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Tropical Storm Colin (2010)

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Tropical Storm Colin
Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
Colin as a tropical storm on August 5.
FormedAugust 2, 2010
DissipatedAugust 8, 2010
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 60 mph (95 km/h)
Lowest pressure1005 mbar (hPa); 29.68 inHg
Fatalities1 direct
DamageNone
Areas affectedBermuda, North Carolina, South Carolina and New England
Part of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Colin was the third named storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season and the first tropical cyclone to threaten Bermuda since Hurricane Bill a year earlier.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Tropical Storm Colin was first identified by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) as a tropical wave over Senegal on July 29, 2010.[1] Tracking westward in response to a mid-level ridge over the eastern Atlantic, the wave gradually developed.[2] By August 1, an area of low pressure formed within the wave after passing south of the Cape Verde Islands.[3] Later that day, the NHC noted the system as having a high probability of developing into a tropical cyclone within the following 48 hours.[4] The system continued to organize and was upgraded to Tropical Depression Four early on August 2. Early the next day, the depression strengthened further into a tropical storm and was named "Colin". Tracking rapidly westward, the system experienced little strengthening as the unusually small storm, estimated to have gale-force winds covering an area 70 mi (110 km) in diameter, moved through a region of strong wind shear. It degenerated into an remnant low on the afternoon of August 3, however it was mentioned that regeneration into a tropical cyclone was possible. By late on August 4, the low reorganized northeast of the Lesser Antilles, with a larger size, solid tropical storm-force winds and strong convection but no well-defined closed circulation.[5] The circulation closed off once again on the afternoon of August 5 south of Bermuda, and Colin was once again a tropical storm. It degenerated into a tropical depression late morning on August 8,[6] and dissipated shortly afterwards.

Preparations and impact

Upon Colin regenerating into a tropical cyclone on August 5, the Government of Bermuda issued a tropical storm warning for the entire island.[7] Along south-facing beaches on the island, Colin was expected to produce a storm surge between 2 and 3 ft (0.61 and 0.91 m) and possibly as high as 5 ft (1.5 m). Significant rainfall was also anticipated to fall, with totals averaging 4 to 6 in (100 to 150 mm).[8] These values were later decreased after Colin weakened on August 6, with only a minimal storm surge forecast and rainfall roughly 1 in (25 mm) less than previously stated.[9] By August 7, all beaches were closed across the island due to rough seas and dangerous rip currents.[10] The Royal Caribbean cruise ship, MS Explorer of the Seas, arrived in Bermuda on August 7 and was scheduled to set sail again the following day; however, due to the threat of Colin, the vessel was set to leave later in the day instead of staying overnight.[11] On August 8, the tropical storm warning in place for Bermuda was downgraded to a watch as Colin weakened to a tropical depression;[12] it was discontinued hours later as the storm quickly dissipated.[13]

Since Colin weakened to a tropical depression before skirting passed Bermuda, its effects were significantly less than initially anticipated. Winds from the storm reached 31 mph (50 km/h) and gusted to 37 mph (60 km/h). Rainfall was limited to isolated showers and a thunderstorm; the Bermuda International Airport measured 0.16 in (4.1 mm) of rain in relation to Colin. Throughout the island, there we no reports of damage as a result of the storm.[14]

Although situated several hundred miles off the coast of the Eastern United States, the outer effects of Colin were expected to create dangerous rip currents along the North and South Carolina coastlines.[15] Waves were forecast to reach 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m).[16] On August 7, a 51-year-old man drowned off the coast of Ocracoke, North Carolina after being caught in a rip current. Shortly after his death, officials issued rip current and undertow threats for the region.[17] Between August 7 and 9, at least 205 ocean rescues were made along the North Carolina coastline due to rough seas fueled by Colin.[18] Further north, waves between 1 and 2 ft (0.30 and 0.61 m) were expected in New England as a result of Colin.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ Corey Anne Walton (July 29, 2010). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  2. ^ Corey Anne Walton (July 30, 2010). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  3. ^ Felix A. Garcia (August 1, 2010). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  4. ^ Marshall K. Huffman (August 1, 2010). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  5. ^ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/gtwo/atl/201008042338/index.php?basin=atl&current_issuance=201008042338
  6. ^ http://www.weather.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=TCP&node=KNHC
  7. ^ Jack L. Beven (August 5, 2010). "Tropical Storm Colin Public Advisory Seven". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  8. ^ Stacey Stewart (August 6, 2010). "Tropical Storm Colin Public Advisory Nine". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  9. ^ Jack L. Beven (August 6, 2010). "Tropical Storm Colin Public Advisory Twelve". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  10. ^ Staff Writer (August 7, 2010). "Disorganized TS Colin Heads For Bermuda". CBS4. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  11. ^ Shayne Rodriguez Thompson (August 7, 2010). "Tropical Storm Colin Slowly Approaches Bermuda". Cruise Critic. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  12. ^ Daniel Brown (August 8, 2010). "Tropical Depression Colin Public Advisory Nineteen". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  13. ^ Daniel Brown (August 8, 2010). "Tropical Depression Colin Public Advisory Twenty (Final)". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  14. ^ "Bermuda Weather Service Daily Climatology Written Summary August 1, 2010 to August 8, 2010". Bermuda Weather Service. August 9, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  15. ^ Associated Press (August 7, 2010). "Tropical Storm Colin creates danger of rip currents on N.C. coast". WRAL. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  16. ^ Staff Writer (August 5, 2010). "Surf's up this weekend, thanks to storm". The State. Retrieved August 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ Staff Writer (August 9, 2010). "Maryland man drowns in North Carolina". WVEC. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  18. ^ Colin Hackman (August 9, 2010). "Hundreds of ocean rescues on rip filled beaches". WECT. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  19. ^ Staff Writer (August 8, 2010). "Refreshing Cool Canadian Air & Colin". NECN. Retrieved August 9, 2010.

External links

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