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2005 Atlantic hurricane season

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The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season officially began June 1, 2005, and officially ended on November 30, 2005; however the season extended through December, for the fifth time since 1998, and actually into January 2006 for only the second time in recorded history. This can be attributed to the activity of Hurricane Epsilon and Tropical Storm Zeta, the latter of which was still active at the beginning of 2006. The official dates conventionally delimit the period when most tropical cyclones are expected to form in the Atlantic Ocean.

Forecasters originally called for a modestly above-average hurricane season in 2005. However, the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season unexpectedly became the most active season on record, shattering the previous records on repeated occasions. A record twenty-seven tropical storms formed, of which a record fourteen became hurricanes. Of these, seven strengthened into major hurricanes, one short of the 1950 season's record. It is the first hurricane season, Atlantic or Pacific, to resort to Greek letters for naming.

See also: 2005 Atlantic hurricane season statistics

Template:Infobox hurricane season nopic The 2005 hurricane season, like that of 2004, had a number of storms that caused significant death and destruction in several countries, especially the United States and Mexico. However, the 2005 hurricane season outdid its predecessor in almost every respect. The 2005 season's hurricanes were responsible for over $100 billion in damage (mostly from Hurricane Katrina) and over 1,700 deaths (also mostly from Hurricane Katrina). More than a thousand deaths, not included in the death toll, were also caused by a weather system involving Hurricane Stan.

Season summary

2005 Hurricane Season
vs.
Prior Records and Averages
(North Atlantic region)
Click on number to see record year.
Systems Average
Old
Record
 2005
Named Storms 10 21 27
Hurricanes 6 12 14
Category 3+ Hurricanes 2 8 7
Category 5 Hurricanes 0.3 2 (tie) 3

The season began very quickly, with seven tropical storms and two major hurricanes forming before August, setting numerous records for number and strength of storms. The season ended up breaking 16 records for earliest forming storms; for example, the fifth storm of the season, Emily, formed on July 11, well before any other fifth storm in a season. The trend did not let up, and more storms formed in October than any other month in the year, even though the hurricane season traditionally peaks in September. There were 27 named storms, surpassing many records for storm formation in the Atlantic; this was also the first year since 1944 that the Atlantic basin recorded more tropical storms than the Western Pacific typhoon season. In addition, there were 2 unnamed tropical depressions and a sub-tropical depression.

Three of the six most intense hurricanes on record formed in 2005, topped off by Hurricane Wilma's 882 mb minimum pressure, shattering the 17-year-old record set by Hurricane Gilbert. It is the only season on record with three Category 5 storms on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale; in addition, some readings from Hurricane Emily indicate it may have briefly been a Category 5 storm.[1]

The storms in the season were extraordinarily damaging and were responsible for significant loss of life (mostly due to Hurricane Katrina, which killed more people in the U.S. than any hurricane since 1928[2]). In July, Hurricanes Dennis and Emily caused significant damage in Cuba, Florida, and Mexico, although powerful hurricanes do not usually form in the Atlantic so early in the season. In late August, Hurricane Katrina caused damage to south Florida before moving into the Gulf of Mexico and causing catastrophic damage to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, in particular the city of New Orleans. It was the costliest hurricane in U.S. history, surpassing 1992's Hurricane Andrew. Following Katrina was Rita, which struck near the same area, re-flooded New Orleans, and caused more damage to Louisiana and Texas. Later, the remnants of Tropical Storm Tammy and Subtropical Depression Twenty-two met over the Northeastern United States, causing intense flooding.

Damage caused by Hurricane Dennis.

A number of storms that formed in 2005 exhibited unusual behavior, and challenged forecasters' ability to make correct predictions. Hurricane Vince formed farther north and east in the Atlantic than any other tropical cyclone on record, and then unexpectedly reached hurricane strength over waters considered too cold to support a hurricane. It was also the first recorded landfall of a tropical cyclone in Europe[3]. Hurricane Wilma became one of the fastest-intensifying hurricanes on record, and later strengthened unexpectedly in the face of strong wind shear[4]. Hurricane Epsilon formed over cold waters and baffled forecasters when it became the longest-lasting December hurricane on record. It also strengthened against wind shear[5].

When the season ran out of official alphabetical names, authorities resorted to using letters from the Greek alphabet for the first time (although Alpha and Delta had been used for subtropical storms in the 1970s).


The level of activity of the season has had far-reaching economic consequences. For example, because of the small remaining global capacity for petroleum production, and the vulnerability of both oil extracting and refining capacity in the Gulf of Mexico, storms have led to speculative spikes in the price of crude oil. The damage to refinery capacity in the United States caused gasoline to soar to record prices (even adjusted for inflation), exceeded only by the two inflationary spikes of 1918-1920 and 1979-1982. Governments in Europe and the United States tapped strategic reserves of gasoline and petroleum and shortages were reported in the days after Katrina in areas heavily dependent on the Gulf of Mexico for refined gasoline. Even weeks after the storm, prices remained elevated, as the shut in production remained over 1 million barrels per day. Rita damaged wells in the western Gulf of Mexico, which were primarily exploratory, leading to concerns that future production would be damped for some time to come. The hurricane also had significant political consequences, as President George W. Bush, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, and New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin all came under heavy criticism for what were considered sluggish or inappropriate responses to Hurricane Katrina. On December 14, 2005, Congressional hearings began to investigate whether these claims had any merit.

Seasonal forecasts

Forecasts of hurricane activity are issued before each hurricane season by noted hurricane expert Dr. William M. Gray and his associates at Colorado State University, and separately by forecasters with the U.S. Government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Dr. Gray's team defines the average number of storms per season (1950 to 2000) as 9.6 tropical storms, 5.9 hurricanes, and 2.3 hurricanes reaching or exceeding Category 3 strength. A normal season, as defined by NOAA, has 6 to 14 named storms, with 4 to 8 of those reaching hurricane strength, and 1 to 3 reaching or exceeding Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.

