Hurricane Charley (1992)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Charley was the fifth tropical cyclone, third named storm, and the third hurricane of the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season
. Charley was relatively unusual, as it was one of two tropical cyclone to cross through the Azores in 1992. It developed from an area of convection seen on METEOSAT satellite imagery on September 20. Originally designated as Tropical Depression Five, it quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Charley.
Charley unexpectedly strengthened into a hurricane on September 23. Hurricane Charley further strengthened, reaching peak intensity as a 110 miles per hour (177 km/h) category 2 hurricane on September 24. It became nearly stationary before accelerating toward at Azores as it weakened to a tropical storm. Charley passed over the island of Terceira while sustained winds were at 65 mph (105 km/h). Charley ultimately became extratropical later that day, September 27.
It was similar to Hurricane Bonnie
, a hurricane that was simultaneously active with Hurricane Charley. Bonnie and Charley had moved through the Azores as a weakening tropical storm before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone. In addition, both Hurricane Bonnie and Charley shared the Atlantic simultaneously. The passage of Hurricane Charley in the Azores resulted in high winds, no other affects were reported.
. Satellite imagery also showed that by the morning of September 21, a well defined circulation was present.
The system had been upgraded to Tropical Depression Five shortly thereafter. Over the next several hours, Tropical Depression Five slowly strengthened. By 1200 UTC on September 22, Tropical Depression Five had been upgraded to a tropical storm; it received the name Charley. Hurricane Bonnie, which was over 1000 miles (1609 km) away, caused Tropical Storm Charley to be steered to the north. Tropical Storm Charley began to move more slowly as it was strengthening.
Satellite images reported the presences of an eye like feature, so the National Hurricane Center
upgraded to Hurricane Charley on September 23. Hurricane Charley quickly strengthened into a category 2 hurricane as the maximum sustained winds had reached 100 miles per hour (161 km/h) late on September 23. Charley attained its peak intensity late on September 24, after maximum sustained winds were near 110 miles per hour (177 km/h). It became stationary on September 25 as it was a minimal category 2 hurricane.
Hurricane Charley started showing signs of weakening on September 25 as it quickly dropped in strengthen to a category 1 hurricane. Charley was downgraded to a tropical storm late on September 26 as it approached the Azores. Tropical Storm Charley passed through the Azores as a strong tropical storm on September 27, it had also made landfall on the island of Terceira.
Tropical Storm Charley became extratropical later that day to the northeast of the Azores. The extratropical cyclone accelerated toward Europe over the next few days. Its remnants were absorbed by another larger extratropical low to the northwest of the British Isles
on September 29.
with Hurricane Bonnie, Tropical Storm Danielle
, Tropical Depression Seven, and Tropical Depression Eight
, which would become Tropical Storm Earl a few days later. When Charley passed over the Azores
only four days before Bonnie, it resulted in tropical storm-force winds across much of the island chain. Lajes Air Base
reported sustained winds of 53 mph (85 km/h) with gusts to 82 mph (132 km/h). No damage or fatalities were reported.
Hurricane Charley was unusual because it was a high-end category 2 hurricane, almost a category 3 in the far northeastern Atlantic, an area with cold waters.
1992 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1992 Atlantic hurricane season had one of the latest dates on record for the first named storm. The season officially began on June 1, 1992, and lasted until November 30, 1992. It was the least active hurricane season in nine years due to a strong El Niño...
. Charley was relatively unusual, as it was one of two tropical cyclone to cross through the Azores in 1992. It developed from an area of convection seen on METEOSAT satellite imagery on September 20. Originally designated as Tropical Depression Five, it quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Charley.
Charley unexpectedly strengthened into a hurricane on September 23. Hurricane Charley further strengthened, reaching peak intensity as a 110 miles per hour (177 km/h) category 2 hurricane on September 24. It became nearly stationary before accelerating toward at Azores as it weakened to a tropical storm. Charley passed over the island of Terceira while sustained winds were at 65 mph (105 km/h). Charley ultimately became extratropical later that day, September 27.
