October 2009 North American storm complex
Encyclopedia
The October 2009 North American storm complex was a powerful non-tropical cyclone, associated with the remnants of Typhoon Melor that brought extreme amounts of rainfall to California
. The system started out as a weak area of low pressure, that formed north of Typhoon Melor's remnants, late on October 11, in the Gulf of Alaska
. The system then absorbed Melor's remnants quickly, which resulted in the system strengthening significantly off-shore, before moving southeastward to inpact the West Coast of the United States, beginning very early the next day.
during October on record. Numerous locations recorded rainfall in excess of 10 in (254 mm) in a 24-hour span, with a maximum of 21.34 in (542 mm) falling at Mining Ridge, Monterey County
. This amount surpassed the previous rainfall record from a tropical cyclone or its remnants in the state by nearly 7 in (177.8 mm). Hurricane Kathleen
in 1976 held the record prior to Melor, producing a maximum of 14.76 in (374.9 mm) at San Gorgonio. In San Francisco
, an all-time record was set of 2.49 in (63.2 mm) in a 24-hour span, greater than any other total since records began in 1849. At higher elevations, significant amounts of snow fell; exact totals are not known, but estimated to be at least several feet. Strong winds also accompanied the record rainfall. Hurricane-force wind gusts, recorded up to 87 mph (140 km/h), were associated with Melor's remnants. Similar winds were likely felt in higher elevations, resulting in blizzard
conditions. Although the rainfall was record-breaking, it significantly helped to alleviate one of California's worst droughts on record, spanning several years. At San Marcos Pass, rainfall from the storm surpassed the all-time record October rainfall in a single day, with 10.31 in (261.9 mm) falling at the pass.
In areas near San Francisco, hundreds of car accidents occurred due to wet roads and high winds. On the Richmond Bridge, a tractor-trailer was blown on its side, landing on a passing car; however, the two passengers of the car and the truck driver were uninjured. This accident resulted in all east-bound lanes on the bridge being shut down from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. The California Highway Patrol stated that they received over 3,000 calls during the first half of the day concerning accidents, against the normal 1,000 calls during an entire day without rain. A crash in the Caldecott Tunnel, requiring emergency repairs to the structure, led to a temporary closure and creating more traffic issues. A three car collision on state Highway 1 resulted in the death of one person. The section of the highway near the crash was shut down for near four hours also. Over 200 accidents occurred throughout the day around San Francisco due to the storm.
Throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains
, several roads were closed due to flooding. Along Swanton Road, emergency officials issued a mandatory evacuation of 60 residents due to the flooding. Schools in San Lorenzo Valley
were closed for the day due to the rising waters. Some residents were trapped by waters reaching a depth of 6 ft (1.8 m), leading to emergency rescues. High winds resulted in major air traffic delays, with officials noting average delays of three or more hours.
At the height of the storm, more than 35,000 residences were without power initially due to heavy rains; however, wind eventually worsened power issues as branches began to fall on power lines. A transmittion emergency was declared on the evening of October 12 as a 500,000 volt power line was blown down. In northern portions of the state, winds exceeding 80 mph (128.7 km/h) left hundreds of thousands of people without power and sparked several power line fires. The storm was described as "just phenomenal" by meteorologists. In response to the storm, flood disaster agencies allocated 20,000 sandbags for immediate deployment. All state and emergency operation centers in the state we activated on October 14 and support from electric companies in Arizona and Nevada was received to assist in power restoration.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The system started out as a weak area of low pressure, that formed north of Typhoon Melor's remnants, late on October 11, in the Gulf of Alaska
Gulf of Alaska
The Gulf of Alaska is an arm of the Pacific Ocean defined by the curve of the southern coast of Alaska, stretching from the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island in the west to the Alexander Archipelago in the east, where Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage are found.The entire shoreline of the Gulf is...
. The system then absorbed Melor's remnants quickly, which resulted in the system strengthening significantly off-shore, before moving southeastward to inpact the West Coast of the United States, beginning very early the next day.
California
The storm system, formerly considered to have been Melor, became one of the most intense storms to impact the state of CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
during October on record. Numerous locations recorded rainfall in excess of 10 in (254 mm) in a 24-hour span, with a maximum of 21.34 in (542 mm) falling at Mining Ridge, Monterey County
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
. This amount surpassed the previous rainfall record from a tropical cyclone or its remnants in the state by nearly 7 in (177.8 mm). Hurricane Kathleen
Hurricane Kathleen (1976)
Hurricane Kathleen was a hurricane of the 1976 Pacific hurricane season that caused destructive impacts in California. Kathleen caused widespread flooding and damage in northern Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. It also took an unusual path. On September 7, a tropical depression...
