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Tropical Storm Franklin (2005)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Franklin was a tropical storm over the western Atlantic Ocean during July of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
. It was the sixth named storm of the season and twice approached hurricane strength. The storm formed over the Bahamas on July 21 then moved north erratically, approaching Bermuda
on July 26. Franklin eventually became extratropical near Newfoundland on July 30, before being absorbed by a larger system. The National Hurricane Center
struggled to predict Tropical Storm Franklin mainly due to difficulties in predicting the effects of wind shear. There were only minor effects on land from Tropical Storm Franklin and no damages were caused.
. Initially the storm was predicted to execute a clockwise loop and drift to the west in response to a high pressure system. Several models indicated the possibility of the storm to drift westward into central Florida
. Soon after the depression formed, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Franklin.
Tropical Storm Franklin suffered high levels of wind shear associated with the development of Tropical Storm Gert
, which led the forecasters at the National Hurricane Center
to say that Franklin could be torn apart in the next few days. However the shear abated as Franklin moved to the northeast allowing the storm to strengthen. The forecasters then stated that Franklin could "attain and maintain hurricane strength" and make a close approach to Bermuda
.
Shortly after on July 23, Tropical Storm Franklin reached its peak strength with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds.
Franklin moved erratically to the east weakening as shear increased again. The NHC predicted that would dissipate, but the weakening trend stopped on July 25 with Franklin a minimal tropical storm. The storm passed to 200 miles (325 km) to the west of Bermuda on July 26 and moved slowly northwards into the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream
. The shear also reduced once again allowing Franklin to re-strengthen somewhat, with winds reaching 60 mph (95 km/h) on July 28. Franklin began to accelerate to the northeast becoming extratropical on July 30 to the south of Newfoundland. The extratropical storm passed just south of the Avalon Peninsula
later that day and was absorbed by a larger system on July 31.
was issued for the northwest Bahamas, but it was canceled as Franklin moved north and away from the islands. A tropical storm watch was issued for Bermuda
on July 25 but was canceled a day later when Franklin turned away.
Tropical Storm Franklin developed very close to land in the Bahamas and passed near Bermuda
, but there were no reports of tropical storm force winds overland, with the strongest gust recorded on Bermuda being 37 mph (60 km/h). After Franklin became extratropical, it brushed southeastern Newfoundland, bringing about 1 inch (25 mm) of rain to the area. There were no damages or fatalities as a result of Tropical Storm Franklin.
2005 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, repeatedly shattering numerous records. The impact of the season was widespread and ruinous with an estimated 3,913 deaths and record damage of about $159.2 billion...
. It was the sixth named storm of the season and twice approached hurricane strength. The storm formed over the Bahamas on July 21 then moved north erratically, approaching 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...
on July 26. Franklin eventually became extratropical near Newfoundland on July 30, before being absorbed by a larger system. 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...
struggled to predict Tropical Storm Franklin mainly due to difficulties in predicting the effects of wind shear. There were only minor effects on land from Tropical Storm Franklin and no damages were caused.
Meteorological history
A tropical wave emerged from the African coast late on July 10. The wave entered the Bahamas on July 21 and organized into Tropical Depression Six while 70 miles (110 km) east of EleutheraEleuthera
Eleuthera is an island in The Bahamas, lying 50 miles east of Nassau. It is very long and thin—110 miles long and in places little more than a mile wide. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Eleuthera is approximately 8,000...
. Initially the storm was predicted to execute a clockwise loop and drift to the west in response to a high pressure system. Several models indicated the possibility of the storm to drift westward into central Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Soon after the depression formed, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Franklin.
Tropical Storm Franklin suffered high levels of wind shear associated with the development of Tropical Storm Gert
Tropical Storm Gert (2005)
Tropical Storm Gert was the fourth of seven tropical cyclones to make landfall in Mexico during 2005...
, which led the forecasters at 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...
to say that Franklin could be torn apart in the next few days. However the shear abated as Franklin moved to the northeast allowing the storm to strengthen. The forecasters then stated that Franklin could "attain and maintain hurricane strength" and make a close approach to 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...
.
Shortly after on July 23, Tropical Storm Franklin reached its peak strength with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds.
Franklin moved erratically to the east weakening as shear increased again. The NHC predicted that would dissipate, but the weakening trend stopped on July 25 with Franklin a minimal tropical storm. The storm passed to 200 miles (325 km) to the west of Bermuda on July 26 and moved slowly northwards into the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
. The shear also reduced once again allowing Franklin to re-strengthen somewhat, with winds reaching 60 mph (95 km/h) on July 28. Franklin began to accelerate to the northeast becoming extratropical on July 30 to the south of Newfoundland. The extratropical storm passed just south of the Avalon Peninsula
Avalon Peninsula
The Avalon Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the southeast portion of the island of Newfoundland.The peninsula is home to 257,223 people, which is approximately 51% of Newfoundland's population in 2009, and is the location of the provincial capital, St. John's. It is connected to the...
later that day and was absorbed by a larger system on July 31.
Impact
As Tropical Storm Franklin was forming, a tropical storm warningTropical 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 the northwest Bahamas, but it was canceled as Franklin moved north and away from the islands. A tropical storm watch 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...
on July 25 but was canceled a day later when Franklin turned away.
Tropical Storm Franklin developed very close to land in the Bahamas and passed near 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...
, but there were no reports of tropical storm force winds overland, with the strongest gust recorded on Bermuda being 37 mph (60 km/h). After Franklin became extratropical, it brushed southeastern Newfoundland, bringing about 1 inch (25 mm) of rain to the area. There were no damages or fatalities as a result of Tropical Storm Franklin.
See also
- List of 2005 Atlantic hurricane season storms
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- 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...