Tropical Storm Nicole (2010)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Nicole was a short-lived and asymmetric tropical cyclone
that caused extensive damage in Jamaica
during the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season
. It was the sixteenth tropical cyclone and fourteenth named storm
of the season, as well as the last of a record eight tropical storms to form in September 2010. Originating from a monsoonal low, Nicole attained tropical depression status over the northwestern Caribbean Sea
on September 28. It maintained an unusual structure as it tracked northeastward, with a poorly-defined circulation and few thunderstorms near the center. Nicole crossed Cuba as a weak tropical storm, and subsequently dissipated near the Straits of Florida
. There, it eventually became absorbed by a separate extratropical system
.
Due to the atypical structure of Nicole, the strongest thundershowers were well removed from its center, with most of the activity occurring over the western Caribbean. In Jamaica
, the storm produced widespread power outages, which affected more than 300,000 residences. Extreme precipitation of up to 37.42 inches (940 mm) caused a flood disaster, damaging 474 houses and destroying 54. In all, Nicole wrought an estimated $238.6 million (2010 USD
) in damage, and there were thirteen confirmed fatalities on the island. Elsewhere, minor flooding occurred in Florida
, Cuba
, and the Cayman Islands
. The remnants of the storm contributed to a large disturbance along the East Coast of the United States
, causing additional damage and deaths.
of disorganized weather and low pressure associated with remnant tropical moisture
from Tropical Storm Matthew
tracked over the northwestern Caribbean
. With a broad upper ridge
anchored along the Yucatán
coast, diffluence aloft in its vicinity provided focus for scattered convection
. The National Hurricane Center
(NHC) noted an environment supportive of tropical development
, and by September 27 a broad surface low developed amid the convection. Over the subsequent day, regional surface pressures
began to drop as sustained wind
s around the low increased to near tropical storm force. Throughout the development process, moderate westerly shear
over the region caused the disturbance to exhibit a rather asymmetric structure; an elongated low-pressure center formed by September 28, well to the northwest of the strong windfield. Despite the asymmetry, the NHC initiated advisories on Tropical Depression Sixteen around 1500 UTC
that day, after surface
and satellite observation
s revealed a sufficiently defined circulation center and organized deep convection. However, post-season reassessments indicated a tropical storm had in fact formed three hours earlier. For most of its duration it continued a generally northeastward motion, located to the west of an anticyclone
and ahead of a large mid- to upper-level trough
.
Only hours after the storm's formation, a Hurricane Hunters
flight into the system observed a composition similar to the one initially discerned, with the deepest convection dislocated from the ill-defined center. In comparison, the core consisted of light winds and sporadic convection—a structure rather characteristic of a monsoon depression. Radar data
obtained the next day, however, showed convection deepening in the northern semicircle
of the storm; over time, bands of thunderstorms also developed closer to the center over the southeastern periphery. Furthermore, surface, buoy
and ship
observations indicated sustained tropical-storm-force winds. Based on these observations and the improved structure, the depression was operationally upgraded to Tropical Storm Nicole at 1500 UTC September 29 over central Cuba
, about 27 hours later than the estimated time of formation revealed by post-storm analysis.
Although the system was upgraded to tropical storm status, the winds around its core remained relatively weak. By 2100 UTC, the storm circulation became increasingly elongated and untrackable, prompting the NHC to discontinue advisories when Nicole was located about 165 mi (270 km) west of Nassau, Bahamas
. The remnant low subsequently began interacting with the neighboring trough as noted on water vapor imagery, resulting in significant amounts of precipitation along the southeastern US coastlines. Accelerating toward the northeast, it acquired frontal characteristics
and became extratropical
by 0600 UTC September 30, twelve hours prior to merging with a developing system located over eastern North Carolina.
, the northwestern and central Bahamas, and the Cuban provinces of Matanzas
, Cienfuegos
, Villa Clara
, Sancti Spíritus
, and Ciego de Ávila
. However, the warnings were all discontinued the following day after the storm was reported to have dissipated.
