Meteorological history of Hurricane Kyle (2002)

Infobox Hurricane History
Name=Hurricane Kyle
Type=hurricane
Year=2002
Basin=Atl
Image location=Kyle 2002 track.png

Formed=September 20, 2002
Dissipated=October 12, 2002
1-min winds=75
Pressure=980
Areas=Bermuda, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, British Isles
Hurricane season=2002 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe meteorological history of Hurricane Kyle, which was the fourth longest-lived Atlantic tropical or subtropical cyclone on record, lasted for 22 days in September and October 2002. The eleventh named storm and third hurricane of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Kyle developed as a subtropical cyclone on September 20 to the east-southeast of Bermuda. Looping westward, it transitioned into a tropical cyclone and became a hurricane on September 25. For the next two weeks, Kyle tracked generally westward, oscillating in strength several times due to fluctuations in environmental conditions. On October 11, the cyclone turned northeastward and made landfalls near Charleston, South Carolina and Long Beach, North Carolina at tropical storm status. After lasting as a cyclone for 22 days, Kyle dissipated on October 12 as it was absorbed by an approaching cold front.

The hurricane brought light precipitation to Bermuda, but no significant damage was reported there. Moderate rainfall accompanied its two landfalls in the United States, causing localized flash flooding and road closures. [cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|year=2002|title=Event Report for South Carolina|accessdate=2008-05-17|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~475116] Kyle spawned at least four tornadoes, the most significant of which struck Georgetown, South Carolina.

Formation and peak intensity

A cold front stalled and began weakening to the southeast of Bermuda on September 15, degenerating into a low pressure area by September 18. A stationary circulation developed by September 19, which was believed to have been aided by a trough to its west. Convection developed into narrow banding features far from the center, and the overall structure gradually organized. It is estimated the system developed into Subtropical Depression Twelve late on September 20, about 825 miles (1330 km) southeast of Bermuda; it was classified subtropical due to the distance of the convection from the center. The cyclone tracked northward within the weak steering flow between an upper-level low to its south and a trough to its north. Strengthening gradually, the depression attained subtropical storm status early on September 21, and as such was named "Kyle" by the National Hurricane Center.cite web|author=Stacy R. Stewart |year=2002|title=Hurricane Kyle Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-09|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2002kyle.shtml]

After being named, Subtropical Storm Kyle tracked north-northeastward, gradually executing a clockwise loop. Initially, the circulation center remained partly exposed to the south and west of the deep convection.cite web|author=Jarvinen|year=2002|title=Subtropical Storm Kyle Discussion Six|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-09|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.006.html] On September 22, convection increased around the center as the system developed a warm thermal core, and as such it was re-classified as a tropical cyclone. A building anticyclone to its northwest turned Kyle to the southwest. After briefly weakening, [cite web|author=Jarvinen|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Ten|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-09|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.010.html] previously moderate wind shear began decreasing, which allowed convection to deepen and for outflow to further develop. [cite web|author=Jarvinen|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Fifteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-09|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.015.html] Tracking over progressively warmer waters, Kyle began developing a banding eye feature late on September 24. [cite web|author=Stewart|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Seventeen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-09|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.017.html] Slow strengthening continued, and the storm attained hurricane status at 1200 UTC on September 25. The next day, Kyle reached peak winds of 85 mph (130 km/h) about 490 miles (790 km/h) east-southeast of Bermuda.

Western Atlantic Ocean

After maintaining peak intensity for about 24 hours, Kyle began weakening on September 27 as increased upper-level shear restricted outflow and distorted the convection envelop; [cite web|author=Avila & Cobb|year=2002|title=Hurricane Kyle Discussion Twenty-Seven|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.027.html] drier air also contributed to the weakening. [cite web|author=Franklin|year=2002|title=Hurricane Kyle Discussion Twenty-Nine|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.029.html] On September 28, after turning west-northwestward, the hurricane weakened to tropical storm status, and by the next day the center had become exposed from the deep convection. [cite web|author=Molleda & Lawrence|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Thirty-Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.034.html] A trough passing to its north and a developing ridge to its west left the storm nearly stationary for several days. [cite web|author=Franklin|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Thirty-Five|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.035.html] The weakening rate of Kyle was temporarily halted when thunderstorms re-developed on September 29 [cite web|author=Avila|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Thirty-Six|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.036.html] and again early the next day, [cite web|author=Beven|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Thirty-Nine|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.039.html] though late on September 30 the storm weakened to tropical depression status. The circulation had become elongated from northeast to southwest. The northeast portion became associated with the approaching frontal zone, and was briefly monitored for signs of development. [cite web|author=Stewart|date=2002-09-30|title=Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-08-22|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2002/Sep/2002093021.ABNT20] However, the southwestern portion re-developed convection and became the dominant circulation.cite web|author=Avila|year=2002|title=Tropical Depression Kyle Discussion Forty-One|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.041.html] Around this time, the storm's interaction with a cold front produced 2.19 inches (55.6 mm) of rainfall on Bermuda. [cite web|author=Bermuda Weather Service|date=2002-11-04|title=Weather Summary for October 2002|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.weather.bm/data/2002-10.html]

Remaining a tropical depression for about 18 hours, Kyle re-intensified to tropical storm status on October 1, after redeveloping some thunderstorms southeast of the center. [cite web|author=Avila|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Forty-Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.044.html] Despite unfavorable wind shear, the convection became better organized, developing into rain bands and wrapping into the mid-level circulation of the storm. [cite web|author=Franklin|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Forty-Eight|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.048.html] Late on October 2, Kyle developed an eye feature in the center of the storm,cite web|author=Franklin|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Forty-Nine|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.049.html] and the winds increased to about 65 mph (105 km/h); operationally it was forecast to regain hurricane status.