in 1976 held the record prior to Melor, producing a maximum of 14.76 in (374.9 mm) at San Gorgonio. In San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, an all-time record was set of 2.49 in (63.2 mm) in a 24-hour span, greater than any other total since records began in 1849. At higher elevations, significant amounts of snow fell; exact totals are not known, but estimated to be at least several feet. Strong winds also accompanied the record rainfall. Hurricane-force wind gusts, recorded up to 87 mph (140 km/h), were associated with Melor's remnants. Similar winds were likely felt in higher elevations, resulting in blizzard
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
conditions. Although the rainfall was record-breaking, it significantly helped to alleviate one of California's worst droughts on record, spanning several years. At San Marcos Pass, rainfall from the storm surpassed the all-time record October rainfall in a single day, with 10.31 in (261.9 mm) falling at the pass.
In areas near San Francisco, hundreds of car accidents occurred due to wet roads and high winds. On the Richmond Bridge, a tractor-trailer was blown on its side, landing on a passing car; however, the two passengers of the car and the truck driver were uninjured. This accident resulted in all east-bound lanes on the bridge being shut down from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. The California Highway Patrol stated that they received over 3,000 calls during the first half of the day concerning accidents, against the normal 1,000 calls during an entire day without rain. A crash in the Caldecott Tunnel, requiring emergency repairs to the structure, led to a temporary closure and creating more traffic issues. A three car collision on state Highway 1 resulted in the death of one person. The section of the highway near the crash was shut down for near four hours also. Over 200 accidents occurred throughout the day around San Francisco due to the storm.
Throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
, several roads were closed due to flooding. Along Swanton Road, emergency officials issued a mandatory evacuation of 60 residents due to the flooding. Schools in San Lorenzo Valley
San Lorenzo Valley
The San Lorenzo Valley, often referred to locally as "SLV," is in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Santa Cruz County, California. It was once a center of the logging industry of California and is still home to millions of Sequoia sempervirens, or redwood trees...
were closed for the day due to the rising waters. Some residents were trapped by waters reaching a depth of 6 ft (1.8 m), leading to emergency rescues. High winds resulted in major air traffic delays, with officials noting average delays of three or more hours.
At the height of the storm, more than 35,000 residences were without power initially due to heavy rains; however, wind eventually worsened power issues as branches began to fall on power lines. A transmittion emergency was declared on the evening of October 12 as a 500,000 volt power line was blown down. In northern portions of the state, winds exceeding 80 mph (128.7 km/h) left hundreds of thousands of people without power and sparked several power line fires. The storm was described as "just phenomenal" by meteorologists. In response to the storm, flood disaster agencies allocated 20,000 sandbags for immediate deployment. All state and emergency operation centers in the state we activated on October 14 and support from electric companies in Arizona and Nevada was received to assist in power restoration.
Other states
In Oregon, the remnants of Melor brought heavy rains and high winds to many areas. Maximum rainfall associated with the system was around 1 in (25.4 mm), making the remnants of Melor the third known tropical cyclone, or remnants of a cyclone, to impact state. Minor effects were recorded in terms of damage: one rockslide took place on Highway 101 and large swells affected the coastline. In mountainous areas of Nevada, the storm produced upwards of 1 ft (0.3048 m) of snow and winds over 50 mph (80.5 km/h). Several accidents took place on slick roadways during the storm; however, no fatalities or major injuries were reported. The highest winds were likely at the peaks of the Sierra mountains, forecasted to reach 140 mph (225.3 km/h), equivalent to a strong Category 4 hurricane. At least 2 in (50.8 mm) of rain fell along the foothills of the mountains, making the remnants of Melor one of the wettest former tropical cyclones to impact the state of Nevada. In Minnesota, a region rarely affected by the remnants of tropical cyclones, received moderate rainfall from the former typhoon. On October 14 and 15, the remnants of Melor affected the state, with estimated rainfall totals peaking at 0.85 in (21.6 mm). By the end of October 15, the storm complex was absorbed by a neighboring extratropical storm, as the storm complex neared the East Coast of the United States.See also
- 2009 Pacific typhoon season2009 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2009 Pacific typhoon season was the period that tropical cyclones formed in the Western Pacific Ocean. The season ran throughout the year during 2009, with most tropical cyclones forming between May and November. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator...
- 1962 Columbus Day storm - Associated with the remnants of Typhoon Freda. It caused the lowest pressure every measured in Oregon to be recorded.
- East Asian snowstorms of 2009-2010
- December 2009 North American snowstormsDecember 2009 North American snowstorms-Overview:The 2009 North American snowstorms is an on-going meteorological event in North America. The snowstorms brought record amounts of snow to the Midwest and contributed to deaths of 16 people. The storm affected a number of US states, including Arizona, Wisconsin and New York, as well as...