In Jamaica
, schools and some businesses closed on September 29 and 30 as emergency officials braced for heavy rains. A flash flood warning
remained in effect for flood-prone areas for four days; it was ultimately discontinued on October 3. After forecasters warned of severe weather, public schools closed in the Cayman Islands, and government workers from low-lying areas were promptly dismissed. Thunderstorms in Grand Cayman
forced Cayman Airways
to cancel all express flights to Cayman Brac
and Little Cayman
on October 29; weather-resistant jet service was provided to stranded passengers. Additionally, a marine warning was required for all three islands due to rough sea conditions.
, the Florida Bay
, and southward from the Jupiter Inlet to Cape Sable. A tropical storm watch was in place north from the Jupiter Inlet to the Sebastian Inlet and north of East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee. The warnings and watch were discontinued the next day, after direct impact was no longer expected. At the time, a flood watch was to remain in effect for Palm Beach
, Broward
, Miami-Dade
, Collier
, and Monroe
for at least 23 hours. An airport weather warning was issued for Orlando International Airport
and Executive Airport
on September 29; arriving flights were put on hold and pilots were told to divert to another airport if possible. At least eight Southwest Airlines
flights were diverted to airports in Tampa
and Jacksonville; one JetBlue flight was also diverted to West Palm Beach. Though airport officials later reported normalized conditions, an additional 26 flights were subsequently canceled at Miami International Airport
.
In Brunswick
and New Hanover
, North Carolina
, officials readied shelters on September 29 to accommodate stranded residents unable to access their homes. Multiple schools in New Hanover and Pender County
opted to remain closed the next day due to worsening storm conditions associated with the post-tropical disturbance succeeding Nicole. At the threat of prolonged rainfall, a flood watch was issued for Kent County
, Maryland
from September 30 to October 1. Also in the area, the National Weather Service
declared both a coastal flood advisory and wind advisory
on September 30.
from September 26 to 30. Subsequent flooding, landslides, and strong winds affected dozens of communities, and more than 300,000 residences lost power at the height of the storm. Extensive damage was reported to properties and infrastructure, and the agricultural section suffered additional losses. Surface runoff
s and spills from industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants resulted in some land pollution
, with scattered occurrences of coastal erosion and waste accumulation. Additionally, several areas sustained light damage to vegetation as evidenced by uprooted trees. The disaster affected an estimated 507,831 people; it resulted in a total of 13 deaths, injured more than 27 people, and displaced 114 others.
In Saint Andrew Parish
, a house next to a street gutter succumbed to the effects of the storm; five bodies were recovered near the site, while the final missing inhabitant was later presumed dead. Elsewhere in Saint Andrew, three construction workers were killed by a collapsed wall. A girl was crushed to death under the weight of a collapsed board house in Saint Catherine Parish. Three people drowned when swept away by rushing waters in different parts of the island. In the wake of the storm, a body was recovered from rubble along a road in Saint Catherine. Floods also trapped several residents in their homes, and hundreds of people were accommodated in public shelters. Nationwide, obstructed roads and severed bridges lead to the isolation of communities in seven different parishes.
By October 20, 2010, damage assessments had been performed for a total of 2,169 houses; at least 474 sustained severe damage, while 54 were beyond repair. Monetary losses totaled J$
274.3 million (US$3.2 million), of which an estimated J$75.6 million (US$890,000) was required to replace destroyed housing units. Some buildings lost their roofs when a waterspout
hit Westmoreland Parish's capital of Savanna-la-Mar
during the passage of the storm, hospitalizing four residents. Multiple bridges were affected, with several collapsing under the force of swollen rivers and creeks. In Kingston
, underpasses suffered severe flooding when storm water drains were overwhelmed. Consequent surface inundations caused extensive damage to several roads. In all, Nicole wrought approximately J$20 billion (US$235.4 million) in damage to road infrastructure across Jamaica.
. Some street inundation occurred in Miami Beach
and the northern Florida Keys, but damage was only reported to one local residence.
