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Tropical Storm Barry (1995)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Barry was the first tropical cyclone
to strike
strike Canada
since the 1991 Perfect Storm. The second tropical cyclone and second named storm of the 1995 Atlantic hurricane season
, Barry developed from a frontal low offshore of the Southern United States
coast on July 6. The system gradually strengthened and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Barry on July 7. Thereafter, Barry quickly intensified and peaked at just under hurricane intensity with winds reaching 70 mph (110 km/h). After nearly becoming a hurricane, Barry slowly level-off in intensity starting on July 8. Later on the following day, Barry made two landfalls in Nova Scotia
with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and 50 mph (85 km/h), respectively. Early on July 10, Barry transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
.
Overall, impact from Barry was fairly minor, with only a few reports of tropical storm force winds and light amounts of rainfall in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. As a result, there were no reports of damage or fatalities associated with Tropical Storm Barry.
and South Carolina
early on July 5. The low was slow to develop as cloud
s associated with the frontal zone separated themselves from the front into a separate system over the next 24 hours. The satellite imagery also revealed that a low-level cloud system center became better defined just to the west of a small cluster of deep convection, and on the afternoon of July 6, the system was declared Tropical Depression Two. The system was slow to move at first, as it slowly continued to develop in the subtropical
Atlantic Ocean
. Strong wind shear
prevented significant development at first as the system remained exposed on satellite imagery
. Early on July 7, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Barry as it began to move to the northeast and convection increased.
The storm began to strengthen slowly that morning, as it began to increase in forward speed and wind shear decreased. The presence of a trough
just southwest of Barry also helped to increase convection and strengthen the storm. Reconnaissance
aircraft
confirmed a strengthening, high-end tropical storm on the afternoon of July 7, as they found a small area of hurricane-force winds, although there were no signs of eye
formation and the minimum central pressure of 998 mbar (29.5 inHg) was considered to be too high for an upgrade, suggesting that the winds were not reaching the surface. The peak winds at that point were estimated at 70 mph (110 km/h), just under hurricane intensity. That evening, Barry began to weaken as convection began to decrease. Early on July 8, while Barry moving northeastward towards Nova Scotia
as a gradually weakening system, an eye feature formed amidst a poorly organized system of low clouds. The pressure remained virtually unchanged that day but the winds diminished somewhat and Barry weakened slightly, remaining a moderate tropical storm with 50 mph (85 km/h) winds, an intensity it would retain until landfall. The presence of an approaching mid-level trough accelerated the storm as it traveled roughly along the Gulf Stream
. The central dense overcast area continued to grow in size as Barry tracked farther north, as a result of a warm eddy in the Gulf Stream as far north as 42°N latitude
(although it did not strengthen the storm).
On the morning of July 9, Barry began to lose tropical characteristics as the water temperatures dropped below 68°F (20°C), the central pressure also began to steadily decrease as it tracked northward. That afternoon, Barry continued to lose tropical characteristics as its convection began to shift away from the storm's center. However, it was clearly still a tropical storm when it passed near Sable Island
. While maintaining a rapid movement to the northeast, Barry made landfall over Hart Island, Nova Scotia
early in the evening of July 9 as a 50 mph (85 km/h) tropical storm with a 990 mbar central pressure. It weakened slightly and made landfall over Cape Breton Island
less than an hour later. Despite an impressive satellite appearance, the cold water and land interaction allowed the deep convection to virtually dissipate as it was making landfall, and the storm lost most remaining tropical characteristics as it tracked across the Cabot Strait
towards the west coast of Newfoundland. Barry was declared fully extratropical
early on July 10 near the west coast of Newfoundland. As a fast-moving and weakening extratropical cyclone, the system remained distinct until it passed across the east coast of Labrador
that morning, when it dissipated.
of Nova Scotia. Offshore, the Rowan Gorilla oil rig, located just west of Sable Island
, reported sustained winds of 58 mph (93 km/h), with gusts reaching to 69 mph (111 km/h). On land, there was only one report of tropical storm force winds. At Fourchu
, sustained winds of 48 mph (78 km/h) were reported; the highest recorded wind gust was 62 mph (100 km/h) at Port aux Basques
in Newfoundland. Throughout the rest of Nova Scotia, much lighter winds were report, with gusts well below tropical storm force. Barry dropped significant rainfall, although most of it of the western side of its path. Precipitation varied considerably in Atlantic Canada, especially in Nova Scotia. Rainfall in that province peaked at 4.33 inches (110 mm). Much lighter totals were reported at other locations: 3.74 inches (95 mm) in Farmington
, 3.58 inches (90.9 mm) in Digby County
, 3 inches (76.2 mm) in Halifax, and 2.8 inches (71.1 mm) in Yarmouth
.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
to strike
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
strike 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...
since the 1991 Perfect Storm. The second tropical cyclone and second named storm of the 1995 Atlantic hurricane season
1995 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1995 Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active Atlantic hurricane season on record. It officially began on June 1, 1995, and lasted until November 30, 1995. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the north Atlantic ocean...
, Barry developed from a frontal low offshore of the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
coast on July 6. The system gradually strengthened and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Barry on July 7. Thereafter, Barry quickly intensified and peaked at just under hurricane intensity with winds reaching 70 mph (110 km/h). After nearly becoming a hurricane, Barry slowly level-off in intensity starting on July 8. Later on the following day, Barry made two landfalls in 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...
with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and 50 mph (85 km/h), respectively. Early on July 10, Barry transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
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...
.
Overall, impact from Barry was fairly minor, with only a few reports of tropical storm force winds and light amounts of rainfall in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. As a result, there were no reports of damage or fatalities associated with Tropical Storm Barry.
