The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was the first in a series of four well above-average Atlantic hurricane seasons, and has the second highest number of named storms in recorded history for the basin, behind only 2005. It also featured 15 hurricanes, another near-record total. Only the quintessential 2005 season saw more activity. The overall tropical cyclone count exceeded the Western Pacific for the second time on record. Per convention, the season began June 1 and concluded November 30, as these are the pre-defined dates that limit tropical cyclone development in the Atlantic basin. The initial storm, Andrew, became the first hurricane in the month of June since 2006's Anthony, as well as the first major hurricane in the month since 1979's Bob. The month of September also tied 2002 for the highest number of named storms forming within the month - a total of eight. October also featured a near record number of four hurricanes, including one major hurricane. Hurricane Walter became the latest hurricane on record to move through the Windward Islands on record, but was eventually beat by Hurricane Alpha. Activity was reflected with an ACE value of TBA, one of the highest on record.
Numerous tropical cyclones affected land this season, especially countries bordering the Atlantic and East Pacific. Hurricane Andrew caused well over 70 fatalities and nearly $2 billion in damage as it struck northern Mexico.
Hurricane Hunters. By 06:00 UTC June 26, Andrew became a hurricane and struck Belize City, Belize with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour. Andrew lost hurricane intensity as it crossed the Yucatán Peninsula, and emerged in the Bay of Campeche as a weak but large tropical depression. Subsequently following its entry into the Gulf of Mexico, Andrew executed a slight turn to the northwest and began to intensify once more. The system became the season's first hurricane on 20:00 UTC June 29 and continued to intensify up until its second landfall, striking La Pesca
at peak intensity (125 miles per hour, 944 millibars). Even inland, the large circulation of Andrew maintained hurricane-force winds for up to eight hours following landfall. Andrew eventually dissipated over Mexico's mountainous terrain at 09:00 UTC July 2.
The precursor disturbance to Alex resulted in severe flooding across the Lesser Antilles, and the cyclone's expansive circulation caused flooding and rainfall in the
A tropical wave emerged off the coast of Western Africa in late June, and traveled across the central Atlantic without significant development. After crossing the Yucatán Peninsula, the wave consolidated northwest of the Yucatán. Due to the center being "almost indiscernible", the depression failed to attain tropical storm intensity when predicted. However, around 07:30 UTC July 9, the depression endured an impressive convective blowup. Hurricane Hunter data included a report of flight-level winds near 52 miles per hour, thus suggesting surface winds around 40 miles per hour. As such, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Belle at the subsequent advisory. This strength was not maintained for long. Cooler sea surface temperatures along the Texas coastline induced minor weakening, and Belle fell below tropical storm intensity within a matter of hours. Soon after, Belle struck Brownsville, Texas with winds of 35 miles per hour and degenerated into a remnant low over northern Mexico at 22:00 UTC July 9.
In advance of Belle's impending landfall in Texas,
Baffin Bay to El Mezquital, Mexico. Additionally, residents were told to prepare for supplemental rainfall and gusty winds, as well as exacerbated effects of flooding due to Andrew's landfall in nearly the same location a week prior. Upon moving ashore, Tropical Depression Belle produced a 3-foot storm surge along the southern coastline of Texas, resulting in only minor flooding. Along the Guadalupe River, over five inches of rain fell, resulting in minor flood damage to nearby homes. Other nearby areas, including those affected by Andrew, reported lesser amounts. Locations throughout Nuevo León
reported severe flood damage due to Belle's remnants, exacerbating the ongoing flood disaster created by Andrew a week prior.
In early July, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. Comparable to the precursor to Tropical Storm Belle, the wave moved across the Atlantic without significant development, largely attributed to vast amounts of shear. Upon passing to the north of the Greater Antilles, substantial convective growth as well as simultaneous development of a defined surface low led to the declaration of Tropical Depression Three at 09:00 UTC July 22. Amid a reprieve in persistent upper-level winds, the depression further intensified to Tropical Storm Caleb by 00:00 UTC July 23, just as it was making landfall on Ragged Island. Caleb continued to intensify further, and passed over Andros Island with maximum sustained winds near 45 miles per hour. Another impressive convective blowup occurred as the storm passed into the Gulf Stream, and warm waters within that location further caused Caleb to reach a peak of 50 miles per hour as it came ashore near Elliott Key, Florida around 22:00 UTC July 23. Caleb then weakened to tropical depression intensity as it crossed the state, and remained at this intensity up until a full hour prior to its Louisiana landfall. Caleb eventually moved inland of Louisiana prior to dissipating later that day.