. The resultant disturbance produced torrential showers and thunderstorms over entire coastal regions and inland as far north as Canada
. In North Carolina
, Wilmington
received 22.54 inches (572.5 mm) of rain, the most it had received for a five-day period since 1871. Kinston
recorded a total of 15 in (380 mm) during the time, while other eastern North Carolina
communities experienced some degree of flooding. Up to 150 roads were preemptively closed due to the flooding, though all of seven deaths in the state occurred in traffic accidents. In New York
, similar heavy rainfall totaling up to 8 inches (200 mm) and associated flash floods resulted in one fatality, as well as an estimated US$10,000 worth of damage. Major flooding also occurred in Vermont
, and up to 10.5 in (265 mm) of precipitation fell over a 24-hour span in Moscow, Pennsylvania
. Further north, the remnant low enhanced a pressure gradient
over the southern New England
region, generating strong winds. Power outages were reported in Litchfield
due to the winds, and rainfall caused minor flooding in the area. Despite the deaths and damage, the rains alleviated prolonged drought conditions in those regions.
's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
provided US$50,000 for the local purchase and delivery of emergency relief supplies, as well as that of fuel for emergency vehicles. Approximately J$4 million (US$46,800) was donated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
to the Greenhouse Growers Association for the repair of greenhouses. In conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organization
, an estimated total of J$12 million (US$140,400) was made available to initiate the planting of some 50,000 crop seedlings. In addition to financial assistance, the Veterinary Division dispatched animal technicians to provide prophylactic medication and vitamins to avert foot rot
disease to small ruminant
s, including goats and sheep. The cost of the medication was estimated at J$2 million (US$23,400). The Banana Board's Catastrophe Fund, which at the time comprised J$50 million (US$585,000), was to deliver both monetary support and human resources to local banana and plantain
farmers.
Eleven days after the storm, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
allocated CHF
150,644 (US$156,221) from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support the Jamaica Red Cross in delivering assistance to about 500 families—or 2,500 beneficiaries—in need of life supplies. Three months after impact in late December, the Jamaica–Canadian Association in Toronto, Canada raised a total of CDN$
10,153.87 (US$10,221.33) in relief funds to assist flood victims. The Hanover Parish
Council requested J$30 million (US$351,000) to assist the Saint James Parish
Council and other municipal authorities across the country in post-storm clean-up and beautification work. At least J$279 million (US$3.26 million) was approved for the rehabilitation of a major roadway section in Westmoreland Parish
.
In spite of timely relief attempts, the effects of Nicole were still felt for months in its wake. Since Jamaica had been suffering from a substantially slow economic growth rate
, its gross domestic product
further declined due to the extensive storm damage. Additionally, the agriculture sector sustained slight losses from reduced egg production due to the traumatizing effects on farm chickens, and the storm's impact contributed to below-standard levels of holiday season consumption.
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...
that caused extensive damage in 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...
during the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season
2010 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, tying with the 1887 Atlantic hurricane season, 1995 Atlantic hurricane season and the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. It had the most number of named storms since the 2005 season and also ties with the...
. It was the sixteenth tropical cyclone and fourteenth named storm
Tropical cyclone naming
Tropical cyclones have officially been named since 1945 and are named for a variety of reasons, which include to facilitate communications between forecasters and the public when forecasts, watches, and warnings are issued. Names also reduce confusion about what storm is being described, as more...
of the season, as well as the last of a record eight tropical storms to form in September 2010. Originating from a monsoonal low, Nicole attained tropical depression status over the northwestern 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....
on September 28. It maintained an unusual structure as it tracked northeastward, with a poorly-defined circulation and few thunderstorms near the center. Nicole crossed Cuba as a weak tropical storm, and subsequently dissipated near the Straits of Florida
Straits of Florida
The Straits of Florida, Florida Straits, or Florida Strait is a strait located south-southeast of the North American mainland, generally accepted to be between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, and between the Florida Keys and Cuba. The strait carries the Florida Current, the beginning of...
. There, it eventually became absorbed by a separate extratropical 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...
.
Due to the atypical structure of Nicole, the strongest thundershowers were well removed from its center, with most of the activity occurring over the western Caribbean. In 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...