Pre-season forecasts

On December 3, 2004, Dr. Gray's team issued its first extended-range forecast for the 2005 season, predicting a slightly above-average season (11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, 3 of Category 3 or higher). Additionally, the team predicted a greatly increased chance of a major hurricane striking the East Coast of the United States and the Florida peninsula. Though the forecast predicted above-normal activity, the level predicted was less than in the 2004 season. [6]

In its April 1, 2005 update, Dr. Gray's team revised the December forecast upward. The updated forecast predicted 13 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 of Category 3 or greater strength. The chance of a storm striking the U.S. was also raised slightly. [7]

On May 16, 2005, NOAA issued its outlook for the 2005 season, forecasting a 70% chance of above-normal activity, with 12–15 named storms, 7–9 hurricanes, and 3–5 hurricanes reaching Category 3 intensity. The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) value for the season was predicted to be 120–190 percent of the median. [8]

On May 31, Dr. Gray's team revised its April forecast upwards. The updated forecast predicted 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 hurricanes of Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale. [9]

Mid-season outlook

On August 2, after an extraordinarily active early season, NOAA released an updated outlook on the remainder of the season. The outlook called for from 18 to a record-tying 21 tropical storms, 9 to 11 hurricanes, and 5 to 7 becoming major hurricanes. The ACE value was now forecast to be 180 to 270 percent of the median. These figures are roughly twice those of a normal season. While June and July were unusually active, August and September were expected to contain the peak of seasonal activity as in most seasons. NOAA also noted a higher than normal confidence in the forecast of above-normal activity. [8]

On August 5 2005, Dr. Gray and his associates followed suit, and issued their updated forecast. It was consistent with NOAA's update, calling for 20 tropical storms, 10 hurricanes, and six major hurricanes. [10] Although this was the highest level of activity ever forecast by Dr. Gray, it still fell significantly short of the actual level of activity, as did all the other forecasts.

Storms

Tropical Storm Arlene

Template:Storm pics

Early in the season, a low-pressure area formed and persisted north of Honduras. Despite moderate wind shear, the low managed to organize, and was designated Tropical Depression One on June 8. It was upgraded to Tropical Storm Arlene the following day. Arlene headed north, intensifying steadily as it spread tropical storm-force winds and heavy rains to the Cayman Islands and Cuba. Arlene made landfall in Cuba near Cabo Corrientes with 50 mph (80 km/h) winds. Wind shear weakened as the storm entered the Gulf of Mexico on the morning of June 10, and the storm intensified to just under hurricane strength with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds.

Arlene made landfall just west of Pensacola, Florida with 60 mph (95 km/h) winds on June 11. After moving inland, Arlene persisted as a dissipating tropical depression for two days, passing into Indiana and Michigan before being absorbed by a frontal system over southeastern Canada on June 14.

The only death attributed to Arlene was a female student caught in riptide in Miami Beach, Florida, far from the center of circulation.[11] Damage from Arlene was minimal. This season saw the ninth use of the name Arlene, making it the most-used name for Atlantic storms. [citation needed]

Tropical Storm Bret

Template:Storm pics Late in June, an area of disturbed weather formed in the Bay of Campeche. The system quickly became better organized and was designated Tropical Depression Two on the evening of June 28. Two hours later, data from a Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated that it had strengthened into a tropical storm and it was named Bret. This was the first time that two tropical storms had formed in June since the 1986 season, and only the thirteenth time since 1851.

The storm moved west-northwest, making landfall near Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico early on June 29 as a weak tropical storm. It continued inland, producing heavy rain over the state of Veracruz, until dissipating over the mountains of San Luis Potosí late on June 29.

Hundreds of homes were damaged, and several towns, including Naranjos and Chinampa, about 60 miles (95 km) south of Tampico, were severely flooded. The only reported fatalities were the two occupants of a car that was swept away by floodwaters in Naranjos ([12]).

Tropical Storm Cindy

Main article: Tropical Storm Cindy (2005)

Template:Storm pics Tropical Depression Three formed on July 3 in the Caribbean Sea and struck the Yucatan Peninsula the next day. A new center of circulation to the north strengthened to Tropical Storm Cindy early July 4 over the Gulf of Mexico. The storm made landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana late July 5, possibly at hurricane strength.[13] It weakened inland and became extratropical over the Carolinas on July 7.

As a tropical depression well inland, Cindy spawned an F2 tornado which damaged landmarks in Hampton, Georgia. Large and sometimes record-breaking amounts of rain, more than 5 inches in places, fell over parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Maryland.

Three deaths were attributed to Cindy—two in Georgia and another in Alabama.

Hurricane Dennis

Main article: Hurricane Dennis

Template:Storm pics Tropical Depression Four formed in the southeastern Caribbean on the evening of July 4. Early the next day, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Dennis. The storm began moving rapidly to the west-northwest, and reached hurricane strength on the afternoon of July 6 while approaching the southern coast of Hispaniola. The next day it strengthened rapidly to become a Category 4 hurricane. Dennis moved between Jamaica and Haiti on July 7. Dennis reached its peak as the strongest recorded Atlantic storm to form before August just south of Cuba - a record that would stand only for eight days, until Emily broke it. On July 8, Dennis passed over Cuba close to the capital, Havana. A second episode of rapid intensification occurred on July 9 as it moved north toward the Gulf Coast of the United States, and it again achieved Category 4 intensity. Dennis made landfall as a Category 3 storm just southeast of Pensacola, Florida.

Dennis claimed at least 71 lives: 44 in Haiti, 16 in Cuba, and 10 in the U.S. In addition, more than 100 people were reported missing in Haiti. It is considered to be the worst hurricane to strike Cuba since Hurricane Flora in 1963 [citation needed]. Total damages are estimated at $4-6 billion USD, including $2.23 billion in the US and the rest in the Caribbean.

