Tropical Storm Beryl (2006)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Beryl
Type=Tropical storm
Year=2006
Basin=Atl
Image location=TS Beryl 2006201.jpg


Formed=July 18, 2006
Dissipated=July 21, 2006
1-min winds=50
Pressure=1000
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=None reported
Areas=Long Island, Massachusetts, Atlantic Canada
Hurricane season=2006 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Beryl was the third tropical storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season. Developing from a tropical disturbance on July 18, it tracked generally northward, and strengthened to attain peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) under generally favorable conditions. After turning to the northeast, Beryl weakened over cooler waters. On July 21 it struck the island of Nantucket, and shortly thereafter it became extratropical. The extratropical remnants continued northeastward through Nova Scotia, and on July 22 it merged with an approaching cold front.

Beryl produced rough seas along the northeast United States coastline. In Massachusetts, its impact was limited to light rainfall and gusty winds, with no reported damage. Beryl later produced moderate rainfall and gusty winds across Atlantic Canada, resulting in some localized power outages though little damage. No deaths were reported.

Meteorological history

A cold front moved off the East Coast of the United States on July 16 and stalled off the coast of North Carolina. It gradually decayed into a surface low pressure trough,cite web|author=Richard Pasch|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-05-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL022006_Beryl.pdf] and developed into two disturbances; one was centered 290 miles (490 km) south-southeast of Cape Cod and another was located 200 miles (320 km) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.cite web|author=MAINELLI/BEVEN|year=2006|title=July 16, 2006 Tropical Weather Outlook (2)|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2006-07-20|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2006071621.ABNT20] The first low quickly organized into an unnamed tropical storm, [cite web|author=Eric Blake and John Beven|year=2006|title=Unnamed Tropical Storm Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-05-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL502006_Unnamed.pdf] and the other area initially remained broad and ill-defined.cite web| author = Pasch | year = 2006| title = July 17, 2006 Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=National Hurricane Center | accessdate=2006-07-20 | url = ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2006071709.ABNT20 ] However, by July 18, the system became much better organized with improved banding features, and the area developed into Tropical Depression Two while located 220 miles (355 km) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras.cite web|author=Stewart|year=2006|title=Tropical Depression Two Discussion One|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2006-07-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/dis/al022006.discus.001.shtml?]

The depression moved slowly to the north-northwest through a break in the subtropical ridge, and as convective banding features became more prominent the system intensified into Tropical Storm Beryl. Throughout much of its duration, the storm tracked through an environment with light vertical wind shear and well-established upper-level outflow. Shortly after becoming a tropical storm, the low-level circulation of Beryl became exposed with limited deep convection,cite web|author=Avila|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl Discussion Three|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2006-07-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/dis/al022006.discus.003.shtml?] though deep convection re-developed the following morning.cite web|author=Pasch|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl Discussion Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2006-07-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/dis/al022006.discus.004.shtml?] Outflow continued to improve, and with warm sea surface temperatures Beryl gradually intensified to attain peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) early on July 20 while located about 120 miles (190 km) east of Nags Head, North Carolina.

Beryl maintained peak winds for about 18 hours as it paralleled the Mid-Atlantic and New Jersey coasts, during which an eye-like feature developed in the center of the convection.cite web|author=Bowyer|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl Information Statement on July 20, 2006|publisher=Canadian Hurricane Centre|accessdate=2007-05-24|url=http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/bulletins/20060720175858.Beryl.txt.en] Late on July 20, it began a slow weakening trend after passing over cooler waters. Steering winds ahead of an approaching mid-level trough caused Beryl to accelerate northeastward, and early on July 21 the center of the storm crossed the island of Nantucket. The convection diminished as it moved through progressively colder waters,cite web|author=Fogarty and LaFortune|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl Information Statement on July 21, 2006|publisher=Canadian Hurricane Centre|accessdate=2007-05-24|url=http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/bulletins/20060721115633.Beryl.txt.en] and shortly after 1200 UTC on July 21 Beryl became an extratropical cyclone a short distance east of Cape Cod. Hours later, it made landfall in southwestern Nova Scotia, and on July 22 the extratropical remnants of Beryl merged with an approaching cold front over Newfoundland.

