Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | September 11,2020 |
Extratropical | September 17,2020 |
Dissipated | September 18,2020 |
Category 2 hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 110 mph (175 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 965 mbar (hPa);28.50 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 9 (4 direct,5 indirect) |
Damage | $7.3 billion (2020 USD) |
Areas affected | The Bahamas,Cuba,U.S. Gulf Coast,Southeastern United States |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season |
Hurricane Sally was a destructive and slow-moving tropical cyclone that was the first hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. state of Alabama since Ivan in 2004,coincidentally on the same date in the same place. The eighteenth named storm and seventh hurricane of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season,Sally developed from an area of disturbed weather which was first monitored over the Bahamas on September 10. The system grew a broad area of low-pressure on September 11,and was designated as a tropical depression late that day. Early the next day,the depression made landfall at Key Biscayne and subsequently strengthened into Tropical Storm Sally that afternoon. Moderate northwesterly shear prevented significant intensification for the first two days,but convection continued to grow towards the center and Sally slowly intensified. On September 14,a center reformation into the center of the convection occurred,and data from a hurricane hunter reconnaissance aircraft showed that Sally had rapidly intensified into a strong Category 1 hurricane. However,an increase in wind shear and upwelling of colder waters halted the intensification and Sally weakened slightly on September 15 before turning slowly northeastward. Despite this increase in wind shear,it unexpectedly re-intensified,reaching Category 2 status early on September 16 before making landfall at peak intensity at 09:45 UTC on September 16,near Gulf Shores,Alabama,with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 965 millibars (28.5 inHg). [1] [2] The storm rapidly weakened after landfall before transitioning into an extratropical low at 12:00 UTC the next day. Sally's remnants lasted for another day as they moved off the coast of the Southeastern United States before being absorbed into another extratropical storm on September 18.
Numerous watches and warnings were issued in anticipation of the imminent approach of Sally,and several coastline counties and parishes on the Gulf Coast were evacuated. In South Florida,heavy rain led to localized flash flooding while the rest of peninsula saw continuous shower and thunderstorm activity due to the asymmetric structure of Sally. The area between Mobile,Alabama,and Pensacola - Gulf Breeze,Florida took the brunt of the storm with widespread wind damage,storm surge flooding,and over 20 inches (510 mm) of rainfall in the first 24 hours and over 30 inches in 48 hours. [3] Numerous tornadoes also occurred as well. Damage is estimated at $7.3 billion (2020 USD). [4] Sally was the costliest of several destructive 2020 hurricanes whose names were not retired by the World Meteorological Organization following the season,along with Hanna,Isaias,Delta,and Zeta. [5] [6]
Toward the end of August 2020, a shortwave trough interacted with a decaying frontal boundary and led to the development of Tropical Storm Omar. This weak tropical cyclone later became embedded within a broad mid-level trough well to the north of Bermuda as it dissipated on September 5; [7] an extension of this trough propagated southwest as Omar moved over the North Atlantic. Over the next five days, the system remained disorganized as it approached the Bahamas. [1] : 3 The National Hurricane Center (NHC) first noted the potential for tropical cyclogenesis on September 9, anticipating the system to not become a tropical cyclone until reaching the Gulf of Mexico several days later. [8] A broad surface slow steadily coalesced with accompanying convection becoming more organized as the system approached the archipelago on September 11. [9] Contrary to the NHC's forecasts, [1] : 13 the system developed into a tropical depression, the nineteenth of the season, by 18:00 UTC that day while situated between Andros Island and Bimini in the Bahamas, or about 115 mi (185 km/h) east-southeast of Miami, Florida. [1] : 3 A subtropical ridge over the Southeastern United States steered the system generally west-northwest toward the Florida Peninsula. [10] Around 06:00 UTC on September 12, the depression made landfall near Cutler Bay, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). [1] : 18 Within hours, multiple weather stations began recording sustained tropical storm-force winds and the system became Tropical Storm Sally by 12:00 UTC while situated over the Everglades. [1] : 3 This marked the earliest formation of a season's 18th named storm, surpassing the previous record of October 2 set in 2005 with Hurricane Stan. [11]
