Hurricane Tammy Explained

Formed:October 18, 2023
Post-Tropical:October 28, 2023
Dissipated:November 1, 2023
Winds:95
Pressure:965
Fatalities:None
Year:2023
Damages:1500000
Areas:Leeward Islands (Barbuda), Bermuda
Season:2023 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Tammy was a long-lived Atlantic hurricane in October 2023 that caused minor impacts across the Leeward Islands and Bermuda. The nineteenth named storm and seventh hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, Tammy originated from a late-season tropical wave off the coast of West Africa that developed into a tropical storm on October 18. Tammy became a hurricane two days later, unusually late in the season for hurricanes to develop in the tropical Atlantic.[1] and continued to intensify, aided by record warm sea surface temperatures. The hurricane then made landfall on Barbuda the next day. Afterwards, the hurricane slowly moved northwest paralleling the Leeward Islands, remaining steady in intensity for several days. On October 25, as the system began to accelerate northeast ahead of an approaching trough, Tammy intensified and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). It maintained hurricane strength for five days, before weakening to a tropical storm. Tammy degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone on October 28.

Impact-wise, the storm did cause light to moderate damage in Guadeloupe, particularly La Désirade, and Barbuda while Antigua had only minor damage, though blackouts occurred across both islands. Rainfall amounts across the Leeward Islands were between, and storm surge heights were between . Bermuda received minor impacts with wind gusts of 40 mph (65 km/h) as Tammy passed and meandered to the east of the island. Tammy was the second storm to impact the Leeward Islands in October, after Philippe passed through the region about two weeks prior. Overall damages totaled to US$1.5 million.

Meteorological history

On October 11, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring a tropical wave located wave just offshore of West Africa.[2] Showers and thunderstorms associated with the disturbance became more concentrated and better organized on October 14,[3] but nearby dry air managed to infiltrate the system, suppressing convection to some degree.[4] Later, when environmental conditions became more conducive, thunderstorm activity within the disturbance was able to become more organized on October 17.[5] The following afternoon, satellite imagery indicated a well-defined low-level surface circulation, prompting the NHC to designate the system as Tropical Storm Tammy.[6] Despite having a sheared appearance due to light to moderate westerly vertical wind shear, hurricane hunter data indicated that Tammy was strengthening as it moved quickly westward through record-warm sea surface temperatures towards the Leeward Islands on October 19.[7] [8] The following morning on October 20, Tammy's inner core became better organized the following morning. Radar imagery showed that strong convection had quickly evolved into a curved band, and a closed eye. Meanwhile, aircraft data showed that its central pressure had fallen quickly, and sustained winds increased. As a result, the storm was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane.[9] Later, Tammy passed to the east-southeast of Guadeloupe,[10] and then at 01:15 UTC on October 22, made landfall on Barbuda at its initial peak intensity with sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h).[11]

Tammy pulled away from the Leeward Islands throughout the day, though heavy rains still impacted the islands.[12] After weakening to a minimal hurricane while struggling against wind shear for a couple of days, Tammy began to strengthen on October 25 due to increasing upper-level divergence associated with a deep-layer trough.[13] Later that day, it intensified into a Category 2 hurricane and reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h).[14] Shortly after peaking, Tammy then began to interact with a front to its north, which caused the hurricane to begin its transition to an extratropical cyclone. It did not fully merge with the front and remained a tropical cyclone, although operationally the NHC declared it extratropical on October 26,[15] then restarted advisories on October 27 east of Bermuda.[16] Not long afterward though, environmental conditions became adverse. Strong vertical wind shear and dry air entrainment quickly stripped the storm of its convection, and it became a remnant low on October 29.[17]

Preparations and impacts

Caribbean

Hurricane warnings were issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy.[18] Sint Maarten closed their airport and businesses and the Ministry of Defense requested for soldiers to aid citizens after Tammy passed.[19] Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs requested people to shelter in place.[20] The island kept its schools closed till October 23.[21] The British Virgin Islands cleaned roadways. The people of the islands stockpiled of supplies. District representatives were given permission to issue emergency crews in their districts.[22]

Rainfall amounts across the islands were between, and storm surge heights were between .[23] Though in close proximity to the storm, Dominica did not experienced hurricane strength winds.[18] Some landslides did occur due to intense rains from Tammy. Sint Maartin and Sint Eustatius only experienced heavy rains and cloud cover. In the aftermath, Sint Maarten still had experienced some flooded roads and rough surf.[24] After the storm, the CCRIF made payouts for Excess Rainfall to St. Kitts and Nevis totaling US$1,509,804 (2023 USD).[25]

Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe issued a, schools were closed and movement prohibited. An emergency shelter was opened up in Guadeloupe.[26] The island mobilized 600 gendarmes, 200 firefighters, and a hundred police.[27]

The principle islands of Guadeloupe were not impacted with the strongest winds from Tammy. However, La Désirade experienced winds of 90mph that caused moderate damage with numerous uprooted trees, some roof damage and traffic signs washed away;[28] also, up to 80% of the island was in a blackout during the peak of the hurricane.[29] Debris were also found across La Desirade, and was mostly the sum of all the damages from Tammy on the island.[30] According to Météo-France, 3.7inches of rain fell in Saint-Claude and Vieux-Habitants, 3.3inches in Capesterre-Belle-Eau, and 3.1inches in Sainte-Anne and Petit-Bourg. Rivers in southern Basse-Terre left their courses, most notably Grande Ravine in Le Gosier, Baie-Mahault, Sainte-Marie de Capesterre-Belle-Eau, and Petit-Bourg; Grande Rivière à Goyaves and the Géry in Vieux-Habitants. Trois-Rivières, Baillif, Vieux-Fort, and the River Sens in Gourbeyre had river flooding up to their piers.[31] A landslip occurred in Saint-Claude that carried cars 30m (100feet) down a hill and buried them.[32] Potable water plants went out of circuit and power outages were reported.

Antigua and Barbuda

Tammy made landfall on Barbuda, the second system in two weeks to do so, in addition to Tropical Storm Philippe.[33] Barbuda was left with minimal damage.[34] At least two families had to be evacuated. Meanwhile, on Antigua, the only damages reported were broken branches and powerlines. Blackouts occurred across both islands, but mostly on Barbuda where the entire island experienced a blackout.[35]

Bermuda

Bermuda was buffeted with wind gusts of late on October 26,[36] resulting in the issuing of a gale warning.[37]

