Tropical Storm Zelda (1991)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Tropical Storm Zelda (1991)
A visible satellite image of a very compact tropical storm, with a small and partially obscured eye in the center of its central dense overcast
Zelda near the Marshall Islands on November 29, 1991
Meteorological history
FormedNovember 27, 1991 (1991-11-27)
ExtratropicalDecember 5, 1991 (1991-12-05)
DissipatedDecember 7, 1991 (1991-12-07)
Severe tropical storm
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Highest winds110 km/h (70 mph)
Lowest pressure975 hPa (mbar); 28.79 inHg
Category 1-equivalent typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds150 km/h (90 mph)
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone
Areas affectedMarshall Islands, Alaska, Canada
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1991 Pacific typhoon season

Severe Tropical Storm Zelda was the last

barometric pressure of 975 hectopascals (28.8 inHg). Zelda weakened into a tropical storm on December 2, and then a tropical depression two days later. The JTWC discontinued warnings late on December 4, while the JMA declared the storm to be extratropical
the next day and continued to track until it crossed the International Date Line again on December 7.

Zelda caused significant damage in the Marshall Islands, and operations at Kwajalein Missile Range were disrupted severely. No deaths or injuries were reported. About 60 percent of homes were destroyed in Ebeye Island, leaving 6,000 people without residence. Nearly all crops on the islands were destroyed, and food and other supplies were contaminated by salt. Later in December, the president of the United States, George H. W. Bush declared the storm to be a major disaster, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with funding and repairs. The Marshall Islands also requested funds from other countries.

Meteorological history

Map of the western Pacific Ocean depicting the track of Tropical Storm Zelda, through the Marshall Islands and its re-curvature
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

Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.[1] At that time, the JMA kept it as a tropical storm with winds of 45 kn (85 km/h; 50 mph), with a pressure reading of 990 hectopascals (29 inHg).[2]

Around 06:00 UTC on November 30, the JMA estimated Zelda had reached its peak at 60 kn (110 km/h; 70 mph), with a barometric pressure of 975 hPa (28.8 inHg).

subtropical ridge to weaken, allowing Zelda to move northward.[1] By December 1, the storm began to weaken and turned northeast. On December 2, the JMA reported the storm's winds had decreased to 50 kn (95 km/h; 60 mph).[2] The JTWC reported the storm weakened below typhoon strength on 18:00 UTC of the same day, with winds of 60 kn (110 km/h; 70 mph).[5] Upper-level winds and westerlies soon increased,[1][6] and Zelda's central convection became sheared.[1] The JMA downgraded Zelda to a tropical storm on December 3, and to a tropical depression later that day.[2] A few hours later, the JTWC downgraded the storm to a tropical depression, as it unexpectedly turned to the northwest.[5] The low-level circulation of the storm detached from the cold front, and the JTWC issued the last warning of the year.[1] The depression turned back northeast, the JMA declared the storm to be extratropical on December 5, and the agency stopped tracking it just past the International Date Line on December 7.[2][7] Remnants of the storm moved inland into northern British Columbia by December 8.[8]

Impact and aftermath

Zelda was the first of three storms to strike the Marshall Islands within one year, just before

Coral reefs were also heavily damaged when the storm came nearby.[13] As an extratropical cyclone, Zelda bought heavy rain and 110 km/h (70 mph) winds to Southeast Alaska.[14] Heavy snow was reported in northern British Columbia, and lesser amounts inland British Columbia and southern Yukon.[8]

The

United States Senator Daniel Akaka visited Ebeye after the storm, and he criticized the response of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as the funding did not cover repairing of structures regarded as substandard.[19] The Government of the Marshall Islands requested for aid via United Nations Disaster Relief Organization (UNDRO) on December 18.[10] By December 19, 1,380 people were still living in temporary shelters.[19]

By March 26, 1992, about $98,000 (1992 USD, equivalent to $212,779 in 2023) worth of relief goods were sent to the Marshall Islands from UNDRO,

Government of Australia. FEMA sent $1.518 million (1992 USD, equivalent to $3,295,899 in 2023) to affected families.[10] Critical infrastructure in Ebeye were repaired by the Kwajalein Atoll Development Authority by November 1992.[20]

See also
  • Other tropical cyclones named Zelda

Notes

  1. Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the western Pacific Ocean.[3]
  2. sustained over 10–minutes, while estimates from the United States-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center are sustained over 1–minute. Sustained 1–minute winds are about 1.14 times the amount of 10 minute winds.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mundell, Dan B.; Wells, Frank H.; McDonald, Brian L.; Delanuez, Carlos A.; Belew, Ray O. (1991). 1991 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (PDF) (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. pp. 146–149. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "RSMC Best Track Data (Text)". Japan Meteorological Agency. 1990–1999. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  3. ^ Annual Report on Activities of the RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center 2000 (PDF) (Report). Japan Meteorological Agency. February 2001. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  4. ^ Landsea, Chris (April 21, 2006). "Subject: D4) What does "maximum sustained wind" mean? How does it relate to gusts in tropical cyclones?". Frequently Asked Questions. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Typhoon Zelda (31W) Best Track". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  6. Australian Bureau of Meteorology: 2. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  7. doi:10.25921/82ty-9e16. Retrieved April 18, 2020 – via University of North Carolina at Asheville
    .
  8. ^
    Whitehorse, Yukon. December 10, 1991. p. 3. Retrieved March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  9. ^ "Country Risk Profile: Marshall Islands" (PDF). World Bank. September 2011. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  10. ^
    United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs. December 6, 1991. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014 – via ReliefWeb
    .
  11. Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  12. ^ "Pacific ENSO Update: 2nd Quarter 2015" (PDF). Pacific ENSO Update. 21 (2). United States Pacific El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Applications Climate Center: 11. May 29, 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016.
  13. ^ Birkeland, Charles; Edward, Ahser; Golbuu, Yimnang; Gutierrez, Jay; Idechong, Noah; Maragos, James; Paulay, Gustav; Richmond, Robert; Tafileichig, Andrew; Velde, Nancy Vander. Status of the Coral Reefs in the Pacific Freely Associated States (PDF) (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 209. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "Alaska Summary". Daily Sitka Sentinel. Sitka, Alaska. December 9, 1991. p. 2. Retrieved March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  15. OCLC 720622621. Archived
    from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  16. Washington, District of Columbia
    . December 9, 1991. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  17. ^ "Republic of the Marshall Islands Typhoon Zelda (DR-925)". Federal Emergency Management Agency. Archived from the original on May 26, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  18. ^ "Designated Areas: Republic of Marshall Islands Typhoon Zelda". Federal Emergency Management Agency. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  19. ^
    Majuro, Marshall Islands. "Akaka critical of aid to the Marshall Isles". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Hilo, Hawaii. p. 2. Retrieved April 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  20. ^ Polhemus, David (November 22, 1992). "Oily Soil: Slick solution or a dirty deal?". The Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, Hawaii. p. 2. Retrieved March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tropical_Storm_Zelda_(1991)&oldid=1154498941"