Hurricane Fabian

Hurricane Fabian was one of the strongest and most damaging tropical cyclones on record to affect Bermuda, when it passed just west of the North Atlantic island in September 2003. The hurricane originated from a tropical wave that left western Africa, and developed into Tropical Depression Ten on August 27. On the next day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded it to Tropical Storm Fabian, the sixth named storm of the annual Atlantic hurricane season. It moved west-northwestward under the influence of the subtropical ridge to its north, and steadily strengthened in an area of warm sea surface temperatures and light wind shear. Within 18 hours of attaining hurricane status, Fabian became a major hurricane, the first of the season. The hurricane attained a peak intensity of on September 1, and it slowly weakened as it turned northward. On September 5, Fabian made a direct hit on Bermuda with wind speeds of over . After passing the island, the hurricane turned to the northeast, and became extratropical on September 8, before dissipating two days later.

Fabian was the strongest hurricane to hit Bermuda since Hurricane Arlene in 1963. It was the first deadly hurricane in Bermuda since satellites began tracking hurricanes. A strong storm surge associated with the hurricane killed four people crossing a causeway on Bermuda, temporarily closing the only link between two islands. Fabian's powerful winds caused power outages and damaged roofs throughout the island. There was a shortage of material for the traditional limestone roofs, as well as supplies to restore electricity. The habitat of the endangered Bermuda petrel, better known as the cahow, was disrupted by the hurricane, leading volunteer to transport the species to a safer location. Strong swells killed a swimmer in Puerto Rico and North Carolina, while also causing damage in the northern Dominican Republic. A ship capsized in the Grand Banks, south of Island, killing three people. In all, Fabian caused around US$300 million in damage and nine deaths.

Meteorological history

On August 25, a tropical wave emerged off the coast of Africa.Tracking westward, the wave developed convection over its center, and conducive conditions allowed it to develop further. The system passed through the Cape Verde islands later that day.

Amid favorable atmospheric conditions, Fabian continued to intensify as it moved across the Atlantic Ocean. On August 30, Fabian intensified into a hurricane, as its forward path slowed and curved to the west-northwest. and Fabian quickly strengthened and attained major hurricane status late that day, or a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It was the first major hurricane of the season. At this time, the deepest convection near the eye degraded in appearance, and Fabian temporarily stopped its strengthening trend.

Late on August 31, the eye became distinct again within a perfectly round area of deep convection. Outflow continued to expand in all directions, and Fabian intensified into a Category 4 hurricane. Thunderstorm activity near the eyewall became more intense, and the cloud tops in the eyewall became much cooler; simultaneously, outflow away from the eye became much more symmetrical, both signs of an intensifying tropical cyclone. Fabian reached its peak intensity of on September 1 while located east of the northern Lesser Antilles. After maintaining its peak intensity for 12 hours Fabian degraded due to internal fluctuations, and began to weaken.

right|thumb|Hurricane Fabian over Bermuda late on September 5

The hurricane turned to the northwest on September 2 in response to a weakness in the subtropical ridge, a break caused by a mid-level circulation over the southwest Atlantic Ocean. After fading back to a Category 3 hurricane, Fabian re-intensified on September 4, and regained Category 4 status for a short time. The hurricane weakened again as it accelerated northward towards Bermuda, a motion due to an approaching mid-level trough. passing just west of Bermuda on September 5 as a Category 3 hurricane.

After passing Bermuda, Fabian accelerated northeastward, and weakened to a Category 2 hurricane on September 7. On September 8, while located east-northeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland, Fabian transitioned into an extratropical storm, with no deep convection remaining near the center. Fabian's extratropical remnant turned to the north on September 9, and on September 10, Fabian's remnant merged with another extratropical storm while located between southern Greenland and Iceland. On September 1, the Bermuda Weather Service warned residents about the hurricane's potential threat. A day later, the Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (BELCO) began preparing utilities for a direct hit from Fabian. On September 4 about 35 hours before Fabian's closest approach, the Bermuda Weather Service issued a hurricane watch for the island. Six hours later it was upgraded to a hurricane warning. About 160 people evacuated from a hotel on the south shore of the island. Several cruise ships on the island departed early to avoid the hurricane. The arrival of Fabian forced the cancellation or delay of several sports events, including a cricket match, a football game, and a dinghy race.