Elsewhere

The East Coast of the United States was impacted with minor swells due to a large pressure gradient from Tammy and a high-pressure on the East Coast.[38]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Hurricane Tammy Tracking North After Impacting The Northeast Caribbean Islands . 2023-10-22 . The Weather Channel . en-US.
  2. Tropical Weather Outlook . Blake . Eric . October 11, 2023 . National Hurricane Center . Miami, Florida . October 18, 2023.
  3. Tropical Weather Outlook . Kelly . Larry . October 14, 2023 . National Hurricane Center . Miami, Florida . October 18, 2023.
  4. Web site: Henson . Bob . October 13, 2023 . The next Atlantic system may threaten the Lesser Antilles . October 18, 2023 . Yale Climate Connections . New Haven, Connecticut.
  5. Tropical Weather Outlook . Blake . Eric . October 17, 2023 . National Hurricane Center . Miami, Florida . October 18, 2023.
  6. Tropical Storm Tammy Discussion Number 1 . Berg . Robbie . October 18, 2023 . National Hurricane Center . Miami, Florida . October 21, 2023.
  7. Web site: Masters . Jeff . Henson . Bob . October 19, 2023 . Norma and Tammy gain strength en route to Mexico, Leeward Islands . October 19, 2023 . Yale Climate Connections . New Haven, Connecticut.
  8. Web site: Brown . Daniel . Tropical Storm Tammy Tropical Cyclone Update . 19 October 2023 . www.nhc.noaa.gov . National Hurricane Center.
  9. Hurricane Tammy Discussion Number 9 . Brown . Daniel . October 20, 2023 . National Hurricane Center . Miami, Florida . October 20, 2023.
  10. Hurricane Tammy Discussion Number 13 . Cangialosi . John . October 21, 2023 . National Hurricane Center . Miami, Florida . October 22, 2023.
  11. Hurricane Tammy Tropical Cyclone Update . Kelly . Larry . Pasch . Richard . October 21, 2023 . National Hurricane Center . Miami, Florida . October 22, 2023.
  12. Web site: Cangialosi . John . 2023-10-22 . Hurricane Tammy Discussion Number 18 . 2023-10-22 . National Hurricane Center.
  13. Web site: Reinhart . Brad . 2023-10-25 . Hurricane Tammy Discussion Number 27 . 2023-10-26 . National Hurricane Center.
  14. Web site: Bucci . Lisa . Zelinsky . Rachel . Hurricane Tammy Discussion Number 29 . 24 October 2023 . National Hurricane Center .
  15. Web site: Kelly . Larry . Post-Tropical Cyclone Tammy Discussion Number 32 . 27 October 2023 . National Hurricane Center .
  16. Pasch. Richard. October 27, 2023. Tropical Storm Tammy Discussion Number 33. National Hurricane Center. Miami, Florida. October 27, 2023.
  17. Cangialosi . John . Hurricane Tammy Discussion Number 40 . October 29, 2023 . Miami, Florida . National Hurricane Center . October 30, 2023.
  18. Web site: Cangialosi . John . 2023-10-21 . Hurricane Tammy Advisory Number 14 . 2023-10-22 . National Hurricane Center.
  19. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Orkaan Tammy passeert Sint-Maarten zonder grote schade: 'Had erger kunnen zijn' . 2023-11-12 . NOS . nl.
  20. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Orkaan Tammy onderweg naar Sint-Maarten, eiland zet zich schrap . 2023-11-12 . De Telegraaf . . Philipsburg.
  21. Web site: 2023-10-23 . Large waves pound the northern Caribbean as Hurricane Tammy spins into open waters . 2023-10-30 . ABC News . en.
  22. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Tammy, the hurricane that never was! Virgin Islands News Online . 2024-01-13 . Virgin Islands news online.
  23. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Hurricane Tammy - Final Situation Report (11:00 AM on October 22, 2023) - Anguilla . 2023-10-23 . reliefweb . en.
  24. Web site: 2023-10-23 . Orkaan Tammy zorgt voor nattigheid op Sint Maarten . 2023-11-20 . Paradise FM 103.1 . nl-NL.
  25. Web site: Wells . Kane . 2023-12-27 . CCRIF SPC pays out $4.9m for 2023 Atlantic storms - Reinsurance News . 2024-06-16 . ReinsuranceNe.ws . en.
  26. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Sint-Maarten zet zich schrap voor orkaan Tammy: winkels en luchthaven dicht . 2023-11-12 . NOS . nl.
  27. Web site: Hübsch . Sarah . 2023-10-22 . L'ouragan Tammy a touché les Petites Antilles . 2023-10-30 . Microsoft Start . fr-ca.
  28. Web site: Fadel . Nadine . 2023-10-21 . Ouragan Tammy : les plaies infligées à La Désirade . 2023-10-29 . Outre-mer . fr.
  29. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Après l'ouragan Tammy, la Guadeloupe a subi pluies et inondations . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027115201/https://information.tv5monde.com/international/apres-louragan-tammy-la-guadeloupe-subi-pluies-et-inondations-2672580 . 2023-10-27 . 2023-10-29 . TV5 Monde . Fr.
  30. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Ouragan Tammy : plus de peur que de mal en Guadeloupe, après quelques heures de confinement . 2023-11-09 . Libération . fr.
  31. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Ouragan Tammy : inondations et routes impraticables en Guadeloupe . 2023-11-01 . franceinfo . Guadeloupe . fr.
  32. Web site: Theatin . Laurence . 2023-10-27 . Hurricane Tammy: devastating floods in Guadeloupe . 2023-11-01 . France 24.
  33. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Hurricanes Norma and Tammy make landfall on Saturday in Mexico and Barbuda . 2023-10-22 . The Independent . en.
  34. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Norma downgraded to a tropical storm in Mexico as Hurricane Tammy leaves Barbuda . 2023-10-22 . KVIA . en-US.
  35. Web site: Martinez . Ignacio . 2023-10-22 . Norma downgraded to a tropical storm in Mexico as Hurricane Tammy leaves Barbuda . 2023-10-23 . ABC News . . en.
  36. Web site: Sosnowski . Alex . 2023-10-26 . Tammy tracking away from Bermuda after impacting the islands with tropical-storm force wind gusts . 2023-10-28 . Accuweather.
  37. Web site: 2023-10-27 . Tammy has redeveloped into a tropical storm over the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters say . 2023-10-28 . AP News . . en.
  38. Web site: McCloud . Cheryl . 2023-10-26 . Tammy weakens into post-tropical cyclone but is still packing hurricane-force winds . 2023-11-04 . Daytona Beach News-Journal Online . en-US.