Hurricane Karl (1998)
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Hurricane Karl on September 26 | |
| Formed | September 23, 1998 |
| Dissipated | September 28, 1998 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 105 mph (165 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 970 mbar (hPa; 28.64 inHg) |
| Fatalities | None reported |
| Damage | None |
| Areas affected | No land areas |
| Part of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Karl was one of four active hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean on September 26, 1998. The 11th tropical cyclone and named storm of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season, Karl developed from a non-tropical low pressure system that was noted off the coast of the Carolinas. The low became better organized in convection, and it was declared a tropical depression on September 23; it became a hurricane shortly thereafter. A small storm, Karl initially tracked towards the east before turning east-southeastward. The hurricane peaked as a Category 2 hurricane, and by September 26 it accelerated towards the northeast. Increased wind shear caused the storm to weaken, and it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 28. As a tropical cyclone, Karl remained away from land; no effects or damages were reported.
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[edit] Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Karl were in a small non-tropical low pressure system that was first noted on the coast of the Carolinas on September 21. Deep convection became better organized, and on September 23, the system was designated a tropical depression while located to the west-northwest of Bermuda.[1] Initially, it was believed that Karl may have been related to the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine, though this was not later confirmed. Upon forming, the depression was the tenth tropical cyclone to form within the Atlantic in 35 days. In advance of a frontal boundary moving off the U.S. East Coast, the depression was moving quickly towards the east.[2] Satellite imagery suggested that the center of circulation was situated beneath the deep convection;[3] convective banding increased, and later on September 23, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Karl. At the time, the storm began tracking towards the east-southeast.[1]
A small hurricane, Karl slowed in forward motion early on September 24 while it gradually intensified.[4] By later that day, Karl was located in a region with westerly and northwesterly wind shear, which left the center partially exposed from the convective activity.[5] However, a symmetrical cloud pattern began to gradually form, and Karl was upgraded to a hurricane at 1200 UTC;[1] minimal hurricane intensity was forecast to be maintained for 24 hours before weakening due to increased wind shear.[6]
In response to a large mid- to upper-level trough, Karl accelerated towards the northeast. Late on September 26, a small, well-defined eye formed, and the storm reached its peak intensity of 105 mph (165 km/h) as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale at 0000 UTC on September 27. The eye remained distinct for about six hours, before the storm began to weaken due to wind shear.[1] Karl remained a compact storm,[7] and satellite imagery indicated that the cyclone began to lose tropical characteristics. Deep convective activity was limited to the north and northwest of the center, and the low-level center became separated from the center of the cloud circulation.[8] Karl weakened to a tropical storm at 0000 UTC on September 28, while located to the west-northwest of the Azores. Later that day, the storm became extratropical over cooler waters, when the center of circulation became separated from the deep convection. The extratropical remnants were tracked south of Ireland on September 29.[1]
[edit] Impact and records
On September 26, Hurricane Georges was over the Straits of Florida, Hurricane Ivan was in the North Atlantic, and Hurricane Jeanne was located between Africa and the Lesser Antilles. As such, Karl was one of four simultaneously active hurricanes in the Atlantic, the first such occurrence since August 22, 1893. However, three hurricanes also co-existed in the Atlantic on September 11, 1961, with a possible fourth.[1] Because Karl remained away from land as a tropical cyclone, no effects, property damage or fatalities were reported; no ships were affected, and no tropical cyclone warnings and watches were issued.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Max Mayfield (1998). "Hurricane Karl Tropical Cyclone Report". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1998karl.html. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ Edward Rappaport (1998). "Tropical Depression Eleven Discussion Number 1". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1198.001. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ John Guiney (1998). "Tropical Depression Eleven Discussion Number 2". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1198.002. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ Edward Rappaport (1998). "Tropical Storm Karl Discussion Number 4". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1198.004. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ Edward Rappaport (1998). "Tropical Storm Karl Discussion Number 5". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1198.005. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ Gross (1998). "Hurricane Karl Discussion Number 8". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1198.008. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ Brian Jarvinen (1998). "Hurricane Karl Discussion Number 15". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1198.015. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ Edward Rappaport (1998). "Hurricane Karl Discussion Number 16". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NAL1198.016. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
[edit] External links
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