Hurricane Michael (2000)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Michael
Type=hurricane
Year=2000
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Michael 18 oct 2000 2045Z.jpg


Formed=October 15, 2000
Dissipated=October 20, 2000
1-min winds=85
Pressure=965
Da

Fatalities=None reported
Areas=Newfoundland
Hurricane season=2000 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Michael was a short-lived hurricane in the western Atlantic Ocean in the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the thirteenth named storm and eighth hurricane of 2000.

The storm developed out of a non-tropical system that gained subtropical characteristics on October 15 and became fully tropical late on October 16. It quickly strengthened into a hurricane, peaking as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale as it was becoming extratropical late on October 19. It made landfall in Newfoundland while in the transition phase as a Category 1 hurricane, but little damage was done as it hit a sparsely populated area.

Meteorological history

The system originated out of a non-tropical cold-core upper level low that drifted southward into the subtropics. The low interacted with a cold front that redeveloped into a stationary front over the Bahamas on October 10. As the cold low drifted southward, a surface low developed on October 12. The surface low remained mostly stationary until early on October 15 as it merged with the upper-level low and deepened while north of the Bahamas and east of the coast of Florida. On the morning of October 15, the system gained enough tropical characteristics and became organized enough to be classified as a subtropical depression.cite web|author=Stacy R. Stewart|year=2000|title=Hurricane Michael Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000michael.html]

As a subtropical depression, Michael remained stationary over warm water, with sea surface temperatures around 83°F (28°C), while it continued to gain additional tropical characteristics. That evening, Michael strengthened into a subtropical storm after satellite classifications using the Hebert-Poteat technique showed a stronger storm. On October 16, Michael continued to develop as more thunderstorms developed and persisted near the low-level circulation.

That evening, the transition was completed and Michael was reclassified as a tropical storm as supported by satellite classifications via the Dvorak technique. The first advisories by the National Hurricane Center were issued late in the evening of October 16 when it was operationally classified as a tropical depression (later found to have been a tropical storm). [ [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1700.001.html NHC Advisory Archive ] ] A well-defined eye quickly developed early on October 17 as Michael began to strengthen and rapidly organize. [ [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1700.003.html NHC Advisory Archive ] ] That afternoon, Michael rapidly intensified further and was upgraded to a hurricane as Reconnaissance flights found winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). At that point, Michael began to move northward. [ [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1700.004.html NHC Advisory Archive ] ]

That evening, Michael levelled off in intensity as a minimal hurricane, and it remained as such into the morning of October 18 as the eye remained ragged (albeit well-defined) as it paralleled the Gulf Stream. [ [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1700.006.html NHC Advisory Archive ] ] On the afternoon of the 18th, Michael strengthened slightly to 85 mph (135 km/h) before weakening slightly once again that evening as it began to weaken somewhat as it tracked into cooler water and also began its extratropical transition while accelerating to the northeast towards Newfoundland.

Unexpectedly, Michael began to rapidly intensify once again on the morning of October 19 while in extratropical transition. Early that afternoon, while just to the south of Newfoundland and racing northeastward, a ship report in the eastern eyewall reported a minimum central pressure of 965 mbar and 100 mph (160 km/h) winds, making Michael a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. [ [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1700.012.html NHC Advisory Archive ] ] The sudden intensification was determined to have been as a result of baroclinic effects as it interacted with an incoming trough which provided additional energy to counter the general weakening of hurricanes while in the high latitudes over sea-surface temperatures around 60°F (16°C).cite web|author=Chris T. Fogerty|year=2002|title=Hurricane Michael|publisher=Meteorological Service of Canada|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.novaweather.net/Hurricane_Michael_files/Michael_MSC.pdf] Such formed a "hybrid" system combining influences of a hurricane with that of a powerful extratropical cyclone. Late that afternoon, while still a strong Category 1 hurricane with 85 mph (135 km/h) winds, Michael became extratropical as it was making landfall in southern Newfoundland, near Harbour Breton.The extratropical system gradually weakened as it tracked across Newfoundland on October 20, and slowed down considerably with the presence of the trough. The storm was absorbed by another extratropical low just north of Newfoundland that afternoon.

Impact

Light to moderate damage, entirely as a result of the strong winds, was reported throughout Newfoundland. Several small communities, including Gaultois, Harbour Breton, Hermitage and English Harbour West reported significant power outages and minor structural damage. The most severe damage was in Gaultois where several roofs were torn off and trees were uprooted. Sporadic power outages were reported throughout the island. The relatively light damage for such a significant storm with 85 mph (135 km/h) sustained winds and 105 mph (165 km/h) gusts (only slightly weaker than Hurricane Juan in Nova Scotia in 2003) was as a result of high construction standards in Newfoundland, where winter storms routinely result in hurricane-force winds, as well as the sparse population of the area affected. There were no injuries or fatalities as a result of Hurricane Michael.

The most significant maritime impacts were as a result of rough seas. The "Atlantic Elm" tug lost its tow to the unmanned barge "Portland Star" on the evening of October 19. The barge was carrying over 18,000 tonnes of cement and diesel fuel and sunk. Damage was reported to numerous boats around Fortune Bay as a result of the waves. Ferry service between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia was also disrupted. There was little storm surge and no damage as a result of it as Michael arrived at low tide. Little rainfall fell as a result of the storm due to its fast movement and no inland flooding was reported.

Due to the lack of any widespread damage, the name Michael was not retired and was scheduled to be re-used in the 2006 season. It went unused, and is on the list for the 2012 season.

Other notes

Michael was the first hurricane to make landfall in Newfoundland since Hurricane Luis in 1995. [ [http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/storm00.html CHC-2000 Tropical Cyclone Season Summary ] ] When the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) and the National Research Council (NRC) flew a Convair research flight into Michael on October 19, it was also the first successful research flight made into a tropical cyclone by those agencies. Subsequent flights have been made into Hurricane Karen, Hurricane Isabel (while inland), Hurricane Juan [ [http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/outlook2004_e.html Canadian Hurricane Centre: Atlantic Hurricane Season 2004 Outlook ] ] and Hurricane Ophelia. [ [http://www.novaweather.net/Hurricane_Ophelia/Ophelia_report_CHC.pdf The Extratropical Transition of Tropical Storm Ophelia (2005): ] ]

References

ee also

* 2000 Atlantic hurricane season

External links

* NHC's [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000michael.html Tropical Cyclone Report] for Hurricane Michael