.gif)
Hurricane Ele (2002)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Ele was a powerful and long lived hurricane
which formed in the central Pacific basin
before crossing the International Date Line
and being reclassified a typhoon. Ele was also the strongest hurricane in the central Pacific in the 2002 Pacific hurricane season
, packing winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) as it moved out of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center
's area of responsibility. The storm traversed the Pacific Ocean
for 15 days before dissipating over open waters.
which formed on August 24 about 805 mi (1,295 km) to the south of the Hawaiian Islands
. The disturbance was poorly organized and development of the storm was not anticipated. However, by the morning of August 26, the disturbance became better organized and was determined to have become a tropical depression
. The depression gradually became more intense as convection
associated with the storm became deeper and banding features developed. On August 27, the depression had become sufficiently organized to be declared Tropical Storm Ele while located 430 mi (690 km) south of Johnston Atoll
. Ele quickly intensified later that day, with winds just below hurricane status at 70 mph (105 km/h).
The intensification briefly stopped shortly after. However, that night, a banding eye
feature developed, indicating that Ele was nearing hurricane status. A few hours later, the storm was upgraded to Hurricane Ele based on the Dvorak technique
, a system used to estimate the intensity of a tropical cyclone. The technique rendered a T4.0, which corresponds to an intensity of 75 mph (115 km/h). Ele slowly strengthened throughout the day on August 28 as it continued to move towards the west-northwest. As the hurricane neared the International Date Line
, it began to intensify once more. The storm was in an area of low wind shear
and warm waters, two key factors for intensification.
By the morning of August 30, Ele had intensified into a major hurricane—a storm with winds of 111 mph (178 km/h) or higher—as an eye appeared on satellite. By the time Ele was crossing the date line, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center
increased the intensity of the storm to 125 mph (205 km/h), just short of Category 4 status, and stated that rapid intensification
was occurring. Just as the storm crossed the date line, the final advisory was issued as it was leaving the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, but the last advisory had operationally upgraded Ele to a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 135 mph (215 km/h). However, since the storm had moved into the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC) and Japan Meteorological Agency's
(JMA) area of responsibility, it was not included in the final track of the storm.
Upon entering the western Pacific basin
, Ele was forecast to undergo rapid intensification and the JTWC showed Ele peaking just short of Category 5 status in about 24 hours. However, the intensification was not as rapid as anticipated and the storm peaked as a low-end Category 4 typhoon with winds of 135 mph (215 km/h). By this time, a north-northwestward movement took place due to a weakness in the mid-level ridge before weakening again. After briefly restrengthening back into a Category 4, the typhoon declined and turned to the northwest. Ele fell to a tropical storm on September 7, a depression on September 9, and dissipated shortly after that.
uses 10-minute sustained winds for its tropical cyclone tracking information, while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
uses 1-minute sustained winds. The conversion factor between the two is 1.14. JMA's peak intensity for Ele was 105 mph (165 km/h) 10-minute sustained, or 120 mph (195 km/h) 1-minute sustained. The JTWC's peak intensity for Ele was 135 mph (215 km/h) 1-minute sustained, or 115 mph (185 km/h) 10-minute sustained.
When Tropical Depression Two-C was upgraded to Tropical Storm Ele on August 26, it was the first time that the name Ele was used for a tropical cyclone.
When Ele crossed the International Date Line
on August 30, it was the first time since 1988's Hurricane Uleki that a central Pacific basin
hurricane crossed longitude
180° into the western Pacific basin
while maintaining that intensity. One storm, Hurricane Li in 1994
, briefly reached hurricane status near the date line but weakened to a tropical storm just before crossing it.
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...
which formed in the central Pacific basin
Pacific hurricane
A Pacific hurricane or tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that develops in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern, , central , and western...
before crossing the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
and being reclassified a typhoon. Ele was also the strongest hurricane in the central Pacific in the 2002 Pacific hurricane season
2002 Pacific hurricane season
The 2002 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. The most notable storm that year was Hurricane Kenna, which reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It made landfall near Puerto Vallarta, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, on October 25...
, packing winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) as it moved out of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center of the United States National Weather Service is the official body responsible for tracking and issuing tropical cyclone warnings, watches, advisories, discussions, and statements for the Central North Pacific Basin...
's area of responsibility. The storm traversed the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
for 15 days before dissipating over open waters.
Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Ele can be traced back to an area of disturbed weather associated with a monsoon troughMonsoon trough
The 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...
which formed on August 24 about 805 mi (1,295 km) to the south of the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. The disturbance was poorly organized and development of the storm was not anticipated. However, by the morning of August 26, the disturbance became better organized and was determined to have become a tropical depression
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...
. The depression gradually became more intense as 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...
associated with the storm became deeper and banding features developed. On August 27, the depression had become sufficiently organized to be declared Tropical Storm Ele while located 430 mi (690 km) south of Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean about west of Hawaii. There are four islands located on the coral reef platform, two natural islands, Johnston Island and Sand Island, which have been expanded by coral dredging, as well as North Island and East Island , an additional two...