It was similar to Hurricane Bonnie
Hurricane Bonnie (1992)
Hurricane Bonnie was a long-lived storm in the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the third tropical storm and second hurricane of the 1992 season. Bonnie formed at high latitudes in the central Atlantic on September 17...
, a hurricane that was simultaneously active with Hurricane Charley. Bonnie and Charley had moved through the Azores as a weakening tropical storm before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone. In addition, both Hurricane Bonnie and Charley shared the Atlantic simultaneously. The passage of Hurricane Charley in the Azores resulted in high winds, no other affects were reported.
Meteorological history
Hurricane Charley originated from an area of concentrated convection seen on METEOSAT satellite imagery on September 20. Some animated satellite images suggested that a mid to upper-level circulation had been interacting with a tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
. Satellite imagery also showed that by the morning of September 21, a well defined circulation was present.
The system had been upgraded to Tropical Depression Five shortly thereafter. Over the next several hours, Tropical Depression Five slowly strengthened. By 1200 UTC on September 22, Tropical Depression Five had been upgraded to a tropical storm; it received the name Charley. Hurricane Bonnie, which was over 1000 miles (1609 km) away, caused Tropical Storm Charley to be steered to the north. Tropical Storm Charley began to move more slowly as it was strengthening.
Satellite images reported the presences of an eye like feature, so 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...
upgraded to Hurricane Charley on September 23. Hurricane Charley quickly strengthened into a category 2 hurricane as the maximum sustained winds had reached 100 miles per hour (161 km/h) late on September 23. Charley attained its peak intensity late on September 24, after maximum sustained winds were near 110 miles per hour (177 km/h). It became stationary on September 25 as it was a minimal category 2 hurricane.
Hurricane Charley started showing signs of weakening on September 25 as it quickly dropped in strengthen to a category 1 hurricane. Charley was downgraded to a tropical storm late on September 26 as it approached the Azores. Tropical Storm Charley passed through the Azores as a strong tropical storm on September 27, it had also made landfall on the island of Terceira.
Tropical Storm Charley became extratropical later that day to the northeast of the Azores. The extratropical cyclone accelerated toward Europe over the next few days. Its remnants were absorbed by another larger extratropical low to the northwest of the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
on September 29.
Impact
On September 26, Hurricane Charley shared the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
with Hurricane Bonnie, Tropical Storm Danielle
Tropical Storm Danielle (1992)
Tropical Storm Danielle was a weak tropical storm that made landfall on Virginia in the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season. The fourth storm of the season, Danielle was one of two Atlantic storms in the year to make landfall in the United States, the other being Hurricane Andrew. It formed out of a...
, Tropical Depression Seven, and Tropical Depression Eight
Tropical Storm Earl (1992)
Tropical Storm Earl was the eighth tropical cyclone and the sixth named storm of the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season. This storm was never seen as a threat to land because it was predicted to veer away from Florida, though tropical storm force winds were observed in northern part of the state...
, which would become Tropical Storm Earl a few days later. When Charley passed over the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
only four days before Bonnie, it resulted in tropical storm-force winds across much of the island chain. Lajes Air Base
Lajes Field
Lajes Field or Lajes Air Base , officially designated Air Base No. 4 , is a multi-use air field, home to the Portuguese Air Force Base Aérea Nº4 and Azores Air Zone Command , a United States Air Force detachment , and a regional air passenger terminal located near Lajes...
reported sustained winds of 53 mph (85 km/h) with gusts to 82 mph (132 km/h). No damage or fatalities were reported.
Hurricane Charley was unusual because it was a high-end category 2 hurricane, almost a category 3 in the far northeastern Atlantic, an area with cold waters.
See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- 1992 Atlantic hurricane season1992 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1992 Atlantic hurricane season had one of the latest dates on record for the first named storm. The season officially began on June 1, 1992, and lasted until November 30, 1992. It was the least active hurricane season in nine years due to a strong El Niño...
- Timeline of the 1992 Atlantic hurricane seasonTimeline of the 1992 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1992 Atlantic hurricane season was a below-average season that produced six named tropical cyclones. The season officially started on June 1, 1992 and finished on November 30; however, Subtropical Storm One formed outside the official timeline on April 21...
External links
- NHC's Preliminary Report on Hurricane Charley