Tropical Storm Arthur (2008)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Arthur
Type=Tropical storm
Year=2008
Basin=Atl
Image location=Arthur 31 May 2008.jpg


Formed=May 30, 2008
Dissipated=June 2, 2008
1-min winds=40
Pressure=1004
Da

Fatalities=5 direct, 4 indirect
Areas=Yucatan Peninsula, Belize
Hurricane season=2008 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Arthur was the first Atlantic tropical storm that formed during the month of May since 1981.Hurdat The first tropical cyclone of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, the storm formed from two tropical waves and the remnants of the eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Alma which had crossed into the western Caribbean Sea. A surface trough developed across the region, which enhanced convection. The system quickly organized and was named Tropical Storm Arthur on May 31, while crossing the shore of Belize. Arthur's remnants triggered severe flooding which killed a reported nine people and affected 100,000 more in Belize. Damage was light to moderate, estimated at $78 million (2008 USD).Cite web|author=Blake/Knabb|title=Tropical Weather Summary - June 2008|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-01|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/tws/MIATWSAT_jun.shtml?]

Meteorological history

By May 29, 2008, the western Caribbean Sea became tropically active due to the presence of two tropical waves and Tropical Storm Alma, which was located in the east Pacific Ocean. The system generated a broad surface low pressure system, as well as clusters of convection. [cite web|author=Huffman|title=May 29 Tropical Weather Discussion|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-31|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Atl-Dis/2008052917.AXNT20] The next day, Alma made landfall on Nicaragua, pulling deep tropical moisture into the region. Upper level outflow was spreading outwards from the tropical storm with a high pressure system over the Caribbean. [cite web|author=Burg|title=May 30 Tropical Weather Outlook Discussion|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-31|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Atl-Dis/2008052923.AXNT20] A surface trough developed and extended from inland Honduras to just south of the Cayman Islands. This sparked further development of scattered strong convection southeast of the trough. [Cite web|author=Wallace|title=May 30 Tropical Weather Discussion|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-31|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Atl-Dis/2008053005.AXNT20] On May 31, the remnants of Alma were situated along the coast of Belize as a 1004 mbar low pressure system. A broad upper-level ridge was anchored over the Gulf of Honduras, which covered the entire region and maintained deep tropical moisture. [Cite web|author=Wallace|title=May 31 Tropical Weather Discussion|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-31|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Atl-Dis/2008053110.AXNT20] In the early afternoon—based on satellite imagery and a NOAA buoy that reported sustained tropical storm-force winds—despite moving ashore near Chetumal, capital city of Quintana Roo, on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, the system was named Tropical Storm "Arthur", about convert|45|mi|km|abbr=on|lk=on north-northwest of Belize City.cite web|author=Avila & Rhome|title=Tropical Storm Arthur Public Advisory Number 1|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al01/al012008.public.001.shtml?] In post-analysis, it was determined that Arthur had developed more than 12 hours earlier, late on May 30, and made landfall early on May 31 with 45 mph (75 kph) winds.cite web|author=Blake|title=Tropical Storm Arthur: Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL012008_Arthur.pdf]

Arthur tracked towards the west-northwest at convert|8|mph|km/h|abbr=on, and with a minimum central pressure of 1005 mbar, maximum sustained winds were at 40 mph (65 km/h). These winds were primarily concentrated over open waters to the east and northeast of the center.cite web|author=Avila & Rhome|title=Tropical Storm Arthur Public Advisory Number 1A|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al01/al012008.public_a.001.shtml?] Despite being over land for several hours, the storm maintained a fairly organized structure by 5 p.m. that day. The storm contained a large low-level center which was accompanied by convective banding. New convective cells began building over the Yucatán Peninsula, as the storm was being steered by high pressure system located in the Gulf of Mexico. [Cite web|author=Avila & Rhome|title=Tropical Storm Arthur Discussion Number 2|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al01/al012008.discus.002.shtml?] The associated thunderstorm activity was separated from the center of circulation, and an offshore band of convection died down briefly. However, it quickly regenerated; the storm's maximum sustained winds occurred in that band.cite web|author=Knabb|title=Tropical Storm Arthur Discussion Number 3|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-06-01|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al01/al012008.discus.003.shtml?] Early on June 1, the center became difficult to locate due to disorganization. It remained a tropical storm overland for nearly 24 hours before weakening to a tropical depression later that day.cite web|author=Rhome/Beven|title=Tropical Storm Arthur Discussion Number 5|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-06-01|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al01/al012008.discus.005.shtml?] Tropical Depression Arthur became increasingly ill-defined, [cite web|author=Rhome & Beven|title=Tropical Depression Arthur Discussion Number 6|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-06-04|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al01/al012008.discus.006.shtml?] and while drifting southwestward over land, the National Hurricane Center issued its last advisory on the system late on June 1. [Cite web|author=Knabb|title=Tropical Depression Arthur Discussion Number 7|year=2008|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-06-04|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al01/al012008.discus.007.shtml?] Arthur's remnants eventually made it back to the East Pacific but did not redevelop.

