Hurricane Joyce (2000)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Joyce
Type=hurricane
Year=2000
Basin=Atl
Image location=Joyce00Color.gif


Formed=September 25, 2000
Dissipated=October 2, 2000
1-min winds=80
Pressure=975
Fatalities=none reported
Areas=Southern Windward Islands, ABC Islands, Dominican Republic
Hurricane season=2000 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Joyce was the fourteenth tropical cyclone, tenth named storm, and sixth hurricane of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season. A Cape Verde-type storm forming from a tropical wave in late September, Joyce headed generally westward and eventually intensified into a hurricane. As it neared the southern Windward Islands, it entrained dry air and weakened as it passed over the island chain. It then degenerated into an open wave, which was not anticipated by the National Hurricane Center.

While weakening, Joyce passed over the southern Windward Islands. It brought winds below gale-force to Barbados and Tobago without significant effects. Its remnants brought rain to the ABC Islands and then the Dominican Republic, causing minor damage. No fatalities were reported.

Meteorological history

Hurricane Joyce originated from a tropical wave that emerged from the coast of Africa on September 22. Influenced by a powerful ridge that had developed in the wake of Hurricane Isaac, the wave traveled a brisk and slightly undulating westward path at convert|14|to|18|mph|km/h. It would never change from that general path. While in the deep tropics of the open Atlantic, the wave began to show indications of a closed circulation. Satellite data was ambiguous, but the evidence favored the existence of a tropical cyclone,cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000joyce.html|title=Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Joyce|date=2000-11-03|accessdate=2008-09-21|publisher=National Hurricane Center|author=Miles B. Lawrence] and the system was designated Tropical Depression Fourteen.cite web|date=2000-09-25|accessdate=2008-09-21|title=Tropical Depression Fourteen Discussion Number 1|author=Beven|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.001.html|publisher=National Hurricane Center] At the next advisory, the cyclone was upgraded and named "",cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.002.html|author=Stewart|date=2000-09-25|title=Tropical Storm Joyce Discussion Number 2|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-20] although satellite data was still ambiguous about whether Joyce even had a circulation.

Joyce headed westward and steadily intensified. Deep convection and outflow improved,cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.006.html|title=Tropical Storm Joyce Discussion Number 6|date=2000-09-26|accessdate=2008-09-21|author=Stewart|publisher=National Hurricane Center] and Joyce gradually developed an eye.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.007.html|author=Franklin|date=2000-09-27|title=Tropical Storm Joyce Discussion Number 7|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate-2008-09-21] On September 27, it was upgraded to a hurricane with cold cloud tops.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.008.html|author=Pasch|date=2000-09-27|accessdate=2008-09-21|publisher=National Hurricane Center|title=Hurricane Joyce Discussion Number 8] Early on September 28, Joyce peaked in intensity with winds of convert|90|mph|km/h, a central pressure of convert|975|mb|hPa, and a fleeting "pinhole" eye. At the time, it was located about midway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles.

Wind shear then increased, partially exposing Joyce's center of circulation,cite web|date=2008-09-28|author=Avila|title=Hurricane Joyce Discussion Number 12|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-21|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.012.html] although bursts of convection remained. Convection and organization slowly deteriorated, and became, early on September 29, "pretty crummy"cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.015.html|author=Lawrence|date=2000-09-29|title=Hurricane Joyce Discussion Number 15|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-21] and without a well-defined center of circulation. Joyce did manage to remain at hurricane intensity through this time. Due to the disorganization, it was downgraded to a tropical storm later that day.cite web|title=Tropical Storm Joyce Discussion Number 16|author=Pasch|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.016.html|date=2000-09-29|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-21] Despite occasional bursts of convection,cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.023.html|author=Stewart|title=Tropical Storm Joyce Discussion Number 23|date=2000-10-01|accessdate=2008-09-21|publisher=National Hurricane Center] Joyce weakened into a tropical depression as it crossed the Windward Islands on October 1. The weakening was confirmed by Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance flights. After crossing the Windward Islands, and entering the southeastern Caribbean Sea, Joyce unexpectedly degenerated into an open wave. Although Joyce's remnants were monitored for regeneration,cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.028.html|author=Pasch|date=2008-10-02|title=Tropical Depression Joyce Discussion Number 28|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=National Hurricane Center] any possible redevelopment never materialized.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt|date=2008-04-22|accessdate=2008-09-20|format=plaintext|title=Atlantic Tracks File 1851-2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center]

Joyce dissipated in an area of low wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures.cite web|publisher=Typhoon 2000|url=http://www.typhoon2000.ph/garyp_mgtcs/sep00.txt|author=Gary Padgett|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary September 2000|accessdate=2008-09-21] The National Hurricane Center attributed the weakening to dry air from the Sahara. The dry air may have been caused by a lack of southwesterlies bring moisture from equatorial areas, and continental influence from South America.