As Sally emerged over the eastern Gulf of Mexico later on September 12, banding features became increasingly defined over the southern portion of its circulation. [12] One of these bands became somewhat stationary, pivoting over the Florida Keys and Florida Bay while producing heavy rainfall in the region. [13] As Sally rounded the southern edge of the ridge and turned west-northwest, modest wind shear inhibited significant intensification over the next day. [1] : 3 A prominent central dense overcast, displaced about 50–60 mi (85–95 km) from the circulation center, blossomed early on September 13. [14] A convergence zone along the backside of the storm became established over the Florida Peninsula within an environment highly favoring extreme rainfall rates. [15] A temporary reprieve in wind shear enabled Sally's core to become more vertically aligned and convective bursts occurred throughout the day into September 14. [1] : 3 [16] [17] Following a burst of deep convection with tops colder than −112 °F (−80 °C), [18] Sally underwent a brief period of rapid intensification. Its winds increased to 85 mph (140 km/h) by 18:00 UTC at the end of this phase, constituting its initial peak intensity. [1] : 3 Nearby land-based Doppler weather radar depicted a developing mid- to upper-level eye within the hurricane's core at this time. [19] The northern outer bands of the hurricane began impacting the Florida Panhandle early on September 14, primarily along the coast of Apalachee Bay. [20] Rainfall continued to spread west into Alabama and slightly inland and its persistence led to soil saturation of 85 percent well-before the storm's core arrived. [21] Operationally, the NHC upgraded the storm to low-end Category 2 status at 21:00 UTC, but this was determined to be due to transient eyewall features and not a true estimate of the storm's intensity. [1]
By the start of September 15, steering currents collapsed and Sally largely stalled south of the Florida Panhandle and Mobile Bay with a slight drift west. A sudden increase in wind shear caused the hurricane's structure to degrade, with its core becoming asymmetric. [1] : 3–4 An intrusion of dry air caused the eye to open up to the south. [22] The hurricane's forward motion gradually shifted to the north and later north-northeast throughout the day as it approached the northwest side of a weak ridge. [23] [24] Although wind shear did not abate, upper-level divergence increased significantly and enabled the hurricane to unexpectedly intensify as it approached the Alabama coastline. [1] : 4 Its eye became increasingly well-defined and aircraft observations revealed a major increase in both flight-level and surface winds; [25] elevated winds up to 131 mph (211 km/h) were detected by Doppler weather radar. [26] Convection around the core and in rainbands east of the center became more intense during this period. "Significant and life threatening flash flooding" began late on September 15 as rainfall intensified to rates up 3 in (76 mm) per hour along the coast, primarily between Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Destin, Florida. [27] The Weather Prediction Center soon described it as "catastrophic flash flooding" as accumulations exceeded 18 in (460 mm) within 24 hours with rainfall rates up to 4 in (100 mm) per hour still occurring. [28] Additional rainbands developed farther east near Panama City and Apalachicola, expanding the scope of the flood event. [29]
Sally's northern eyewall began moving onshore in Baldwin County, Alabama, between Mobile Bay and Pensacola Bay around 05:00 UTC. Mesovortices within the eyewall battered the coastline with violent wind gusts during this time. [1] : 4 The storm reached Category 2 intensity by 06:00 UTC as it approached Mobile Bay and continued to intensify until its center reached land. [1] : 18 The hurricane ultimately made landfall at peak strength in Gulf Shores at 09:45 UTC with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mbar (hPa; 28.49 inHg). [1] : 4 This coincidentally occurred on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Ivan's landfall in the same location and just three hours later. [30] [31] Ingram Bayou saw the most intense winds, with sustained values reaching 113 mph (182 km/h) and a peak gust of 137 mph (220 km/h). These were observed atop an 59 ft (18 m) mast and were not representative of surface values. [1] : 6
Hurricane Sally's structure rapidly degraded as it progressed farther inland throughout September 16. Briefly crossing the border into the Florida Panhandle, the hurricane weakened to a tropical storm by 18:00 UTC as it moved back over southeastern Alabama. [1] : 4 During this time, its forward motion steadily increased as it interacted with the mid-latitude westerlies. [32] Convection surrounding the center eroded amid increasing wind shear and the influence of land-based friction. [33] Excellent outflow aloft supported continued heavy rain across central Georgia in areas northeast of the center. Moist southerly flow from Sally interacted with a developing frontal boundary over the state and expanded the breadth of heavy rain. [34] Sally degraded to a tropical depression by 06:00 UTC on September 17 as its surface circulation decoupled from its mid- to upper-level circulation, with the latter accelerating ahead. [1] : 4 [35] The system transitioned into post-tropical cyclone soon after as it merged with a frontal boundary over Georgia six hours later, and a defined warm front became established to the east-northeast. [1] : 4 [36] The trailing surface circulation of Sally continued to weaken before dissipating over South Carolina on September 18. A new low-pressure area developed over eastern North Carolina later that day in association with the aforementioned front and Sally's remnants. [1] : 4 A convergence zone developed across northern North Carolina into southeastern Virginia as warm, moist air from the remnant system interacted with an unseasonably strong cold front, creating an axis of heavy rain across the region. The rain event associated with Sally finally ceased late on September 18 as the new system moved farther offshore. [37]
