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Hurricane Felix

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Template:Ongoing weather

For other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Felix (disambiguation)
Hurricane Felix
Current storm status
Category 5 hurricane (1-min mean)
Satellite image
Forecast map
As of:8 p.m. AST September 2 (0000 UTC September 3)
Location:13.8°N 72.9°W ± 30 nm
About 390 mi (620 km) SE of Kingston
Sustained winds:145 knots | 165 mph | 270 km/h (1-min mean)
gusting to 175 knots | 205 mph | 330 km/h
Pressure:934 mbar (hPa; 27.58 inHg)
Movement:WNW at 16 kt | 18 mph | 30 km/h
See more detailed information.

Hurricane Felix is the sixth named storm, second hurricane, and second Category 5 hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. Forming from a tropical wave on August 31, it passed through the southern Windward Islands on September 1 before strengthening to attain hurricane status. A day later on September 2, Felix rapidly strengthened into a major hurricane, and late on September 2 it reached Category 5 status. Felix is currently located in the south-central Caribbean Sea.

Storm history

A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 24, tracking westward at around 14 mph (23 km/h) with no associated deep convection and a weak low-level inverted-V curvature.[1] Initially difficult to locate on satellites,[2] the wave axis tracked through a moist environment[3] and developed an area of scattered thunderstorms. By August 25 visible satellite imagery indicated broad cyclonic turning just north of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.[4] The wave continued to develop moderate to strong convection, and on August 27 a 1,012 mbar low pressure area developed about 830 miles (1,340 km) west-southwest of Praia, Cape Verde.[5] For the next several days the system failed to organize significantly;[6] however, on August 30 the wave became better defined with more representation of the cyclonic turning into the low.[7] Convection increased early the next day,[8] and a Hurricane Hunters flight into the system reported the presence of a closed low-level circulation; accordingly, the National Hurricane Center initiated advisories on Tropical Depression Six at 2100 UTC on August 31 while it was located about 180 miles (295 km) east-southeast of the southern Windward Islands.[9]

Upon becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression was located to the south of a strong ridge, resulting in a west-northwest motion. The system maintained curved rainbands with expanding outflow, and with light wind shear and warm water temperatures the environment favored further development.[9] Its deep convection consolidated very near the center, and shortly after passing over the island of Grenada the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Felix early at around 0900 UTC on September 1.[10] Felix quickly strengthened as it developed a small inner core of convection with tightly-wound bands around the center,[11] and by late on September 1 an eye feature was observed on satellite imagery.[12] Based on reports from reconnaissance aircraft, it is estimated Felix attained hurricane status by early on September 2 while located about 155 miles (250 km) east-northeast of Bonaire.[13]

Tracking through an area of extremely low wind shear and increasingly high oceanic heat content, Hurricane Felix quickly developed a well-defined eye, a symmetric cloud structure, and strong upper-level outflow.[14] Felix was upgraded to major hurricane status at around 1800 UTC on September 2 while located about 490 miles (790 km) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.[15] Rapid strengthening continued, and later that day the hurricane attained Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale with the pressure dropping to 957 mbar; this corresponded to a falling rate of 3.4 mbar per hour, which the National Hurricane Center remarked as "one of the more rapid deepening rates we have observed." A Hurricane Hunters flight reported a stadium effect in the eye, and also reported the eye diameter shrank to 14 miles (22 km/h).[16] A subsequent Hurricane Hunters flight experienced flight level winds of 175 mph (280 km/h), with peak surface winds of 163 mph (263 km/h) reported in the southwest quadrant of the eyewall; surface winds of up to 189 mph (306 km/h) were found in its northeastern quadrant, although the National Hurricane Center reported the peak reading could have been contaminated due to graupel in the clouds. Based on the observations, it is estimated Felix attained winds of 165 mph (265 km/h) by early on September 3 while located about 390 miles (625 km) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, making Felix a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. While investigating the hurricane, Hurricane Hunters encountered extreme turbulence and potentially dangerous graupel, which forced the flight to abort the mission.[17]

Current storm information

As of 8 p.m. AST September 2 (0000 UTC September 3), Hurricane Felix was located within 30 nautical miles of 13.8°N 72.9°W, about 360 mi (620 km) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Maximum sustained winds were 145 knots (165 mph, 270 km/h), with stronger gusts. Minimum central pressure was 934 mbar (hPa; 27.58 InHg), and the system was moving west-northwest at 16 kt (18 mph, 30 km/h).