Forecasting, impact, and naming

Joyce's track was well forecast, with errors ten to twenty percent smaller than the ten-year average. In general, Joyce persistently stayed south of where it was forecast to be. By contrast, intensity forecasts had large errors. Indeed, at 5:00 am EDT on October 2 Joyce was forecast to be a convert|70|mph|km/h tropical storm three days out,cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1400.027.html|date=2000-10-02|title=Tropical Depression Joyce Discussion Number 27|author=Jarvinen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-20] when in reality Joyce dissipated six hours later. These forecast errors were blamed on Joyce's surprise dissipation. Regarding potential impacts, Joyce's storm surge of convert|1|m|ft|0 on Trinidad was accurately forecast.cite news|format=DOC|title=2000 Hurricane Season|publisher=World Meteorological Organization]

On September 30, a tropical storm watch was issued for the Windward Islands from St. Vincent and the Grenadines south to Trinidad and Tobago. One hour later, the watch was extended to Saint Lucia. Later that day, the watches were upgraded to warnings in Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada. On October 1, Trinidad's warning was downgraded to a watch. After that, the watches and warnings were gradually discontinued, first in Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, then Trinidad and Saint Lucia, then Tobago, and finally Grenada. In response to the approaching hurricane, emergency operations centers in Grenada and both main islands of Trinidad and Tobago were placed on alert.cite web|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACOS-64CGZ4?OpenDocument&query=Tropical%20Storm%20Joyce|publisher=ReliefWeb|date=2000-09-30|accessdate=2008-09-20|author=Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency|title=Tropical Storm Joyce Advisory No. 2]

While weakening, Tropical Depression Joyce passed close to Tobago, causing sustained winds of convert|30|mph|km/h|-1. Barbados experienced the highest sustained winds Joyce brought to any land area. There, the winds were convert|35|mph|km/h|−1|abbr=on, gusting to convert|45|mph|km/h|−1|abbr=on. Neither Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, nor Grenada reported serious effects from Joyce.cite web|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACOS-64CDVS?OpenDocument&query=Hurricane Joyce|title=Hurricane Keith and Tropical Storm Joyce PAHO Situation Report 02 Oct 2000|date=2000-10-02|author=Pan American Health Organization|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=ReliefWeb] Joyce caused storm surge of convert|1|m|ft|0 on southeast Trinidadian shores. After degenerating into an open wave, Joyce's remnants passed over the ABC Islands, where locally heavy thunderstorms and light winds were reported on October 2.cite web|url=http://www.weather.an/reports/documents/Summary2000.pdf|publisher=Meteorological Service of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba|title=Climatological Summary 2000|pages=4|month=February|year=2001|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-09-20] A tropical wave related to Joyce's decay was blamed for flooding in the Dominican Republic, where rain caused the Mao, Amina, and Yaque del Norte Rivers to burst their banks, flooding thousands of hectares of banana and rice crops. Damage was reported in communities in the northeastern part of the country. No other impact was reported, and no deaths were blamed on Joyce.

Officials from Trinidad and Tobago reported that Joyce made landfall in that country. The National Hurricane Center differs, not attributing any landfall to Joyce. If Joyce really made landfall on Tobago, it would have been the first tropical storm to do so since 1990's Arthur. In addition, Joyce moved south of west for a time at a location where it is rare for tropical cyclones to do so.

Joyce is the first, and so far, the only (as of 2008) Atlantic hurricane to receive the name "Joyce". The name was added as a replacement for "", which was retired after being used for a devastating hurricane in 1988.cite web|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/B3.html|author=Gary Padgett, Jack Beven, & James Lewis Free|title=Subject: B3) What names have been retired in the Atlantic and East Pacific basin?|work=FAQ: Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Tropical Cyclones|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=National Hurricane Center] The name was actually on the list in 1994, but was unused due to inactivity. As a result, the name was first used in 2000. After this storm, the name "Joyce" was not retired and was on the list of names for the 2006 season.cite web|url=http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/Storm-naming.html|title=Tropical Cyclone Naming|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=World Meteorological Organization] However, due to inactivity, the name was not used and is currently on the list of names for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2006atlan.shtml|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=National Hurricane Center|title=2006 Atlantic Hurricane Season]

ee also

* List of South America tropical cyclones
* Other tropical cyclones named Joyce

References

External links

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000joyce.html NHC Tropical Cyclone Report]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/JOYCE.html NHC Advisory Archive]
* [http://www.weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/2000/JOYCE/track.gifStorm path]