Tropical Storm Earl (2004)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Earl
Type=Tropical storm
Year=2004
Basin=Atl
Image location=Tropical Storm Earl (2004).jpg


Formed=August 13, 2004
Dissipated=August 15, 2004
1-min winds=45
Pressure=1009
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=None
Areas=Windward Islands
Hurricane season=2004 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Earl was the fifth tropical storm of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a short-lived storm in mid-August 2004 that formed near the Windward Islands and remained weak throughout its short lifespan. It crossed over the Lesser Antilles on August 14 while a modest tropical storm, resulting in minor damage on several Caribbean islands, including Grenada. It was generally remembered for its early forecasts that did not transpire.

Meteorological history

The system that became Earl formed at an unusually low latitude (at around 8.9°N). [ [http://www.stormcarib.com/hurr04a.htm Caribbean Hurricane Network - stormCARIB.com - 2004 Season Local Reports on Tropical Systems threatening the Caribbean Islands ] ] It remained around 9°N latitude up to its formation on the evening of August 13, when it was declared Tropical Depression Five.

cite web
author=National Hurricane Center
year=2004
title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Earl
publisher=NOAA
accessdate=2006-10-26
url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004earl.shtml

] The depression gradually organized while moving rapidly westward [ [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/dis/al052004.discus.004.shtml Tropical Depression FIVE ] ] and became Tropical Storm Earl on the afternoon of August 14, east of the Windward Islands. Earl slowly became more organized, but moderate shear hindered the development and the low-level circulation remained poorly defined despite solid organization on satellite. It passed near Barbados, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with winds just under tropical storm force in each of those areas.

At first, there was considerable attention placed on Earl, especially from Florida which had just been devastated by Hurricane Charley. [ [http://hurricane.weathercenter.com/MGBBFEENWXD.html Tropical Storm Earl Follows Charley's Early Footsteps - from Tampa Bay Online ] ] Initial forecasts had indeed strengthened Earl to a formidable hurricane (over the same environment that allowed Charley to explode) and most models suggested that it would approach, if not hit, Florida (as well as Cuba and Jamaica), following a fairly similar path as Charley, although some other models disagreed. [ [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/dis/al052004.discus.007.shtml Tropical Storm EARL ] ] It was crossing the Lesser Antilles at the time as a moderate tropical storm, where it reached peak intensity of 50 mph (85 km/h).

However, before Earl could get anywhere near the western Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico, it degenerated into an open wave late on August 15; losing its low-level circulation while maintaining 40 mph (65 km/h) winds and strong upper-level circulations. At that time, advisories were discontinued. The wave was never able to regain a low-level circulation over the Atlantic basin.

The poorly-defined remnants of Earl crossed the Caribbean Sea and Central America with little impact, and it reorganized into Hurricane Frank in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It was the first crossover storm since Hurricane Cesar-Douglas in the 1996 season, but unlike Cesar-Douglas, Earl degenerated and then regenerated into Frank.

Preparations

Several hundred people in Grenada evacuated from low-lying areas to schools set up as shelters. [ [http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/weather/special/storm/2004/atlantic/earl/news.html Storm 2004 Hurricane Season: Earl ] ] Shopkeepers boarded windows, while airports temporarily closed prior to the storm. [ [http://wtvj.nbcweatherplus.com/weathernews/3655812/detail.html weatherplus.com - Weather News - Tropical Storm Earl Rakes Across Eastern Caribbean Islands ] ]

With the initial forecasts predicting that Earl would strengthen considerably into a hurricane and head towards Florida which had already been impacted heavily by Hurricane Charley, the local officials urged residents to exercise caution, but not panic due to the large errors in long-range forecasts. [ [http://www.tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGBU36FNWXD.html Tropical Storm Earl Follows Charley's Early Footsteps: From The Tampa Tribune ] ]

Impact

Overall damage was generally minor. Gusty winds tore off the roofs of about 30 houses in Grenada [ [http://www.belgrafix.com/gtoday/2004news/August/Aug%2028/Report%20on%20Tropical%20Storm%20Earl.htm Grenada Today - August 28st, 2004 ] ] , while ten homes experienced damage in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Airports were also closed in St. Vincent and in Grenada as a result of the storm. [ [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040815T220000-0500_64587_OBS_KEEP_AN_EYE_ON_TROPICAL_STORM_EARL.asp Keep an eye on Tropical Storm Earl - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM ] ] Minor flooding and several landslides were also reported in Grenada. [ [http://www.belgrafix.com/gtoday/2004news/August/Aug%2028/Report%20on%20Tropical%20Storm%20Earl.htm Grenada Today - August 28st, 2004 ] ]

On Tobago, strong winds knocked down trees and power lines, leaving 90% of the island without electricity for a time. Throughout the region, some banana crops were also reported to have been damaged. [ [http://wtvj.nbcweatherplus.com/weathernews/3655812/detail.html weatherplus.com - Weather News - Tropical Storm Earl Rakes Across Eastern Caribbean Islands ] ] Damage to trees was also reported throughout the eastern Caribbean. [ [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040815T220000-0500_64587_OBS_KEEP_AN_EYE_ON_TROPICAL_STORM_EARL.asp Keep an eye on Tropical Storm Earl - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM ] ] No fatalities were reported.

Because the damage was minimal, the name Earl was not retired and is scheduled to be re-used in the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.

References

ee also

* 2004 Atlantic hurricane season

External links

* NHC's [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004earl.shtml? Tropical Cyclone Report] on Tropical Storm Earl