Hurricane Linda (2009)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Linda was a low-end Category 1 hurricane that remained over open waters throughout its existence. The 15th tropical cyclone
, 13th named storm
, and 6th hurricane of the 2009 Pacific hurricane season
, Linda originated out of a tropical wave
on September 7 several hundred miles west-southwest of the Baja California Peninsula
. Tracking generally towards the west, Linda steadily intensified within a region only slightly favorable for intensification. By September 9, the storm turned northward in response to a weakening subtropical
ridge
to its north and a new ridge forming to the east. Early on September 10, Linda attained its peak intensity with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 985 mbar
(hPa
; 29.09 inHg) following the formation of an eye
close to the center of circulation.
However, increasing wind shear displaced the center to the northeast of the low-level circulation. Linda began to weaken and deteriorated into a tropical storm early on September 11. Lacking deep convection, the storm degenerated into a remnant low pressure area later that day. The remnants of the former hurricane persisted for several more days, dissipating roughly 1,195 mi (1,925 km) east of the Hawaiian Islands
on September 15.
that moved off the west coast of Africa into the Atlantic Ocean
on August 18, 2009. Traveling westward, the wave eventually split into two systems. One of the systems tracked towards the northwest, eventually becoming Tropical Storm Danny
. The other wave continued westward with little development, eventually crossing Central America
and entering the Pacific Ocean
on August 28. Convection
associated with the wave remained minimal until September 3, at which time the system began to become better organized. An area of low pressure developed out of the wave on September 6 and deep convection started to consolidate around the center of circulation
. Early on September 7, the low had become sufficiently organized for the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) to designate the system as Tropical Depression Fifteen-E. At this time, the depression was located roughly 1,130 miles (1,820 kilometres) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula
.
Located within an environment characterized by moderately warm sea surface temperature
s and modest wind shear
, gradual intensification was anticipated as the depression slowly tracked westward. The main steering factor during the early part of the storms' track was a weakening subtropical
ridge
to the north which gradually collapsed, leading to a slow, northward movement of the tropical cyclone. Several hours after being classified a tropical depression, the system was upgraded to a tropical storm, at which time it received the name Linda, the thirteenth named storm of the season. By September 9, a new ridge developed east of Linda, causing the storm to turn towards the north. Although Linda was maintaining winds of 65 mph (100 km/h), the system was not aligned; the mid and upper-level circulations were displaced from the low-level circulation. However, expansive outflow
had established itself to the south and east of the storm.
Late on September 9, Linda became slightly better organized and obtained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), a low-end Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. Shortly after, an eye
developed within the hurricane's deep convection; however, this feature was not situated over the center of circulation due to increasing wind shear. Early on September 10, Linda attained its peak intensity with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 985 mbar
(hPa
; 29.09 inHg). Operationally, however, the NHC assessed Linda to have been slightly stronger, with peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) occurring several hours later. Persistent wind shear caused the eyewall to erode and led to overall weakening despite the storm maintaining a well-defined mid-level eye. The combination of decreasing sea surface temperatures and moderate to strong wind shear eventually caused Linda to weaken to a tropical storm by the morning of September 11.
Upon being downgraded to a tropical storm, Linda's center became exposed and lacked deep convection. Entering an increasingly unfavorable environment, with the addition of dry air, all deep convection associated with the storm had dissipated and regeneration was unlikely. Late on September 11, the NHC issued their final advisory on Linda, stating that it had degenerated into a remnant low pressure system. At this time, the system also weakened below tropical storm intensity, with maximum winds reaching 35 mph (55 km/h). The remnants of Linda persisted for several more days, initially tracking southwest before turning due westward. The system eventually dissipated on September 15 roughly 1,195 mi (1,925 km) east of the Hawaiian Islands
.
and there was no impact associated with the storm. Additionally, no ships recorded tropical storm-force winds in the vicinity of Linda.
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...
, 13th 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...
, and 6th hurricane of the 2009 Pacific hurricane season
2009 Pacific hurricane season
The 2009 Pacific hurricane season was an active event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation, due to a moderate El Niño, unlike the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, which was relatively quiet. The season officially started on May 15 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1 for the central...