Due to the possibility of the storm making landfall as a tropical storm, a tropical storm watch was issued for the coast of Southeastern Florida from south of Jupiter Inlet to north of Ocean Reef when advisories were first issued at 21:00 UTC on September 11. [38] At 03:00 UTC on September 12, another tropical storm watch was issued for the Florida panhandle from the Ochlockonee River to the Okaloosa/Walton County line. [39] That same day, numerous storm surge, tropical storm, and hurricane watches were then issued for a large portion of the US Gulf Coast east of New Orleans at 21:00 UTC, three hours after Sally was named. [40] [41] Many of these watches were then upgraded to warnings at 09:00 UTC on September 13 with more watches and warnings issued in the hours that followed. [42] [43] Several tornado, flash flood, and flood watches were issued. [44]
States of emergency were declared in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama in preparation for Sally's arrival. [45] [46] [47] Emergencies were also declared in the East Baton Rouge and St. Bernard parishes in Louisiana and Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in Florida as well as New Orleans and Pensacola, Florida. [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] The National Park Service shut down the entirety of Gulf Islands National Seashore on September 12. [53]
The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, issued an evacuation for areas outside the levee system of the city, due to expected storm surge. [54] The governor of Louisiana declared a state of emergency for the entire state, which was still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Laura just three weeks earlier. [45] Several parishes and areas were put under mandatory evacuation orders including all of St. Charles Parish, and parts of Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and St. John the Baptist Parish. [55] Shelters were opened while public school and university classes were canceled throughout southeastern Louisiana for September 15. [56] FEMA declared that they will be bringing additional resources to Louisiana for the storm's aftermath and not diverting resources away from Hurricane Laura's relief efforts. [56] Lakeshore Drive along Lake Pontchartrain was closed before the storm as well. [44]
A state of emergency was declared on the night of Sunday, September 13, 2020. [57] Mississippi governor Tate Reeves urged residents to prepare for Sally, which he said could produce up to 20 inches (510 mm) of rain in the southern part of the state. Some shelters were opened, although officials urged people who were evacuating to stay with friends, relatives, or in hotels, if possible, because of the threat of coronavirus superspreading. [58] Mandatory evacuations were ordered for parts of Harrison County and Hancock County. [55] [56]
Alabama governor Kay Ivey closed all beaches on the coast and called for evacuations of low-lying and flood prone areas. [58] Additionally, Dauphin Island mayor Jeff Collier strongly encouraged all people to evacuate the west end after water started to encroach on the main roadway. [59] A state of emergency was declared by governor Kay Ivey on September 14, 2020, as public schools and university classes were either canceled or moved online in anticipation of the storm. [60]
On September 14 at 6:00pm, the Pensacola International Airport closed. [61]
Warm and humid southerly flow associated with the circulation of Sally brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to western and central areas of Cuba on September 12–13. [62]
The re-intensification and sudden track to the east by Sally prior to landfall caught many by surprise. Additionally, the storm's slow movement caused coastal areas between Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, to be in the northern eyewall for hours. Over 500,000 customers in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia lost power and parts of I-10, including the Escambia Bay Bridge, were shut down. [63] Widespread tornado, special marine, severe thunderstorm, and flash flood warnings were issued, including several flash flood emergencies. [64] [65] [66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] Sally was the most destructive storm to strike the Alabama–Florida border region in nearly 20 years, which included Baldwin County in Alabama and Escambia County in Florida. [72]