, the storm produced widespread power outages, which affected more than 300,000 residences. Extreme precipitation of up to 37.42 inches (940 mm) caused a flood disaster, damaging 474 houses and destroying 54. In all, Nicole wrought an estimated $238.6 million (2010 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in damage, and there were thirteen confirmed fatalities on the island. Elsewhere, minor flooding occurred in 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...
, 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 the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
. The remnants of the storm contributed to a large disturbance along the East Coast of the United States
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
, causing additional damage and deaths.
Meteorological history
In late September, a wide bandRainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
of disorganized weather and low pressure associated with remnant tropical moisture
Moisture
Humidity is the amount of moisture the air can hold before it rains. Moisture refers to the presence of a liquid, especially water, often in trace amounts...
from Tropical Storm Matthew
Tropical Storm Matthew (2010)
Tropical Storm Matthew was the fourth tropical cyclone to make landfall in Central America during the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. Matthew, despite being a tropical storm, proved to be destructive. The fifteenth tropical cyclone and thirteenth named storm of the year, Matthew formed on...
tracked over the northwestern 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...
. With a broad upper ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
anchored along the Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
coast, diffluence aloft in its vicinity provided focus for scattered convection
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
. The National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
(NHC) noted an environment supportive of tropical development
Tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis is the term that describes the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which mid-latitude cyclogenesis occurs...
, and by September 27 a broad surface low developed amid the convection. Over the subsequent day, regional surface pressures
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
began to drop as sustained wind
Maximum sustained wind
The maximum sustained winds associated with a tropical cyclone are a common indicator of the intensity of the storm. Within a mature tropical cyclone, they are found within the eyewall at a distance defined as the radius of maximum wind, or RMW. Unlike gusts, the value of these winds are...
s around the low increased to near tropical storm force. Throughout the development process, moderate westerly 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...
over the region caused the disturbance to exhibit a rather asymmetric structure; an elongated low-pressure center formed by September 28, well to the northwest of the strong windfield. Despite the asymmetry, the NHC initiated advisories on Tropical Depression Sixteen around 1500 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
that day, after surface
Surface weather analysis
Surface weather analysis is a special type of weather map that provides a view of weather elements over a geographical area at a specified time based on information from ground-based weather stations...
and satellite observation
Weather satellite
The weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of the Earth every 12 hours, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while...
s revealed a sufficiently defined circulation center and organized deep convection. However, post-season reassessments indicated a tropical storm had in fact formed three hours earlier. For most of its duration it continued a generally northeastward motion, located to the west of an anticyclone
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
and ahead of a large mid- to upper-level 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...
.
Only hours after the storm's formation, a Hurricane Hunters
Hurricane Hunters
The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in...
flight into the system observed a composition similar to the one initially discerned, with the deepest convection dislocated from the ill-defined center. In comparison, the core consisted of light winds and sporadic convection—a structure rather characteristic of a monsoon depression. Radar data
Weather radar
Weather radar, also called weather surveillance radar and Doppler weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, estimate its type . Modern weather radars are mostly pulse-Doppler radars, capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets in addition to the...
obtained the next day, however, showed convection deepening in the northern semicircle
Semicircle
In mathematics , a semicircle is a two-dimensional geometric shape that forms half of a circle. Being half of a circle's 360°, the arc of a semicircle always measures 180° or a half turn...
of the storm; over time, bands of thunderstorms also developed closer to the center over the southeastern periphery. Furthermore, surface, 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...
and ship
Weather ship
A weather ship was a ship stationed in the ocean as a platform for surface and upper air meteorological observations for use in weather forecasting. They were primarily located in the north Atlantic and north Pacific oceans, reporting via radio...
observations indicated sustained tropical-storm-force winds. Based on these observations and the improved structure, the depression was operationally upgraded to Tropical Storm Nicole at 1500 UTC September 29 over central 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...
, about 27 hours later than the estimated time of formation revealed by post-storm analysis.