Hurricane Emily

Main article: Hurricane Emily

Template:Storm pics Emily formed from Tropical Depression Five east of the Lesser Antilles on July 11. It moved westward and hit Grenada on July 14 as a Category 1 storm. It entered the Caribbean Sea and began intensifying rapidly. It reached Category 4 intensity on July 15. Emily broke Hurricane Dennis's eight-day-old record for the most intense storm to form prior to August when it reached a minimum pressure of 929 mbar, along with 155 mph (250 km/h) winds on July 16. Some readings indicate that Emily may have briefly reached Category 5 strength around this time[1], and this will be one of the many things in review at the end of the hurricane season. After passing south of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, Emily made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula near Tulum on the morning of July 18. Emily emerged over the Bay of Campeche and made its second landfall in rural northeast Mexico near Boca Madre, Tamaulipas as a Category 3 storm.

Emily is blamed for at least fourteen deaths; one in Grenada, four in Jamaica, seven in the Caribbean and two in Mexico.

Tropical Storm Franklin

Template:Storm pics A tropical wave off the Bahamas organized into Tropical Depression Six on the afternoon of July 21. The depression became the sixth named storm of the season only two hours later, the first time the sixth storm of the season had ever formed that early in the season. The storm headed northward from the Bahamas, then northeast over the Atlantic, becoming disorganized by July 24 under the effects of shear and drier air. It moved erratically, inching closer to Bermuda while barely remaining a tropical storm. Bermuda received some strong wind gusts, but was otherwise unaffected. Tropical Storm Franklin then accelerated north and northeast, roughly paralleling the East Coast of the United States, and intensified to near hurricane strength. Eventually, Franklin became extratropical along the coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Tropical Storm Gert

Template:Storm pics A tropical wave, which had earlier crossed Honduras and the Yucatán peninsula, organized into Tropical Depression Seven on the afternoon of July 23 in the Bay of Campeche. It was upgraded to Tropical Storm Gert early the next day, the earliest formation of a seventh named storm on record. It strengthened little before making landfall on the coast of Mexico south of Tampico late on July 24 with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (70 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1005 mbar. It moved inland over central Mexico before dissipating on July 25.

Gert struck in roughly the same area as Hurricane Emily just four days earlier, causing fear of flooding and landslides due to saturated lands. As a precaution some 1,000 people were evacuated from low-lying residences and businesses near the towns of Naranjos and Tamiahua.

Tropical Storm Harvey

Template:Storm pics A tropical wave organized into the eighth depression of the season due southwest of Bermuda on August 2. It became a tropical storm the next day.

Harvey was not initially a particularly well-organized storm, and had some subtropical characteristics, but it soon became more tropical in nature. It passed just south of Bermuda early on August 4 while at its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (105 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 994 mbar. Though Bermuda was soaked by Harvey, the island sustained no damage.

Harvey then headed east and later northeast over the open Atlantic. The storm became extratropical on the afternoon of August 8.

Hurricane Irene

Template:Storm pics Tropical Depression Nine formed from a tropical wave west of Cape Verde on the afternoon of August 4, the second Cape Verde-type storm of the season. The system encountered dry air and wind shear as it turned to the northwest and it broke down. Despite poor organization and shearing winds, it became Tropical Storm Irene on August 7. Further shear and dry air disrupted the cyclone's structure, and Irene was downgraded to a tropical depression on August 8.

Irene cycled between apparent reintensification and significant weakening, becoming so disorganized in the early morning of August 10 that forecasters were considering declaring the storm dissipated. [14] However, the depression continued to move westward into more favorable conditions and again attained tropical storm status, rapidly strengthening to a Category 1 hurricane on August 14. Later, it strengthened even further in low shear conditions under an upper level anticyclone. On August 16 it briefly strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane, but began to weaken in cooler waters shortly therafter. It became extratropical southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland on August 18, having never posed a threat to land.

Tropical Depression Ten

Tropical Depression Ten formed 1100 statute miles (1770 km) east of the Lesser Antilles on August 13. Conditions were not favorable for development, as strong vertical shear literally ripped the system apart, and advisories were discontinued the next day when it showed no organized deep convection. The remnants of Tropical Depression Ten continued drifting northwestward before degenerating into a tropical wave north of the Leeward Islands. The mid-level remnant circulation eventually merged with another system in the "complex genesis" of what would become Tropical Depression Twelve and, eventually, Hurricane Katrina.

Tropical Storm Jose

Template:Storm pics Tropical Depression Eleven formed in the Bay of Campeche on August 22. Later in the day it strengthened into Tropical Storm Jose over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and achieved a maximum strength of 50 mph (80 km/h) before it made landfall in the state of Veracruz, Mexico on August 23. It then rapidly weakened and soon dissipated as it moved inland over Mexico. While drenching Mexico's Gulf coast, Jose forced some 25,000 residents from their homes in Veracruz state. Eight deaths were attributed to Jose's heavy rains in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Two more were reported missing.[15]

Later analysis showed that Jose became more organized two hours before making landfall and was forming an eye, but its winds remained well under hurricane strength. Just how strong Jose was before landfall is unknown. [16]

Hurricane Katrina

Main article: Hurricane Katrina

Template:Storm pics An area of disturbed weather over the Bahamas developed into a tropical depression on August 23, becoming a tropical storm on the 24th and a hurricane on the 25th. It made landfall on August 25 in southern Florida, emerging a few hours later into the Gulf of Mexico. Katrina rapidly intensified to Category 5 status on the morning of August 28, becoming the fourth most intense recorded hurricane in the Atlantic basin. The hurricane weakened to a Category 4 as it turned northward, and weakened to a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds as it made landfall in southeastern Louisiana (as confirmed by the post-storm report; initially it was estimated as a Category 4 landfall). Hours later, it crossed the Breton Sound and held its strength, making its third and final landfall with 120 mph winds near Pearlington, Mississippi.

