2000 Atlantic hurricane season

The 2000 Atlantic hurricane season was a fairly active hurricane season, but featured the latest first named storm in a hurricane season since 1992. The hurricane season officially began on June 1, and ended on November 30. It was slightly above average due to a La Niña weather pattern, although most of the storms were weak. The first cyclone, Tropical Depression One, developed in the southern Gulf of Mexico on June 7 and dissipated after an uneventful duration. However, it would be almost two months before the first named storm, Alberto, formed near Cape Verde; Alberto also dissipated with no effects on land. Several other tropical cyclones—Tropical Depression Two, Tropical Depression Four, Chris, Ernesto, Nadine, and an unnamed subtropical storm—did not impact land. Four additional storms—Tropical Depression Nine, Florence, Isaac, and Joyce—minimally affected land areas.

The most significant storm of the season was Hurricane Keith, which caused extensive damage in Central America. After remaining nearly stationary offshore, Keith moved inland over the Yucatán Peninsula and later made a second landfall in Mexico at hurricane intensity. It caused $319 million (2000 USD) in damage and 40 fatalities, mostly in Belize. The precursor to Tropical Storm Leslie brought severe flooding to South Florida, which losses reaching $950 million (2000 USD). Hurricane Gordon and Tropical Storm Helene both caused moderate damage in the Southeastern United States, mainly in Florida. Tropical Storm Beryl caused minor damage in Mexico and Hurricane Debby resulted in less than $1 million (2000 USD) in damage in the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Hurricane Michael brought widespread effects to Atlantic Canada, though a specific damage toll is unknown.

Of the tropical cyclones that made landfall in the United States, none were higher than tropical storm status (although Gordon briefly became a hurricane, it had weakened to a tropical storm prior to its landfall).

Seasonal forecasts

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|+Predictions of tropical activity in the 2000 season

|- style="background:#CFCFCF; text-align:center;×÷≥"

|align="center"|Source

|align="center"|Date

|align="center"|Named storms

|align="center"|Hurricanes

|align="center"|Major hurricanes

|align="left"|CSU

|align="left"|Average (1950–2000)

|9.6

|5.9

|2.3

|align="left"|NOAA

|align="left"|Average

|11

|align="left"|CSU

|align="left"|April 7, 2000

|11

|align="left"|CSU

|align="left"|June 7, 2000

|12

|align="left"|CSU

|align="left"|August 4, 2000

|11

|align="left"|NOAA

|align="left"|August 10, 2000

|11

|align="center" colspan="2"|Actual activity

|15

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 (CSU), and separately by forecasters with the U.S. Government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). According to CSU, the average season between 1950 and 2000 had 9.6 tropical storms, 5.9 hurricanes, and 2.3 major hurricanes (storms exceeding Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale). A normal season, as defined by NOAA, has 9 to 12 named storms, of which five to seven reach hurricane strength and one to three become major hurricanes.

Noted hurricane expert Dr. William M. Gray on April 7 predicted eleven named storms, with eight reaching hurricane strength and three of the eight reaching Category 3 strength. The prediction issued on June 7 was similar, increasing the named storms to twelve, eight hurricanes, and four major hurricanes. On May 10, NOAA issued a season outlook, which gave the indication of an above-average season. According to NOAA, the global scale atmospheric circulation pattern which was taking place was conducive to an above-average hurricane season. However, La Niña was present it the Eastern Pacific, which was a factor in the activity in the season. NOAA issued a 75% chance of above average activity. After the season started on June 1,

Seasonal summary

thumb|right|Hurricanes Isaac and Joyce on September 27, 2000

The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2000. It was an above average season in which 19 tropical cyclones formed. Fifteen depressions attained tropical storm status, and eight of these attained hurricane status. Three hurricanes further intensified into major hurricanes. The season was above average most likely because of an ongoing La Niña in the Pacific Ocean.

Tropical cyclogenesis first occurred in the month of June, with two tropical depressions developing in the Atlantic.

The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 119. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding or tropical storm strength. Subtropical cyclones, including the unnamed storm as well as the initial stages of Florence, Leslie, and Michael, are excluded from the total.

Systems

Tropical Depression One

A tropical wave exited the west coast of Africa on May 23 and tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. The system had entered into the Gulf of Mexico on June 6. Another tropical wave merged with the system on June 7 and developed into a low-pressure area in the Gulf of Mexico. strong wind shear produced by an upper-anticyclone prevented significant strengthening. The remnants of the depression produced gusty winds and light to moderate rainfall along the Gulf Coast of Mexico; In addition, heavy precipitation was reported in south-central Texas. Although it was well-organized, since it operationally appeared that a surface circulation did not exist until then. However, the depression was less organized after the National Hurricane Center began advisories. no significant intensification occurred as it tracked generally westward.

