Tropical Storm Delta (2005)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Delta
Type=Tropical Storm
Year=2005
Basin=Atl
Image location=Ts delta 112405.jpg


Formed=November 22, 2005
Dissipated=November 29, 2005
1-min winds=60
Pressure=980
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=7 direct, 12 missing
Areas=Canary Islands, Morocco, Algeria
Hurricane season=2005 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Delta was a late-forming tropical storm of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season which struck the Canary Islands as a strong extratropical storm causing significant damage and then crossed over Morocco with little impact there. It was the twenty-sixth tropical or subtropical storm of the season, making the 2005 season the first to record so many storms.

Tropical Storm Delta, like most late-season storms, developed out of an extratropical low. The storm only gradually gained tropical characteristics and was briefly a subtropical storm on November 22. Delta moved erratically for a few days before moving towards the Canary Islands. It became extratropical just before it passed to the north of the archipelago.

Meteorological history

On November 19, a broad area of eastward moving low pressure formed in the central Atlantic Ocean about 1400 miles (2200 km) southwest of the Azores. It moved steadily eastward through November 20 but on November 21, under the influence of a cold front to its north, the low turned northeastward and started developing central convection. On November 22 the non-tropical low pressure system began to gain some tropical characteristics and its northward motion slowed to a stop. Late that afternoon the low became Subtropical Storm Delta, while stalled 800 mi (1,300 km) west-southwest of the Azores.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Delta|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2006-05-29|format=PDF|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL292005_Delta.pdf] Operationally the National Hurricane Center considered that the storm had already gained enough tropical characteristics to be classified as a tropical storm, but in post-storm analysis this was reconsidered.

The storm's convection organized around a central core and Delta became a tropical storm on November 23. An eye-like feature appeared near the storm's circulatory center several time that day.cite web|author=Stewart|publisher=NOAA|date=2005-11-23|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion 1|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.001.shtml?] The larger-scale deep-layered cyclonic circulation within which it was embedded steered it on a slow southward and then south-southwesterly track. Strong wind shear prevented immediate development and the system added an eastward component to its drift.cite web|author=Pasch|publisher=NOAA|date=2005-11-23|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion 2|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.002.shtml?] Moving out of the high-shear environment on November 24, Delta gained organization.cite web|author=Beven|publisher=NOAA|date=2005-11-24|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion Number 3|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.003.shtml?] Outflow and convective banding increased and an eye feature became well defined. This eye signaled Delta's peak strength of 70 mph (110 km/h), just below hurricane strength. The official forecast at this time predicted that Delta would strengthen further and become a minimal hurricane, but this did not occur.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|date=2005-11-24|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion Number 4|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2006-05-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.004.shtml] The tropical storm's motion stalled as it reached the southern base of a large cyclonic trough over the northern Atlantic within which it was embedded. Maintaining its intensity, Delta remained motionless for half a daycite web|author=Stewart|publisher=NOAA|date=2005-11-24|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion Number 5|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.005.shtml?] until, that evening, it began a slow southward drift at 6 mph (9 km/h). Maintaining its intensity, Delta remained motionless for half a daycite web|author=Knabb|publisher=NOAA|date=2005-11-24|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion Number 6|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.006.shtml?] Convection broke down in the storm's western semicircle early on November 25, and this decreased organization caused slight weakening. Maintaining its intensity, Delta remained motionless for half a daycite web|author=Beven|publisher=NOAA|date=2005-11-25|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion Number 7|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.007.shtml?] The southward motion slowedcite web|author=Stewart|publisher=NOAA|date=2005-11-25|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion Number 8|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.008.shtml?] cite web|author=Stewart|publisher=NOAA|date=2005-11-25|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion Number 9|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.009.shtml?] and the weakening trend continued into the evening. Cooling cold tops were counteracted by wind shear which exposed most of the low-level center.cite web|author=Knabb|publisher=NOAA|date=2005-11-25|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion Number 10|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.010.shtml?] The storm's southward motion stopped and it began moving east at 6 mph (9 km/h).cite web|author=Beven|publisher=NOAA|date=2005-11-26|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Tropical Storm Delta Discussion Number 11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al282005.discus.011.shtml?] Some of the computer models showed that the weakening tropical storm could be absorbed by a developing low to the west, which a few days later became Hurricane Epsilon. This did not occur, and Tropical Storm Delta began to move to the northeast.