Total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches (50 to 100 mm) are possible in the outer bands along the Guajira Peninsula of northern Colombia.

Current watches and warnings

See also: Tropical cyclone warnings and watches

As of 5 p.m. AST (2100 UTC) September 2, the following watches were in effect:

Preparations

Upon Felix's becoming a tropical cyclone, a tropical storm warning was issued for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tobago, and Grenada and its dependencies; a tropical storm watch was also issued for the northeastern Venezuela coast from Cumaná to Pedernales, including Isla Margarita, as well as the ABC islands.[18] The National Emergency Management Agency of Tobago was fully activated, with 79 shelters opened on the island.[19] Coinciding with the upgrade of Felix to tropical storm status, the watch for the ABC islands was upgraded to a tropical storm warning.[20] A hurricane watch was added to the islands early on September 2,[21] where several tourists attempted to leave by plane prior to the arrival of the storm.[22] Early on September 2, the government of Jamaica issued a tropical storm watch for the island.[13] Later on September 2, the government of the Cayman Islands issued a tropical storm watch for Grand Cayman.[23]

Impact

At around 1200 UTC on September 1 a wind gust of 46 mph (74 km/h) was recorded on Barbados, and around the same time a gust of 44 mph (71 km/h) was observed in Saint Vincent.[24] The storm produced heavy rainfall across the Windward Islands. On Tobago, the passage of the storm caused flash flooding and at least one mudslide.[19] Felix produced gusty winds on Grenada, which downed several power lines and destroyed the roofs of two houses; rough waves also broke several vessels from their anchors.[22]

See also

Wikinews has related news:

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References

  1. ^ Wallace (2007). "August 24 Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  2. ^ Willis (2007). "August 24 Tropical Weather Discussion (2)". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  3. ^ Cangialosi (2007). "August 25 Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  4. ^ Cangialosi (2007). "August 25 Tropical Weather Discussion (2)". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  5. ^ Formosa (2007). "August 27 Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  6. ^ Mainelli (2007). "August 30 Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  7. ^ Augierre (2007). "August 30 Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  8. ^ Knabb (2007). "August 31 Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  9. ^ a b Blake & Avila (2007). "Tropical Depression Six Discussion One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  10. ^ Knabb (2007). "Tropical Storm Felix Discussion Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  11. ^ Blake & Avila (2007). "Tropical Storm Felix Discussion Four". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  12. ^ Blake & Avila (2007). "Tropical Storm Felix Discussion Five". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  13. ^ a b Beven (2007). "Hurricane Felix Public Advisory Five-A". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  14. ^ Pasch (2007). "Hurricane Felix Discussion Eight". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  15. ^ Pasch (2007). "Hurricane Felix Public Advisory Eight-A". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  16. ^ Pasch (2007). "Hurricane Felix Discussion Nine". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  17. ^ Franklin & Brown (2007). "Hurricane Felix Special Discussion Ten". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  18. ^ Blake & Avila (2007). "Tropical Depression Six Public Advisory One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  19. ^ a b Driselle Ramjohn (2007). "Storm Lashes Tobago". Trinidad & Tobago Express.
  20. ^ Knabb (2007). "Tropical Storm Felix Public Advisory Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  21. ^ Beven (2007). "Hurricane Felix Public Advisory Six". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  22. ^ a b Associated Press (2007). "Felix becomes Category 1 hurricane as it swirls toward Aruba". Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  23. ^ Pasch (2007). "Hurricane Felix Public Advisory Eight". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  24. ^ Blake & Avila (2007). "Tropical Storm Felix Public Advisory Three-A". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
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