Increasing upper-level westerlies caused Alberto to weaken as it moved east-northeastward, with the cyclone losing most of its convection. Early on August 14, Alberto was downgraded to a tropical storm. A westerly trough that had been guiding Alberto outran the storm, and strong ridging developed to the north and west. As a result, Alberto turned southward on August 15, southwestward on August 16, and then to the west on August 17. While curving northwestward and then northward, Alberto began to re-strengthen, and was upgraded to a hurricane for the third occasion on August 18. Alberto reached a third peak intensity as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of on August 20. After weakening back to a Category 1 hurricane, Alberto had completed a cyclonic loop, which it had started on August 13. Due to decreasing ocean temperatures, Alberto was again downgraded to a tropical storm on August 23 as it accelerated northeastward. Six hours later, Alberto transitioned into an extratropical cyclone while centered about south-southwest of Reykjavík, Iceland. Some swells were reported along the east coast of the United States a few days after the storm's recurvature. The last storm to do so was Hurricane Frances in 1980.

Tropical Storm Beryl

A tropical wave emerged from the coast of Africa with a closed circulation on August 3. The system split, with the northern portion developing into Hurricane Alberto, while the southern portion of the wave continued westward. Minimal deep convection persisted until the wave reached the Yucatán Peninsula on August 12. After emerging into the Gulf of Mexico on the following day, satellite imagery and a reconnaissance aircraft flight indicated that the system developed into Tropical Depression Five at 1800 UTC. Early on August 13, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Beryl. it remained disorganized and peaked as a tropical storm. By 07:00 UTC on August 15, Beryl made landfall about north of La Pesca, Tamaulipas, in northeastern Mexico, with winds of . Beryl quickly weakened inland, and was downgraded to a tropical depression five hours after moving inland. Shortly thereafter, Beryl dissipated while centered near Monterrey. In low-lying rural areas near the mouth of the Rio Grande, about 20,000 residents were urged to seek shelter, as the inadequate drainage in these areas make them in danger to severe flooding. Authorities in southern Texas filled 20,000 sandbags along the shores, and closed government offices. Residents nailed plywood on windows, parks were temporarily closed, and documents were transferred to waterproof storage areas. In Mexico, a rainfall total of within a period of 24 hours was measured in San Gabriel, Tamaulipas. Residents from two low-lying fishing villages were evacuated from the state of Tamaulipas and taken to extemporaneous shelters at schools and a sports complex. One drowning death was reported in northeast Mexico, caused by the extensive flooding from Beryl's heavy rains. The total damage in Mexico was estimated to be $254,000 (2000 MXN, $27,400 2000 USD). Moisture from Beryl brought of rain in Corpus Christi, Texas and in Brownsville, Texas in a 48-hour period between August 14 and August 16. Cloud cover and rainfall resulted with cool high temperatures in southern Texas. At Brownsville, the high temperature of on August 15 set a daily record for coldest high temperature on the date.

Tropical Storm Chris

A tropical wave exited the west coast of Africa on August 12. Although large amounts of deep convection accompanied the system, it was displaced from the poorly defined center. Over the next few days, convection consolidated and by 1200 UTC on August 17, the system began as Tropical Depression Six, while centered about east of the Lesser Antilles. Because of a burst in deep convection, as well as satellite imagery estimating winds of , the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Chris at 1200 UTC on August 18. Later that day, a reconnaissance aircraft flight into the storm found no circulation. As a result, Chris dissipated while east of the northernmost Leeward Islands at 1200 UTC on August 19.

Light rainfall and gusty winds caused minor damage in Barbuda, Saint Martin, and Trinidad and Tobago. In San Juan, slick roads caused several minor car accidents. One indirect fatality was attributed to the storm after a man fell off his roof while attempting to remove a satellite dish. Rainfall in Cuba brought relief to an eight-month-long drought in eastern Cuba. The depression tracked west-northwestward under the influence of a subtropical ridge to its north. the depression became Tropical Storm Ernesto at 0600 UTC on September 2. However, the NHC noted in its Tropical Cyclone Report on Ernesto that it may not have been a tropical cyclone at all, as QuikSCAT surface wind estimates indicated that there was no closed circulation, although the data was dismissed as inconclusive. Although deep convection re-developed near the center early on September 3, no intensification occurred. At 1800 UTC on September 3, Ernesto weakened to a tropical depression. Six hours later, Ernesto dissipated to the east-northeast of the Leeward Islands.