Although the system was upgraded to tropical storm status, the winds around its core remained relatively weak. By 2100 UTC, the storm circulation became increasingly elongated and untrackable, prompting the NHC to discontinue advisories when Nicole was located about 165 mi (270 km) west of Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
. The remnant low subsequently began interacting with the neighboring trough as noted on water vapor imagery, resulting in significant amounts of precipitation along the southeastern US coastlines. Accelerating toward the northeast, it acquired frontal characteristics
Weather front
A weather front is a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities, and is the principal cause of meteorological phenomena. In surface weather analyses, fronts are depicted using various colored lines and symbols, depending on the type of front...
and became 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...
by 0600 UTC September 30, twelve hours prior to merging with a developing system located over eastern North Carolina.
Caribbean
In anticipation of a tropical storm, warnings were issued on September 28 for the Cayman IslandsCayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
, the northwestern and central Bahamas, and the Cuban provinces of Matanzas
Matanzas Province
Matanzas is one of the provinces of Cuba. Major towns in the province include Cárdenas, Colón, Jovellanos and the capital of the same name, Matanzas...
, Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos Province
Cienfuegos is one of the provinces of Cuba. The capital city of the province is also called Cienfuegos and was founded by French settlers in 1819....
, Villa Clara
Villa Clara Province
Villa Clara is one of the provinces of Cuba. It is located in the central region of the island bordering with the Atlantic at north, Matanzas Province by west, Sancti Spiritus by east, and Cienfuegos on the South. Villa Clara shares with Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus on the south the Escambray...
, Sancti Spíritus
Sancti Spíritus Province
Sancti Spíritus is one of the provinces of Cuba. Its capital is the identically named Sancti Spíritus. Another major city is Trinidad.The southern coast of the province is flat, but the western portion of Sancti Spíritus province is mountainous. The southeast has numerous mangroves and swamps...
, and Ciego de Ávila
Ciego de Ávila Province
Ciego de Ávila is one of the provinces of Cuba, and was previously part of Camagüey Province. Its capital is Ciego de Ávila, which lies on the Carretera Central , and the second city is Morón, further north....
. However, the warnings were all discontinued the following day after the storm was reported to have dissipated.
In 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...
, schools and some businesses closed on September 29 and 30 as emergency officials braced for heavy rains. A flash flood warning
Flash Flood Warning
A Flash Flood Warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring in the warned area. A flash flood is a sudden, violent flood after a heavy rain...
remained in effect for flood-prone areas for four days; it was ultimately discontinued on October 3. After forecasters warned of severe weather, public schools closed in the Cayman Islands, and government workers from low-lying areas were promptly dismissed. Thunderstorms in Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
forced Cayman Airways
Cayman Airways
Cayman Airways is the national flag carrier of the Cayman Islands. With its head office in Grand Cayman, it operates mainly as an international and domestic scheduled passenger carrier, with cargo services available on all routes...
to cancel all express flights to Cayman Brac
Cayman Brac
Cayman Brac is an island that is part of the Cayman Islands. It lies in the Caribbean Sea about 90 miles northeast of Grand Cayman and 5 miles east of Little Cayman. It is about 12 miles long, with an average width of 1 mile...
and Little Cayman
Little Cayman
Little Cayman is an island that is part of the Cayman Islands. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, about 75 miles northeast of Grand Cayman and five miles west of Cayman Brac. Little Cayman has a permanent population of less than 170 and is about 10 miles long with an average width of 1 mile...
on October 29; weather-resistant jet service was provided to stranded passengers. Additionally, a marine warning was required for all three islands due to rough sea conditions.
United States
Tropical storm warnings were issued for the Florida KeysFlorida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
, the Florida Bay
Florida Bay
Florida Bay is the bay located between the southern end of the Florida mainland and the Florida Keys. Its area is variously stated to be , or , or . Nearly all of Florida Bay is included in Everglades National Park. The southern edge, along the Florida Keys is in the Florida Keys National Marine...
, and southward from the Jupiter Inlet to Cape Sable. A tropical storm watch was in place north from the Jupiter Inlet to the Sebastian Inlet and north of East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee. The warnings and watch were discontinued the next day, after direct impact was no longer expected. At the time, a flood watch was to remain in effect for Palm Beach
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...
, Broward
Broward County, Florida
-2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile...
, Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
, Collier
Collier County, Florida
Collier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 251,377. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 315,839...