. Ele quickly intensified later that day, with winds just below hurricane status at 70 mph (105 km/h).
The intensification briefly stopped shortly after. However, that night, a banding eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
feature developed, indicating that Ele was nearing hurricane status. A few hours later, the storm was upgraded to Hurricane Ele based on the Dvorak technique
Dvorak technique
The Dvorak technique is a widely used system to subjectively estimate tropical cyclone intensity based solely on visible and infrared satellite images. Several agencies issue Dvorak intensity numbers for cyclones of sufficient intensity...
, a system used to estimate the intensity of a tropical cyclone. The technique rendered a T4.0, which corresponds to an intensity of 75 mph (115 km/h). Ele slowly strengthened throughout the day on August 28 as it continued to move towards the west-northwest. As the hurricane neared the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
, it began to intensify once more. The storm was in an area of low 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...
and warm waters, two key factors for intensification.
By the morning of August 30, Ele had intensified into a major hurricane—a storm with winds of 111 mph (178 km/h) or higher—as an eye appeared on satellite. By the time Ele was crossing the date line, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center of the United States National Weather Service is the official body responsible for tracking and issuing tropical cyclone warnings, watches, advisories, discussions, and statements for the Central North Pacific Basin...
increased the intensity of the storm to 125 mph (205 km/h), just short of Category 4 status, and stated that rapid intensification
Rapid deepening
Rapid deepening, also known as rapid intensification, is a meteorological condition that occurs when the minimum sea-level atmospheric pressure of a tropical cyclone decreases drastically in a short period of time. The National Weather Service describes rapid deepening as a decrease of...
was occurring. Just as the storm crossed the date line, the final advisory was issued as it was leaving the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, but the last advisory had operationally upgraded Ele to a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 135 mph (215 km/h). However, since the storm had moved into the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
(JTWC) and Japan Meteorological Agency's
Japan Meteorological Agency
The or JMA, is the Japanese government's weather service. Charged with gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan, it is a semi-autonomous part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport...
(JMA) area of responsibility, it was not included in the final track of the storm.
Upon entering the western Pacific basin
Pacific typhoon
A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean between 180° and 100°E. This region is referred to as the northwest Pacific basin. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern , central , and...
, Ele was forecast to undergo rapid intensification and the JTWC showed Ele peaking just short of Category 5 status in about 24 hours. However, the intensification was not as rapid as anticipated and the storm peaked as a low-end Category 4 typhoon with winds of 135 mph (215 km/h). By this time, a north-northwestward movement took place due to a weakness in the mid-level ridge before weakening again. After briefly restrengthening back into a Category 4, the typhoon declined and turned to the northwest. Ele fell to a tropical storm on September 7, a depression on September 9, and dissipated shortly after that.
Differences among warning centers
The Japan Meteorological AgencyJapan Meteorological Agency
The or JMA, is the Japanese government's weather service. Charged with gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan, it is a semi-autonomous part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport...
uses 10-minute sustained winds for its tropical cyclone tracking information, while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
uses 1-minute sustained winds. The conversion factor between the two is 1.14. JMA's peak intensity for Ele was 105 mph (165 km/h) 10-minute sustained, or 120 mph (195 km/h) 1-minute sustained. The JTWC's peak intensity for Ele was 135 mph (215 km/h) 1-minute sustained, or 115 mph (185 km/h) 10-minute sustained.
Impact, naming and records
Since Ele never approached land during its existence there were no reports of any damage associated with Ele.When Tropical Depression Two-C was upgraded to Tropical Storm Ele on August 26, it was the first time that the name Ele was used for a tropical cyclone.
When Ele crossed the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
on August 30, it was the first time since 1988's Hurricane Uleki that a central Pacific basin
Pacific hurricane
A Pacific hurricane or tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that develops in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern, , central , and western...
hurricane crossed longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
180° into the western Pacific basin
Pacific typhoon
A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean between 180° and 100°E. This region is referred to as the northwest Pacific basin. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern , central , and...
while maintaining that intensity. One storm, Hurricane Li in 1994
1994 Pacific hurricane season
The 1994 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 1994 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 1994 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean...
, briefly reached hurricane status near the date line but weakened to a tropical storm just before crossing it.
See also
- 2002 Pacific hurricane season2002 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2002 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. The most notable storm that year was Hurricane Kenna, which reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It made landfall near Puerto Vallarta, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, on October 25...
- 2002 Pacific typhoon season2002 Pacific typhoon seasonA Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued on July 19 for a Tropical Disturbance that was located east of the international Date Line. The Next day the Disturbance crossed the international date line and was classified as a Tropical Depression by the JMA. The JMA then upgraded the depression to...
- Hurricane IokeHurricane IokeHurricane Ioke was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Central Pacific...
- Another intense storm that crossed the International Date LineInternational Date LineThe International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...