The Mississippi and Alabama coastlines suffered catastrophic damage from the storm's 30-foot (9 m) storm surge. New Orleans escaped the worst damage from the storm, but levees along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and 17th Street and London Avenue Canals ultimately were breached by storm surge, flooding about 80% of the city. 1,383 people have been confirmed dead across 7 US states. Once damage totals come in, Katrina will likely be the costliest hurricane in U.S. history, with damage totals expected to reach as high as $100 billion (USD). The damage and fatality estimates remain incomplete.

Tropical Storm Lee

Template:Storm pics Tropical Depression Thirteen formed from a tropical wave about 960 statute miles (1,550 km) east of the Lesser Antilles on August 28. It then degenerated into a broad area of low pressure on August 29, but later regenerated on August 31 and the National Hurricane Center resumed advisories. Later that day, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Lee, the 12th named storm of the season. Later in the evening it was downgraded to a tropical depression, having encountered an unfavorable upper level environment. The tropical depression dissipated on the morning of September 2.

Lee never posed any threat to land as it remained in the middle of the Atlantic.

Hurricane Maria

Main article: Hurricane Maria (2005)

Template:Storm pics Tropical Depression Fourteen formed from a tropical wave 1100 statute miles (1,770 km) east of the Leeward Islands on September 1, and strengthened to Tropical Storm Maria the next day. Early on September 4, Maria became the fifth hurricane of the season. On September 5, it briefly strengthened to Category 3 intensity, making it the fourth major hurricane of the season. It gradually weakened and dropped to tropical storm strength on September 8.

Maria became extratropical mid-way between Cape Race and the Azores on September 10. It never threatened land as a hurricane, but Maria became a strong extratropical storm, and actually strengthened to hurricane strength once again while moving towards Iceland.[17]

The remnants of Maria triggered a landslide in Norway that killed one person.[18]

Hurricane Nate

Template:Storm pics A well-defined low pressure system located about 350 statute miles (560 km) south-southwest of Bermuda organized into a tropical depression on September 5. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Nate that evening and continued to strengthen with little change in position, becoming the sixth hurricane of the season on September 7.

Hurricane Nate passed 125 statute miles (200 km) south of Bermuda on September 8 and reached peak intensity of 90 mph (165 km/h). Nate then began to weaken. After turning north, it became extratropical over the central Atlantic Ocean on September 10.

Canadian Navy ships headed to the U.S. Gulf Coast to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina were slowed down trying to avoid Nate and Hurricane Ophelia (See below). [19]

Hurricane Ophelia

Main article: Hurricane Ophelia (2005)

Template:Storm pics Tropical Depression Sixteen formed over the northern Bahamas on September 6. Early on September 7, it organized into Tropical Storm Ophelia, becoming a hurricane the next day. It churned nearly stationary for two days off the coast of Florida. On September 12, the storm began moving slowly toward North Carolina, at times nearly stalling and alternating between tropical storm and hurricane intensity. The hurricane did not make landfall, although the western eyewall reached the coastal areas of North Carolina, causing extensive damage in the Outer Banks and around Cape Fear. Ophelia moved north and became extratropical late on September 17 near Nova Scotia, but it continued northeastward, producing strong winds and heavy rain over Atlantic Canada.

Only three fatalities were reported (one direct and two indirect). Damage is estimated at around $1.6 billion.

Hurricane Philippe

Template:Storm pics A vigorous tropical wave organized into Tropical Depression Seventeen on September 17 a few hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands. It was upgraded to a tropical storm late that evening. This marked only the third time that the 'P' name had been used to name an Atlantic storm since alphabetical naming began in 1950. The other times were for Pablo in 1995 and Peter in 2003.

On September 18, Philippe was upgraded to a hurricane, becoming the eighth Atlantic hurricane of the season. It was downgraded to a tropical storm on the afternoon of September 20 and dissipated 3 days later south of Bermuda.

Hurricane Rita

Main article: Hurricane Rita

Template:Storm pics The season's eighteenth tropical depression formed over the Turks and Caicos Islands on September 18. Later that day, it became the seventeenth tropical storm of the season. Rita slowly intensified to become a hurricane on September 20. It was at Category 1 and later Category 2 intensity as it moved south of the Florida Keys. Rapid intensification ensued as Rita moved into the Gulf of Mexico on September 20, and Rita became a Category 5 hurricane on September 21, becoming the third (now fourth) most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin. Rita made landfall near the Texas/Louisiana border on September 24.

Major flooding was reported in Port Arthur and Beaumont. Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes in Louisiana were devastated. Offshore oil platforms throughout Rita's path also suffered significant damage. Six people are confirmed dead from Rita's direct effects, and total insured damage from the storm is estimated at $8 billion. 113 indirect deaths have been reported, mostly from the mass exodus from Houston and surrounding counties.

Tropical Depression Nineteen

A low pressure system formed from a tropical wave about 665 miles (1075 km) west of the southwesternmost Cape Verde Islands and developed into a tropical depression on September 30. It experienced strong shear and dissipated on October 2 without strengthening to a tropical storm.

Hurricane Stan

Main article: Hurricane Stan

Template:Storm pics A tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea organized into a tropical depression on October 1. Off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Stan on October 2. Stan made landfall on the Yucatán and weakened to a tropical depression, but upon reemerging into the Bay of Campeche it quickly strengthened into a hurricane on October 4. Stan made landfall later that morning in the east-central coast of Mexico, south of Veracruz, as a Category 1 hurricane.

Stan was associated with a large area of loosely-organized but very heavy shower activity existing over Mexico and Central America during this time. Torrential rainfall in this area caused catastrophic flooding and mudslides which were responsible for at least 1,153 deaths in six countries; 1,036 of these casualties occurred in Guatemala alone. Initially, more than a thousand deaths were attributed to Hurricane Stan, but the National Hurricane Center postulates that all but less than 100 of the deaths were more related to the larger weather event, a figure which is pending their Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane Stan.