, and Monroe
Monroe County, Florida
Monroe County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 79,589. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 74,737....
for at least 23 hours. An airport weather warning was issued for Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
and Executive Airport
Orlando Executive Airport
Orlando Executive Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of Orlando, a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is owned by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority...
on September 29; arriving flights were put on hold and pilots were told to divert to another airport if possible. At least eight Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
flights were diverted to airports in Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
and Jacksonville; one JetBlue flight was also diverted to West Palm Beach. Though airport officials later reported normalized conditions, an additional 26 flights were subsequently canceled at Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
.
In Brunswick
Brunswick County, North Carolina
-External links:*******....
and New Hanover
New Hanover County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 160,307 people, 68,183 households, and 41,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 806 people per square mile . There were 79,616 housing units at an average density of 400 per square mile...
, 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...
, officials readied shelters on September 29 to accommodate stranded residents unable to access their homes. Multiple schools in New Hanover and Pender County
Pender County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 41,082 people, 16,054 households, and 11,719 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 20,798 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
opted to remain closed the next day due to worsening storm conditions associated with the post-tropical disturbance succeeding Nicole. At the threat of prolonged rainfall, a flood watch was issued for Kent County
Kent County, Maryland
Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. It was named for the county of Kent in England. Its county seat is Chestertown. In 2010, the county population was 20,197...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
from September 30 to October 1. Also in the area, 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...
declared both a coastal flood advisory and wind advisory
Gale warning
A gale warning is a warning issued by weather services in maritime locations about the existence of winds of gale force or above or the imminent occurrence of gales at sea...
on September 30.
Jamaica
For several days, Nicole and its precursor disturbance brought great amounts of rainfall to much of Jamaica; a maximum total of 37.42 inches (940 mm) was recorded in Belleisle, Westmoreland ParishWestmoreland Parish, Jamaica
Westmoreland is the westernmost parish in Jamaica, located on the south side of the island. It is situated to the south of Hanover, the southwest of Saint James, and the northwest of Saint Elizabeth, in the county of Cornwall. The chief town and capital is Savanna-la-Mar...
from September 26 to 30. Subsequent flooding, landslides, and strong winds affected dozens of communities, and more than 300,000 residences lost power at the height of the storm. Extensive damage was reported to properties and infrastructure, and the agricultural section suffered additional losses. Surface runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
s and spills from industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants resulted in some land pollution
Land pollution
Land pollution is the degradation of Earth's land surfaces often caused by human activities and their misuse of land resources. It occurs when waste is not disposed properly. Health hazard disposal of urban and industrial wastes, exploitation of minerals, and improper use of soil by inadequate...
, with scattered occurrences of coastal erosion and waste accumulation. Additionally, several areas sustained light damage to vegetation as evidenced by uprooted trees. The disaster affected an estimated 507,831 people; it resulted in a total of 13 deaths, injured more than 27 people, and displaced 114 others.
In Saint Andrew Parish
Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica
Saint Andrew is a parish, situated in the southeast of Jamaica in the county of Surrey. It lies north, west and east of Kingston, and stretches into the Blue Mountains and at the 2001 census had the highest population of all the parishes in Jamaica. The Right Excellent George William Gordon Saint...
, a house next to a street gutter succumbed to the effects of the storm; five bodies were recovered near the site, while the final missing inhabitant was later presumed dead. Elsewhere in Saint Andrew, three construction workers were killed by a collapsed wall. A girl was crushed to death under the weight of a collapsed board house in Saint Catherine Parish. Three people drowned when swept away by rushing waters in different parts of the island. In the wake of the storm, a body was recovered from rubble along a road in Saint Catherine. Floods also trapped several residents in their homes, and hundreds of people were accommodated in public shelters. Nationwide, obstructed roads and severed bridges lead to the isolation of communities in seven different parishes.
By October 20, 2010, damage assessments had been performed for a total of 2,169 houses; at least 474 sustained severe damage, while 54 were beyond repair. Monetary losses totaled J$
Jamaican dollar
The dollar has been the currency of Jamaica since 1969. It is often abbreviated "J$", the J serving to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is divided into 100 cents.-History:...