Due to the asymmetrical structure of Sally, almost all of Florida saw continuous shower and thunderstorm activity starting on September 12. A low-topped supercell in the outer rainbands of Sally prompted a tornado warning east of Tampa near Sebring on September 12. [73] The next day, another storm prompted two tornado warnings in southwestern Lee County. [74] Several special marine warnings were also issued for the Florida coast due to possible waterspouts. [75] [76] An EF0 tornado south of Marianna damaged a shed and uprooted several trees on September 16. [77] [78] Sally caused heavy rainfall and moderate flooding in South Florida and the Florida Keys, with nearly 8.5 inches (220 mm) falling over Marathon, over 10 inches (250 mm) in Key West and peaking at 12 inches (300 mm) in Lower Matecumbe Key. [79] [80] Tropical storm-force gusts were reported in portions of the Miami metropolitan area. [81]
The Panhandle area east of where Sally made landfall suffered the brunt of the storm in Florida. In Escambia County, which includes Pensacola, the sheriff kept police deputies out helping residents "as long as physically possible". In Santa Rosa County, the City of Gulf Breeze was impacted with widespread wind damage, storm surge flooding, and over 20 inches (510 mm) of rainfall in the first 24 hours and over 30 inches in 48 hours. Several area tornadoes also occurred. Damage totals are estimated to be $7 million to Gulf Breeze public facilities. The unincorporated Tiger Point saw 36 inches (91 cm) of rain, while Bellview saw 30 inches (76 cm). In Pensacola itself, over 24 inches (61 cm) of rain fell and storm surge flooding reached 5.6 feet (1.7 m), the third highest surge ever recorded in the city. [44] Many streets were flooded and several parked cars were totaled when water got into their engines. Late on September 15, twenty-two barges in the Pensacola Bay broke loose due to heavy surf. Five of the barges washed up near downtown while the sixth was involved in another collision. The seventh lodged itself underneath the Garcon Point Bridge while the final one became lodged underneath the Pensacola Bay Bridge, located between cities of Pensacola and the Gulf Breeze causing the bridge to be temporarily closed. [82] [83] The next morning, a crane fell onto the same bridge, destroying a portion of the roadway. [84] The Florida Department of Transportation was unable to assess any possible damage to the bridge due to ongoing high [3] Water main breaks occurred inside the Gulf Breeze, causing the city to shut off water from the south side of Highway 98 inside city limits, where the majority of water main breaks occurred in order to isolate the leaks. [82] Water main break also occurred in nearby Pensacola Beach, causing officials to advise residents to fill their bathtubs with water. [85] The city of Panama City reported releases of raw sewage from several locations due to flooding from Hurricane Sally, prompting The Florida Department of Health to issue advises against swimming in Panama City until further notice. [86] In Pensacola, a 27-year-old boater went missing when he left his home in a 12-foot jon, in an attempt to find his mother's pontoon boat that became untethered in the strong currents and whipping winds brought on by the hurricane; one week after his disappearance, his body was found washed ashore near the Blue Angel Recreation Park. [87] Another person in Pensacola also died after succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor generator use. [88] The body of another missing boater, a 45-year-old female kayaker who had also gone missing at the height of the storm, was discovered, marking the third fatality of Pensacola and the state of Florida. [89] The Shoal River in Okaloosa county saw its highest level in 20 years as a result of all the rain that fell from Sally. This resulted in parts of Crestview, Florida being evacuated and bridges on I-10 and SR 85 being closed to all traffic. [90] Damage in Florida totaled to $180.113 million. [91]
This section needs to be updated.(January 2021) |
Continuous onshore flow from Sally caused storm surge flooding to occur on Dauphin Island beginning early on September 14. [59] Two unoccupied riverboat casinos in Bayou La Batre near Mobile broke loose due to the constant wave action with one of them hitting a dock. [92] Fort Morgan, Alabama reported a wind gust of 121 miles per hour (195 km/h) while Mobile reported a wind gust of 83 miles per hour (134 km/h). Major structural damage was recorded at the landfall point in Gulf Shores as well as Mobile. A pier in Gulf Shores that was destroyed in Hurricane Ivan in 2004 was partially destroyed again by storm surge from Sally just days after it had reopened following renovations. There were also several reports of damage to condos in the Gulf Shores with a few being destroyed. [44] Meanwhile, in Downtown Mobile, a street light snapped, swinging wildly on its cable. [82] A gas station was destroyed in Spanish Fort, Alabama. [44] [85] [82] Several sewage overflows were reported across Mobile County following heavy rain from Hurricane Sally, causing contamination to Dog River and Rabbit Creek. [93] One person was declared dead and one other missing in Orange Beach, an area most impacted by flooding. [94] Another person died in Foley during the storm cleanup process. [95] Over 2,000 broken poles and 4,300 trees on power lines left over 71,000 households and businesses in southern and central Baldwin County without power, representing 95% of the service area of a local electrical cooperative, Baldwin EMC. Only 5 of 22 substations remained in service the day after the storm. [96] [97] Two days after landfall, on September 18, Alabama governor Kay Ivey said in a news conference that 103,000 customers were still without power in Baldwin County, and another 60,000 in Mobile County. [97] Five days after landfall, Baldwin EMC had restored power to close to 60,000 meters, representing 75% of their subscribers, but 18,197 meters remained without power. [98]
