Tropical Storm Earl (2004)
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
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| Tropical Storm Earl near peak intensity | |
| Formed | August 13, 2004 |
| Dissipated | August 15, 2004 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 50 mph (85 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 1009 mbar (hPa); 29.8 inHg |
| Fatalities | 1 direct, 19 missing |
| Areas affected | Windward Islands |
| Part of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Storm Earl was the fifth tropical storm of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a short-lived storm in mid-August 2004 that formed near the Windward Islands and remained weak throughout its short lifespan. It crossed over the Lesser Antilles on August 14 while a modest tropical storm, resulting in minor damage on several Caribbean islands, including Grenada. One person was killed by the storm and 19 others were listed as missing.
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[edit] Meteorological history
The system that became Earl formed at an unusually low latitude (at around 8.9°N).[1] It remained around 9°N latitude up to its formation on the evening of August 13, when it was declared Tropical Depression Five.[2] The depression gradually organized while moving rapidly westward[3] and became Tropical Storm Earl on the afternoon of August 14, east of the Windward Islands. Earl slowly became more organized, but moderate shear hindered the development and the low-level circulation remained poorly defined despite solid organization on satellite. It passed near Barbados, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with winds just under tropical storm force in each of those areas.[2]
At first, there was considerable attention placed on Earl, especially from Florida which had just been devastated by Hurricane Charley.[4] Initial forecasts had indeed strengthened Earl to a formidable hurricane (over the same environment that allowed Charley to explode) and most models suggested that it would approach, if not hit, Florida (as well as Cuba and Jamaica), following a fairly similar path as Charley, although some other models disagreed.[5] It was crossing the Lesser Antilles at the time as a moderate tropical storm, where it reached peak intensity of 50 mph (85 km/h).
However, before Earl could get anywhere near the western Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico, it degenerated into an open wave late on August 15; losing its low-level circulation while maintaining 40 mph (65 km/h) winds and strong upper-level circulations. At that time, advisories were discontinued. The wave was never able to regain a low-level circulation over the Atlantic basin.[2]
The poorly-defined remnants of Earl crossed the Caribbean Sea and Central America with little impact, and it reorganized into Hurricane Frank in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It was the first crossover storm since Hurricane Cesar-Douglas in the 1996 season, but unlike Cesar-Douglas, Earl degenerated and then regenerated into Frank.[2]
[edit] Preparations
Several hundred people in Grenada evacuated from low-lying areas to schools set up as shelters.[6] Shopkeepers boarded windows, while airports temporarily closed prior to the storm.[7] Airports on Grenada and St. Vincent were temporarily closed due to the storm.[8]
Initial forecasts predicted that Earl would strengthen considerably into a hurricane and head towards Florida, which had already been impacted heavily by Hurricane Charley. The local officials urged residents to exercise caution, but not panic due to the large errors in long-range forecasts.[9]
[edit] Impact and aftermath
In Grenada, Earl produced heavy rains and strong winds that caused moderate damage. On the main island, twelve homes had their roofs completely blown off while three others were partially damaged. Twelve trees and six power poles were also knocked down by the winds. The heavy rain triggered nine mudslides and three rockslides on the island. On the nearby sister island, six homes had their roofs completely blown off while thirteen others were damaged. Flooding was also reported on both islands; however, no known damage resulted from them.[10] Several hundred people evacuated to shelters set up at local schools. During the storm, a nursing home had to be evacuated due to significant damage to the structure.[11] On St Vincent and the Grenadines, at least two homes had their roofs blown off and banana crops sustained moderate damage.[12] In Tobago, numerous trees and power lines were downed throughout the island, cutting power to 90% of the island.[11][13] The highest wind gust recorded in relation to Earl was 49 mph (79 km/h) in St. Lucia.[14] One person was killed by the storm and 19 others were listed as missing.[15]
Following the storm, Grenada requested assistance from the United States Agency of International Development. Local crews worked quickly to cover broken roofs and repair other structural damage. The National Emergency Relief organization were sought for assistance.[10]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Caribbean Hurricane Network - stormCARIB.com - 2004 Season Local Reports on Tropical Systems threatening the Caribbean Islands
- ^ a b c d National Hurricane Center (2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Earl". NOAA. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004earl.shtml. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
- ^ Tropical Depression FIVE
- ^ Tropical Storm Earl Follows Charley's Early Footsteps - from Tampa Bay Online
- ^ Tropical Storm EARL
- ^ Storm 2004 Hurricane Season: Earl
- ^ weatherplus.com - Weather News - Tropical Storm Earl Rakes Across Eastern Caribbean Islands
- ^ Associated Press (August 16, 2004). "Tropical Storm Earl Hits Caribbean". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,129064,00.html. Retrieved June 9, 2009.
- ^ Tropical Storm Earl Follows Charley's Early Footsteps: From The Tampa Tribune
- ^ a b Government of Grenada (August 28, 2004). "Tropical Storm Earl Report". Grenada Today. http://www.belgrafix.com/gtoday/2004news/August/Aug%2028/Report%20on%20Tropical%20Storm%20Earl.htm. Retrieved June 9, 2009.
- ^ a b Loren Brown (August 16, 2004). "Tropical Storm Earl Hits Caribbean Isles". Associated Press. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-97657044.html. Retrieved June 9, 2009.
- ^ Associated Press (August 16, 2004). "Keep an eye on Tropical Storm Earl". Jamaica Observer. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040815T220000-0500_64587_OBS_KEEP_AN_EYE_ON_TROPICAL_STORM_EARL.asp. Retrieved June 9, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ BBC News (August 15, 2004). "St. Vincent and the Grenadines". ArawakRoots. http://www.arawakroots.com/news/SOMETHING15.shtml. Retrieved June 9, 2009.
- ^ Associated Press (August 19, 2004). "Caribbean Roundup". Canarsie Courier. http://www.canarsiecourier.com/News/2004/0819/Caribbean/. Retrieved June 9, 2009.
- ^ Sigma (2005). "Natural Catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2004" (PDF). Swissre. http://website.willis.dk/dyn/files/pages/471/Nat_Cat_report_from_Sigma_2005.pdf. Retrieved June 9, 2009.[dead link]
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tropical Storm Earl (2004) |
- NHC's Tropical Cyclone Report on Tropical Storm Earl
