Tropical Storm Fay (2020)

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Tropical Storm Fay
Tropical Storm Fay at peak intensity shortly before landfall in New Jersey on July 10
Meteorological history
FormedJuly 9, 2020 (July 9, 2020)
Remnant lowJuly 11
DissipatedJuly 12, 2020 (July 12, 2020)
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds60 mph (95 km/h)
Lowest pressure998 mbar (hPa); 29.47 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities6 total
Damage$220 million (2020 USD)
Areas affectedEastern Southeastern United States, East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Canada
Part of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Fay was the first

extratropical low over Quebec
on July 12.

Fay's precursor disturbance was responsible for extensive

Philadelphia and New York City metropolitan areas were flooded and were left impassable, leading to widespread road closures and disruption to commuters. Uprooted trees and damaged power lines from windy conditions caused thousands of power outages in Pennsylvania
and New Jersey. Total economic losses from Fay in the United States exceeded US$220 million.

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

Fay can first be traced back to a decaying

convection, or thunderstorms.[2] A smaller-scale low pressure center formed within the disturbance, but before the feature could further consolidate, it moved inland near Panama City, Florida around 06:00 UTC on July 6.[1] Surface and Doppler weather radar observations confirmed the feature had a small 90 nmi radius of 1-minute sustained winds up to 35 mph (56 km/h), characteristic of a tropical cyclone, but was accompanied by a large, disorganized area of thunderstorms and thus, didn't meet the NHC's criteria to be deemed a tropical cyclone.[1] While inland, the NHC assessed a 50% probability that the weather system would become a tropical or subtropical cyclone, which the agency soon raised to a 70% probability.[3][4] The low moved through Georgia and proceeded to turned eastward under the influence of the southern edge of the mid-latitude westerly winds, crossing over southern South Carolina, before emerging into the Western Atlantic on July 8.[1] On July 9, the thunderstorm activity of the low increased as it moved northeastward, parallel to the coast of North Carolina even as the system experienced a sudden slowing in its forward motion.[1]

Late on July 9,

Delmarva peninsula, which was rotating around a larger circulation.[9] Around 20:00 UTC on July 10, Fay made landfall just north-northeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h).[1] By that time, the system was already losing some of its tropical characteristics, with rapidly decreasing amounts of thunderstorms near the center and the deepest convection displaced well to the east and southeast of the center.[10] Fay continued weakening as it moved northward through New Jersey, and weakened into a tropical depression as it crossed into southeastern New York.[11] Early on July 11, the system transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone as the center became devoid of deep convection.[12] Afterward, Fay's remnants were drawn into the circulation of an approaching extratropical storm, before being fully absorbed into the approaching system over Quebec on July 12.[13]

Preparations

An image of Tropical Storm Fay shortly after being named off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina.
Fay shortly after being named on July 9

Upon issuing its first advisory on Fay, the

Block Island.[6] On July 10, the NHC extended the warning southward to Fenwick Island, Delaware, including the Delaware Bay.[14] The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for much of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, all of New Jersey, and New York City.[15][16][17] The entirety of Long Island was also placed under a flash flood warning.[18]

United States President Donald Trump's rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire was delayed. Due to concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rally was supposed to be held outdoors. However, forecasters expected heavy rainfall and gusty winds from Fay or its remnants, which led the Trump campaign to postpone the rally, due to safety precautions.[19]

Lifeguards restricted swimming in three Delaware beaches due to the threat for rip currents.[20] Jersey Shore locals were advised to avoid the coast, due to the threat of high waves, while community leaders began to take precautions to diminish flooding threats, such as lowering water levels in nearby lakes.[21] New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement on July 9, urging New York State residents to stay alert and cautious, due to the impending severe weather conditions, highlighting a significant chance of flash flooding.[22] Residents of New York City were advised by New York City Emergency Management to take emergency precautions and to prepare for power outages and locally strong wind gusts.[23]