Meteorological history
The system originated out of a weak frontal low with a pressure of 1019 mbar (30.1 inHg) between BermudaBermuda
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 South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
early on July 5. The low was slow to develop as cloud
Cloud
A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology...
s associated with the frontal zone separated themselves from the front into a separate system over the next 24 hours. The satellite imagery also revealed that a low-level cloud system center became better defined just to the west of a small cluster of deep convection, and on the afternoon of July 6, the system was declared Tropical Depression Two. The system was slow to move at first, as it slowly continued to develop in the subtropical
Subtropics
The subtropics are the geographical and climatical zone of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropical zone, which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, at latitudes 23.5°N and 23.5°S...
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Strong wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
prevented significant development at first as the system remained exposed on satellite imagery
Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.- History :The first images from space were taken on sub-orbital flights. The U.S-launched V-2 flight on October 24, 1946 took one image every 1.5 seconds...
. Early on July 7, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Barry as it began to move to the northeast and convection increased.
The storm began to strengthen slowly that morning, as it began to increase in forward speed and wind shear decreased. The presence of a trough
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
just southwest of Barry also helped to increase convection and strengthen the storm. Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
confirmed a strengthening, high-end tropical storm on the afternoon of July 7, as they found a small area of hurricane-force winds, although there were no signs of eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
formation and the minimum central pressure of 998 mbar (29.5 inHg) was considered to be too high for an upgrade, suggesting that the winds were not reaching the surface. The peak winds at that point were estimated at 70 mph (110 km/h), just under hurricane intensity. That evening, Barry began to weaken as convection began to decrease. Early on July 8, while Barry moving northeastward towards 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...
as a gradually weakening system, an eye feature formed amidst a poorly organized system of low clouds. The pressure remained virtually unchanged that day but the winds diminished somewhat and Barry weakened slightly, remaining a moderate tropical storm with 50 mph (85 km/h) winds, an intensity it would retain until landfall. The presence of an approaching mid-level trough accelerated the storm as it traveled roughly along the Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
. The central dense overcast area continued to grow in size as Barry tracked farther north, as a result of a warm eddy in the Gulf Stream as far north as 42°N latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
(although it did not strengthen the storm).
On the morning of July 9, Barry began to lose tropical characteristics as the water temperatures dropped below 68°F (20°C), the central pressure also began to steadily decrease as it tracked northward. That afternoon, Barry continued to lose tropical characteristics as its convection began to shift away from the storm's center. However, it was clearly still a tropical storm when it passed near 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...
. While maintaining a rapid movement to the northeast, Barry made landfall over Hart Island, 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...
early in the evening of July 9 as a 50 mph (85 km/h) tropical storm with a 990 mbar central pressure. It weakened slightly and made landfall over Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
less than an hour later. Despite an impressive satellite appearance, the cold water and land interaction allowed the deep convection to virtually dissipate as it was making landfall, and the storm lost most remaining tropical characteristics as it tracked across the Cabot Strait
Cabot Strait
Cabot Strait is a strait in eastern Canada approximately 110 kilometres wide between Cape Ray, Newfoundland and Cape North, Cape Breton Island. It is the widest of the three outlets for the Gulf of Saint Lawrence into the Atlantic Ocean, the others being the Strait of Belle Isle and Strait of Canso...
towards the west coast of Newfoundland. Barry was declared fully extratropical
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...
early on July 10 near the west coast of Newfoundland. As a fast-moving and weakening extratropical cyclone, the system remained distinct until it passed across the east coast of Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
that morning, when it dissipated.
Impact
There were a few reports of tropical storm force winds in the provinceProvinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of Nova Scotia. Offshore, the Rowan Gorilla oil rig, located just west of 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...
, reported sustained winds of 58 mph (93 km/h), with gusts reaching to 69 mph (111 km/h). On land, there was only one report of tropical storm force winds. At Fourchu
Fourchu, Nova Scotia
Fourchu is a small community located on Nova Scotia Route 247 in Richmond County on Cape Breton Island.-References:*...
, sustained winds of 48 mph (78 km/h) were reported; the highest recorded wind gust was 62 mph (100 km/h) at Port aux Basques
Channel – Port aux Basques
Channel-Port aux Basques is a town at the extreme southwestern tip of the island of Newfoundland fronting on the eastern end of the Cabot Strait. A Marine Atlantic ferry terminal is located in the town which is the primary entry point onto the island of Newfoundland and the western terminus of...
in Newfoundland. Throughout the rest of Nova Scotia, much lighter winds were report, with gusts well below tropical storm force. Barry dropped significant rainfall, although most of it of the western side of its path. Precipitation varied considerably in Atlantic Canada, especially in Nova Scotia. Rainfall in that province peaked at 4.33 inches (110 mm). Much lighter totals were reported at other locations: 3.74 inches (95 mm) in Farmington
Farmington, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Farmington is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Lunenburg Municipal District in Lunenburg County.-References:*...
, 3.58 inches (90.9 mm) in Digby County
Digby County, Nova Scotia
Digby County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.Taking its name from the Township of Digby , which had been named in honour of Rear Admiral Robert Digby who dispatched HMS Atlanta to convey loyalists from New York City in the spring of 1783 to Conway, which became known as Digby,...
, 3 inches (76.2 mm) in Halifax, and 2.8 inches (71.1 mm) in Yarmouth
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may...
.
See also
- Other storms of the same name
- Timeline of the 1995 Atlantic hurricane seasonTimeline of the 1995 Atlantic hurricane seasonThis timeline documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation during the 1995 Atlantic hurricane season. The season officially began on June 1, 1995, and ended on November 30, and no storms formed off-season...
External links
- The NHC's Preliminary Report on Tropical Storm Barry
- CHC Storms 1995
- Tropical Storm Barry Track (Unisys)
