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Hurricane Hector (2006)

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Hurricane Hector
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hector at peak intensity
FormedAugust 15, 2006
DissipatedAugust 23, 2006
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 110 mph (175 km/h)
Lowest pressure953 mbar (hPa); 28.14 inHg
FatalitiesNone reported
DamageNone
Areas affectedNo land areas
Part of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Hector was the ninth tropical cyclone of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season. Hector originated from a tropical wave that emerged from the western coast of Africa on July 31.[1] The wave was ill-defined, while traversing the Atlantic Ocean, but became more active as it entered the Caribbean Sea. On August 10, the wave crossed Central America an entered the Eastern Pacific basin. The shower and thunderstorm activity within the wave began to increase, strengthening the wave into a low-pressure system on August 13. Dvorak classifications were initiated on August 15 as the system became more convective. The low-pressure system was designated Tropical Depression Nine-E on August 15. It moved west-northwestward to the south of a mid-level ridge, and the depression quickly intensified into Tropical Storm Hector on August 16.[1] Wind shear was moderate in the area, but Hector was able to strengthen into a hurricane on August 17. Hector reached its peak intensity of 95.5 knots (109.9 mph) on August 18 at 0600 UTC. Hector maintained Category 2 status for 24 hours, encountering cooler sea temperatures soon after. Along with wind shear, the cooler temperatures caused Hector to weaken. Hector fell below hurricane strength on August 20, as convection became limited to the northeast corner of the storm.

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

Hector formed from a tropical wave that exited the west coast of Africa on July 31. The wave was rather ill-defined as it moved over the eastern Atlantic, but became more active in terms of thunderstorm activity and easier to track after entering the eastern Caribbean Sea. On August 10, the wave moved across Central America and entered the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Shower and thunderstorm activity gradually increased as the wave passed south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec and a broad low pressure area developed about 375 miles (605 km) south of Acapulco, Mexico on August 13. The system continued to become organized on August  4 and Dvorak classifications were initiated early on August 15. Additional development resulted in the formation of a tropical depression around 1800 UTC later that day about 650 mi (1,045 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.[1]

Moving west-northwestward to the south of a mid-level ridge of high pressure that extended from northern Mexico westward into the northeastern Pacific Ocean, the depression quickly strengthened and became a tropical storm at 0000 UTC on August 16. At this time, the National Hurricane Center gave it the name Hector.[1] At its second advisory Hector was forecasted to reach a peak of 45 mph (75 km/h).[2] Despite initially being in an environment of moderate north-northeasterly wind shear, Hector was able to steadily strengthen, reaching hurricane status at 0600 UTC on August 17.[3] While continuing west-northwestward, the hurricane quickly intensified, and it is estimated that Hector reached its peak intensity of 110 mph (175 km/h) at 0600 UTC on August 18, while centered about 1,035 mi (1,665 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.[4]

Hector remained a Category 2 hurricane for about 24 hours.[5] Shortly thereafter, it began to encounter cooler sea surface temperatures and some westerly shear, which initiated weakening.[6] Hector weakened below hurricane strength by 1200 UTC August 20. Shortly after this time, Hector approached a weakness in the subtropical ridge near 135°W longitude, which produced a considerable reduction in its forward speed and a turn toward the northwest. On August 21, deep convection became confined to the northeast portion of the circulation, due to southwesterly shear from a small upper-level low to the northwest of Hector.[7] The shear was not strong enough to completely weaken the tropical cyclone and Hector remained a tropical storm with 50 mph (85 km/h) winds for about 24 hours.[1] After the remaining shower and thunderstorm activity dissipated on August 22, the cyclone turned westward in response to the low-level easterly wind flow.[8] Hector weakened to a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on August 23, and to a remnant low-pressure area six hours later. The remnant circulation of Hector dissipated on August 24 about 750 mi (1,210 km) east of the Hawaiian Islands.[9]

Impact

Because Hector remained away from land, no property damage or fatalities were reported. No ships were affected, and no tropical cyclone warnings and watches were issued.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Daniel P. Brown (September 28, 2006). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Hector" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
  2. ^ Franklin (2006). "Tropical Depression 09-E Discussion Number 3". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  3. ^ Roberts/Knabb (2006). "Tropical Depression 09-E Discussion Number 8". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  4. ^ Rhome/Knabb (2006). "Tropical Depression 09-E Discussion Number 9". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  5. ^ Blake/Franklin (2006). "Tropical Depression 09-E Discussion Number 20". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  6. ^ Brown/Stewart (2006). "Tropical Depression 09-E Discussion Number 22". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  7. ^ Pasch/Fiorino (2006). "Tropical Depression 09-E Discussion Number 23". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  8. ^ Pasch/Fiorino (2006). "Tropical Depression 09-E Discussion Number 27". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  9. ^ Roberts/Stewart (2006). "Tropical Depression 09-E Discussion Number 30". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-01-07.

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