, Linda originated out of a tropical wave
Tropical 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...
on September 7 several hundred miles west-southwest of the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. Tracking generally towards the west, Linda steadily intensified within a region only slightly favorable for intensification. By September 9, the storm turned northward in response to a weakening subtropical
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
to its north and a new ridge forming to the east. Early on September 10, Linda attained its peak intensity with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 985 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
(hPa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
; 29.09 inHg) following the formation of an 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...
close to the center of circulation.
However, increasing wind shear displaced the center to the northeast of the low-level circulation. Linda began to weaken and deteriorated into a tropical storm early on September 11. Lacking deep convection, the storm degenerated into a remnant low pressure area later that day. The remnants of the former hurricane persisted for several more days, dissipating roughly 1,195 mi (1,925 km) east of the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
on September 15.
Meteorological history
Hurricane Linda originated out of 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...
that moved off the west coast of Africa into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic 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...
on August 18, 2009. Traveling westward, the wave eventually split into two systems. One of the systems tracked towards the northwest, eventually becoming Tropical Storm Danny
Tropical Storm Danny (2009)
Tropical Storm Danny was a weak and disorganized tropical cyclone that formed in August 2009. The fourth tropical system and third named storm of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, Danny developed on August 26 from the interaction between a westward-moving tropical wave and an upper-level trough...
. The other wave continued westward with little development, eventually crossing Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and entering 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...
on August 28. 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 wave remained minimal until September 3, at which time the system began to become better organized. An area of low pressure developed out of the wave on September 6 and deep convection started to consolidate around the center of circulation
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...
. Early on September 7, the low had become sufficiently organized for 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) to designate the system as Tropical Depression Fifteen-E. At this time, the depression was located roughly 1,130 miles (1,820 kilometres) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
.
Located within an environment characterized by moderately warm sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature is the water temperature close to the oceans surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between and below the sea surface. Air masses in the Earth's atmosphere are highly modified by sea surface temperatures within a...
s and modest 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...
, gradual intensification was anticipated as the depression slowly tracked westward. The main steering factor during the early part of the storms' track was a weakening subtropical
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
to the north which gradually collapsed, leading to a slow, northward movement of the tropical cyclone. Several hours after being classified a tropical depression, the system was upgraded to a tropical storm, at which time it received the name Linda, the thirteenth named storm of the season. By September 9, a new ridge developed east of Linda, causing the storm to turn towards the north. Although Linda was maintaining winds of 65 mph (100 km/h), the system was not aligned; the mid and upper-level circulations were displaced from the low-level circulation. However, expansive outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
had established itself to the south and east of the storm.
Late on September 9, Linda became slightly better organized and obtained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), a low-end Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. Shortly after, an 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...
developed within the hurricane's deep convection; however, this feature was not situated over the center of circulation due to increasing wind shear. Early on September 10, Linda attained its peak intensity with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 985 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
(hPa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
; 29.09 inHg). Operationally, however, the NHC assessed Linda to have been slightly stronger, with peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) occurring several hours later. Persistent wind shear caused the eyewall to erode and led to overall weakening despite the storm maintaining a well-defined mid-level eye. The combination of decreasing sea surface temperatures and moderate to strong wind shear eventually caused Linda to weaken to a tropical storm by the morning of September 11.
Upon being downgraded to a tropical storm, Linda's center became exposed and lacked deep convection. Entering an increasingly unfavorable environment, with the addition of dry air, all deep convection associated with the storm had dissipated and regeneration was unlikely. Late on September 11, the NHC issued their final advisory on Linda, stating that it had degenerated into a remnant low pressure system. At this time, the system also weakened below tropical storm intensity, with maximum winds reaching 35 mph (55 km/h). The remnants of Linda persisted for several more days, initially tracking southwest before turning due westward. The system eventually dissipated on September 15 roughly 1,195 mi (1,925 km) east of the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
.
Impact
Throughout its existence, Hurricane Linda was never a threat to any landmasses. As such, the National Hurricane Center did not issue any tropical storm watches or warningsTropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
and there was no impact associated with the storm. Additionally, no ships recorded tropical storm-force winds in the vicinity of Linda.
See also
- Other Category 1 Pacific hurricanes
- Timeline of the 2009 Pacific hurricane seasonTimeline of the 2009 Pacific hurricane seasonBelow is the Timeline of the 2009 Pacific hurricane season, documenting all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation. The 2009 Pacific hurricane season officially began on May 15, 2009, and will last until November 30. For...