Tropical Storm Fabio (2006)

Infobox Hurricane
Name= Tropical Storm Fabio
Type= Tropical storm
Year= 2006
Basin=EPac
Formed=July 31, 2006
Dissipated=August 3, 2006
1-min winds=45
Pressure=1000
Image location= Tropical Storm Fabio 2006.jpg


Da

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

Tropical Storm Fabio was a short-lived tropical cyclone that contributed to a period of heavy rainfall in Hawaii. The fourth named storm of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season, Fabio developed from a tropical wave on July 31 off the southwest coast of Mexico. It maintained a steady westward track throughout its duration, attaining peak winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) before weakening due to wind shear and dry air. The remnants of Fabio passed near Hawaii on August 7 after dissipating the previous day, though no significant damage or deaths were reported. However, rainfall from the system caused flash flooding and left 24 hikers stranded and in need of rescue by helicopter.

Meteorological history

A tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa on July 15. It tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, generating limited thunderstorms along its path. The wave crossed Central America into the eastern Pacific Ocean around July 25, and three days later developed a weak low pressure area about 515 miles (835 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Colima. The system developed an area of convection, which gradually organized over the next few days.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-EP072006_Fabio.pdf|format=PDF|title=Tropical Storm Fabio Tropical Cyclone Report|author=Jamie R. Rhome|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=2006-09-13|accessdate=2009-09-24] By July 30, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began noting the potential for tropical cyclogenesis. [cite web|author=Blake/Pasch|date=2006-07-30|title=Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-24|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-P/2006073016.ABPZ20] Late on July 31, the system acquired enough persistent deep convection to be designated a tropical depression, while located about 980 miles southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

Upon becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression was moving westward, influenced by a mid-level ridge to its north. Within six hours of developing, it attained tropical storm status and was named "Fabio" by the NHC. Located within an environment only marginally favorable for intensification, Fabio was forecast to strengthen only slightly. [cite web|author=Rhome/Franklin|date=2006-08-01|title=Tropical Storm Fabio Discussion Two|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-24|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep07/ep072006.discus.002.shtml?] The convection organized into curved rainbands on August 1, and with its increased organization, the storm attained peak winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). [cite web|author=Roberts/Pasch|date=2006-08-01|title=Tropical Storm Fabio Discussion Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-24|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep07/ep072006.discus.004.shtml?] Tropical Storm Fabio maintained its peak intensity for about 24 hours, during which its convection became shifted to the north of the circulation due to increased wind shear. [cite web|author=Mainelli/Stewart|date=2006-08-02|title=Tropical Storm Fabio Discussion Seven|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-24|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep07/ep072006.discus.007.shtml?] By August 2, continued shear and increased dry air caused the convection to diminish greatly, before thunderstorms later increased to the west of the center. [cite web|author=Rhome/Pasch|date=2006-08-02|title=Tropical Storm Fabio Discussion Eight|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-24|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep07/ep072006.discus.008.shtml?] Later that day, the convection again decreased, leaving the circulation exposed from the thunderstorm activity; by that point, Fabio had weakened to tropical depression status. [cite web|author=Blake/Knabb|date=2006-08-03|title=Tropical Depression Fabio Discussion Ten|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-24|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep07/ep072006.discus.010.shtml?] After the cyclone was unable to regenerate any significant convection for about 24 hours, the NHC declared Fabio a remnant low early on August 4. [cite web|author=Rhome/Pasch|date=2006-08-03|title=Tropical Depression Fabio Discussion Thirteen|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-24|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep07/ep072006.discus.013.shtml?] The low continued westward, degenerating into an open trough on August 6 about 450 mi (725 km) southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. The remnants moved across much of Hawaii on August 7, bringing locally heavy rainfall.

Preparations and impact

As a tropical cyclone, Fabio did not affect land. However, moisture from the remnant trough of low pressure combined with an upper-level low to produce thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across much of Hawaii. In Glenwood on the island of Hawaii, the system produced 2.89 inches (73 mm) of rainfall in one day; this was the highest daily rainfall total for the month on the island. The heaviest rainfall associated with the system fell on Mount Waiʻaleʻale on the island of Kauai, where 15.08 inches (383 mm) of rainfall fell in a 24 hour period; this 24 hour total alone was greater than all other monthly rainfall totals in the state.cite web|author=Kevin R. Kodama|date=2006-09-06|publisher=Honolulu National Weather Service|title=August 2006 Precipitation Summary in the State of Hawaii|accessdate=2008-09-24|url=http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/hydro/pages/aug06sum.php] The rainfall led to flooding along the Hanalei River, which forced the closure of the Kuhio Highway when a bridge was flooded. On Oahu, the rainfall caused ponding on roadways and flooding along streams. One flooded stream stranded 24 hikers along a trail, who required rescue by helicopter. [cite web|author=Stuart Hinson|accessdate=2008-09-25|publisher=National Climatic Data Center|title=Event Report for Hawaii|year=2006|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~608932]

This was the sixth use of the name "Fabio" in the Eastern Pacific basin, which was previously used in the 1978, 1982, 1988, 1994 and 2000 Pacific hurricane seasons. As no storm names were retired in Spring 2007, the name Fabio is to be used in the 2012 season.

ee also

* List of Hawaii hurricanes
* Other tropical cyclones named Fabio

References

External links

* The NHC's [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/FABIO.shtml? Tropical Storm Fabio advisories] .