Impact and records

In preparation for the storm, ports were closed in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, while residents and tourists were encouraged to take precautions in coastal areas. Also, ports were closed on the islands of Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and in Chetumal.cite web|author=William Ysaguirre|title=Tropical Storm Arthur hits Yucatan|year=2008|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-05-31|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hCHz2zR9GOk-nCm465aCk2r10rIQD910RMN80] Small boats were restricted from leaving some ports, but evacuations were deemed unnecessary.Cite web|author=Thomson|title=Tropical Storm Arthur churns over Mexico's Yucatan|publisher=Reuters|year=2008|accessdate=2008-05-31|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/wtMostRead/idUKN3143359120080531] Tropical storm warnings were issued at 1700z on the 31st May for the coast of Belize and the coast of Mexico south of Cabo Catoche. These warnings remained in effect until Arthur weakened to a tropical depression at 1500z on the 1st June.

The storm produced rainfall as far south as Belize City and kicked up strong surf on the island of Ambergris Caye. Winds from Arthur forced the closure of two of Mexico's three main oil exporting ports in the Gulf of Mexico due to rough seas. [Cite web|author=Chris Aspin|title=Storm Arthur threatens flooding in southern Mexico|year=2008|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-06-02|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN3144095420080601?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews] The storm's remnants, combined with recent heavy rains from Tropical Storm Alma, triggered flash flooding and caused rivers in southern and northern Belize to overflow. Between the two systems, around convert|10|in|mm|abbr=on|lk=on of rain fell over the region. The flooding damaged one bridge and one highway, and several other bridges were under water. One village was evacuated, and shelters in Corozal and Orange Walk were opened. In rural areas the electricity was cut off due to safety issues. Dozens were stranded on their roof due to high water, and work to repair an important highway was halted when flood waters washed away the repaired section. Papaya plantations, shrimp farms and rice crops were also affected by the unsettled weather.cite web|author=William Ysaguirre|title=Central America storms kills at least 9|year=2008|publisher=San Jose Mercury News|accessdate=2008-06-04|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9475091] In all, about 100,000 people were affected by the flooding,Cite web|author=International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)|title=Belize: Tropical Storm Arthur Information Bulletin No. 1|year=2008|publisher=ReliefWeb|accessdate=2008-06-03|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/YSAR-7F9PW3?OpenDocument] and nine fatalities were reported; five of which were directly attributed to Arthur. British helicopters helped rescue stranded people following the storm, and Mexico provided a helicopter to help carry supplies to areas affected by the flooding. Prime Minister Dean Barrow declared a disaster area in southern Belize's Stann Creek Valley. Additionally, the government rushed food, water and clothing to around 13,000 people. Damages from Arthur in Belize are estimated at $78 million (USD).

Arthur was the first tropical storm to form in May in the Atlantic since Tropical Storm Arlene in 1981. Since then other storms have formed in May, such as Andrea in 2007, but were subtropical. The formation of Arthur also marks the first time since 1934 that a tropical storm formed in May for two consecutive years, and the first time that a "named" storm formed in May formed for two consecutive years.

ee also

*Other tropical cyclones named Arthur

References