Preparations

Forecasters initially predicted Beryl to brush the Carolinas; as such, a tropical storm watch was issued for the eastern coast of North Carolina from Cape Lookout northward to Currituck Beach Lighthouse. When a more northeastward track became apparent, a tropical storm watch was issued about 33 hours prior to moving ashore from Woods Hole to Plymouth, Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard. About 22 hours before landfall, the National Hurricane Center replaced the watch with a tropical storm warning for the same area, and also issued a tropical storm watch from Woods Hole, Massachusetts westward to New Haven, Connecticut and for the eastern portion of Long Island from east of Fire Island to Port Jefferson. In anticipation for the storm, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency was activated as a trial run for the hurricane season. Local Red Cross chapters were opened, as well, with two volunteer teams placed on standby to assist. [cite web|author=Paul Shipman|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl Threatens New England with Wind, Rain|publisher=Charter Oak Chapter of the American Red Cross|accessdate=2007-05-22|url=http://charteroak.redcross.org/media/Beryl_Preparations_7-20-06.pdf] Across southeastern Massachusetts, police departments maintained extra staff in preparation for any potential problems from the storm. Many fishermen secured their boats, while some business owners boarded up windows to prevent storm damage.

Several days prior to the passage of Beryl through Atlantic Canada, the Canadian Hurricane Centre issued gale warnings for the coastal waters off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. In anticipation of heavy rainfall, the agency also issued heavy rainfall warnings for western Nova Scotia, including Halifax.

Impact

The storm caused high waves along the East Coast of the United States, with 19-foot seas (5.97 m) in the open ocean. [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2006/07/tropical_storm_2.html Local News Updates - Tropical Storm Beryl fizzles as it passes over Nantucket -The Boston Globe ] ] Waves along the southern coast of Nantucket reached 10 feet (3 m) in height as the storm approached the island,cite web|author=NASA/GOES Project Office|year=2006|title=Beryl's Effect on Nantucket Island, Mass|accessdate=2007-05-22|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2006/h2006_beryl.html] resulting in four people being rescued by lifeguards from rip currents.cite web|author=Carolyn Johnson and Yuxing Zheng|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl sweeps into region|publisher=Boston Globe|accessdate=2007-05-22|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/21/tropical_storm_beryl_sweeps_into_region/] High surf also occurred along the southern coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.cite web|author=Taunton, Massachusetts National Weather Service|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl Local Statement|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2007-05-22|url=http://twister.sbs.ohio-state.edu/text/tropical/atlantic/statements/07210418.KBOX] Beryl also produced a storm surge of 0.9 feet (.27 m) on Nantucket. Winds across southeastern Massachusetts were fairly light, with no sustained tropical storm force winds and wind gusts peaking at 44 mph (71 km/h); unofficially gusts reached 51 mph (82 km/h). Beryl dropped moderate precipitation just offshore, though the maximum precipitation total in the United States was only 0.97 inches (24.6 mm) on Nantucket.cite web|author=David Roth|year=2007|title=Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2007-05-22|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcmaxima.html] Rainfall along southeastern Massachusetts reached 0.33 inches (8.38 mm) at Chatham. The only reported damage were some downed telephone poles and fallen tree branches.cite web|author=Boston Globe|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl Pays Nantucket a Visit|accessdate=2007-05-22|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/22/tropical_storm_beryl_pays_nantucket_a_visit] Overall impact was minor; there were no reported power outages, deaths, injuries, or maritime emergencies in association with the storm.cite web|author=Associated Press|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl skirts Massachusetts|accessdate=2007-05-22|url=http://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2006-07-21-storm-beryl_x.htm]

The remnants of Beryl dropped moderate precipitation in Atlantic Canada, officially peaking at 2.8 inches (71 mm) in Scotts Bay, Nova Scotiacite web|author=Canadian Press|year=2006|title=Post-tropical storm Beryl leaves Atlantic Canada after dumping pouring rain|accessdate=2007-05-24|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/canada/story/3604925p-4167132c.html] with an unofficially higher total of 3.5 inches (88 mm); in some locations 1 inch of rain fell in an hour.cite web|author=Canadian Hurricane Centre|year=2007|title=2006 Atlantic Hurricane Season Review|accessdate=2007-05-24|url=http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/storm06.html] Additionally, a station in Fredericton, New Brunswick reported 1.77 inches (45 mm) in two hours.cite web|author=LaFortune and Bowyer|year=2006|title=Tropical Storm Beryl Intermediate Information Bulletin on July 21|publisher=Canadian Hurricane Centre|accessdate=2007-05-24|url=http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/bulletins/20060721150644.Beryl.txt.en] The rainfall caused some flooding, with some overflown streams flooding some streets. Moderate winds were reported along its path, which peaked at 60 mph (96 km/h) in southern Nova Scotia. The winds downed some tree limbs and led to some power outages. Overall damage was minor.

ee also

*List of New England hurricanes

References

External links

*The NHC's [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/BERYL.shtml? archive on Tropical Storm Beryl] .