Tropical Storm Miriam (2006)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Miriam
Type=tropical storm
Year=2006
Basin=EPac
Image location=TS Miriam 17 sept 2006.jpg


Formed=September 16, 2006
Dissipated=September 18, 2006
1-min winds=40
Pressure=999
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=None reported
Areas=None
Hurricane season=2006 Pacific hurricane season

Tropical Storm Miriam was a weak tropical storm that never affected land. The 15th tropical cyclone and 14th named storm of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season, Miriam developed from an area of disturbed weather associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone on September 16. Despite being disorganized, the depression attained tropical storm status later that day, and peak intensity 12 hours later. The storm was sheared throughout its life, and the center was almost constantly separated from what little convective activity there was. Entering cooler waters and further wind shear, it weakened to a tropical depression on September 18, and rapidly weakened. As the storm never approached land and only came close to shore as a remnant low, no damages or fatalities occurred.

Meteorological history

Miriam originated in a broad area of disturbed weather associated with the northern extension of the Intertropical Convergence Zone to the west of Hurricane Lane. One system that was related to a tropical wave briefly organized, then quickly degenerated. A second disturbance formed on September 15, 2006 and developed into a distinct low pressure area. The low organized and gained in convection, and at 0000 UTC on September 16 it was designated as a tropical depression, several hundred miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas. Embedded within steering currents of the low- to mid-level flow feeding into Hurricane Lane, the depression initially tracked gradually northeastward.cite web|author=James L. Franklin|title=Tropical Storm Miriam Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2006|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-EP142006_Miriam.pdf]

Initially, wind shear ripped the convection away from the center of circulation. [cite web|author=Rhome/Knabb|title=Tropical Depression 14-E Discussion Number 1|year=2006|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep14/ep142006.discus.001.shtml?] Despite an exposed center and waning convection, the National Hurricane Center upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Miriam at 1200 UTC on September 16. The storm reached peak winds of convert|45|mph|km/h|abbr=on 12 hours later. Shortly after being upgraded, thunderstorm activity began to increase, particularly on the southern side of the tropical storm. At the same time the cyclone took a slight northward jog. [cite web|author=Fiorino/Stewart|title=Tropical Storm Miriam Discussion Number 4|year=2006|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep14/ep142006.discus.004.shtml?] Persistent wind shear and a cool, unfavorable environment limited further intensification. Midday on September 17, a ship a couple hundred miles to the southwest of the center reported sustained winds of convert|39|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on. However, given the distance from the actual storm, it was deemed inaccurate to based the Miriam's estimated intensity on the report, and thus the storm weakened to a minimal tropical depression as convection continued to die out and move away from the exposed circulation center. [cite web|author=Mainelli/Cangialosi|title=Tropical Storm Miriam Discussion Number 7|year=2006|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep14/ep142006.discus.007.shtml?] A mid-level vorticity center was spawned off to the west of the low-level center later that day. [cite web|author=Fiorino/Pasch|title=Tropical Storm Miriam Discussion Number 8|year=2006|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep14/ep142006.discus.008.shtml?]

The cooler waters, among other factors, weakened Miriam to a tropical depression at 0600 UTC on September 18. Just hours later the storm was deemed a remnant low, and the National Hurricane Center issued their last advisory for what was then just a low-level swirl of clouds, stating little possibility of reorganization. [cite web|author=Avila/Congialosi|title=Tropical Depression Miriam Discussion Number 10|year=2006|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep14/ep142006.discus.010.shtml?] The system moved more towards the north and northwest for a time, before turning towards the northeast and dissipating just offshore of Baja California.

Effects

As a remnant low, Miriam approached the west coast of Baja California. However, no effects, deaths or damage were associated with the cyclone. Because of the lack of damage, the name "Miriam" was not retired and is scheduled to be used for the 2013 Pacific hurricane season.cite web|title=Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Names|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-13|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml]

ee also

*List of Pacific hurricanes
*

References