Hurricane Humberto (2007)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hurricane Humberto

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Tropical Storm Humberto near the Texas coast
Formed	September 12, 2007
Dissipated	September 14, 2007
Highest winds	90 mph (150 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure	985 mbar (hPa; 29.09 inHg)
Fatalities	1 direct
Damage	$50 million (2007 USD)
Areas affected	Southeast Texas, Louisiana, Southeast United States
Part of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Humberto was a minimal hurricane that formed and intensified faster than any other tropical cyclone on record before landfall. Developing on September 12, 2007, in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, the cyclone rapidly strengthened and struck High Island, Texas, with winds of about 90 mph (150 km/h) early on September 13. It steadily weakened after moving ashore, and on September 14 it began dissipating over northwestern Georgia as it interacted with an approaching cold front.

Damage was fairly light, estimated at approximately $50 million (2007 USD). Precipitation peaked at 14.13 inches (358.9 mm), while wind gusts to 85 mph (137 km/h) were reported. The heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding, which damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, and closed several highways. Trees and power lines were downed, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers. The passage of the hurricane caused one fatality in the State of Texas. Additionally, as the storm progressed inland, rainfall was reported throughout the Southeast United States.

Contents 1 Meteorological history 2 Preparations 3 Impact 3.1 Texas 3.2 Louisiana and Southeast United States 4 Aftermath 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Meteorological history

Humberto formed from the remnants of a frontal trough—the same which spawned Tropical Storm Gabrielle—that moved offshore of south Florida on September 5.^[1][2] The combination of a weak surface trough and an upper-level low pressure system produced disorganized showers and thunderstorms from western Cuba into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.^[3] Tracking slowly west-northwestward, unfavorable wind shear initially inhibited tropical cyclone development.^[4] By late on September 11, environmental conditions became more favorable,^[5] and the following morning convection increased over the disturbance.^[6] Tracking around the western periphery of a mid-level ridge, the system turned on a slow northwest drift and quickly organized. Radar imagery reported loose banding features, and buoy data indicated the presence of a surface circulation; based on the observations, the National Hurricane Center classified the system as Tropical Depression Nine, while located roughly 60 miles (100 km) southeast of Matagorda, Texas.^[7]

Upon becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression was forecast to slowly strengthen to reach peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h).^[7] Within three hours of forming, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Humberto.^[8] A small cyclone, the storm continued to quickly organize as it turned north-northeastward, while radar imagery suggested the formation of an eye by early on September 13.^[9] Based on reports from Hurricane Hunters, Humberto was upgraded to a hurricane at 0515 UTC on September 13, while located about 15 miles (20 km) off the coast of Texas.^[10] The hurricane made landfall a few miles to the east of High Island at around 0700 UTC. A well-defined eye was maintained with strong convection around it, and Hurricane Hunters reported sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) about two hours after landfall.^[11] However, post-storm analysis later determined that the winds were a bit stronger—about 90 mph (150 km/h).^[2]

Based on operational estimates of a wind speed increase of 50 mph (85 km/h), the National Hurricane Center reported that "no tropical cyclone in the historic record has ever reached this intensity at a faster rate near landfall." The path of the eye continued northeastward and passed over Port Arthur, Nederland, Port Neches, Groves, and Bridge City, Texas at Category 1 hurricane strength. This was the second time within two years (following Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005) that these cities experienced a direct hit from a hurricane. By eight hours after landfall, Humberto weakened to a tropical storm as it crossed into southwestern Louisiana.^[12] Increased upper-level wind shear caused the storm to weaken rapidly over land, and late on September 13 Humberto weakened to a tropical depression. Upon issuing its last advisory, the National Hurricane Center remarked on the potential for the remnants of the storm to turn southward into the Gulf of Mexico.^[13] However, the storm continued northeastward through the southeastern United States, and on September 14, the storm began dissipating over northwestern Georgia, and shortly thereafter degenerated into a remnant low pressure area.^[14]

[edit] Preparations

Upon becoming a tropical cyclone, a tropical storm warning was issued from Port O'Connor, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana, and a tropical storm watch was posted from Cameron to Intracoastal City, Louisiana;^[15] after Humberto became a tropical storm, the watch was upgraded to a warning.^[16] Upon reaching hurricane status, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning from High Island, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana.^[17] An inland tropical storm warning was declared for several parishes in southwestern Louisiana.^[18] The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center posted a tornado watch for southwestern coastal parishes.^[12]