As Delta accelerated to the northeast towards the Canary Islands, it intensified again, reaching a second peak of just under hurricane strength on November 27. In post-storm analysis, the NHC noted that there was a possibility that Delta had briefly reached hurricane strength that day; however, the data was not conclusive enough to justify an upgrade to hurricane status. On November 28, as it neared the Canary Islands Tropical Storm Delta lost its tropical characteristics. The extratropical storm, which maintained winds of near-hurricane strength, passed about 105 mi (165 km) north of the islands that night. The storm moved over Morocco early on November 29 and rapidly weakened overland, dissipating late that day over northwestern Algeria.

Preparations and impact

Tropical Storm Delta's arrival in the Canary Islands was described as a "historic" event. Tropical cyclones there are extremely rare and the islands had no tropical warning systems in place. The government issued a general emergency advisory and advised citizens to stay indoors.cite web|author=Notimex|publisher=El Universal online|date=2005-11-29|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Al menos siete muertos deja tormenta en Islas Canarias|language=Spanish|url=http://estadis.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/318154.html] Tenerife North Airport was closed, stranding hundreds of passengers for the duration of the storm. The Education Board of the Canary Islands Government suspended Tuesday classes for all non-university schools.cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Libertad Digital|date=2005-11-28|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=La tormenta tropical "Delta" un herido, cortes de tráfico y numeros daños en Canarias|language=Spanish|url=http://www.libertaddigital.com/index.php?action=desanoti&cpn=1276266434] The shipping company Fred Olsen suspended services linking the islands of Tenerife and La Palma and La Gomera. On the island of El Hierro the exposed road to Sabinosa Health Center was closed as a precaution.Delta caused considerable damage in the Canary Islands. The storm claimed nineteen lives and caused a total of €312 million ($364 million 2005 US dollars) damage throughout the archipelago.cite news|title=Delta: impact and aftermath|url=http://www.tenerifenews.com/cms/front_content.php?client=1&lang=1&idcat=47&idart=3091|accessdate=2006-05-29|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Tenerife News] Eighteen died when a boat sank off the Canary Islands; twelve of the bodies were never found. The nineteenth man was killed when while trying to repair his roof during the storm; winds threw him from his ladder. The islands of Tenerife and La Palma were hardest hit, with many uprooted trees and landslides reported. The peak gust recorded at La Palma was 95 mph (152 km/h), and at Tenerife the maximum gust was 90 mph (147 km/h).cite web|title=Tropical Storm Delta in the Canary Islands|url=http://www.inm.es/web/sup/ciencia/divulga/estudio_Delta/estudio_Delta.pdf|accessdate=2006-05-29|format=PDF|author=Instituto Nacional De Meteorología|language=Spanish] Some patients at Tenerife's University Hospital were evacuated to a safer part of the building when paneling from the hospital's heliport was torn free and smashed some of the building's windows.cite news|title=Delta force in the Canaries|url=http://www.tenerifenews.com/cms/front_content.php?client=1&lang=1&idcat=47&idart=2983|accessdate=2006-05-29|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Tenerife News] Off Santa Cruz's southern quay a tug boat broke its ties, collided with another vessel, and sank. Passengers at Tenerife North Airport, who were stranded when their flights canceled, witnessed parts of the new international terminal's roof tear off in the wind. In La Palma a falling palm tree, trunk snapped by the wind, injured the leg of a German tourist. Many palm trees along the Avenida Marítima were also blown down. The storms winds blew out windows and collapsed cornices, although other structural damage was minimal. Metal plates that had been used to board up buildings were strewn all over the island.