Total damages in Alabama reached $311.895 million (2020 USD). [99]
The winds from the outer bands of Sally caused the south side of Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana to overflow its banks, flooding Lakeshore Drive. However, no serious damage was reported as the storm veered farther east than originally forecast. [44] Sally brought flooding to Mississippi, with the worst in Jackson County. At the peak of the storm, more than 10,000 people were without power along the Gulf Coast. Pascagoula police reported downed power lines and traffic lights in the city and a power outage on the eastern side of the city. [100] Some parts of South Mississippi also reported uprooted trees and downed signs. [101] Overall damage in Mississippi was expected to be much greater, but was reduced because the storm shifted east. [102] In Georgia, six tornadoes were confirmed, of which two were rated EF1 while the other four were rated EF0. One person was killed and two others were injured after a large oak tree fell onto two homes and several cars in Atlanta. [103] Two other fatalities occurred in metro Atlanta, one in Cobb County where a man died after a slick road caused a driver to lose control of his vehicle and hit the bus stop where the man was waiting at, and another in Gwinnett County where a 71-year-old woman was killed when a tree fell across the roadway, pinning her underneath it. [104] In North Carolina and South Carolina, 16 more tornadoes were also confirmed from September 17–18. Two of them were rated EF1 and two others were rated EFU, while all the others were rated EF0. [105] One person was injured indirectly as he was cleaning up debris from his mobile home following an EF0 tornado in Sardis, South Carolina. [106]
The storm caused widespread power outages across Baldwin County. Restoration of power took several days to bring back to 100%. [107] The cities of Gulf Shores and Foley suffered the most extensive damage in Baldwin County. [108] [109] Due the large amount of damage in the city, a curfew was imposed in Mobile, Alabama, starting on September 16. Immediately after the storm, the Cajun Navy, a nonprofit rescue organization, began surveying damage in Alabama. [82] The agricultural industry of Alabama, which was already under stress due to COVID-related impacts, suffered another devastating blow with many farmers' fields completely flooded, crops torn apart, and structures destroyed. Strong winds and heavy rainfall devastated crops, leaving many farmers across the state without hopes for a successful harvest. [110]
Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, and devastating tropical cyclone that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The ninth named storm the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, Ivan formed in early September, and reached Category 5 strength on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale (SSHS). Ivan caused catastrophic damage in Grenada as a strong Category 3 storm, heavy damage in Jamaica as a strong Category 4 storm, and then severe damage in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, and the western tip of Cuba as a Category 5 hurricane. After peaking in strength, the hurricane moved north-northwest across the Gulf of Mexico to strike Pensacola/Milton, Florida and Alabama as a strong Category 3 storm, causing significant damage. Ivan dropped heavy rain on the Southeastern United States as it progressed northeastward and eastward through the Eastern United States, becoming an extratropical cyclone on September 18. The remnant low of the storm moved into the western subtropical Atlantic and regenerated into a tropical cyclone on September 22, which then moved across Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, and then into Louisiana and Texas, causing minimal damage. Ivan degenerated into a remnant low on September 24, before dissipating on the next day.
Hurricane Erin was the first hurricane to strike the contiguous United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The fifth tropical cyclone, fifth named storm, and second hurricane of the unusually active 1995 Atlantic hurricane season, Erin developed from a tropical wave near the southeastern Bahamas on July 31. Moving northwestward, the cyclone intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale near Rum Cay about 24 hours later. After a brief jog to the north-northwest on August 1, Erin began moving to the west-northwest. The cyclone then moved over the northwestern Bahamas, including the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama. Early on August 2, Erin made landfall near Vero Beach, Florida, with winds of 85 mph (137 km/h). The hurricane weakened while crossing the Florida peninsula and fell to tropical storm intensity before emerging into the Gulf of Mexico later that day.
Tropical Storm Arlene was an unusually large and early-forming tropical storm, being the first of twenty-eight different storms during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, which would become the second most active season on record. Tropical Storm Arlene formed near Honduras on June 8 and moved northwards. It crossed western Cuba on June 10 and strengthened to just under hurricane strength before making its final landfall on the Florida Panhandle the next day. The storm weakened as it continued to move north over the United States, becoming extratropical on June 13. Arlene was responsible for two deaths and minor damage.
Tropical Storm Fay was an unusual tropical storm that moved erratically across the state of Florida and the Caribbean Sea. The sixth named storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, Fay formed from a vigorous tropical wave on August 15 over the Dominican Republic. It passed over the island of Hispaniola, into the Gulf of Gonâve, across the island of Cuba, and made landfall on the Florida Keys late in the afternoon of August 18 before veering into the Gulf of Mexico. It again made landfall near Naples, Florida, in the early hours of August 19 and progressed northeast through the Florida peninsula, emerging into the Atlantic Ocean near Melbourne on August 20. Extensive flooding took place in parts of Florida as a result of its slow movement. On August 21, it made landfall again near New Smyrna Beach, Florida, moving due west across the Panhandle, crossing Gainesville and Panama City, Florida. As it zigzagged from water to land, it became the first storm in recorded history to make landfall in Florida four times. Thirty-six deaths were blamed on Fay. The storm also resulted in one of the most prolific tropical cyclone related tornado outbreaks on record. A total of 81 tornadoes touched down across five states, three of which were rated as EF2. Fay would cause around $560 million in damages throughout its lifespan.
The 1932 Florida–Alabama hurricane was a tropical cyclone that made two separate landfalls on the United States, causing devastation in affected areas. The third named storm and hurricane of the 1932 Atlantic hurricane season, it developed from a tropical disturbance north of Hispaniola on August 26. Slowly moving towards the west-northwest, the system intensified to tropical storm strength before making landfall on South Florida early on August 30. After crossing the Florida peninsula and entering the Gulf of Mexico, the system reached peak intensity as a Category 1 hurricane, before subsequently making its final landfall near the Mississippi–Alabama border on September 1. Over land, the hurricane weakened, and after becoming an extratropical cyclone on September 2, merged with another extratropical system over Quebec on September 4.
Tropical Storm Gordon was a strong tropical cyclone that caused damage along the Gulf Coast of the United States in early September 2018. The seventh named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, Gordon developed from a tropical wave that was first monitored in the Caribbean Sea on August 30. The wave moved west-northwestward toward the east coast of Florida while gradually organizing. The disturbance was marked as Potential Tropical Cyclone Seven on September 2 while near the Bahamas, and early the next day, it became Tropical Storm Gordon. The system made landfall on the southwest coast of Florida shortly afterwards. Steady intensification began after it moved off the coast of Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico. Gordon reached its peak intensity as a high-end tropical storm late on September 4 before making landfall just east of Pascagoula, Mississippi shortly afterwards. Gordon then rapidly weakened as it tracked inland, and degenerated into a remnant low on September 6. Gordon's remnants lingered over Arkansas for two days, before opening up into a low-pressure trough on September 8. At least three deaths were attributed to the storm, and Gordon caused approximately $200–250 million in damages.
Hurricane Barry was an asymmetrical tropical cyclone that was the wettest on record in Arkansas and the fourth-wettest in Louisiana. The second tropical or subtropical storm and first hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, Barry originated as a mesoscale convective vortex over southwestern Kansas on July 2. The system eventually emerged into the Gulf of Mexico from the Florida Panhandle on July 10, whereupon the National Hurricane Center (NHC) designated it as a potential tropical cyclone. Early on July 11, the system developed into a tropical depression, and strengthened into a tropical storm later that day. Dry air and wind shear caused most of the convection, or thunderstorms, to be displaced south of the center. Nevertheless, Barry gradually intensified. On July 13, Barry attained its peak intensity as Category 1 hurricane with 1-minute sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 993 millibars (29.3 inHg). At 15:00 UTC, Barry made its first landfall at Marsh Island, and another landfall in Intracoastal City, Louisiana, both times as a Category 1 hurricane. Barry quickly weakened after landfall, falling to tropical depression status on July 15. The storm finally degenerated into a remnant low over northern Arkansas on the same day, subsequently opening up into a trough on July 16. The storm's remnants persisted for another few days, while continuing its eastward motion, before being absorbed into another frontal storm to the south of Nova Scotia on July 19.