274.3 million (US$3.2 million), of which an estimated J$75.6 million (US$890,000) was required to replace destroyed housing units. Some buildings lost their roofs when a waterspout
Waterspout
A waterspout is an intense columnar vortex that occurs over a body of water and is connected to a cumuliform cloud. In the common form, it is a non-supercell tornado over water. While it is often weaker than most of its land counterparts, stronger versions spawned by mesocyclones do occur...
hit Westmoreland Parish's capital of Savanna-la-Mar
Savanna-la-Mar
Savanna-la-Mar is the chief town and capital of Westmoreland parish, Jamaica.It is a coastal town and contains a fort, constructed in the 18th century for defence against pirates....
during the passage of the storm, hospitalizing four residents. Multiple bridges were affected, with several collapsing under the force of swollen rivers and creeks. In Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, underpasses suffered severe flooding when storm water drains were overwhelmed. Consequent surface inundations caused extensive damage to several roads. In all, Nicole wrought approximately J$20 billion (US$235.4 million) in damage to road infrastructure across Jamaica.
Elsewhere
Intermittent torrents affected roads across central and eastern Cuba without occurrences of significant damage. Local precipitation accumulations peaked at 9.22 inches (235 mm) in Cabo Cruz, with gale-force winds reported in the area. Similarly, widespread flooding resulted in minor disruptions throughout the Cayman Islands, but damage to the area was limited. Despite initial threats of heavy thunderstorms and strong gusts, Florida was spared from direct impact. Upon approaching, the storm only skirted the state with moderate showers; localized maximum rainfall totals of 12.71 inches (323 mm) were recorded at North Key LargoNorth Key Largo, Florida
North Key Largo is a census-designated place in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,049 at the 2000 census.-Geography:North Key Largo is located at ....
. Some street inundation occurred in Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
and the northern Florida Keys, but damage was only reported to one local residence.
Post-tropical system
The extratropical remnants of Nicole retained plenty of moisture, and ultimately combined with a large low-pressure system tracking up the US East CoastEast Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. The resultant disturbance produced torrential showers and thunderstorms over entire coastal regions and inland as far north as 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...
. In 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...
, Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
received 22.54 inches (572.5 mm) of rain, the most it had received for a five-day period since 1871. Kinston
Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
recorded a total of 15 in (380 mm) during the time, while other eastern North Carolina
Eastern North Carolina
Eastern North Carolina is the region encompassing the eastern tier of North Carolina. It is known geographically as the state's Coastal Plain region. Primary subregions of Eastern North Carolina include the Fayetteville Metropolitan Area, the Lower Cape Fear , the Sandhills, the Inner Banks and...
communities experienced some degree of flooding. Up to 150 roads were preemptively closed due to the flooding, though all of seven deaths in the state occurred in traffic accidents. In New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, similar heavy rainfall totaling up to 8 inches (200 mm) and associated flash floods resulted in one fatality, as well as an estimated US$10,000 worth of damage. Major flooding also occurred in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, and up to 10.5 in (265 mm) of precipitation fell over a 24-hour span in Moscow, Pennsylvania
Moscow, Pennsylvania
Moscow is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,026 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Moscow is located at ....
. Further north, the remnant low enhanced a pressure gradient
Pressure gradient
In atmospheric sciences , the pressure gradient is a physical quantity that describes in which direction and at what rate the pressure changes the most rapidly around a particular location. The pressure gradient is a dimensional quantity expressed in units of pressure per unit length...
over the southern 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...
region, generating strong winds. Power outages were reported in Litchfield
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
due to the winds, and rainfall caused minor flooding in the area. Despite the deaths and damage, the rains alleviated prolonged drought conditions in those regions.