However, the storm encountered further wind shear, which left the center exposed from the convection by early on October 4. [cite web|author=Stewart|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Fifty-Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.054.html] Convection became intermittent and separated from the circulation, [cite web|author=Avila|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Fifty-Six|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.056.html] and Kyle again weakened to tropical depression status on October 5. By then, the storm had begun a steady west-northwest motion, which was followed by a slow turn to the north-northeast. On October 6, a decrease in wind shear allowed the cyclone to again reach tropical storm status, about 295 miles (475 km) west-northwest of Bermuda. Around the same time, the system was located in an area of weak steering currents; a ridge was to its northeast and southwest, an upper-level low was to its east-southeast, and a broad trough was to its northwest. [cite web|author=Pasch & Mainelli|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Sixty-Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.064.html] By October 7, it began a slow southwestward motion around a ridge to its west. The circulation became elongated as dry air limited convection, [cite web|author=Pasch & Mainelli|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Sixty-Eight|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.068.html] and after shear increased on October 8, [cite web|author=Pasch|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Seventy-Two|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.072.html] Kyle weakened to tropical depression status.

By early on October 9, the depression consisted of a circulation center without any of the associated deep convection that is one of the prerequisites of being a tropical cyclone. Several hurricane forecast models predicted Kyle to weaken until dissipation. [cite web|author=Franklin|year=2002|title=Tropical Depression Kyle Discussion Seventy-Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.074.html] After 24 hours without significant convection, thunderstorms reformed to the southeast of the center on October 10 as the depression entered an area of warmer water temperatures. [cite web|author=Franklin|year=2002|title=Tropical Depression Kyle Discussion Seventy-Eight|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.078.html] Environmental conditions became more favorable, with weakening wind shear and decreasing dry air. [cite web|author=Beven|year=2002|title=Tropical Depression Kyle Discussion Seventy-Nine|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.079.html] The depression continued tracking around a ridge, turning to the west and west-northwest toward the coast of Florida. [cite web|author=Pasch|year=2002|title=Tropical Depression Kyle Discussion Eighty-One|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.081.html] Convection increased markedly early on October 11 as it turned northward ahead of an approaching cold front, [cite web|author=Franklin|year=2002|title=Tropical Depression Kyle Discussion Eighty-Two|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.082.html] and Kyle regained tropical storm status about 35 miles (60 km) east of the border between Florida and Georgia.

Landfall and dissipation

After re-attaining tropical storm status, Kyle turned more to the northeast and parallel to the coastline, making landfall near McClellanville, South Carolina as a minimal tropical storm. The storm briefly moved over open waters before again making landfall near Long Beach, North Carolina late on October 11. By early on October 12, the storm had weakened to tropical depression status. It previously brought light rainfall to Florida and Georgia, and rainfall associated with the storm peaked at 8.72 inches (221 mm) in Butner.cite web|author=David Roth|year=2006|title=Rainfall Summary for Tropical Storm Kyle|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2008-05-19|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/kyle2002.html] The tropical storm spawned an F2 tornado in Georgetown that remained on the ground for about 1.25 miles (2 km).cite web|author=Wilmington, North Carolina National Weather Service|year=2002|title=Preliminary Local Storm Report for Tornado Spawned by Tropical Storm Kyle|accessdate=2008-05-17|url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ilm/archive/10-11-02/torstats.html] Additionally, three tornadoes were reported in North Carolina.

At the time of it moving ashore, there was a separate non-tropical low to the northeast of the depression, [cite web|author=Franklin|year=2002|title=Tropical Depression Kyle Special Discussion Eighty-Six|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.086.html] and shear had greatly increased, which made re-intensification unlikely. [cite web|author=Franklin|year=2002|title=Tropical Depression Kyle Discussion Eighty-Seven|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.087.html] However, convection redeveloped baroclinically with the approaching cold front, and Kyle attained tropical storm status for the fifth time over the eastern Pamlico Sound. [cite web|author=Stewart|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Eighty-Eight|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.088.html]

The restrengthening was short-lived, as the wind field expanded while the convection transitioned into that of a frontal band. [cite web|author=Avila|year=2002|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Eighty-Nine|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al122002.discus.089.html] After emerging into the western Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Kyle merged with a cold front late on October 12. The remnants of Kyle continued eastward, executing a loop on October 14 before turning northeastward and impacting the Azores on October 17. The next day, the remnants of Kyle were absorbed by an extratropical cyclone to its northwest, which continued northeastward and moved near the British Isles on October 23.cite web|author=Kevin Boyle|year=2002|title=October 2002 Worldwide Tropical Summary|accessdate=2008-05-12|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2003/summ0209.htm|publisher=Australian Severe Weather]

ee also

*Atlantic hurricane
*Tropical cyclone
*

References