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2020. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Bangladesh, and eastern India, but can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. Tornadic events are often accompanied by other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail. There were 1,243 preliminary filtered reported tornadoes in 2020 in the United States in 2020, and 1,086 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in 2020. Worldwide, at least 93 tornado-related deaths were confirmed with 78 in the United States, eight in Vietnam, two each in Canada, Indonesia, and Mexico, and one in South Africa.
Hurricane Laura was a deadly and destructive tropical cyclone that is tied with the 1856 Last Island hurricane and 2021's Hurricane Ida as the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the U.S. state of Louisiana, as measured by maximum sustained winds. The twelfth named storm, fourth hurricane, and first major hurricane of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Laura originated from a large tropical wave that moved off the West African coast on August 16 and became a tropical depression on August 20. Laura intensified into a tropical storm a day later, becoming the earliest twelfth named storm on record in the North Atlantic basin, forming eight days earlier than 1995's Hurricane Luis.
Hurricane Marco was the first of two tropical cyclones to threaten the Gulf Coast of the United States within a three-day period. The thirteenth named storm and third hurricane of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Marco developed from a fast-moving tropical wave west of the Windward Islands and south of Jamaica on August 20. The fast motion of the wave inhibited intensification initially, but as the wave slowed down and entered a more favorable environment, the system developed into a tropical depression, which in turn rapidly intensified into a strong tropical storm. Due to strong wind shear, Marco's intensification temporarily halted. However, after entering the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico on August 23, Marco briefly intensified into a hurricane, only to quickly weaken later that evening due to another rapid increase in wind shear. Marco subsequently weakened to a tropical depression before degenerating into a remnant low early the next morning. Marco's remnants subsequently dissipated on August 26.
Tropical Storm Beta was a tropical cyclone that brought heavy rainfall, flooding, and severe weather to the Southeastern United States in September 2020. The twenty-third tropical depression and twenty-third named storm of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Beta originally formed from a trough of low pressure that developed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on September 10. The low moved slowly southwestward, with development hampered initially by the development of nearby Hurricane Sally. After Sally moved inland over the Southeastern United States and weakened, the disturbance became nearly stationary in the southwestern Gulf, where it began to organize. By September 16, the storm had gained a low-level circulation center and had enough organization to be designated as Tropical Depression Twenty-Two. The system held its intensity for a day due to the influence of strong wind shear and dry air, before eventually attaining tropical storm strength. It slowly moved northward and intensified to a mid-range tropical storm before dry air and wind shear halted its intensification. Beta then became nearly stationary on September 19, before starting to move west towards the Texas coast the next day, weakening as it approached. On September 21, Beta made landfall near Matagorda Peninsula, Texas as a minimal tropical storm. It subsequently weakened to a tropical depression the next day before becoming post-tropical early on September 23. Its remnants moved northeastward, before the center elongated and merged with a cold front early on September 25.
The effects of Hurricane Laura in Louisiana were extensive and historic. Laura was tied with the 1856 Last Island hurricane and Hurricane Ida as the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the U.S. state of Louisiana in terms of wind speed. It was the twelfth named storm, fourth hurricane, and first major hurricane of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. It made landfall on August 27, 2020 near Cameron, Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane. Within Louisiana, the storm killed 33 people and caused around $17.5 billion in damage. Laura brought extremely high winds that ripped roofs off houses and brought a storm surge of up to 18 feet (5.5 m) to areas in Cameron Parish.