Over 225,000 residents lost electricity and 12,000 lost telephone service.cite news|url=http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=L29780821|accessdate=2005-12-11|title=Canary Islands storm hits power, communications|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Reuters|date=2005-11-29] Some vandalism and looting was reported during the loss of power, and the police made several arrests during the night. For over 24 hours roads were closed on the islands of El Hierro, Tenerife and La Palma: the first two due to landslides and the third by the collapse of an old house and a massive tree.

The most famous geological feature of the Canary Islands,cite web|author=JOSÉ MANUEL BUSTAMANTE|publisher=El Mundo|date=2005-11-29|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Gran Canaria pierde el 'Dedo de Dios'|language=Spanish|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2005/11/29/sociedad/1133264398.html] El Dedo de Dios (or God's finger), which had been pointing towards the sky for over a millennium, was destroyed by Delta's wind and wave action along Gran Canaria's shore. Upon hearing of the destruction of the natural monument one man, later found to be clinically insane, unsuccessfully tried to kill himself and then stabbed three members of his own family.cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Tenerife News|date=2007-11-03|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=20 years for family man who went on knifing rampage|url=http://www.tenerifenews.com/cms/front_content.php?idart=6980]

When the remnants of Delta arrived in Morocco they were described as a "normal atmospheric disturbance". No damage was reported there and in fact the system was welcomed by farmers who needed the rain to complete the sowing of cereal crops.

Aftermath

With the Canary Islands' power grid substantially disrupted, the Unelco-Endesa power company was forced to use temporary generators to boost power at sub-stations far from the main grid. In La Corujera in Santa Úrsula these generators were poorly received and over 1,000 local residents claimed to be affected by their noise and pollution. Children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems suffered most acutely.cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Tenerife News|date=2005-12-27|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Residents raise hell over Corujera generators|url=http://www.tenerifenews.com/cms/front_content.php?idart=3186]

The fishermen of the Canary Islands had to return to and remain in port for several days while weathering to storm, and this disruption was blamed for a 10-15% reduction of the islands' tuna catch.cite news|title=Delta blamed for tuna drop|url=http://www.tenerifenews.com/cms/front_content.php?client=1&lang=1&idcat=47&idart=3188|accessdate=2006-05-29|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Tenerife News] Tropical Storm Delta also had some further-reaching effects. The political opposition Popular Party challenged that the impact of Tropical Storm Delta proved the need for the island to prepare an emergency plan to deal with natural and man-made disasters. Only five of the island's many municipalities had an emergency plan, and there was no coordination across the whole island chain.cite web|author=AM|publisher=Tenerife News|date=2005-12-20|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=The Popular Party (PP) presents its proposals for 2006|url=http://www.tenerifenews.com/cms/front_content.php?idart=3225] Delta also served to highlight the islands' aging power grid, prompting the regional director general of industry and energy to consider building another power plant on the archipelago.cite web|author=AW|publisher=Tenerife News|date=2006-03-15|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Nimby alert!|url=http://www.tenerifenews.com/cms/front_content.php?idart=3702] The storm sparked a vigorous debate on the island about the effects of global climate change, how they will affect the islands, and how these effects can be avoided.cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Tenerife News|date=2008-05-01|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Losing it - Receding coastline revelations|url=http://www.tenerifenews.com/cms/front_content.php?idart=7149] cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Tenerife News|date=2007-01-01|accessdate=2008-07-30|title=Running into tunnel trouble|url=http://www.tenerifenews.com/cms/front_content.php?idart=7461]

ee also

* List of Atlantic hurricanes
* List of 2005 Atlantic hurricane season storms

References

External links

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL292005_Delta.pdf NHC's Tropical Cyclone Report on Tropical Storm Delta]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/DELTA.shtml NHC's archive on Tropical Storm Delta]
* [http://www.gran-canaria-info.com/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Dedo+de+Dios Picture gallery of El Dedo de Dios before and after Tropical Storm Delta]