2000 October subtropical storm
Encyclopedia
The Subtropical Storm of October 2000 was the final cyclone of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season
. The last cyclone of the season, the Subtropical Storm
developed from an extratropical low pressure system
in the vicinity of the Bahamas on October 25. It intensified gradually while heading generally northward, passing between roughly half way between Bermuda
and North Carolina
. Its maximum sustained winds were unknown during peak intensity, but it is estimated at 65 mph (104.6 km/h), though its minimum central pressure was 978 mb. As a subtropical cyclone, it did not affect land, however, the remnants combined with an extratropical low, causing early heavy snowfall in Canada
and in New England
.
. Initially, the low moved northwestward and interacted with a strong surface high. Later that day, the low began to develop into a gale center. By 1800 UTC the gale center had become a subtropical storm. This subtropical storm began by turning in a northward motion. The subtropical storm had turned northward shortly before it made a north-north east turn and accelerated simultaneously. From then on the Subtropical Storm gradually strengthened and it began to turn on a more northeastward course.
By October 27 it had acquired an intensity of 60 mph (96.6 km/h). Convection flared up on October 28, which allow it to reached a peak intensity of 65 mph (104.6 km/h), and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. A cold front linked up with the Subtropical Storm to become extratropical, a few hundred miles to the south of Halifax, Nova Scotia
. That same day, the system merged with a larger extratropical low. The extratropical low eventually reached Atlantic Canada
, before it lost its identity later that day near eastern Nova Scotia.
issued some marine gale and storm warnings offshore, while the National Weather Service
issued gale warnings for coastal North Carolina
. There were no other watch or warnings issued because it was treated as an extratropical cyclone.
The larger extratropical low in which the remnants merged with headed for Atlantic Canada
and it caused heavy snowfall over portions of southeastern Canada
, and even in some New England
states. On October 29, several stations in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland reported sustained winds between 40 - 58 miles per hour (64 - 93 km/h) and an atmospheric pressure of 980 millibars (hPa; 28.94 inHg) was recorded on Sable Island
. Maximum sustained winds in Atlantic Canada reached 44 miles per hour (72 km/h), while gusts were reported at 52 miles per hour (84 km/h) in Cape Breton Highlands
. Wave heights reached 39 feet (12 m) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with storm surge in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island near five feet (1.9 m), which resulted in extensive coastal flooding.
Many ships and buoys that encountered the subtropical storm reported winds greater than 40 miles per hour (65 km/h). Almost all of the ships reported barometric pressures greater than 990 millibars (hPa; 29.23 inHg), although the Buoy 44137 recorded a pressure as low as 979 millibars (hPa; 28.91 inHg) early on October 29, whilst a ship thereafter registered 985 millibars (hPa; 29.09 inHg). In addition, the ship "Nomzi" reported the highest maximum sustained winds of 53 miles per hour (85 km/h).
There is a slight possibility of the maximum sustained winds being inaccurate, the forward motion of the subtropical storm caused possibilities of sustained winds as high as 85 miles per hour (135 km/h). However, surface observations did not support this, instead it was estimate that maximum sustained winds were 65 miles per hour (100 km/h).
This was the last time that a subtropical storm did not receive a name because between 1974 and 2000 the National Hurricane Center did not name purely subtropical storms. If it were to receive a name it would be Oscar and therefore Subtropical Storm Oscar.
2000 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2000 Atlantic hurricane season was the first season without a tropical cyclone in July since 1987. The season officially began on June 1, 2000, and lasted until November 30, 2000. The June through November dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in...
. The last cyclone of the season, the Subtropical Storm
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
developed from an extratropical low pressure system
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
in the vicinity of the Bahamas on October 25. It intensified gradually while heading generally northward, passing between roughly half way between Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Its maximum sustained winds were unknown during peak intensity, but it is estimated at 65 mph (104.6 km/h), though its minimum central pressure was 978 mb. As a subtropical cyclone, it did not affect land, however, the remnants combined with an extratropical low, causing early heavy snowfall in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Meteorological History
On October 25, an extratropical low pressure system formed to the east of the Turks and Caicos IslandsTurks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the Caribbean, the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands, known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.The Turks and...