Prior to moving ashore, officials in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, advised residents in low-lying or flood-prone areas to consider moving to a safer location. A shelter was opened in Lake Charles,^[18] where 29 people stayed during the storm.^[19] Flood watches and warnings were issued for portions of Mississippi and Louisiana as the cstorm tracked across the region.^[20] Texas Governor Rick Perry, prepared state resources for the potentially impacted areas, including the deployment of 200 Texas Military Forces soldiers. For search and rescue missions, six Black Hawk helicopters and two water rescue teams. The Texas State Operations Center was activated shortly after the cyclone developed.^[21]

[edit] Impact

[edit] Texas

A few hours prior to its development, outer rainbands from the depression began moving over portions of the Texas coast.^[6] Heavy rainfall from intense thunderstorms caused minor flooding as they crossed the coastline during the subsequent days;^[22] precipitation in the state peaked at 14.13 inches (358.9 mm) at East Bay Bayou, the highest recorded rainfall total in association with the hurricane.^[14] Sustained winds peaked at 69 mph (112 km/h) with gusts to 85 mph (137 km/h) at Sea Rim State Park; the National Weather Service estimates gusts exceeded 90 mph (145 km/h) in southwestern Jefferson County and extreme southeastern Chambers County.^[23] Upon moving ashore, Humberto produced a minor storm surge in the state, peaking at 2.86 feet (0.87 m) at Rollover Pass; the combination of surge and waves resulted in light beach erosion.^[22]

Hurricane Humberto left 10 homes completely destroyed in Galveston County, with an additional 19 severely damaged in the county; several homes received minor shingle damage, and road closures left about 5,000 houses isolated in the county. The combination of saturated grounds and strong winds uprooted many trees and downed power lines across the path of the hurricane,^[22] with at least 50 high voltage transmission poles blown down or seriously damaged; over 120,000 power customers in Orange and Jefferson counties lost power,^[19] with 118,000 Entergy customers in the state without electricity.^[24] Widespread flooding occurred in Jefferson and Orange counties, and at least 20 homes in Beaumont were flooded. Additionally, several roadways were flooded. The passage of the hurricane caused one fatality in the state; a Bridge City man was killed when his carport crashed on him outside his house.^[19] Overall damage estimates were about $50 million.^[2]

Oil production was slowed as a result of Humberto, as at least four refineries—the Valero, ExxonMobil, Total SA and Motiva Enterprises LLC plants in Port Arthur—were halted due to the loss of power. Oil prices rose above $80 a barrel in intraday trading on September 12 as a result, ending the next day at a record high of $80.09 a barrel.^[25][26] Natural gas futures rose 8 percent ahead of the storm, but lost most of those gains the next day.^[26]

[edit] Louisiana and Southeast United States

Tracking through the state as a weakening tropical storm, Humberto produced light to moderate winds across southwestern Louisiana. Gusts officially peaked at 43 mph (69 km/h) in the state, although an unofficial reading of 55 mph (89 km/h) was reported in Vinton.^[23] Heavy rainfall occurred across the area, reaching a peak of 8.25 inches (210 mm) in DeRidder.^[27] The rainfall triggered minor river flooding, and the Vermilion River in Lafayette reached a crest of 0.94 feet (0.29 m) above flood stage. Storm surge was minor in the state, peaking at 2.13 feet (0.65 m) in Cypremont Point;^[28] no beach erosion was reported.^[19]

Widespread freshwater flooding occurred in Beauregard Parish, leaving homes in DeRidder flooded. High water across the southwestern portion of the state resulted in the closure of several roadways, including U.S. Route 171 and various state highways. Isolated wind damage was reported, particularly near the Texas border, with some trees and power lines blown down. A total of about 13,000 power customers lost electricity in southwestern Louisiana.^[19] After the circulation dissipated, the remnants of Humberto spawned several tornadoes across portions of South Carolina and North Carolina and caused widespread damage in some locations. Numerous tornadoes were reported,^[29] though none caused injuries or fatalities.^[30]

[edit] Aftermath

Hours after Humberto made landfall, Rick Perry declared Galveston, Jefferson, and Orange counties as disaster areas, which allocated state resources to assist the affected residents.^[21] The governor applied for a presidential disaster declaration on September 21.^[31] Four Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) teams assessed the hurricane damage in the three most affected counties.^[32] Because the damage from Hurricane Humberto was not extreme, the name Humberto was not retired, and is on the list of names to be used during the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.^[33]

[edit] See also

• List of Texas hurricanes (1980–present)
• Other tropical cyclones named Humberto
• List of Atlantic hurricanes
• 2007 Atlantic hurricane season
• Timeline of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season
• List of storms in the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season
• List of Florida hurricanes (2000–present)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hurricane Humberto (2007)

• Victims of Humberto assess damage, Houston Chronicle
• Tropical Cyclone Report
• Hydrometeorological Prediction Center Report