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Hurricane Nate (2005)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Nate was an Atlantic hurricane that threatened Bermuda
but remained at sea during early September 2005. The fourteenth named storm and seventh hurricane of the 2005 season, Hurricane Nate formed to the southwest of Bermuda on September 5 and initially moved very slowly to the northeast. Early forecasts suggested a possible threat to the island, but Nate passed well to the south on September 8 as a Category 1 hurricane. After moving away from the island, wind shear
increased and the storm moved into cooler waters, causing it to weaken into a tropical storm before becoming extratropical on September 10. The storm was later absorbed by a larger weather system.
The storm caused no reported damage although one death was reported off the New Jersey
coast due to related rip current
s. Nate dropped light rainfall and produced gusty winds on the island of Bermuda. The remnants of Nate and Hurricane Maria
contributed to heavy rainfall in Western Norway that triggered a mudslide, killing one person. Canadian Navy ships en route to the U.S. Gulf Coast, carrying relief supplies to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
, were slowed while trying to avoid Hurricanes Nate and Ophelia
.
emerged from the west coast of Africa on August 30 and tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean, maintaining a vigorous area of convection along the wave axis. By September 1 most of the deep convection had been stripped away by southwesterly wind shear. Despite this, the wave remained well-defined as it continued west-northwest. The wave split into two pieces; the northern portion passed between the Leeward Islands
and Hurricane Maria
on September 3, while the southern portion moved into the Caribbean Sea
. On September 4, the northern portion of the wave began to interact with an upper-level low pressure system and an elongated trough
that was located between Bermuda
and the Leeward Islands—the same trough which contributed to the development of Hurricane Ophelia
. As a result of the low wind shear, convection redeveloped and organized along the wave axis. Convective banding
formed around a broad surface low
. It is estimated that the system developed into a tropical depression at 1800 UTC
on September 5. At the time it was located approximately 350 miles (563.3 km) to the south-southwest of Bermuda.
Upon being designated, Tropical Depression Fifteen developed deep convection close to, and to the east of, the center of circulation
. At the same time, banding features became better organized. Later on September 5, the overall cloud pattern improved while thunderstorm activity condensed and deepened within the increasingly well-defined circulation. Just six hours after being designated as a tropical depression, the cyclone intensified into a tropical storm; it was given the name Nate by the National Hurricane Center
. Over the following two days, Nate drifted slowly northeastward towards Bermuda.
Within the early hours of September 6, Nate became quasi-stationary under a weak steering pattern between Hurricane Maria and a disturbance over The Bahamas
. Satellite imagery indicated that the cloud pattern continued to organize with excellent outflow
surrounding the storm. Late on September 6 a developing banding eye feature
became evident. Tropical Storm Nate strengthened further and became a hurricane at 1200 UTC on September 7, as it began to turn away from Bermuda. Some models indicated that Nate could have been either absorbed by or merged
with the larger Hurricane Maria, but the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) forecast that Nate would survive as a separate system, which it did. The large low to the northeast of The Bahamas gradually opened into a broad trough as a shortwave trough approached from the northwest. The larger trough slowly became elongated in a northeast–southwest manner late on September 7. At the same time, the shortwave trough moved southward along the west side of the other trough. The increasing southwesterly flow along the southeast side of the broad trough caused Nate to accelerate northeastward. Nate reached its peak intensity of 90 mph (145 km/h) late on September 8 as it passed 120 miles (205 km) southeast of Bermuda, while its strongest winds remained well offshore.
While at peak intensity, the storm maintained a well-organized and "impressive" convective pattern. Soon after the storm peaked in strength, increasing wind shear and dry air caused Nate to weaken back into a tropical storm later on September 9. Satellite imagery showed that the cloud pattern began to rapidly deteriorate. The hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm at 1800 UTC on September 9 and continued to weaken as wind shear increased in association with an approaching trough and a related cold front
. By late on September 9, all of the already limited convective activity was confined to the eastern semicircle, leaving the low-level center exposed. The storm was reduced to a swirl of low-level clouds just hours later. Nate became extratropical the next day before becoming absorbed by a larger system by 0000 UTC on September 13, to the north-northeast of the Azores
.
was issued for Bermuda
early on September 7, and later that day a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch superseded it. However, the storm did not proximate the island and the warnings were canceled as the storm moved away September 8. Four cruise ships left the island early, and flights were canceled in anticipation of Nate. At 0400 UTC on September 8, the National Hurricane Center assessed a 34% chance that Nate would pass within 75 miles (120.7 km) of the island.