The depression brought light to moderate rainfall to Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and Texas, though it was generally less than . rainfall associated with the depression peaked at in Buras-Triumph, Louisiana. However, the depression caused no damage or fatalities. The convection increased while the wave detached from the cold front. Late on September 10, a subtropical depression developed located about 375 mi (605 km) west-southwest of Bermuda, which moved to the west-southwest. Bermuda endured sustained winds of 41 mph (67 km/h), gusting to 58 mph (93 km/h). Rainfall at L.F. Wade International Airport reached 0.47 in (12 mm).

While passing through the Lesser Antilles, the precursor tropical wave caused locally heavy rainfall and wind gusts between . Shortly before developing into a tropical cyclone, flooding in mountainous areas of Guatemala caused 23 fatalities. In its early stages, Gordon produced locally heavy rainfall in Cuba and the Yucatán Peninsula. The storm produced abnormally high tides along the west coast of Florida, which caused widespread, but minor coastal flooding. One fatality occurred near Pensacola, after a surfer drowned in rough seas. In North Carolina, flooding caused two indirect fatalities when a car lost control and crashed into a tractor trailer. In other states, light rainfall caused mostly minor effects. Overall, Gordon was responsible for $10.8 million in damage.

The remnant tropical wave produced strong winds and flooding in the Lesser Antilles. Heavy rainfall caused the Sopchoppy River to exceed its banks, flooding nearby houses. and a tornado caused one fatality, The other death in the state occurred when a car hydroplaned and crashed into a tree, which killed the driver. With favorable conditions, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Isaac on September 22, as its rainbands organized. A ridge steered the storm to the west-northwest. After developing a well-defined eye, Isaac attained its peak intensity late on September 28, with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of . Cool, dry air entered the storm on October 1, causing Isaac to fall below hurricane-force as it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. The extratropical remnants rapidly tracked east-northeastward and affected the British Isles on October 3 and October 4, eventually merging with another extratropical low while north of Scotland early on October 4.

While Isaac made its closest approach to Bermuda on September 29, it produced high waves offshore the island. The hurricane also produced swells that affected the east coast of the United States. In New York, a boat overturned due to high waves in Moriches Inlet, killing one of the passengers. As an extratropical system, Isaac produced winds near gale-force on the British Isles during the day of October 3.

Hurricane Joyce

A poorly organized tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa on September 22. Influenced by a powerful ridge that developed in the wake of Hurricane Isaac, the wave traveled a brisk westward path at . While in the deep tropics of the open Atlantic, the wave began to show indications of a closed circulation. On September 25, the NHC designated the system as Tropical Depression Fourteen, and a day later upgraded it to Tropical Storm Joyce. Deep convection and outflow improved, and Joyce developed an eye. On September 27, Joyce attained hurricane status, and early on September 28, Joyce reached a peak intensity of and a central pressure of . At the time, it was located about midway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles, and had a fleeting pinhole eye. and the hurricane weakened to a tropical storm on September 29. although it weakened further due to intrusion of Saharan air layer, causing Joyce to weaken into a tropical depression on October 1 as it crossed the Windward Islands on October 1. Although the NHC expected that the depression would reintensify, Joyce degenerated into an open tropical wave over the southeastern Caribbean Sea on October 2.

Hurricane Keith

A tropical wave emerged off the west coast of Africa on September 16. The system uneventfully crossed the Atlantic and Caribbean, before developing into Tropical Depression Fifteen while near Honduras on September 28. The depression gradually strengthened, and became Tropical Storm Keith on the following day. As the storm tracked westward, it continued to intensify and was upgraded to a hurricane on September 30. Shortly thereafter, Keith began to rapidly deepen and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane less than 24 hours later. Keith then began to meander erratically offshore of Belize, which significantly weakened the storm due to land interaction. By late on October 2, Keith made landfall in Ambergris Caye, Belize as a minimal hurricane. It quickly weakened to a tropical storm, before another landfall occurred near Belize City early on the following day. While moving inland over the Yucatán Peninsula, Keith weakened further, and was downgraded to a tropical depression before emerging into the Gulf of Mexico on October 4. Once in the Gulf of Mexico, Keith began to re-strengthen and was upgraded to a tropical storm later that day, and a hurricane on the following day. By late on October 5, Keith made its third and final landfall near Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico as a moderately strong Category 1 hurricane. The storm quickly weakened inland and dissipated as a tropical cyclone by 24 hours after landfall.