Aftermath
On October 5, a national disaster was declared for Jamaica due to the effects of Nicole. In response, the USAIDUnited States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance is an organizational unit within the U.S. Agency for International Development that has delegated responsible for directing and coordinating U.S. Government relief assistance overseas. Within USAID, OFDA resides within Bureau of Democracy, Conflict,...
provided US$50,000 for the local purchase and delivery of emergency relief supplies, as well as that of fuel for emergency vehicles. Approximately J$4 million (US$46,800) was donated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Agriculture ministry
An agriculture ministry or department of agriculture is a ministry or other government agency charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister for agriculture....
to the Greenhouse Growers Association for the repair of greenhouses. In conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
, an estimated total of J$12 million (US$140,400) was made available to initiate the planting of some 50,000 crop seedlings. In addition to financial assistance, the Veterinary Division dispatched animal technicians to provide prophylactic medication and vitamins to avert foot rot
Foot rot
Foot rot, or infectious pododermatitis, is a hoof infection commonly found in sheep, goats, and cattle. As the name suggests, it rots away the foot of the animal, more specifically the area between the two toes of the affected animal. It is extremely painful and contagious. It can be treated with...
disease to small ruminant
Ruminant
A ruminant is a mammal of the order Artiodactyla that digests plant-based food by initially softening it within the animal's first compartment of the stomach, principally through bacterial actions, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, now known as cud, and chewing it again...
s, including goats and sheep. The cost of the medication was estimated at J$2 million (US$23,400). The Banana Board's Catastrophe Fund, which at the time comprised J$50 million (US$585,000), was to deliver both monetary support and human resources to local banana and plantain
Plantain
Plantain is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa. The fruit they produce is generally used for cooking, in contrast to the soft, sweet banana...
farmers.
Eleven days after the storm, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is a humanitarian institution that is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the ICRC and 186 distinct National Societies...
allocated CHF
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
150,644 (US$156,221) from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support the Jamaica Red Cross in delivering assistance to about 500 families—or 2,500 beneficiaries—in need of life supplies. Three months after impact in late December, the Jamaica–Canadian Association in Toronto, Canada raised a total of CDN$
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
10,153.87 (US$10,221.33) in relief funds to assist flood victims. The Hanover Parish
Hanover Parish, Jamaica
Hanover , is a parish located on the northwestern tip of the island of Jamaica. It is a part of the county of Cornwall, bordered by St. James in the east, and Westmoreland in the south. With the exception of Kingston, it is the smallest parish on the island...
Council requested J$30 million (US$351,000) to assist the Saint James Parish
Saint James Parish, Jamaica
St James is a suburban parish, located on the north west end of the island of Jamaica. Its capital, Montego Bay, derived from the Spanish word Manteca because many wild hogs were found there from which they made lard. It was named publicly the second city of Jamaica, behind Kingston, in 1981....
Council and other municipal authorities across the country in post-storm clean-up and beautification work. At least J$279 million (US$3.26 million) was approved for the rehabilitation of a major roadway section in Westmoreland Parish
Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica
Westmoreland is the westernmost parish in Jamaica, located on the south side of the island. It is situated to the south of Hanover, the southwest of Saint James, and the northwest of Saint Elizabeth, in the county of Cornwall. The chief town and capital is Savanna-la-Mar...
.
In spite of timely relief attempts, the effects of Nicole were still felt for months in its wake. Since Jamaica had been suffering from a substantially slow economic growth rate
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
, its gross domestic product
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
further declined due to the extensive storm damage. Additionally, the agriculture sector sustained slight losses from reduced egg production due to the traumatizing effects on farm chickens, and the storm's impact contributed to below-standard levels of holiday season consumption.
See also
- 2010 Atlantic hurricane season2010 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, tying with the 1887 Atlantic hurricane season, 1995 Atlantic hurricane season and the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. It had the most number of named storms since the 2005 season and also ties with the...
- Monsoon troughMonsoon troughThe monsoon trough is that portion of the Intertropical Convergence Zone which extends into or through a monsoon circulation, as depicted by a line on a weather map showing the locations of minimum sea level pressure, and as such, is a convergence zone between the wind patterns of the southern and...
External links
- The NHCNational Hurricane CenterThe National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
's Tropical Cyclone Report on Tropical Storm Nicole - The NHCNational Hurricane CenterThe National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
's advisory archive on Tropical Storm Nicole - The HPCHydrometeorological Prediction CenterThe Hydrometeorological Prediction Center is one of nine service centers under the umbrella of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction , a part of the National Weather Service, which in turn is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. government...
's rainfall page on Tropical Storm Nicole