Caleb's precursor disturbance produced substantial rainfall and
Waterspouts
were reported along the state's western coast. Damage was much more severe in Louisiana following its unexpected bout of re-intensification. Heavy rains and strong winds, gusting to more than 65 knots in some locations, wrought sporadic structural damage and killed up to four people. Total figures from Caleb equate to $2.35 million and four fatalities.
Subsequently interacting with multiple adjacent tropical waves, a non-tropical low-pressure area unexpectedly developed into a tropical depression early August 1. Moving slowly westward over the central tropical Atlantic, the depression became Tropical Storm Danielle approximately 18 hours after formation. As Danielle progressed towards the Leeward Islands, an unusually strong ridge to the cyclone's north caused its forward motion to increase; within hours, Danielle achieved a maximum forward speed of 36 miles per hour and nearly degenerated to an open trough. However, Danielle eventually recovered as the storm curved along a weakness in the ridge, allowing it to re-intensify. Around this time, Danielle passed just north of the Leeward Islands at peak strength, battering Antigua with tropical storm-force wind gusts. However, the intensification was limited as a trough approached from the northeast and sheared the tropical storm. As Danielle continued to the north, it rapidly unravelled and made landfall on Bermuda as a tropical depression. Not long after, Danielle opened up into a trough and dissipated early August 10.
In Antigua, the threat the intensifying storm posed prompted a Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch; these were discontinued as Danielle turned north and spared a
St. Croix. High winds blew down trees and some street flooding was observed, but the islands were largely spared of the damage predicted. On Bermuda, Tropical Depression Danielle produced gale-force winds and trace rainfall. Rip currents produced by Danielle led to more than 200 ocean rescues and a second drowning death in North Carolina
Subsequently crossing the Florida peninsula, a non-tropical area of low-pressure first noted near the Bahamas on August 7 began to gradually develop 25 miles west of
Baton Rouge
on August 18.
In its precursor stages, Earl produced heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over much of central Florida. Just south of Orlando, tornadoes were reported, resulting in $350,000 (2010 USD) in damage as well as two deaths. Just offshore, seven-to-ten foot waves were reported in Tampa Bay and near Cayo Costa. In Louisiana, a wide swath of heavy rains stretching from Grand Isle to Mobile triggered additional flooding in areas still recovering from Caleb a month earlier. Instability, fueled by the remnants of Earl lingering over the coast, flooded streets up to 2 feet, cut off electricity and utilities, produced damaging tornadoes, and inundated neighborhoods throughout the southeast. Heavy rainfall was documented well inland, with accumulations near 5 inches in Natchez, Mississippi.
Around 15:00 UTC August 17, a large and vigorous tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. Subsequent interaction with a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone led to the declaration of Tropical Depression Six at 16:00 UTC August 20. Steered by a ridge to its north, the depression traveled on a northwesterly track as it underwent steady intensification. Approximately twelve hours after formation, Six was assigned the name Fiona, with Dvorak satellite estimates supporting the upgrade to tropical storm intensity. Fiona then obtained hurricane intensity the following day.
The following names were used on named storms that formed in the North Atlantic during 2010. The names not retired from this list were used again in the 2016 season. This is the same list used in the 2004 season, with the exception of Caleb, Fiona, Igor, and Julia, which replaced the names of the four major hurricanes that affected Florida in the U.S. in 2004: Colin, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne, respectively.[1] The names Caleb, Fiona, Igor, Julia, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tomas, Virginie, and Walter were used to name Atlantic storms for the first time this year. The season is the second on record, alongside 2005, to utilize letters from the Greek alphabet.
_2115zVis.jpg)