Keith brought heavy rainfall to several countries in Central America, which resulted in extensive flooding, especially in Belize and Mexico. In Guatemala, the storm flooded 10 towns, Similarly, one fatality also occurred in El Salvador, and at least 300 people were affected by flooding in that country. Thirteen communities in Nicaragua were completely isolated after Keith made roads impassable. Twelve deaths were reported in Nicaragua, all of which were flood-related. Heavy rainfall also occurred in Mexico, especially in the states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. Flooding by Keith caused several mudslides and a few rivers reached historic levels. Throughout Mexico, at least 460 houses were damaged or destroyed and other losses in infrastructure occurred.

The system dropped heavy rainfall in Cuba, peaking at in the Havana Province. While the precursor crossed Florida, it produced torrential rainfall across southern Florida, especially in the Miami metropolitan area. In Miami-Dade County alone, 1,005 houses were destroyed, 1,358 were severely damaged, and 3,443 had minor damage. Throughout the state, at least 93,000 homes were flooded. Electrical stations were also damaged by floods, leaving more than 27,000 people without power. Extensive agricultural damage occurred, with of farmland inundated by water. Overall, the precursor system of Leslie resulted in about $950 million (2000 USD) in damage, slightly more than half of that figure was agriculture related. Additionally, three fatalities occurred, two of which due to drowning, The remnants of Leslie caused near tropical storm force winds and waves up to in Newfoundland, though damage in the region was minimal.

Hurricane Michael

A low-pressure system developed after detaching from a cold front while between Florida and Bermuda. The low-pressure area slowly formed a circulation and began to deepen on October 14 as it drifted north-northeastward. By October 15, the system developed into a subtropical depression while centered about midway between Florida and Bermuda. Later that day, satellite classifications using the Hebert-Poteat technique indicated that the subtropical depression had strengthened into a subtropical storm, and it was upgraded at 0000 UTC on October 16. Due to SST's in excess of , the subtropical storm developed persistent convection near the low-level center and it slowly acquired tropical characteristics. By 0000 UTC on October 17, the subtropical storm was re-classified as Tropical Storm Michael. Three hours later, the National Hurricane Center began advisories on Michael, though initially it was erroneously classified as Tropical Depression Seventeen.

Although Michael was predicted to intensify only modestly, it rapidly strengthened, and became a hurricane later on October 17. Precipitation produced by the storm was light and peaked at in North Mountain, Nova Scotia. Michael also produced rainfall in Maine and Bermuda. There were no damage figures available, though damage was considered to be relatively light. Initially, the depression lacked a well-defined center, though a broad circulation was evident. The depression tracked slowly northward and then northeastward around a subtropical ridge and ahead of a cold front. As wind shear decreased, convective activity became better organized on October 20. By 1200 UTC on that day, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Nadine. However, shortly thereafter, wind shear increased and the storm resembled a frontal wave and appeared to possibly be interacting with the cold front. The cloud pattern then became ragged, while the low-level circulation moved toward the southern edge of the deep convection. By 0000 UTC on October 22, Nadine transitioned into an extratropical cyclone and merged with a frontal low about 18 hours later.

The Marine Prediction Center issued some marine gale and storm warnings offshore, while the National Weather Service issued gale warnings for coastal North Carolina. It was not designated as a subtropical cyclone operationally. The storm produced tropical storm force winds in portions of Atlantic Canada, although it was associated with the larger extratropical storm at the time. Several ships also recorded tropical storm force winds, one of which recorded peak winds of . This was the same list used in the 1994 season as no names were retired from that year. Storms were named Joyce (which had replaced Joan in 1988), Leslie, Michael, and Nadine for the first time this year.

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Alberto
Beryl
Chris
Debby
Ernesto
Florence
Gordon

Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Keith
Leslie
Michael
Nadine

Retirement

In spring of 2001, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Keith from the Atlantic hurricane name lists due to its high impact. It was replaced with the name Kirk for the 2006 season.

Season effects

This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their name, duration, peak classification and intensities, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 2000 USD.

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References

External links

Monthly Weather Review
National Hurricane Center 2000 Atlantic hurricane season summary
U.S. Rainfall information concerning 2000 tropical cyclones

Seasonal forecasts

Seasonal summary

Systems

Tropical Depression One

Tropical Storm Beryl

Tropical Storm Chris

Hurricane Joyce

Hurricane Keith

Hurricane Michael

Retirement

Season effects

See also

References

External links