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Tropical Storm Hermine (2004)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Hermine was a moderate tropical storm that made landfall in southeastern Massachusetts
. The eighth tropical cyclone and named storm of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season
, it formed from the same frontal zone over the western Atlantic that spawned Hurricane Gaston
. Hermine remained weak and disorganized for its entire existence, peaking with winds of 60 mph (96.6 km/h). The storm began to weaken as it tracked northward, and made landfall in southern Massachusetts on August 31. Hermine had minimal effects, mostly limited to gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall. As the extratropical remnants progressed northward, moderate rain fell in parts of New Brunswick
, resulting in minor basement flooding and road closures.
. Satellite imagery indicated that cloudiness began to develop to the south of Bermuda
on August 25. The next day, the activity separated from the front and began to show cyclonic turning. A weak surface circulation soon developed; it is estimated that the disturbance formed into a tropical depression at 1800 UTC on August 27. After fluctuations in intensity of the associated convection, the depression tracked west-northwestward, and was named Tropical Storm Hermine on August 29.
Initially, due to wind shear
, the center of circulation was located to the north of the area of convection. Despite this, the shear was not strong enough to prevent additional intensification, and Hermine attained peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1002 mb on August 30. The storm began to turn towards the north under the steering currents of a subtropical ridge. By midday on August 30, the low-level center had become entirely exposed from the cloud pattern, and the convection remained disorganized. Hermine continued northward, weakening due to increased wind shear caused by nearby Gaston.
As the cyclone approached landfall in southern Massachusetts
, the circulation became devoid of any thunderstorm activity, leaving a resemblance of a low-level swirl of clouds. However, a buoy
reported sustained winds of 35 mph (56.3 km/h), thus keeping the storm at tropical storm status. Early on August 31, Hermine came ashore near New Bedford, Massachusetts
, as a minimal tropical storm. It progressed northward, and rapidly weakened while becoming extratropical
. The remnants were absorbed by a frontal zone later that same day.
to Plymouth. The advisory was discontinued at 0900 UTC on August 31. Though no wind damage was reported on land, the storm produced tropical storm-force winds and a few bands of heavy rain in eastern Massachusetts. Rainfall in Cape Cod
was generally less than 0.05 in (1.3 mm); because Tropical Storm Gaston passed through the area shortly after Hermine, differentiating the rainfall amounts between the two storms was difficult.
As the storm's remnants tracked northward into the Bay of Fundy
, locally heavy rainfall occurred in parts of New Brunswick
, peaking at around 55 mm (2.2 in). In Moncton, New Brunswick
, minor basement flooding and street closures were reported. Overall, no fatalities or known damages occurred.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The eighth tropical cyclone and named storm 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 formed from the same frontal zone over the western Atlantic that spawned Hurricane Gaston
Hurricane Gaston (2004)
Hurricane Gaston was a minimal hurricane that made landfall in South Carolina on August 29, 2004. It then crossed North Carolina and Virginia before exiting to the northeast and dissipating. The storm killed nine people — eight of them directly — and caused $130 million in damage....
. Hermine remained weak and disorganized for its entire existence, peaking with winds of 60 mph (96.6 km/h). The storm began to weaken as it tracked northward, and made landfall in southern Massachusetts on August 31. Hermine had minimal effects, mostly limited to gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall. As the extratropical remnants progressed northward, moderate rain fell in parts of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, resulting in minor basement flooding and road closures.
Meteorological history
Hermine's origins can be traced back to the same nearly stationary frontal zone over the subtropical Atlantic that spawned Hurricane GastonHurricane Gaston (2004)
Hurricane Gaston was a minimal hurricane that made landfall in South Carolina on August 29, 2004. It then crossed North Carolina and Virginia before exiting to the northeast and dissipating. The storm killed nine people — eight of them directly — and caused $130 million in damage....
. Satellite imagery indicated that cloudiness began to develop to the south of 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...
on August 25. The next day, the activity separated from the front and began to show cyclonic turning. A weak surface circulation soon developed; it is estimated that the disturbance formed into a tropical depression at 1800 UTC on August 27. After fluctuations in intensity of the associated convection, the depression tracked west-northwestward, and was named Tropical Storm Hermine on August 29.
Initially, due to 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...
, the center of circulation was located to the north of the area of convection. Despite this, the shear was not strong enough to prevent additional intensification, and Hermine attained peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1002 mb on August 30. The storm began to turn towards the north under the steering currents of a subtropical ridge. By midday on August 30, the low-level center had become entirely exposed from the cloud pattern, and the convection remained disorganized. Hermine continued northward, weakening due to increased wind shear caused by nearby Gaston.
As the cyclone approached landfall in southern Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, the circulation became devoid of any thunderstorm activity, leaving a resemblance of a low-level swirl of clouds. However, a buoy
Weather buoy
Weather buoys are instruments which collect weather and ocean data within the world's oceans, as well as aiding during emergency response to chemical spills, legal proceedings, and engineering design. Moored buoys have been in used since 1951, while drifting buoys have been used since 1979...
reported sustained winds of 35 mph (56.3 km/h), thus keeping the storm at tropical storm status. Early on August 31, Hermine came ashore near New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, as a minimal tropical storm. It progressed northward, and rapidly weakened while becoming 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...
. The remnants were absorbed by a frontal zone later that same day.
Impact
At 1700 UTC on August 30, a tropical storm warning was issued for southeastern Massachusetts from Woods HoleWoods Hole, Massachusetts
Woods Hole is a census-designated place in the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod, near Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands...
to Plymouth. The advisory was discontinued at 0900 UTC on August 31. Though no wind damage was reported on land, the storm produced tropical storm-force winds and a few bands of heavy rain in eastern Massachusetts. Rainfall in Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
was generally less than 0.05 in (1.3 mm); because Tropical Storm Gaston passed through the area shortly after Hermine, differentiating the rainfall amounts between the two storms was difficult.
As the storm's remnants tracked northward into the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
, locally heavy rainfall occurred in parts of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, peaking at around 55 mm (2.2 in). In Moncton, New Brunswick
Moncton, New Brunswick
Moncton is a Canadian city, located in Westmorland County, New Brunswick. The city is situated in southeastern New Brunswick, within the Petitcodiac River Valley, and lies at the geographic centre of the Maritime Provinces...
, minor basement flooding and street closures were reported. Overall, no fatalities or known damages occurred.
See also
- Other storms of the same name
- List of New England hurricanes