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Hurricane Irene (2005)

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This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. For other storms of the same name, seeList of storms named Irene.
Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Irene approaching peak intensity on August 15
Meteorological history
FormedAugust 4, 2005
DissipatedAugust 18, 2005
Category 2 hurricane
1-minute sustained(SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds105 mph (165 km/h)
Lowest pressure970mbar(hPa); 28.64inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities1 direct
DamageNone
Areas affectedEast Coast of the United States
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the2005 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Irenewas a long-livedCape Verde hurricaneduring the2005 Atlantic hurricane season.The storm formed nearCape Verdeon August 4 and crossed theAtlantic,turning northward aroundBermudabefore being absorbed by anextratropical cyclonewhile situated southeast ofNewfoundland.Irene proved to be a difficult storm to forecast due to oscillations in strength. After almost dissipating on August 10, Irene peaked as aCategory 2 hurricaneon August 16. Irene persisted for 14 days as atropical system,the longest duration of any storm of the 2005 season. It was the ninth named storm and fourth hurricane of the record-breaking season.

Although there were initial fears of alandfallin theUnited Statesdue to uncertainty in predicting the storm's track, Hurricane Irene never approached land and caused no recorded damage; however,swellsup to 8 ft (2.4 m) and strongrip currentsresulted in one fatality inLong Beach, New York.

Meteorological history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Storm type
triangleExtratropical cyclone,remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Hurricane Irene began as a Cape Verde storm. A vigoroustropical wavemoved off the west coast ofAfricaon August 1, initially weakening due to coolersea surface temperatures.It moved westward and passed nearCape Verde,whereconvectionstarted to increase. The system subsequently developed into a tropical depression on the afternoon of August 4, 690 miles (1100 km) southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.[1]Early on August 5, the depression abruptly turned to the northwest into an area of higherwind shear,causing some computer models to predict that the depression would dissipate, while others predicted steady strengthening. The sudden threat to the storm's existence promptedNational Hurricane Center(NHC) forecasterLixion Avilato comment, "How little we know about the genesis of tropical cyclones."[2]Despite the unfavorable conditions in its vicinity and its poor organization, Tropical Depression Nine continued to strengthen, becoming Tropical Storm Irene on August 7,[1]the earliest formation date for the ninth storm in the Atlantic basin at the time, beating the previous record held by a storm in the1936 seasonby 13 days. (This record stood until surpassed byHurricane Isaiasin2020.)[3]

Because Irene was in an environment laden with dry air and high shear, it soon weakened to a tropical depression, on August 8.[1]On the morning of August 10, as it was passing north of theLesser Antilles,Irene nearly dissipated into a remnant low, but forecasters predicted with "very low confidence" that the storm would survive.[4]Contrary to these expectations, warmer waters and less wind shear allowed Irene to become gradually more organized while south ofBermuda,and it became a tropical storm once again early on August 11.[1]

Tropical Storm Irene off the United States East Coast on August 14

Due to uncertainties about how the region'ssubtropical ridgewould interact with Irene, the models continued to give unclear signals of the storm's future. Some of the models predicted that Irene would makelandfallinNorth Carolina,while others continued to anticipate that Irene would dissipate.[5]The uncertainty ended when a weakness in the subtropical ridge allowed Irene to turn sharply northward, which caused the storm to pass midway between theOuter Banksof North Carolina and Bermuda on August 15. Soon after, upper-level shear weakened greatly, and Irene rapidly intensified, first to a hurricane, then to its peak strength as a 105 mph (170 km/h)Category 2 hurricaneon the afternoon of August 16, while located 350 miles (560 km) northeast of Bermuda; at the same time it also attained minimum pressure of 970mbar.[1]Though NHC meteorologists thought it was likely that Irene would become a hurricane, they were not expecting an intensification of such a magnitude.[6]

Irene entered a region of increased wind shear and began to weaken, and as a result it was downgraded to a tropical storm early on August 18, when it was 520 miles (830 km) south ofCape Race,Newfoundland.All convection within 230 mi (370 km) of the cyclone dissipated on August 18. Irene was subsequently absorbed by anextratropical cyclonelater that day.[1]Irene lasted for 14 days as a tropical system, the longest duration of any storm of the 2005 season.[3]

Impact

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As Hurricane Irene stayed well away from land, no coastalwarnings or watcheswere issued for it. Despite Irene's long life there were no reports of tropical storm force winds affecting ships. There was no damage as a result of Irene.[1]

However, the hurricane generated strong waves and increased the risk of rip currents along theEast Coast of the United States.Many beaches inNew Jerseyrestricted swimming activities, andlifeguardsat one beach performed more than a hundred rescues over a three-day period.[7]Waves along the coastline of New York reached 4 to 8 ft (1.2 to 2.4 m). A 16-year-old boy drowned after being caught in a rip current nearLong Beach, New Yorkon August 14.[8][9]His body was recovered on August 16 after washing ashore.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdefg"Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irene"(PDF).National Hurricane Center;National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedApril 24,2006.
  2. ^"Discussion for Tropical Depression Nine, 11:00 a.m. EDT, August 05 2005".National Hurricane Center;National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Archivedfrom the original on September 11, 2005.RetrievedApril 24,2006.
  3. ^ab"Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)"(Database). United StatesNational Hurricane Center.April 5, 2023.RetrievedOctober 1,2024.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  4. ^"Discussion for Tropical Storm Irene, 5:00 a.m. EDT, August 10, 2005".National Hurricane Center;National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Archivedfrom the original on September 9, 2005.RetrievedApril 24,2006.
  5. ^"Discussion for Tropical Storm Irene, 11:00 a.m. EDT, August 11, 2005".National Hurricane Center;National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Archivedfrom the original on September 11, 2005.RetrievedApril 28,2006.
  6. ^"Discussion for Tropical Storm Irene, 5:00 p.m. EDT, August 14, 2005".National Hurricane Center;National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Archivedfrom the original on September 11, 2005.RetrievedApril 24,2006.
  7. ^"Hurricane Irene Affecting Jersey Shore".WPVI-TV.Associated Press.August 16, 2005. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-09-02.RetrievedMay 10,2006.
  8. ^abRichard Weir and Michael White (August 16, 2005)."Lost Boy's Body Found On Shore".New York Daily News.Archivedfrom the original on April 9, 2014.RetrievedDecember 29,2009.
  9. ^"NCDC Event Report: New York Rip Current".National Climatic Data Center.2005. Archived fromthe originalon January 11, 2012.RetrievedApril 13,2009.
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