weather Outlook". Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (October 29, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Public Advisory One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Berg/Brown (October 30, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Public Advisory Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ a b c Staff Writer (October 30, 2010). "Hurricane Tomas forms in eastern Caribbean". Montreal Gazette. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ a b c Staff Writer (October 30, 2010). "Tomas becomes hurricane, threatens east Caribbean". USAToday. Associated Press. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Staff Writer (October 30, 2010). "Avoid the Beaches". Trinidad Express. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- ^ "Cyclone advisory no. 9". Meteorological Department Curaçao. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
- ^ (in Papiamento) "Advertensia pa mal tempu ta na vigor pa Boneiru i Kòrsou". Meteorological Department Curaçao. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ "Temporada ciclónica de 2010 en el Atlántico Norte –". Instituto de Meteorología de la República de Cuba. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
- ^ a b Agile Telecom Ltd. and Xidemia (November 2, 2010). "Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday". newsday.co.tt. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ Jordan, Kaymar, ed. (November 1, 2010). "Tomas batters St Peter". The Daily Nation Newspaper. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
MORE THAN 50 houses in St Peter, [(Barbados)] have been damaged by ropical[SIC] Storm Tomas. This assessment from chairman of the northern District Emergency Office (DEO), Dave Hurley, came during a tour of worst-affected villages in the parish with parliamentary representative Owen Arthur yesterday. Speaking at the end of the tour, about midday yesterday, Hurley described the situation then as "critical", noting that several houses were in need of some form of repair. He also expressed concern at the time that St Peter had been without electricity, phone and water services.
- ^ Stewart/Cangialosi (October 30, 2010). "Tropical Storm Tomas Intermediate Advisory Four-A". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ "Barbados feels brunt of Tropical Storm Tomas". October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (October 30, 2010). "Hurricane Tomas Intermediate Advisory Five-A". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Stewart, Stacy. "Hurricane Tomas Advisory Number 6". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/antilles/pack-public/cyclone/saison2010/Tomas_VBB_3.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Hurricane kills 14 people in St Lucia". BBC News. November 2, 2010.
- ^ "Tomas blamed for 14 deaths in St Lucia – Caribbean360". Caribbean360.com. November 1, 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ a b Drayer, Dick (November 11, 2010). "Meteo rapporteert over Tomas" (in Dutch). Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Doden door noodweer op Curaçao" (in Dutch). Netherlands National News Agency. November 1, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
- ^ "Doden door regenval op Curaçao" (in Dutch). NOS Nieuws. November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ Sharlon Monart (November 3, 2010). "Miljoenenschade Tomas aan woningen, winkels en bedrijven" (in Dutch). Aworaki. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Leoni Leidel (November 2, 2010). "Vluchten vertraagd" (in Dutch). versgeperst.com. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ Staff Writer (November 2, 2010). "Damdoorbraken in Curaçao door storm Tomas" (in Dutch). Nieuws.nl. Archived from the original on June 18, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ Monart, Sharon (November 3, 2010). "Tomas ontregelt Curaçao" (in Dutch). Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
- ^ Leoni Leidel (November 2, 2010). "Tomas eist twee levens" (in Dutch). versgeperst.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ Sharlon Monart (November 25, 2010). "Helft schade Tomas niet te verhalen" (in Dutch). Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ^ Mirjam Bernadina-Lonnee (November 2, 2010). "Tomas sluit scholen" (in Dutch). versgeperst.com. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ Agence-France-Presse (November 5, 2010). "Rain hits Haiti, flooding refugee camp". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on November 5, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Associated Press (November 8, 2010). "Haiti death toll from Hurricane Tomas rises to 20, flooding raises cholera concerns". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Retrieved November 8, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "english.aljazeera.net". english.aljazeera.net. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ Comercio, El (November 2, 2010). "Huracán Tomas se fortalece mientras avanza hacia Haití y Cuba". El Comercio.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ Guerrero, Miguel Maury (November 5, 2010). "Informan que no hay víctimas en Cuba por paso de huracán". Granma Internacional (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ General Staff, Civil Defense (November 5, 2010). "Information Bulletin No. 3 for Tropical Storm Tomas". Granma Internacional. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ "Plane With 68 Said to Crash in Cuba". New York Times. November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Simon Hradecky (November 4, 2010). "Crash: Aerocaribbean AT72 near Guasimal on Nov 4th 2010, impacted ground after emergency call". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Staff Writer (December 17, 2010). "Severe ice, crew errors cause Cuban plane crash". Xinhua. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
- ^ "Tomas misses Turks and Caicos". Turks and Caicos SUN. November 6, 2010. Archived from the original on November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
- ^ Brancker, Nadia (November 8, 2010). "Business to get moving in Barbados". The Barbados Advocate. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
...as well as the fall out from the passage of Tropical Storm Tomas, 20 miles to the South of Barbados causing damages estimated at "BDS" [sic]$17 million.
- ^ Joel Julien (November 1, 2010). "Vital banana crop wiped out". Trinidad Express. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ —Cmc (November 1, 2010). "Barbados could get $17m in insurance for Tomas damage | Trinidad Express Newspaper | News". Trinidadexpress.com. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ "Hurricane Tomas kills 12 in St Lucia – Breaking & Current Jamaica News –". Jamaicaobserver.com. November 1, 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ Agile Telecom Ltd. and Xidemia (November 6, 2010). "Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday". newsday.co.tt. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ "2016 Hurricane Names for the Atlantic". The Weather Channel. June 30, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "Hurricane names Igor, Tomas retired". NBC News. The Associated Press. March 18, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^ "Two Tropical Cyclone Names Retired from List of Atlantic Storms" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. March 16, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
Further reading
- King, Mike, ed. (November 5, 2010). "Millions in storm claims". The Daily Nation (Barbados). Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- B., A., ed. (November 10, 2010). "OAS givesUS$125 000 in storm aid". The Daily Nation (Barbados) (published November 12, 2010). Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
The Organisation of American States (OAS) yesterday made an official contribution of US$125 000 from the Inter-American Emergency Aid Fund (FONDEM) to five countries of the region (Belize, Costa Rica, Haiti, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines) that were affected by hurricanes Tomas and Richard over the last few weeks. During an official ceremony at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, each country received $25 000. Secretary General José Miguel Insulza said the "impact caused by these disasters remind us of the need to deal with this matter in a comprehensive way, not only from the point of view of relief, but from that of the whole strategy we have in our region.
- Tudor, Carol-Ann, ed. (November 11, 2010). "Mad rush for water". The Daily Nation (Barbados). Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
St Lucia's Defence Force was called into action yesterday when hundreds of citizens burst through gates and bombarded Barbadian fishing vessels laden with relief supplies for victims of Hurricane Tomas. The vessels arrived in St Lucia early yesterday morning.
- Writer, Staff, ed. (November 13, 2010). "$37m Tomas bill". The Daily Nation (Barbados). Archived from the original on November 14, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
Government will have to shell out an estimated $37 million dollars to repair houses damaged by Tropical Storm Tomas. Making the disclosure at a Press Conference at Government Headquarters yesterday, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said it was an expense for which government had not planned. But with confirmed reports of damage to 1000 houses, and expectations that the number could rise as high as 1 400 or 1500, the Prime Minister said government would be going to Parliament on Tuesday to get a legislative amendment to access the Catastrophe Fund which currently has about $23 million. He added another $17 million had been sourced from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility.