Hurricane Nicole (1998)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Nicole
Type=hurricane
Year=1998
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Nicole 01 dec 1998 1007Z.jpg


Formed=November 24, 1998
Dissipated=December 1, 1998
1-min winds=75
Pressure=979
Da

Fatalities=None reported
Areas=No land areas
Hurricane season=1998 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Nicole was the last hurricane in the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed from a frontal low to the south of the Azores on November 24, and quickly strengthened to reach winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) as it moved to the west-southwest. An approaching upper-level trough moved over the system, producing strong wind shear which rapidly weakened Nicole to a tropical depression. After the trough passed, the system entered an area of lighter shear, and steadily restrengthened. An approaching cold front turned it to the northeast, and while moving over anomalously warm sea surface temperatures Nicole attained hurricane status. It reached a peak intensity of 85 mph (135 km/h) on December 1, and rapidly weakened over the waters of the north Atlantic Ocean. Nicole was most intense hurricane and tied for the second strongest hurricane in the month of December.

Meteorological history

A strong frontal low located several hundred miles south of the Azores persisted for several days in late November while remaining nearly stationary. After it began moving steadily to the west, a tightly-wrapped band of convection developed near the center, and it is estimated the system developed into Tropical Depression Fourteen on November 24 while located 725 miles (1,165 km) south of Lajes, Azores. The system quickly intensified as it moved west-southwestward, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Nicole six hours after forming.cite web|author=Lixion A. Avila|year=1998|title=Hurricane Nicole Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1998nicole.html] Tropical Storm Nicole was a small storm, and upon first forming tropical storm force winds extended only 60 miles (95 km) from the center.cite web|author=Lawrence|year=1998|title=Tropical Storm Nicole Public Advisory One|publisher=NHC|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/pub/PAL1498.001]

A few hours after attaining tropical storm status, a ship just north of the center reported winds of 41 mph (66 km/h), confirming the system was a tropical storm. Located to the south of a strong mid-level ridge, Nicole continued to the west-southwest while centered within a large upper-level low. Common for late-season development in the subtropics, this produced light vertical shear over the storm. The storm moved through an area of marginal sea surface temperatures of 77°F (25°C). An intermittent eye feature of the small area of deep convection, and Nicole quickly strengthened to reach an initial peak intensity of 70 mph (115 km/h).cite web|author=Pasch|year=1998|title=Tropical Storm Nicole Discussion Three|publisher=NHC|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1498.003] After maintaining its peak for around twelve hours, an upper-level trough moved rapidly eastward over Nicole, which produced high levels of wind shear. The shear weakened the storm, and by late on November 25 the center became exposed to the west of the diminishing deep convection.cite web|author=Pasch|year=1998|title=Tropical Storm Nicole Discussion Seven|publisher=NHC|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1498.007] The shear dissipated most of the convection, and Nicole degenerated to a tropical depression on November 26. Operationally, advisories were discontinued, and regeneration was considered unlikely.cite web|author=Pasch|year=1998|title=Tropical Depression Nicole Discussion Nine|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1498.009]

The low turned to the west, and following the passage of the trough a ridge became established over Nicole. This resulted in a decrease in wind shear, and deep convection redeveloped over the storm. The National Hurricane Center reinstated advisories for Nicole on November 27 while located about 1,515 miles (2,440 km) west-southwest of the Canary Islands. The low-level circulation was initially exposed on the southwest side of the convection,cite web|author=Jarvinen|year=1998|title=Tropical Depression Nicole Discussion Eleven|publisher=NHC|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1498.011] though Nicole quickly strengthened and unexpectedly re-attained tropical storm status later on November 27. Upon reaching tropical storm status for the second time, the center of Nicole moved beneath the convection while an anticyclone developed over the storm. Banding features began to develop, and outflow was well-defined.cite web|author=Jarvinen|year=1998|title=Tropical Storm Nicole Discussion Twelve|publisher=NHC|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1498.012] An approaching cold front turned Nicole to the north, and late on November 28 the storm reached its westernmost point while located 1,125 miles (1,800 km) east-northeast of Bermuda.

After turning to the northeast, shear from the approaching front weakened Nicole slightly, and the center became situated near the western edge of the convection.cite web|author=Jarvinen|year=1998|title=Tropical Storm Nicole Discussion Sixteen|publisher=NHC|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1498.016] cite web|author=Mayfield|year=1998|title=Tropical Storm Nicole Discussion Seventeen|publisher=NHC|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1498.017] Upper-level diffluence allowed the convection to persist despite the shearing environment,cite web|author=Pasch|year=1998|title=Tropical Storm Nicole Discussion Eighteen|publisher=NHC|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1498.018] and an eye-feature developed within the convection.cite web|author=Jarvinen|year=1998|title=Tropical Storm Nicole Discussion Twenty|publisher=NHC|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1498.020] Anomalously warm sea surface temperatures of 3º to 5°F (2º to 3°C) allowed the storm to continue strengthening, and early on November 30 Nicole strengthened to attain hurricane status while located 1,280 miles (2,060 km) west-southwest of Lajes, Azores. A nearly complete eyewall organized within the storm, and early on December 1 Nicole reached a peak intensity of 85 mph (135 km/h). It turned northward and rapidly weakened, and Nicole became extratropical later on December 1 while located 285 miles (460 km) northwest of the Azores. The extratropical remnant turned to the northwest while moving around the periphery of a larger circulation, and on December 2 Nicole dissipated.

Impact, records, and naming

Nicole remained hundreds of miles away from land throughout its entire lifetime, and as a result it caused no damage or deaths. By forming at 28º W, Nicole holds the record for the easternmost tropical cyclone to form in the month of November. Nicole persisted as a hurricane to 37º N, a record for the month of December. With winds of 85 mph (135 km/h), Nicole is tied with Hurricane Epsilon in 2005 as the second-strongest hurricane in December, only behind a 105 mph (170 km/h) hurricane in 1925.cite web|author=Hurricane Research Division|year=2006|title=Hurdat Data for Tropical Cyclones 1851-2005|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2005_atl.txt] However, a preliminary reanalysis of the 1925 storm pending approval of the National Hurricane Center indicated it failed to even reach hurricane status. This would make Nicole and Epsilon tied for the strongest hurricanes in the month of November.cite web|author=Chris Landsea|year=2005|title=The Atlantic Hurricane Database �Reanalysis for 1911 to 1930|publisher=NOAA/Hurricane Research Division|accessdate=2006-10-31|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/presentations/irr-19111930.ppt] By pressure, Nicole is the most intense hurricane in December.

The name Nicole was first used for this hurricane. Due to the lack of effects, it was not retired. It was reused in 2004, and is on the list to be reused in the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.

See also

* List of Atlantic hurricanes

References

External links

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1998NICOLEadv.html NHC's archive on Hurricane Nicole]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1998nicole.html NHC's Tropical Cyclone Report on Hurricane Nicole]