In addition to the large number of people killed during this time, over 100,000 people were forced to evacuate. The eruption of the Santa Ana Volcano on October 1 contributed to the destruction in Central America as a result of the floods and mudslides caused.

Tropical Storm Tammy

Main article: Tropical Storm Tammy (2005)

Template:Storm pics A tropical disturbance north of the Bahamas showed signs of having a well-defined surface circulation and sufficient wind velocity, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Tammy at 7:30 am EDT (1130 UTC) October 5 east of Florida, skipping Tropical Depression status. This marked only the second time that the 'T' name has been used to name an Atlantic storm since alphabetical naming began in 1950; the other time was for Tanya in 1995. Tammy made landfall in the vicinity of Naval Station Mayport near Jacksonville, Florida late that same evening. Tammy then moved rapidly inland across southern Georgia and Alabama before dissipating into a remnant low that drifted south into the Gulf of Mexico. The rains associated with Tammy became disconnected from the cyclonic circulation after landfall, and affected much of Georgia, South Carolina and parts of North Carolina. The frontal system it merged with was responsible for the flooding in the northeast. (See Northeast Flooding of October 2005)

Subtropical Depression Twenty-two

Subtropical Depression Twenty-two formed from a non-tropical low 450 miles (725 km) southeast of Bermuda on October 8. The system encountered unfavorable conditions, and advisories were discontinued later that night as the system dissipated at 11 pm EDT (0300 UTC October 9). The NHC continued to monitor the remnant as it headed towards the east coast of the United States. The system continued to pull tropical moisture northward and was, along with Tropical Storm Tammy (see above), a partial cause of severe flooding in New York, New Jersey and New England during early to mid-October. It contributed to the wettest month on record in locales throughout the Northeastern United States [20]

Hurricane Vince

Main article: Hurricane Vince (2005)

Template:Storm pics Tropical Storm Vince was named on October 9 in the east Atlantic near Madeira (east-southeast of the Azores), and was upgraded to a hurricane later that day. Some NHC analyses suggest that Vince could have been a subtropical storm on October 8 and thus should have been named at that point.[21]Although Vince was a very small and short-lived storm that only briefly reached hurricane strength, it was notable for developing in the far eastern Atlantic, well away from where hurricanes are usually found. This may be the farthest north and east a tropical cyclone had ever formed in the Atlantic Basin. Vince made landfall on the Iberian Peninsula near Huelva, Spain on October 11 just after weakening to a tropical depression. Vince was the first tropical cyclone on record to make landfall in Spain. No damages or injuries were reported.

Hurricane Wilma

Main article: Hurricane Wilma

Template:Storm pics Tropical Depression Twenty-four formed southwest of Jamaica on October 15 and was upgraded to a tropical storm on October 17. On October 18 the storm developed a tiny well-defined eye and began intensifying rapidly, reaching Category 5 strength with a record-setting pressure of 882 millibars by October 19.

Wilma weakened slightly to a Category 4 before hitting the Yucatán coast on the October 22. It drifted over the peninsula, bringing heavy rain and wind to an area hit by Hurricane Emily only 3 months before. The storm then moved quickly across southern Florida on October 24 as a Category 3 storm before racing northeastward and becoming extratropical.

60 people are confirmed dead (28 direct and 32 indirect) with billions of dollars in damage across the Caribbean, Mexico and Florida. Well-executed evacuations throughout its path likely lessened the death toll.

Tropical Storm Alpha

Main article: Tropical Storm Alpha (2005)

Template:Storm pics A tropical wave organized into Tropical Depression Twenty-five in the eastern Caribbean Sea on October 22. Later that day, it strengthened into a tropical storm as it moved west-northwestward.

On the morning of October 23, it made landfall with 50 mph (85 km/h) winds near the city of Barahona in the Dominican Republic, then moved over Haiti. Alpha weakened to a tropical depression over Hispaniola's steep mountains. Alpha reentered the Atlantic Ocean where it was absorbed by Hurricane Wilma.

Tropical Storm Alpha was the 22nd named system in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, breaking the 1933 season's record and becoming the first tropical storm to be named using the Greek Alphabet.

A total of 42 people have been reported dead because of Tropical Storm Alpha.

Hurricane Beta

Main article: Hurricane Beta (2005)

Template:Storm pics Late on October 26, a broad area of low pressure in the southwestern Caribbean Sea developed and became Tropical Depression Twenty-six. Six hours later, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Beta. Beta strengthened into a hurricane on October 29. On October 30, Hurricane Beta became a major hurricane with sustained winds around 115 mph (185 km/h). That brought the total amount of major hurricanes in the 2005 season to 7, one short of the record 8 set in the 1950 season.

Beta extended the record for most tropical storms in a season to 23 and was the first use of the name Beta for a tropical system. Beta was the 13th hurricane of 2005, breaking the 1969 record of 12 hurricanes. Additionally, it was the first hurricane (as opposed to a tropical storm) named with a Greek letter.

The Colombian island of Providencia, about 140 miles off the coast of Nicaragua, was subjected to hurricane force winds for several hours as the center of the storm moved very slowly by the island. Initial reports indicated extensive damage to homes and a loss of communications with the islanders.

Tropical Storm Gamma

Main article: Tropical Storm Gamma (2005)

Template:Storm pics Late on November 13, after nearly two weeks of inactivity, Tropical Depression Twenty-seven formed from a tropical wave about 115 miles west-southwest of St. Lucia. While passing through the Lesser Antilles, the heavy rainfall caused mudslides, killing two people. Wind shear prevented further development of the system, and advisories were discontinued on November 16 as it lost its closed circulation about 305 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.

The remnants of the depression continued westward and moved along the northern shore of Honduras, merging with parts of a larger low pressure system (which had dissipated). The storm grew in strength, and a closed circulation formed on November 18, becoming Tropical Storm Gamma. After regeneration, floods from Gamma killed 32 people in Honduras.[22] An additional thirteen Hondurans were reported missing, and three people were killed in Belize[23]. Gamma meandered in the Caribbean Sea for a short time, until slowly weakening. The storm eventually disintegrated into a remnant low late on November 20.

Tropical Storm Delta

Main article: Tropical Storm Delta (2005)

Template:Storm pics Tropical Storm Delta formed with tropical-storm-force winds on November 23, when a strong non-tropical low near the Azores slowly drifted southward and attained tropical characteristics while entering increasingly warmer waters.

Delta drifted slowly and erratically southwards for several days before accelerating north-eastwards then eastwards towards the Canary Islands and north Africa. During this period, it twice approached hurricane strength but never became a hurricane. On November 28 it merged with a frontal system northwest of the Canaries and became a vigorous extratropical storm. It caused severe damage in the Canary Islands and claimed at least seven lives[24], including six who drowned while attempting to reach the Canary Islands by boat from Africa.[25] El Dedo de Dios or God’s Finger, a geological feature which had been pointing towards the sky for over a millennium and an important landmark for the Canary Islands, was toppled during the storm.[26] [27] Delta also caused power outages leaving some 200,000 people without power and forcing airports to close down.[28]

The remnants of Delta later moved into Morocco, bringing needed rain, but it caused no damage and was described as a "normal atmospheric disturbance".[29]

Hurricane Epsilon

Main article: Hurricane Epsilon (2005)

Template:Storm pics On November 29, Tropical Storm Epsilon formed in the Central Atlantic, forming the same way Delta did when a non-tropical low pressure system well east of Bermuda acquired tropical characteristics. On December 2, the storm strengthened into a hurricane, making it the fourteenth of the season and the first storm since Hurricane Lili in 1984 to reach hurricane strength after the official end of a season.

Hurricane Epsilon strengthened further to tie for second-strongest December hurricane with 85 mph winds at its peak, and it lasted longer than any other hurricane ever to form in December. However, it was eventually torn apart by shear and absorbed into an approaching front. It never made landfall or threatened land. The development and persistence of Epsilon perplexed forecasters at the National Hurricane Center throughout the lifetime of the storm.

Tropical Storm Zeta

Main article: Tropical Storm Zeta (2005)

Template:Storm pics Early on December 30, more than four weeks after the official end to the season, a tropical disturbance developed in the east-central Atlantic. It quickly became more organized and was declared a tropical storm that afternoon. Zeta made a turn toward the west but stalled and weakened slightly.

Zeta is one of the latest-forming tropical cyclones ever to develop in the recorded history of Atlantic hurricane seasons, likely tied with Hurricane Alice of 1954-55, which is estimated to have become tropical on December 30, 1954 at 1 am EST (0600 UTC). It is also the second recorded North Atlantic storm (after Alice) to exist in two calendar years as it survived into 2006. In addition, Zeta surpassed Alice as the longest-lived tropical cyclone to form in December and cross over into the next year, and it was also the longest-lived January tropical cyclone. Zeta finally dissipated on January 6, 2006.

Recent timeline of events

Main article: Timeline of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season

December

December 1
  • 12 am EST (0500 UTC) - The hurricane season officially comes to an end with Tropical Storm Epsilon still active.
December 2
  • 11 am AST (1500 UTC) - Tropical Storm Epsilon is upgraded to Hurricane Epsilon.
December 4
  • 5 am AST (0900 UTC) - Hurricane Epsilon is operationally downgraded to a tropical storm (later confirmed to be an error).
  • 11 am AST (1500 UTC) - Tropical Storm Epsilon officially regains hurricane status with 85 mph (140 km/h) winds.
December 7
  • 11 pm AST (0300 UTC December 8) - Hurricane Epsilon is downgraded to a tropical storm.
December 8
  • 11 am AST (1500 UTC) - Tropical Storm Epsilon is downgraded to a tropical depression, loses convection, and advisories are discontinued.
December 30
  • c. 1 pm AST (1700 UTC) - Tropical Storm Zeta forms over the eastern Atlantic, one of the latest-ever formations of a tropical cyclone in the Atlantic.

January 2006

January 1
  • 0000 UTC - The year 2006 begins with Tropical Storm Zeta still active, making Zeta only the second cross-season North Atlantic storm ever recorded.
January 5
  • 5 am AST (0900 UTC) - Tropical Storm Zeta is downgraded to a tropical depression.
  • 11 am AST (1500 UTC) - Tropical Depression Zeta regains tropical storm status.
January 6
  • 11 am AST (1500 UTC) - Tropical Storm Zeta is once again downgraded to a tropical depression.
  • 5 pm AST (2100 UTC) - The National Hurricane Center issues its last advisory on dissipating Tropical Storm Zeta, finally ending the 2005 season.

Records and notable events

The 2005 season has broken numerous records for tropical cyclone activity. Note that systematic monitoring of the Atlantic for tropical cyclones and disturbances that could become tropical cyclones did not commence until 1944.[30] Before then, storms or depressions that did not approach populated land or shipping lanes, especially those of relatively short duration, could have gone undetected.

See also: 2005 Atlantic hurricane season statistics and the NOAA list of all the records surpassed or tied by the 2005 season.[31]

Rapid formation

Almost every storm in 2005 has set a record for early formation. The table shows the dates on which each storm formed, and the old record for earliest-forming storm of that number.

