Hurricane Isaac (2000)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Isaac
Type=hurricane
Year=2000
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Isaac (2000) GOES 9-28-00.jpg


Formed=September 21, 2000
Dissipated=October 4, 2000
1-min winds=120
Pressure=943
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=1 direct
Areas=Bermuda, Long Island
Hurricane season=2000 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Isaac was a tropical cyclone which was tied for the strongest tropical cyclone of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season. Isaac formed on September 21 and merged with a low pressure area on October 4. Isaac peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h) on September 28, and then began to weaken as it moved into colder waters. The storm had no interaction with land while tropical, but did cause one fatality on Long Island when large swells generated by Isaac overturned a boat. While extratropical, Isaac skirted the British Isles, producing below gale-force winds. Isaac also was tied with Hurricane Keith for the strongest hurricane of the 2000 season.

Meteorological history

A tropical wave moved off the African coast on September 20 which was associated with some convective activity.cite web | author = Richard J. Pasch | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Isaac | date = December 18, 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000isaac.html] The first Dvorak classification was issued soon after. The convection from the tropical wave consolidated, and on September 21, it became Tropical Depression Thirteen. The QuikScat satillite recorded winds of up to 60 miles per hour (90 km/h), although the official intensity at the first advisory from the National Hurricane Center kept it at 35 mph (55 km/h).cite web | author = James R. Franklin| publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Isaac - Discussion Number 1 | date = September 21, 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1300.001.html] The tropical depression was upgraded into Tropical Storm Isaac on the morning of September 22.cite web | author = Stacy Stewart | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Isaac - Discussion Number 3 | date = September 21, 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1300.003.html] A ridge was present over parts of the eastern Atlantic Ocean which provided strong steering currents. Wind shear around Isaac was weak, thus, causing it to intensify gradually. Isaac reached hurricane status by the afternoon of September 23.

Isaac quickly intensified into a 120 mph (200 km/h) major hurricane on September 24. However, the cloud patterns within Isaac became less distinct and organized, primarily from internal fluctuations. Vertical wind shear became visible, weakening the cyclone. The National Hurricane Center predicted that had probably peaked in intensity.cite web | author = Stacy Stewart | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Isaac - Discussion Number 11 | date = September 23, 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1300.011.html] During the period of September 24 through September 26, Isaac had weakened from a major hurricane to a moderate Category 1. The wind shear calmed on the 26th, and convection came back together. Isaac's eye, which had disappeared on September 26, was now visible again. Isaac regained major hurricane status on the 28th, and reached its peak intensity of 140 mph (220 km/h) soon after.cite web | author = Jack Beven | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Isaac - Discussion Number 30| date = September 28, 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1300.030.html] Isaac turned west-northwestward and passed close to Bermuda on September 29. As Isaac moved over colder waters, the cyclone began to weaken. Weakening continued, as Isaac fell to 105 mph winds on the afternoon of September 29.cite web | author = Richard J. Pasch | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Isaac - Discussion Number 34| date = September 29, 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1300.034.html] Isaac was down to Category 1 status by September 30. Isaac kept hurricane for a few hours, finally weakening into a tropical storm on October 1. Isaac, now almost fully extratropical, but weakening was going to be slim.cite web | author = Stacy Stewart | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Isaac - Discussion Number 40| date = October 1, 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1300.040.html] The National Hurricane Center released its final advisory six hours later, as Isaac was almost fully extratropical.cite web | author = Lixion A. Avila| publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Isaac - Discussion Number 41| date = October 1, 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL1300.041.html] The extratropical remnants of Isaac continued over the next few days, grazing the British Isles. The extratropical system merged with an extratropical low on October 4.

Preparations, impact and naming

As an extratropical system, Isaac produced winds near gale-force on the British Isles during the day of October 3. Although Isaac had stayed away from the eastern coast of the United States, swells from the storm caused a boat with four passengers to overturn on September 30. One of the passengers died from drowning. Isaac had approached Bermuda on September 29. No effects to island were reported, except for some swells off the coasts.cite web | publisher = Bermuda Weather Service | title = Weather Summary for September 2000 | date = October 9, 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | url = http://www.weather.bm/data/2000-09.html] The state of North Carolina issued a heavy surf warning on October 1, as swells from Isaac were predicted.cite web |author=The Sun News| publisher = The Sun News | title = Coast Gets Dose Of Hurricane Conditions | date = October 1, 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-30 | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MB&s_site=myrtlebeachonline&p_multi=MB&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB73BEB4E0DDE54&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM] After Isaac passed the British Isles, a bird called the Warbler was seen in Europe for the first time.cite web |author=Chuck Kruger| publisher = Surfbirds.com | title = Tail-end of Hurricane Sets A Record On Cape| date = 2000 | accessdate=2007-10-31 | url = http://www.surfbirds.com/Features/bluewwarb.html]

The name Isaac was not retired in the spring of 2001 and was used again in 2006. The name is set to be used in the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season.

See also

*List of notable tropical cyclones
*List of notable Atlantic hurricanes

References

External links

* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/2000.pdf Monthly Weather Review]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000.html National Hurricane Center 2000 Atlantic hurricane season summary]