Impact

Flushing Meadows Park
after the storm

Southeastern United States

The precursor disturbance to Fay moved into the

waterspouts on July 6, with one of them moving ashore and becoming an EF0 tornado, which lifted an umbrella, although it is not clear as to whether or not this was actually caused by Fay or another approaching extratropical storm from the west.[31][32][33][1]

Northeastern United States

Fay's impacts were felt across a majority of the Northeastern U.S., with widespread rain, flash flooding, and minor wind damage occurring as a result of the storm.[24] Losses from Fay in this region were estimated to be at least US$350 million.[34]

Delaware and Pennsylvania

While Fay was near peak intensity, its

Delaware beaches.[39][40] Tidal flooding also occurred farther north in the state along the Christina River in New Castle County.[37] Fay also caused flash flooding in neighboring Pennsylvania, with a rainfall total of 5.26 in (134 mm) recorded in Wynnewood.[1] At least six drivers required rescue when their vehicles were flooded.[37] Pennypack Creek exceeded its flood stage of 7 ft (2.1 m), sending floodwaters flowing near Philadelphia.[37] The storm also knocked down trees and power lines across eastern Pennsylvania.[37]

New Jersey and New York State

Tropical Storm Fay approximately 5 hours before its landfall in New Jersey on July 10, 2020. The storm's intense rainband was moving northwards into the most populated regions of New Jersey.
Total rainfall produced by Tropical Storm Fay from July 9–11, 2020.

In neighboring New Jersey, Fay also dropped heavy rainfall, totaling 5.86 in (149 mm) near

Newark Fire Department, most of whom were stranded within their vehicles.[58]

As Fay passed west of

Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) in Central Park recorded a total of 2.43 inches (62 mm) of rain, while several Mesonet stations in the Boroughs of New York City recorded rainfall totals as high as 2.96 inches (75 mm) in Midtown Manhattan, 2.44 inches (62 mm) in Brooklyn, 2.21 inches (56 mm) on Staten Island, 2.17 inches (55 mm) in The Bronx, and 2.08 inches (52.8) in Queens.[59] The storm reportedly flooded several New York City Subway stations as well.[60]

An 18-year-old swimmer who rescued two of his friends from drowning eventually drowned in the ocean near Atlantic City.[61] An unidentified teenager in Eastern New Jersey was pulled underwater in a strong rip current and their body was never recovered, presumably having drowned, according to a media report.[62] A 77-year-old swimmer and a 17-year-old swimmer injured from rough surf conditions were also pulled from the ocean at Atlantic City and Raritan Bay, respectively, on July 11, and later died from their injuries.[63] A 24-year-old man went missing while swimming and was presumed dead by authorities in Ocean City, New Jersey.[64] On July 18, a fisherman off the Great Egg Harbor Inlet discovered the deceased body of the missing man.[65]

In Long Beach, New York, a 19-year-old drowned off the coast, after being caught in rip currents from Fay. He was with five other swimmers, whom were rescued after also being caught in the rip currents.[66]

New England

See also: List of United States tornadoes from May to July 2020 § July 11 event

In Maine, the post-tropical

Baker Lake, which became an EF0 tornado once it moved ashore between Hiram and Naples on July 11, with minor damage to some trees and homes.[1][67] Despite the post-tropical cyclone passing over the state, rainfall totals did not exceed 1 inch (25 mm) and there were no other reports of damage.[1][68]

In Vermont, post-tropical Fay brought rain showers across the state but there was no reports of damage.[69] Connecticut was affected by rain showers due to the cyclone but had escaped most of the severe impacts.[70] A 1-minute sustained wind of 33 mph (53 km/h) and a wind gust of 40 mph (64 km/h) was recorded near Norwalk.[1] The city of Bridgeport experienced their second wettest July day on record with 3.99 inches (101 mm) of rain.[71] A 64-year-old Massachusetts man was also identified as a victim of drowning off a Rhode Island beach on July 12, although it is unclear whether Fay was responsible for the fatality.[72]

See also

References

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External links

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