Early formation of storms in 2005
From the NHC "best track" data[32]
Storm # Formation Day Name Previous Record Difference
1 June 9 Arlene January 19, 1978 +141 days
2 June 28 Bret May 17, 1887 +42 days
3 July 5 Cindy June 11, 1887 +24 days
4 July 5 Dennis Cindy - July 7, 1959 -2 days
5 July 11 Emily Danny - July 16, 1997 -5 days
6 July 21 Franklin August 4, 1936 -14 days
7 July 24 Gert August 7, 1936 -14 days
8 August 3 Harvey August 15, 1936 -12 days
9 August 7 Irene August 20, 1936 -13 days
10 August 22 Jose Jerry - August 23, 1995 -1 day
11 August 24 Katrina August 28, 1933/1936/
Karen - 1995		 -4 days
12 August 31 Lee Luis - August 29, 1995 +2 days
13 September 2 Maria September 8, 1936 -6 days
14 September 5 Nate September 10, 1936 -5 days
15 September 7 Ophelia September 16, 1933 -9 days
16 September 17 Philippe September 27, 1933 -10 days
17 September 18 Rita September 28, 1933 -10 days
18 October 2 Stan October 1, 1933 +1 day
19 October 5 Tammy October 25, 1933 -20 days
20 October 9 Vince October 26, 1933 -17 days
21 October 17 Wilma November 15, 1933 -29 days
22 October 22 Alpha none N/A
23 October 27 Beta none N/A
24 November 18 Gamma none N/A
25 November 23 Delta none N/A
26 November 29 Epsilon none N/A
27 December 30 Zeta none N/A

Early strength

When its sustained winds reached 150 mph on July 7 and a minimum pressure of 930 mbar on July 10, Hurricane Dennis became the strongest storm to form prior to August, and the earliest Category 4 storm to form in the Caribbean.

When Hurricane Emily reached Category 4 intensity on July 16, the 2005 season became the only season to have two hurricanes reach Category 4 intensity before the end of July. Emily also broke Dennis's nine-day-old record for the strongest storm on record before August when its maximum sustained winds reached 155 mph (250 km/h) on July 16, along with a minimum central pressure of 929 mbar.

This activity was reflected in the Accumulated Cyclone Energy value at the end of July; at 61, it was the highest ever. The previous highest was 49 in 1916; the modern record was 33 in 1966.

Number of storms

The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, with 27 storms, is the most active season on record, surpassing the 1933 season's 21 storms. With 14 hurricanes, the 2005 season also has had the most hurricanes form, surpassing the 1969 season's 12. While the 1950 season still holds the record for the most major hurricanes, eight (2005 had seven), the 2005 season has also tied the 1999 season's record of five Category 4 and 5 hurricanes and holds the record for the most Category 5 hurricanes in a single season, three (see below).

With the formation of Tropical Storm Vince, Tropical Storm Wilma, and Tropical Storm Alpha, 2005 became the first season to use the 'V', 'W' and Greek Letter names, respectively, since naming of Atlantic storms began in the 1950 season. It also has the distinction of being only the second season to use the 'R', 'S', and 'T' names. Only the 1995 season had previously used these letters.

With the formation of Tropical Storm Alpha, 2005 became the first hurricane season in the Atlantic to exhaust the list of names and the first, Atlantic or Pacific, to resort to using Greek letters for storm names.

2005 holds the record for the most storms to ever form during the month of July. Five storms (Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, and Gert) formed during that period. The previous record for most storms to form in the month of July was four; this record was held by the 1966 and 1995 seasons.

The number of storms before the end of July (seven) is also a record, breaking the record of five set in the 1887, 1933, 1936, 1959, 1966, and 1995 seasons.

2005 and 1933 share the record for the most storms (17) forming before the end of September. 2005 now also holds the record for most storms (23) forming before the end of October and ties for the number of storms forming during October with 1950, as six storms (Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilma, Alpha and Beta) formed during that period. 2005 also ties the record for most storms forming in November, with 3 storms (Gamma, Delta and Epsilon); 2001 is the other year with 3.

Total activity

Tropical activity during the 2005 season was unusually continuous from start to finish, unlike most hurricane seasons, which have significant periods of inactivity. Out of the 26 weeks in the hurricane season, just two had no tropical activity, the week of June 19 and the week of November 6. Between June 28 and October 31, the longest lull period was just four and a half days. This means that 2005 saw 19 weeks of near-continuous activity. There was record or near-record activity in every month of the season except for June.

Strongest storms

Hurricane Katrina became the fourth most intense Atlantic hurricane on record (currently sixth) when the storm's central pressure dropped to 902 mb on August 28.

Hurricane Rita became the third most intense Atlantic hurricane (currently fourth) and the most intense hurricane on record in the Gulf of Mexico after reaching a pressure reading of 897 mb on September 21.

Hurricane Wilma became the most intense Atlantic hurricane in recorded history (but note numerous Pacific typhoons have been more intense) at just before 5:00 am EDT on October 18, when the central pressure was measured at 884 mb. At 8:00 am EDT, Wilma continued to intensify, reaching 882 mb. Wilma also holds the record of being the only Category 4 storm in the Atlantic Basin to record a minimum central pressure below 900 mb with a central pressure of 894 mb and winds of 155 mph on October 20. Katrina, Rita and Wilma are the three most intense storms ever in a single Atlantic hurricane season.

Hurricane Wilma also underwent the most rapid deepening for a 24-hour period ever measured. At noon on October 18, Wilma had a central pressure of 980 millibars (28.93 inches). At noon on October 19, Wilma had a central pressure of 882 millibars (26.04 inches), a pressure fall of 98 millibars (2.89 inches), breaking the previous record of 92 millibars (2.71 inches) set by Super Typhoon Forrest in the Western Pacific in 1983. Some sources, however, say that Forrest's pressure was lower than originally measured (876 mb instead of 883 mb). This fact would imply that Forrest retains the record with a pressure fall of 100 mb in 24 hours, and thus this uncertainty is noted here.

In addition, Hurricane Dennis and Hurricane Emily, both in July, reached 930 mb and 929 mb respectively, becoming the two strongest storms on record in July.