. Initially, the low moved northwestward and interacted with a strong surface high. Later that day, the low began to develop into a gale center. By 1800 UTC the gale center had become a subtropical storm. This subtropical storm began by turning in a northward motion. The subtropical storm had turned northward shortly before it made a north-north east turn and accelerated simultaneously. From then on the Subtropical Storm gradually strengthened and it began to turn on a more northeastward course.
By October 27 it had acquired an intensity of 60 mph (96.6 km/h). Convection flared up on October 28, which allow it to reached a peak intensity of 65 mph (104.6 km/h), and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. A cold front linked up with the Subtropical Storm to become extratropical, a few hundred miles to the south of Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. That same day, the system merged with a larger extratropical low. The extratropical low eventually reached Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
, before it lost its identity later that day near eastern Nova Scotia.
Impact
The Marine Prediction CenterOcean Prediction Center
The Ocean Prediction Center , established in 1995, is one of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s original six service centers. Until January 12, 2003, the name of the organization was the Marine Prediction Center. Its origins are traced back to the sinking of the RMS Titanic in...
issued some marine gale and storm warnings offshore, while the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
issued gale warnings for coastal North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. There were no other watch or warnings issued because it was treated as an extratropical cyclone.
The larger extratropical low in which the remnants merged with headed for Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
and it caused heavy snowfall over portions of southeastern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and even in some New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
states. On October 29, several stations in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland reported sustained winds between 40 - 58 miles per hour (64 - 93 km/h) and an atmospheric pressure of 980 millibars (hPa; 28.94 inHg) was recorded on Sable Island
Sable Island
Sable Island is a small Canadian island situated 300 km southeast of mainland Nova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is a year-round home to approximately five people...
. Maximum sustained winds in Atlantic Canada reached 44 miles per hour (72 km/h), while gusts were reported at 52 miles per hour (84 km/h) in Cape Breton Highlands
Cape Breton Highlands
The Cape Breton Highlands, commonly called the Highlands, refer to a highland or mountainous plateau of ancient rock across the northern part of Cape Breton Island in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia....
. Wave heights reached 39 feet (12 m) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with storm surge in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island near five feet (1.9 m), which resulted in extensive coastal flooding.
Many ships and buoys that encountered the subtropical storm reported winds greater than 40 miles per hour (65 km/h). Almost all of the ships reported barometric pressures greater than 990 millibars (hPa; 29.23 inHg), although the Buoy 44137 recorded a pressure as low as 979 millibars (hPa; 28.91 inHg) early on October 29, whilst a ship thereafter registered 985 millibars (hPa; 29.09 inHg). In addition, the ship "Nomzi" reported the highest maximum sustained winds of 53 miles per hour (85 km/h).
There is a slight possibility of the maximum sustained winds being inaccurate, the forward motion of the subtropical storm caused possibilities of sustained winds as high as 85 miles per hour (135 km/h). However, surface observations did not support this, instead it was estimate that maximum sustained winds were 65 miles per hour (100 km/h).
This was the last time that a subtropical storm did not receive a name because between 1974 and 2000 the National Hurricane Center did not name purely subtropical storms. If it were to receive a name it would be Oscar and therefore Subtropical Storm Oscar.
See also
- 2000 Atlantic hurricane season2000 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2000 Atlantic hurricane season was the first season without a tropical cyclone in July since 1987. The season officially began on June 1, 2000, and lasted until November 30, 2000. The June through November dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in...
- Subtropical cycloneSubtropical cycloneA subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
- Extratropical cycloneExtratropical cycloneExtratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
- Timeline of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane seasonTimeline of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe Timeline of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation...