Hurricane Gordon (2006)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Gordon
Type=hurricane
Year=2006
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Gordon 2006.jpg


Formed=September 10, 2006
Dissipated=September 20, 2006
1-min winds=105
Pressure=955
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=None
Areas=Azores, Iberian Peninsula, British Isles
Hurricane season=2006 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Gordon was a strong Category 3 hurricane that crossed the Azores as a Category 1 hurricane, making it the first hurricane to directly impact the Azores since 1991. [ [http://www.wmo.ch/web/www/TCP/Meetings/HC29/EN/Doc4RSMCMiami.doc REVIEW OF THE PAST HURRICANE SEASON - RSMC Miami 2006 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season Summary] ] Gordon's remnants also affected Western Europe. It was the eighth tropical storm, third hurricane and first major hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season.

torm history

The initial development of this system can be linked to Hurricane Florence. It began as a tropical wave immediately behind Florence in the first week of September, which initially was absorbed into the enormous circulation of then-Tropical Storm Florence. As Florence began to organize and move northwest, the wave managed to break from the circulation again and gradually organize despite initially hostile conditions. On September 10, it had organized enough to be declared Tropical Depression Seven northeast of the Lesser Antilles. With Florence well away from the system, conditions became more favorable for development, and it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Gordon on September 11 while moving slowly westward.

The conditions remained favorable as Gordon steered through a hole in the ridge near the Azores, allowing it to avoid land. It continued to strengthen, becoming a hurricane on September 12 and rapidly organizing into a strong Category 2 hurricane less than 24 hours later. The rapid development continued on September 13, and by that evening, it had strengthened into a major hurricane - the first of 2006 - while maintaining a very small size. Gordon would remain a major hurricane for over 24 hours before cooler water began to set in and Gordon gradually weakened, beginning early on September 15.

The steering currents would also weaken greatly and Gordon became nearly stationary for about 24 hours as well before a trough would come in and send Gordon northeastward. By the morning of September 16, Gordon was barely a hurricane and was forecast to weaken over cooler waters. However, that did not happen, and Gordon actually strengthened slightly while moving northeastward and became better organized. That trend continued for over 48 hours, and Gordon increased in strength gradually, becoming a Category 2 hurricane. While the forecast constantly showed a weakening trend, the resiliency suddenly meant that the Azores were threatened by Gordon. Gordon reached its secondary peak of 105 mph (165 km/h) on the morning of September 19, before weakening slightly.

Nonetheless, it remained a hurricane as it crossed the Azores. Shortly after that it weakened and became extratropical. The remnants of Gordon then began to interact with a large Atlantic low pressure area to the west of Ireland and an associated weather front extending south. It tracked towards the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula and then on September 21 turned northwards towards south-west Britain and Ireland. By the morning of September 22 it had become completely absorbed into the Atlantic low.

Preparations

Azores

With the onset of Gordon expected, all nine Azores Islands were placed on red alert by the Portuguese government, and residents were asked to take emergency precautions. The Meteorological Service of the Azores issued hurricane warnings for all of the islands. The civil protection agency head Antonio Cunha closed all schools as a precautionary measure. Fishermen were also ordered to stay on land. Residents were warned to stay indoors, close doors and windows, clear storm sewers and move livestock to safe areas. Forecasters warned of winds as high as 105 mph (170 km/h), along with heavy rain and waves of up to 12 metres (40 ft) high lashing coastal areas. [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060919/sc_afp/portugalweather_060919191900 Yahoo News - "Portugal's mid-Atlantic Azores on alert as Hurricane Gordon nears"] (Link dead as of 15 January 2007)]

pain

In Spain, the region of Galicia was placed on red alert - the highest level - by authorities in anticipation of the extratropical remnants of Gordon. Classes on September 21 were also suspended by the regional education ministry. 11 other regions of Spain, including as far east as Madrid and as far south as Andalusia, received lower levels of warning. [ [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/15564314.htm The Kansas City Star - "Spain prepares for a weakened Gordon"] (Link dead as of 15 January 2007)]

British Isles

Stormy conditions due to the remnants of Gordon were expected to affect the 2006 Ryder Cup in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland, sparking fears that the event may be greatly interrupted and delayed. Strong gusts and heavy rain associated with another system had already wreaked havoc, causing both teams to delay their second practice rounds. This led to concerns about the possible state of the course by the time the tournament proper was due to start on September 22, leading to the possibility of further interruptions and possible changing of the normal rules. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20448106-23213,00.html The Australian - "Hurricane Gordon threatens chaos"] ] As a result, September 25 was set aside as an additional "reserve day" by organizers at the K Club. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5366886.stm BBC News - "Hurricane remnants set to hit UK"] ]

On September 19 it was reported that the remnants of Gordon would cause high winds and rainfall in parts of the United Kingdom. [ [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-09-19T124046Z_01_L19922032_RTRUKOC_0_UK-WEATHER-BRITAIN-GORDON.xml Reuters - "Hurricane Gordon set to drench west"] (Link dead as of 15 January 2007)] The UK Met Office stated that a "period of very windy weather" with "exceptionally severe gales" was expected for much of Northern Ireland and Scotland. Northern Ireland was expected to receive the brunt of the storm, with severe gales as high as 80 mph expected. [ [http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/news/science/hurricane-gordon-hit-britain-$452361.htm In The News - "Hurricane Gordon to hit Britain"] ] There were also warnings of localised flooding, with up to two inches (50 mm) of rain expected to fall. In addition, Wales and western England were warned of gusts of up to 50 mph. [ [http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0600uk/tm_objectid=17785231&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=hurricane-tail-set-to-lash-britain-name_page.html icWales - "Hurricane tail set to lash Britain"] ]

Impact

Azores

The Azores escaped significant damage. There were only reports of toppled trees and power lines, knocking out power to some communities, particularly on Santa Maria Island. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5363264.stm BBC News - "Azores escape worst of hurricane"] ]

pain

Gordon hit the northwestern province of Galicia as an intensifying extratropical storm early on September 21. Gusts as strong as 101 mph (165 km/h) were witnessed at Fisterra. Even near Madrid, reported winds of 65 mph (107 km/h) raked Punto Navacerrada. Heavy rainfall, up to 2.58" (65.5 mm) at Canfranc, fell across Spain. The pressure plummeted to 989.7 hPa at A Coruña. Waves as high as 7 metres were also reported. [ [http://www.inm.es/web/izq/noticias/meteonoti/pdf/nota_gordon20060922.pdf Las Consecuencias de Gordon en Espana"] ] Trees, traffic lights, containers and placards were all blown over by the strong winds. One man was injured due a tree falling on his car. Overall damage was light, but some roads were blocked. [ [http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Storm_Gordon_reaches_Spain_one_inju_09212006.html The Raw Story - "Storm Gordon reaches Spain - one injured "] ] [ [http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21092006/323/damage-light-cyclone-gordon-buffets-northwestern-spain.html Yahoo! News UK - "Damage light as Cyclone Gordon buffets northwestern Spain"] ]

Republic of Ireland

On September 20, practice rounds for the Ryder Cup were temporarily delayed due to high winds, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/5362498.stm BBC News - "Weather threatens Ryder timetable"] ] but Meteorological Office charts showed these to be associated with a different Atlantic low pressure area rather than effects of Gordon itself.

The remnants of Gordon caused stormy conditions late on September 21, with 1,500 homes losing power. The worst affected areas were on the east coast between Drogheda and Wexford and in the south around Cork and Limerick. [ [http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0922/weather.html RTE News - "Homes without power after high winds, rain"] ]

Earlier on the 21st, a woman attending the Ryder Cup in County Kildare was injured after a tree branch fell near a golf buggy in which she was travelling. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5371984.stm BBC News - "Thousands of homes without power"] ] Additionally, the event's media centre was evacuated due to high winds. However, the gates opened at 06:00 on September 22 as originally planned and the tournament's first day went ahead without major disruption. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/news/22092006news.shtml BBC World Weather News - "Strong Winds Hit the UK" by Helen McKenzie] ]

United Kingdom

The remnants of Gordon hit south-west Britain late on September 21. A gust of 81 mph (130) km/h) was recorded [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2370565,00.html Times Online - "Homes without electricity after Hurricane Gordon hits the UK"] ] and power lines were hit, leaving more than 1,000 homes without power in Truro, Cornwall. In Devon, the rail line between Exeter and Plymouth was damaged by high surf at Dawlish, causing disruption to services. A section of seawall 10m (33 ft) long was also eroded near the track. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/5369636.stm BBC News - "Storms hit power and rail tracks"] ] A tree fell onto a campervan in Yeoford, but no injuries were reported. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2370565,00.html Times Online - "Homes without electricity after Hurricane Gordon hits the UK"] ]

Gusts of up to 75 mph affected Northern Ireland during the night of the 21st & 22nd. Up to 100,000 houses lost power as tree branches fell on power lines. Fallen trees caused widespread disruption: in County Down, several people had to be rescued from their vehicles after trees had fallen on them; flooding was also reported at Rostrevor. Several roads across the province were blocked by fallen trees, including the M1 motorway and the main roads from Derry to Belfast and Coleraine. The Foyle Bridge in Derry was also closed for two hours early on the 22nd due to high winds. [ [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=707350 Belfast Telegraph - "100,000 homes hit by blackout"] ]

In Scotland, high winds led to the cancelling of ferry services from Stranraer and Cairnryan. Lorries on the A715 road were forced to park on the roadside overnight due to dangerous driving conditions. [ [http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=58&newsID=10777 24dash.com - "Bedford tops thermometers at 28.4C"] ]

One positive effect from the extratropical remnants of Gordon was observed in Newquay, Cornwall, where large waves and swells up to 2.5 m (8 ft) high made for excellent surf conditions. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/5368856.stm BBC News - "Huge swell for hurricane surfing"] ]

References

ee also

*2006 Atlantic hurricane season

External links

* NHC's [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/GORDON.shtml? archive on Hurricane Gordon]