The outer bands of Nate brushed Bermuda with sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and widespread showers. Gusts were higher, peaking at roughly 50 mph (80 km/h). Under 1 inch (25 mm) of rain was recorded at Bermuda International Airport
. "We definitely did not get the worst case scenario with this storm", according to the Bermuda Weather Service
; there were no fatalities as a result of the storm in Bermuda, and no damage was reported. Two ships reported tropical storm-force winds in association with the storm: the Maersk New Orleans, to the north of the storm's center, and a ship with the call sign WCZ858 to the east-southeast. Rip currents from Nate and the more distant Maria
killed one and injured another in New Jersey
; several others were caught in rip currents, though they were able to escape. The remnants of Nate and Maria contributed to significant rainfall in Western Norway that triggered a large mudslide. One person was killed and at least nine were injured, although the effects in the region were primarily attributed to Maria.
Canadian Navy ships headed to the Gulf Coast of the United States
, carrying relief supplies to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
, were slowed down trying to avoid Hurricanes Nate and Ophelia
. When Tropical Storm Nate developed on September 5, it was the earliest ever in the season that the fourteenth named tropical storm developed, surpassing the previous record held by storm 14 of the 1936 season
.
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
but remained at sea during early September 2005. The fourteenth named storm and seventh hurricane of the 2005 season, Hurricane Nate formed to the southwest of Bermuda on September 5 and initially moved very slowly to the northeast. Early forecasts suggested a possible threat to the island, but Nate passed well to the south on September 8 as a Category 1 hurricane. After moving away from the island, 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...
increased and the storm moved into cooler waters, causing it to weaken into a tropical storm before becoming extratropical on September 10. The storm was later absorbed by a larger weather system.
The storm caused no reported damage although one death was reported off the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
coast due to related rip current
Rip current
A rip current, commonly referred to by the misnomer rip tide, is a strong channel of water flowing seaward from near the shore, typically through the surf line. Typical flow is at 0.5 metres per second , and can be as fast as 2.5 metres per second...
s. Nate dropped light rainfall and produced gusty winds on the island of Bermuda. The remnants of Nate and Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria (2005)
Hurricane Maria was a Cape Verde-type hurricane which formed in September during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Maria was the thirteenth named storm, sixth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the record-breaking season....
contributed to heavy rainfall in Western Norway that triggered a mudslide, killing one person. Canadian Navy ships en route to the U.S. Gulf Coast, carrying relief supplies to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, were slowed while trying to avoid Hurricanes Nate and Ophelia
Hurricane Ophelia (2005)
Hurricane Ophelia was the fifteenth named tropical cyclone and the eighth hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a long-lived storm that was most remembered for its very erratic and extremely slow track off the East Coast of the United States, alternating several times between...
.
Meteorological history
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...
emerged from the west coast of Africa on August 30 and tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean, maintaining a vigorous area of convection along the wave axis. By September 1 most of the deep convection had been stripped away by southwesterly wind shear. Despite this, the wave remained well-defined as it continued west-northwest. The wave split into two pieces; the northern portion passed between the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
and Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria (2005)
Hurricane Maria was a Cape Verde-type hurricane which formed in September during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Maria was the thirteenth named storm, sixth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the record-breaking season....
on September 3, while the southern portion moved into the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
. On September 4, the northern portion of the wave began to interact with an upper-level low pressure system and an elongated trough
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
that was located between Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
and the Leeward Islands—the same trough which contributed to the development of Hurricane Ophelia
Hurricane Ophelia (2005)
Hurricane Ophelia was the fifteenth named tropical cyclone and the eighth hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a long-lived storm that was most remembered for its very erratic and extremely slow track off the East Coast of the United States, alternating several times between...
. As a result of the low wind shear, convection redeveloped and organized along the wave axis. Convective banding
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
formed around a broad surface low
Surface weather analysis
Surface weather analysis is a special type of weather map that provides a view of weather elements over a geographical area at a specified time based on information from ground-based weather stations...
. It is estimated that the system developed into a tropical depression at 1800 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
on September 5. At the time it was located approximately 350 miles (563.3 km) to the south-southwest of Bermuda.
Upon being designated, Tropical Depression Fifteen developed deep convection close to, and to the east of, 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...
. At the same time, banding features became better organized. Later on September 5, the overall cloud pattern improved while thunderstorm activity condensed and deepened within the increasingly well-defined circulation. Just six hours after being designated as a tropical depression, the cyclone intensified into a tropical storm; it was given the name Nate by 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...
. Over the following two days, Nate drifted slowly northeastward towards Bermuda.
