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Tropical Storm Earl (2004)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Earl was the fifth tropical storm
of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season
. It was a short-lived storm in mid-August 2004 that formed near the Windward Islands
and remained weak throughout its short lifespan. It crossed over the Lesser Antilles
on August 14 while a modest tropical storm, resulting in minor damage on several Caribbean
islands, including Grenada
. One person was killed by the storm and 19 others were listed as missing.
. Earl slowly became more organized, but moderate shear hindered the development and the low-level circulation remained poorly defined despite solid organization on satellite. It passed near Barbados
, Grenada
and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with winds just under tropical storm force in each of those areas.
At first, there was considerable attention placed on Earl, especially from Florida
which had just been devastated by Hurricane Charley
. Initial forecasts had indeed strengthened Earl to a formidable hurricane (over the same environment that allowed Charley to explode) and most models suggested that it would approach, if not hit, Florida (as well as Cuba
and Jamaica
), following a fairly similar path as Charley, although some other models disagreed. It was crossing the Lesser Antilles
at the time as a moderate tropical storm, where it reached peak intensity of 50 mph (85 km/h).
However, before Earl could get anywhere near the western Caribbean Sea
or the Gulf of Mexico
, it degenerated into an open wave late on August 15; losing its low-level circulation while maintaining 40 mph (65 km/h) winds and strong upper-level circulations. At that time, advisories were discontinued. The wave was never able to regain a low-level circulation over the Atlantic basin.
The poorly-defined remnants of Earl crossed the Caribbean Sea
and Central America
with little impact, and it reorganized into Hurricane Frank in the eastern Pacific Ocean
. It was the first crossover storm since Hurricane Cesar-Douglas
in the 1996 season
, but unlike Cesar-Douglas, Earl degenerated and then regenerated into Frank.
evacuated from low-lying areas to school
s set up as shelters. Shopkeepers boarded windows, while airports temporarily closed prior to the storm. Airports on Grenada and St. Vincent were temporarily closed due to the storm.
Initial forecasts predicted that Earl would strengthen considerably into a hurricane and head towards Florida
, which had already been impacted heavily by Hurricane Charley
. The local officials urged residents to exercise caution, but not panic due to the large errors in long-range forecasts.
, numerous trees and power lines were downed throughout the island, cutting power to 90% of the island. The highest wind gust recorded in relation to Earl was 49 mph (78.9 km/h) in St. Lucia. One person was killed by the storm and 19 others were listed as missing.
Following the storm, Grenada requested assistance from the United States Agency of International Development. Local crews worked quickly to cover broken roofs and repair other structural damage. The National Emergency Relief organization were sought for assistance.
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...
of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season
2004 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2004, and lasted until November 30, 2004. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
. It was a short-lived storm in mid-August 2004 that formed near the Windward Islands
Windward Islands
The Windward Islands are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies.-Name and geography:The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the...
and remained weak throughout its short lifespan. It crossed over the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
on August 14 while a modest tropical storm, resulting in minor damage on several Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
islands, including Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
. One person was killed by the storm and 19 others were listed as missing.
Meteorological history
The system that became Earl formed at an unusually low latitude (at around 8.9°N). It remained around 9°N latitude up to its formation on the evening of August 13, when it was declared Tropical Depression Five. The depression gradually organized while moving rapidly westward and became Tropical Storm Earl on the afternoon of August 14, east of the Windward IslandsWindward Islands
The Windward Islands are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies.-Name and geography:The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the...
. Earl slowly became more organized, but moderate shear hindered the development and the low-level circulation remained poorly defined despite solid organization on satellite. It passed near Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with winds just under tropical storm force in each of those areas.
At first, there was considerable attention placed on Earl, especially from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
which had just been devastated by Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
. Initial forecasts had indeed strengthened Earl to a formidable hurricane (over the same environment that allowed Charley to explode) and most models suggested that it would approach, if not hit, Florida (as well as Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
), following a fairly similar path as Charley, although some other models disagreed. It was crossing the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
at the time as a moderate tropical storm, where it reached peak intensity of 50 mph (85 km/h).
However, before Earl could get anywhere near the western Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
or the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, it degenerated into an open wave late on August 15; losing its low-level circulation while maintaining 40 mph (65 km/h) winds and strong upper-level circulations. At that time, advisories were discontinued. The wave was never able to regain a low-level circulation over the Atlantic basin.
The poorly-defined remnants of Earl crossed the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
with little impact, and it reorganized into Hurricane Frank in the eastern Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. It was the first crossover storm since Hurricane Cesar-Douglas
Hurricane Cesar-Douglas
Hurricane Cesar–Douglas was a devastating tropical cyclone that killed 122 people throughout Central and South America in late-July 1996. The Category 1 hurricane formed in late July in the Caribbean Sea and pounded Central America with rain, killing 67 people and causing local governments to deem...
in the 1996 season
1996 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1996 Atlantic hurricane season was the first season since 1965 in which all tropical cyclones reached tropical storm status. It officially began on June 1, 1996, and lasted until November 30, 1996...
, but unlike Cesar-Douglas, Earl degenerated and then regenerated into Frank.
Preparations
Several hundred people in GrenadaGrenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
evacuated from low-lying areas to school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s set up as shelters. Shopkeepers boarded windows, while airports temporarily closed prior to the storm. Airports on Grenada and St. Vincent were temporarily closed due to the storm.
Initial forecasts predicted that Earl would strengthen considerably into a hurricane and head towards Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, which had already been impacted heavily by Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
. The local officials urged residents to exercise caution, but not panic due to the large errors in long-range forecasts.
Impact and aftermath
In Grenada, Earl produced heavy rains and strong winds that caused moderate damage. On the main island, twelve homes had their roofs completely blown off while three others were partially damaged. Twelve trees and six power poles were also knocked down by the winds. The heavy rain triggered nine mudslides and three rockslides on the island. On the nearby sister island, six homes had their roofs completely blown off while thirteen others were damaged. Flooding was also reported on both islands; however, no known damage resulted from them. Several hundred people evacuated to shelters set up at local schools. During the storm, a nursing home had to be evacuated due to significant damage to the structure. On St Vincent and the Grenadines, at least two homes had their roofs blown off and banana crops sustained moderate damage. In TobagoTobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
, numerous trees and power lines were downed throughout the island, cutting power to 90% of the island. The highest wind gust recorded in relation to Earl was 49 mph (78.9 km/h) in St. Lucia. One person was killed by the storm and 19 others were listed as missing.
Following the storm, Grenada requested assistance from the United States Agency of International Development. Local crews worked quickly to cover broken roofs and repair other structural damage. The National Emergency Relief organization were sought for assistance.
See also
- Other storms of the same name
External links
- NHC's Tropical Cyclone Report on Tropical Storm Earl