Katrina was also the third most intense hurricane on record to make landfall in the United States in terms of pressure (920 mbar), behind the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969.

When Rita reached Category 5 intensity on September 21, 25 days after Katrina, it became only the third time in recorded history (and the first time since the 1961 season) that there had been two Category 5 hurricanes in a single season. When Wilma became a Category 5 storm on October 19, the 2005 season became the first that had three Category 5 storms. In addition, Emily reached 155 mph and was on the Category 4/5 boundary at its peak.

Late activity

After forming on November 29, Hurricane Epsilon became the longest-lasting December hurricane on record when it sustained itself from December 2-December 7. It is also tied with Hurricane Nicole of 1998 as the second strongest December hurricane on record when its peak winds reached 85 mph (140 km/h).

When Tropical Storm Zeta formed on December 30, it tied Hurricane Alice (December 30, 1954) for the latest ever that the last storm of the season formed. Zeta became only the second storm, after Alice, to persist through the end of year and still be active at the start of the next. In addition, Zeta was the longest-lived tropical cyclone to form in December and cross over into the next year, and it was also the longest-lived January tropical cyclone.

Other records

Hurricane Vince was the farthest north and east - although there has been confusion over this as other storms have formed farther north and farther east - that a tropical storm has ever formed in the Atlantic basin since records have been kept. It was also the first tropical cyclone on record to make landfall in mainland Europe without becoming extratropical.

2005 storm names

Main article: List of tropical cyclone names

The following names were used for tropical storms and hurricanes that formed in the North Atlantic in 2005. This was the same list used for the 1999 season, with the exceptions of Franklin and Lee, which replaced Floyd and Lenny. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. Storms were named Franklin, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilma, Beta, Gamma, Epsilon, and Zeta for the first time in 2005 (the names Alpha and Delta had been previously used in 1972 for two subtropical storms, but this is the first time they have been used in this way). This season used fifteen previously unused names, the most ever in an Atlantic season.

Vince and Wilma were the first named 'V' and 'W' storms ever in the Atlantic basin. The naming of Wilma exhausted the 2005 list, the first time in Atlantic naming history that all names in the list have been used.

On October 22, 2005, Tropical Depression Twenty-five strengthened into Tropical Storm Alpha. This is the first time in Atlantic hurricane history that Greek letters have been used due to the exhaustion of the primary list. It is also worth noting that there are, apparently, no provisions for naming tropical cyclones after the letters of the Greek Alphabet are exhausted.[33]

Retirement

Names to be retired will be announced by the World Meteorological Organization in March of 2006. Any statement about retired names made before then is purely speculative.

Several storms in 2005 are considered candidates for retirement, and it is possible that the 2005 hurricane season will surpass the record for the most names retired after a single season, which is four (held by the 1955, 1995, and 2004 seasons).

There is no precedent for a storm named with a Greek letter causing enough damage to justify retirement; how this situation would be handled is unknown.[33]

See also

Wikinews has news related to:

Template:Tcportal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2005 Atlantic hurricane season.

Notes

  1. ^ a b The July 17 5 [[{{{1}}}]] EDT Discussion (#26) for Hurricane Emily, National Hurricane Center
  2. ^ NOAA's Hurricane FAQ
  3. ^ William M. Gray's November Summary of 2005 Tropical Cyclone Activity - Specifically, under Hurricane Vince, "This is the farthest north and east that a tropical cyclone has formed in the Atlantic basin."
  4. ^ Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog
  5. ^ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/refresh/EPSILON+shtml/144024.shtml or see Hurricane Epsilon
  6. ^ http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2004/dec2004/ William M. Gray's December 2004 forecast
  7. ^ http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2005/april2005/ William M. Gray's April 2005 forecast
  8. ^ a b NOAA Press Release - NOAA Raises the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook
  9. ^ http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2005/june2005/ William M. Gray's June 2005 forecast
  10. ^ http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2005/aug2005/ William M. Gray's August 2005 forecast.
  11. ^ Panhandle Braces for Tropical Storm Arlene, Associated Press, June 11 2005
  12. ^ Palm Beach Post's Bret Recap
  13. ^ National Hurricane Center's November Monthly Summary
  14. ^ The August 10 5 [[{{{1}}}]] Discussion (#23) for Tropical Depression Irene
  15. ^ "http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23540113.htm". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); External link in |title= (help)
  16. ^ The August 23 5 [[{{{1}}}]] Discussion (#5) for Tropical Storm Jose
  17. ^ "Ramblings' Journal: Five-day track on Hurricane Maria puts it near ICELAND!". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  18. ^ National Hurricane Center's September Monthly Summary
  19. ^ "The Sun News : 09/11/2005 : Storms delay Katrina-aid ships". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  20. ^ "1010 WINS: October Was Wettest Month On Record". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  21. ^ The October 9 11 [[{{{1}}}]] EDT (#1) for Tropical Storm Vince, National Hurricane Center
  22. ^ "Gamma storm toll in Honduras rises to 32 - Yahoo! News". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  23. ^ "Honduras Raises Storm Death Toll to 32 - Yahoo! News". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  24. ^ "Reuters AlertNet - Canary Islands storm hits power, communications". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  25. ^ "Reuters AlertNet - Six immigrants drown in Canary Island storm waves". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  26. ^ Pictures of Dedo de Dios, before and after.
  27. ^ "Tenerife News". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  28. ^ "Planet Ark : Canary Islands Struggle to Restore Power After Storm". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  29. ^ "Cape Times - Canary Islands feel the full force of deadly Storm Delta". December 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  30. ^ [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E11.html NOAA's Hurricane FAQ
  31. ^ NOAA list of all the records surpassed or tied by the 2005 season.
  32. ^ NHC/TPC Archive of Past Hurricane Seasons, Best Track data at bottom of page
  33. ^ a b NOAA's Hurricane FAQ

Template:Atlantic hurricane season categories

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