Within the early hours of September 6, Nate became quasi-stationary under a weak steering pattern between Hurricane Maria and a disturbance over The Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
. Satellite imagery indicated that the cloud pattern continued to organize with excellent 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...
surrounding the storm. Late on September 6 a developing banding eye feature
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...
became evident. Tropical Storm Nate strengthened further and became a hurricane at 1200 UTC on September 7, as it began to turn away from Bermuda. Some models indicated that Nate could have been either absorbed by or merged
Fujiwhara effect
The Fujiwhara effect or Fujiwara interaction, named after Sakuhei Fujiwhara, is a type of interaction between two nearby cyclonic vortices, causing them to appear to "orbit" each other.-Description:...
with the larger Hurricane Maria, but 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) forecast that Nate would survive as a separate system, which it did. The large low to the northeast of The Bahamas gradually opened into a broad trough as a shortwave trough approached from the northwest. The larger trough slowly became elongated in a northeast–southwest manner late on September 7. At the same time, the shortwave trough moved southward along the west side of the other trough. The increasing southwesterly flow along the southeast side of the broad trough caused Nate to accelerate northeastward. Nate reached its peak intensity of 90 mph (145 km/h) late on September 8 as it passed 120 miles (205 km) southeast of Bermuda, while its strongest winds remained well offshore.
While at peak intensity, the storm maintained a well-organized and "impressive" convective pattern. Soon after the storm peaked in strength, increasing wind shear and dry air caused Nate to weaken back into a tropical storm later on September 9. Satellite imagery showed that the cloud pattern began to rapidly deteriorate. The hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm at 1800 UTC on September 9 and continued to weaken as wind shear increased in association with an approaching trough and a related cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
. By late on September 9, all of the already limited convective activity was confined to the eastern semicircle, leaving the low-level center exposed. The storm was reduced to a swirl of low-level clouds just hours later. Nate became extratropical the next day before becoming absorbed by a larger system by 0000 UTC on September 13, to the north-northeast of 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...
.
Impact, records, and naming
A tropical storm watchTropical 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...
was issued for Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
early on September 7, and later that day a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch superseded it. However, the storm did not proximate the island and the warnings were canceled as the storm moved away September 8. Four cruise ships left the island early, and flights were canceled in anticipation of Nate. At 0400 UTC on September 8, the National Hurricane Center assessed a 34% chance that Nate would pass within 75 miles (120.7 km) of the island.
The outer bands of Nate brushed Bermuda with sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and widespread showers. Gusts were higher, peaking at roughly 50 mph (80 km/h). Under 1 inch (25 mm) of rain was recorded at Bermuda International Airport
Bermuda International Airport
L.F. Wade International Airport , formerly named Bermuda International Airport, is the sole airport serving Bermuda, a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is located in the parish of St. George's and is northeast of Bermuda's capital city of Hamilton. In 2006, L.F. Wade...
. "We definitely did not get the worst case scenario with this storm", according to the Bermuda Weather Service
Bermuda Weather Service
The Bermuda Weather Service is Bermuda's national meteorological service. It provides public, marine, tropical and aviation weather forecasts as well as warnings and climatolological services. The service began operations under contract from the Department of Airport Operations, Ministry of...
; there were no fatalities as a result of the storm in Bermuda, and no damage was reported. Two ships reported tropical storm-force winds in association with the storm: the Maersk New Orleans, to the north of the storm's center, and a ship with the call sign WCZ858 to the east-southeast. Rip currents from Nate and the more distant Maria
Hurricane Maria (2005)
Hurricane Maria was a Cape Verde-type hurricane which formed in September during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Maria was the thirteenth named storm, sixth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the record-breaking season....
killed one and injured another in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
; several others were caught in rip currents, though they were able to escape. The remnants of Nate and Maria contributed to significant rainfall in Western Norway that triggered a large mudslide. One person was killed and at least nine were injured, although the effects in the region were primarily attributed to Maria.
Canadian Navy ships headed to the Gulf Coast of the United States
Gulf Coast of the United States
The Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
, carrying relief supplies to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, were slowed down trying to avoid Hurricanes Nate and Ophelia
Hurricane Ophelia (2005)
Hurricane Ophelia was the fifteenth named tropical cyclone and the eighth hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a long-lived storm that was most remembered for its very erratic and extremely slow track off the East Coast of the United States, alternating several times between...
. When Tropical Storm Nate developed on September 5, it was the earliest ever in the season that the fourteenth named tropical storm developed, surpassing the previous record held by storm 14 of the 1936 season
1936 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1936 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 16, 1936, and lasted until October 31, 1936. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
.
See also
- List of 2005 Atlantic hurricane season storms
- List of New Jersey hurricanes
- Hurricane Maria (2005)Hurricane Maria (2005)Hurricane Maria was a Cape Verde-type hurricane which formed in September during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Maria was the thirteenth named storm, sixth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the record-breaking season....
- Timeline of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane seasonTimeline of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe timeline of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season documents the formations, strengthenings, weakenings, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations of the season's tropical and subtropical storms. The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in...
- Another storm with the same nameHurricane Nate (2011)Hurricane Nate was an Atlantic hurricane that made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Mexico in early September. The sixteenth named storm and fourth hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Nate formed in the Bay of Campeche on September 7 and initially moved erratically...