Impact

left|thumb|A house at [[Smith's Parish, Bermuda during the approach of the storm]]

Caribbean

The hurricane produced storm surge damage in Antigua and Barbuda, where some boats were damaged. Along the north coast of Puerto Rico, high waves killed a swimmer in Isla Verde. Strong swells and high tides produced large waves on the north coast of Puerto Rico, washing out beaches in various locations. Waves knocked out a portion of a construction site in Ocean Park, resulting in US in damage. In the Dominican Republic, the hurricane produced waves of up to in height. Due to the waves and gusty winds, boats were advised to stay at port. Several families had to be evacuated in Nagua when rough seas flooded their homes. L.F. Wade International Airport estimated wind sustained winds of 121 mph (194 km/h), with wind gusts to 150 mph (241 km/h), after the facility lost electricity. Hurricane conditions briefly halted when the eye of Fabian crossed Bermuda. Upon passing the island, the hurricane produced an estimated storm surge. This made Fabian the first deadly hurricane in Bermuda since satellites began tracking tropical cyclones. The hurricane also dropped light rainfall during its passage, reaching . There were also several unofficial reports of tornadoes. The hurricane also wrecked the remaining walls of the Southampton Island Fort. The strong waves broke a boat from its moorings at Spanish Point. Fabian caused extensive roof damage across the island, particularly areas facing south and east. Although concrete buildings generally fared well, most of the damaged buildings had traditional limestone roofs. Bermuda's electrical distribution system sustained damage and required repairs. About 76% of the island, or about 25,000 people, lost power, mostly areas outside of Hamilton lost power. The airport sustained US$15 million in damages, causing it to be closed for several days, after the runway was covered with debris. The winds severely damaged five hotels on Bermuda, including two that remained closed until the spring of 2004. The island's golf courses also sustained damage. One course experienced significant damage at its club house, temporarily closing it. The hurricane destroyed a restaurant in Southampton and also damaged stands and roofs at sports facilities. The hurricane also damaged 850 government buildings, with several landmark buildings damaged. These included the House of Assembly, City Hall, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, and the Somerset Cricket Club.

Fabian blew down thousands of trees across Bermuda, including hundred year-old cedars. Sediment and ocean debris killed organisms in Walsingham Pond, the deepest pond on the island. Fabian's waves washed over three of the four nesting islets for the endangered Bermuda petrel, destroying nine burrows and damaging the remaining nests. The hurricane also killed most of the common terns that lived on Bermuda, and wrecked 75% of the nesting sites for the white-tailed tropicbird. The hurricane also transported a year's worth of carbonate sediment from the Bermuda Pedestal into the deep ocean. The hurricane's passage led to an increase in phytoplankton across the Sargasso Sea.

Atlantic coast

Swells from the hurricane produced rip currents and heavy surf along the eastern North Carolina coastline. One man drowned near Cape Hatteras from the rip currents. In New York, 10 surfers required rescue from the Coast Guard due to waves from the hurricane. Three deaths were reported in the north Atlantic when a ship, The Pacific Attitude, sank south of Newfoundland in the Grand Banks due to wave heights estimated over .

Aftermath

right|thumb|Hurricane damage in Bermuda

In the days after the storm, residents provided assistance for each other, especially for the elderly. Regiment soldiers and residents cleared roads with chainsaws. In October 2003, British Prince Edward visited the island to meet residents affected by Fabian, as well as survey storm damage. The damaged St. George's Preparatory School was partially reopened in March 2004, although it took two years to finish repairs.

To help restore the island's trees, the South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation delivered 1,000 boxwood plants to the island, with support from a Boy Scout troop and nearby nurseries.

A memorial to the four Bermudians whose lives were claimed by Hurricane Fabian was erected near the Causeway's east end by the airport. The 10th anniversary of their deaths was remembered by government officials in September 2013. The onslaught of Hurricane Gonzalo in October 2014 prompted a catastrophe modeller to revisit Fabian's destruction, concluding that had it struck in 2014, it would have caused around $650 million in damage.

Retirement

Due to the storm damage and deaths in Bermuda, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Fabian in the spring of 2004, and it will never again be used for a North Atlantic tropical cyclone. It was replaced with Fred for the 2009 season. The Bermuda Weather Service allowed residents to suggest a replacement name, with the only rule being the name had to be a male name beginning with the letter "F", able to be easily pronounced, and not currently in use by the National Hurricane Center. The service received a list of over 30 names, including Forrest and Frodo, after the character in The Lord of the Rings.

Notes

References

External links

NHC's archive on Hurricane Fabian
Bermuda Weather Service