Hurricane Delta was a destructive tropical cyclone that became the record-tying fourth named storm of 2020 to make landfall in Louisiana, as well as the record-breaking tenth named storm to strike the United States in that year. The twenty-sixth tropical cyclone, twenty-fifth named storm, tenth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Delta formed from a tropical wave which was first monitored by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on October 1. Moving westward, the tropical wave began to quickly organize. A well-defined center of circulation formed with sufficiently organized deep convection on October 4, and was designated as Tropical Depression Twenty-six and soon thereafter, Tropical Storm Delta. Extremely rapid intensification ensued throughout October 5 into October 6, with Delta becoming a Category 4 hurricane within 28 hours of attaining tropical storm status. The rate of intensification was the fastest in the Atlantic basin since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. After peaking in intensity however, an unexpected increase in wind shear and dry air quickly weakened the small storm before it made landfall in Puerto Morelos, Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph (169 km/h) winds. It weakened some more over land before emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, where it was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. After that, it began to restrengthen, regaining Category 3 status late on October 8. It then turned northward and reached a secondary peak intensity of 953 mbar (28.14 inHg) and winds of 120 mph early on October 9. Delta then began to turn more north-northeastward into an area of cooler waters, higher wind shear, and dry air, causing it to weaken back to Category 2 status. Delta then made landfall at 23:00 UTC near Creole, Louisiana with winds of 100 mph (160 km/h) and a pressure of 970 mbar (29 inHg). The storm began to weaken more rapidly after landfall, becoming post-tropical just 22 hours later.
Hurricane Zeta was a late-season tropical cyclone in 2020 that made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula and then in southeastern Louisiana, the latest on record to do so at such strength in the United States. Zeta was the record-tying sixth hurricane of the year to make landfall in the United States. The twenty-seventh named storm, twelfth hurricane and fifth major hurricane of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Zeta formed from a broad area of low pressure that formed in the western Caribbean Sea on October 19. After battling wind shear, the quasi-stationary low organized into Tropical Depression Twenty-Eight on October 24. The system strengthened into Tropical Storm Zeta early on October 25 before becoming a hurricane the next day as it began to move northwestward. Hurricane Zeta made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula late on October 26 and weakened while inland to a tropical storm, before moving off the northern coast of the peninsula on October 27. After weakening due to dry air entrainment, Zeta reorganized and became a hurricane again, and eventually a Category 2 hurricane, as it turned northeastward approaching the United States Gulf Coast on October 28. It continued to strengthen until it reached its peak intensity as a major Category 3 hurricane with 115-mile-per-hour (185 km/h) sustained winds and a minimum pressure of 970 mbar (28.64 inHg) as it made landfall at Cocodrie, Louisiana, that evening. Zeta continued on through Mississippi and parts of Alabama with hurricane-force winds. Zeta gradually weakened as it accelerated northeastward, and became post-tropical on October 29, as it moved through central Virginia, dissipating shortly afterwards off the coast of New Jersey. After bringing accumulating snow to parts of New England, the extratropical low-pressure system carrying Zeta's remnant energy impacted the United Kingdom on November 1 and 2.
Hurricane Ida was a deadly and extremely destructive tropical cyclone in 2021 that became the second-most damaging and intense hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. state of Louisiana on record, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In terms of maximum sustained winds at landfall, Ida tied 2020's Hurricane Laura and the 1856 Last Island hurricane as the strongest on record to hit the state. The remnants of the storm also caused a tornado outbreak and catastrophic flooding across the Northeastern United States. The ninth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, Ida originated from a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea on August 23. On August 26, the wave developed into a tropical depression, which organized further and became Tropical Storm Ida later that day, near Grand Cayman. Amid favorable conditions, Ida intensified into a hurricane on August 27, just before moving over western Cuba. A day later, the hurricane underwent rapid intensification over the Gulf of Mexico, and reached its peak intensity as a strong Category 4 hurricane while approaching the northern Gulf Coast, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 929 millibars (27.4 inHg). On August 29, the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina making landfall, Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, devastating the town of Grand Isle. Ida weakened steadily over land, becoming a tropical depression on August 30, as it turned northeastward. On September 1, Ida transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone as it accelerated through the Northeastern United States, breaking multiple rainfall records in various locations before moving out into the Atlantic on the next day. Afterward, Ida's remnant moved into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and stalled there for a couple of days, before being absorbed into another developing low-pressure area early on September 5.
Tropical Storm Alberto was a broad but short-lived tropical cyclone that affected portions of Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana during June 2024. The first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Alberto originated on June 12 from a broad area of disturbed weather in the Gulf of Mexico. A few days later, a low-pressure area formed from the disturbance, over the Bay of Campeche. It would steadily coalesce, and despite not being a tropical cyclone yet, would be designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone One by the National Hurricane Center on June 17 due to its proximity to the coast. It eventually intensified into a tropical storm two days later, being named Alberto. Its formation marked the latest start to an Atlantic hurricane season since 2014.
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