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Tropical Storm Karina (2008)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Karina was a weak, short lived tropical cyclone
that developed during the 2008 Pacific hurricane season
. The 12th tropical cyclone and 11th named storm of the season, it originated out of a tropical wave
in the Atlantic basin
. The wave entered the Pacific Ocean on August 30 and spawned an area of low pressure
off the western coast of Mexico
on the morning of September 1. The low had become sufficiently organized to be declared a tropical depression the next morning. The depression quickly developed into a tropical storm later in the morning, at which time it was named Karina and reached its peak intensity of 40 miles per hour (65 km/h) with a minimum pressure of 1000 mbar
(hPa
; 29.54 inHg
). Later that day, after being classified a tropical storm for 12 hours, wind shear
weakened the storm to a depression on September 3 and it dissipated shortly thereafter.
—a tropical wave is an elongated low pressure area
embedded within the easterly trade wind
s—that also spawned Hurricane Gustav
in the Caribbean Sea
. The wave crossed Central America
and entered the eastern Pacific basin
on August 28. After two days, the wave spawned an area of low pressure
south of Manzanillo, Mexico
. The low was located beneath an area of moderate convection
, but was nearing cooler waters and a moist, yet stable, air mass. By later that night, a low-level circulation
developed partially underneath deep thunderstorm
activity. In an area favorable for development
, a tropical cyclone formation alert
was issued on September 2. However, strong easterly shear
separated the showers and thunderstorms from the center of circulation. Despite the shear, sufficient convection developed around the center; the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) classified it a tropical depression at 0600 UTC
, while centered about 390 mile
s (630 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California
. The NHC initially did not recognize the system as a tropical depression and did not initiate advisories on it until several hours later. The depression quickly intensified into a tropical storm due to a brief relaxation of the wind shear and was given the name Karina while located about 25 mi (40 km) north of Socorro Island
.
Karina was located to the south of a weakening mid-level ridge
, leading to a relatively slow west-northwest movement at 9 mph (15 km/h). Upon becoming a tropical storm, Karina reached its peak with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). There was uncertainty as to the intensity of the storm, as the Dvorak technique
—a system used to estimate the intensity of a tropical cyclone—rendered an intensity of 50 mph (80 km/h); but because the center of the storm had just moved under the deep convection, the winds were held at minimal tropical storm intensity. That night, 12 hours after being declared a tropical storm, Karina was downgraded to a tropical depression. Strong easterly wind shear of at least 25 mph (40 km/h) tore away the deep convection that previously surrounded Karina. Karina was moving into a stable environment over cooling waters which would prevent convection from redeveloping, despite a forecast of lessening wind shear. The foreword motion gradually decreased. By the morning of September 3, convection had been sheared 125 mi (200 km) from the center of circulation, leaving only a swirl of clouds. Karina degenerated into a remnant low-pressure area
later that morning and the NHC issued their final advisory. The remnant low quickly dissipated that afternoon.
. There were no known preparations taken before the storm, as the island is mainly a natural reserve and the only inhabitants reside in a military base. On Clarion Island
, residents took minor actions to prepare for possible impact from the storm. Officials advised residents to cancel all coastal activities and comply with advice from the National Civil Protection. Small crafts were advised to exercise extreme caution. In Cabo San Lucas
, officials closed the port due to high waves produced by Karina; small crafts such as water taxis and jet skis were to remain at the port. Port officials in Oaxaca
and Chiapas
advised boaters of strong winds, rain, and low visibility that they may encounter when nearing the seas around Karina. Despite the proximity to Socorro, no damage was reported and Karina remained far enough away from Clarion that there was no impact on the island. There were no ship reports of tropical storm-force winds.
When the tropical depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Karina on September 2, it was the first use of the name Karina for a tropical cyclone. It was used to replace Kenna
which was retired in 2002 Pacific hurricane season
due to the storm's impact in Mexico.
Since Karina was a short lived storm, it produced an Accumulated Cyclone Energy
(ACE) of 0.2450. This value—an approximation of the kinetic energy used by a tropical system throughout its existence—was the lowest of the season. The brevity of the storm was mirrored in the month of September as a whole. It was one of only two storms to form in the month, the other being Tropical Storm Lowell
. Because there were only two storms during the month, it was the least active September on record for the Eastern Pacific basin based on Accumulated Cyclone Energy.
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...
that developed during the 2008 Pacific hurricane season
2008 Pacific hurricane season
The 2008 Pacific hurricane season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started May 15, 2008 in the eastern Pacific, started on June 1, 2008 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2008....
. The 12th tropical cyclone and 11th named storm of the season, it 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...
in the Atlantic basin
Atlantic hurricane
North Atlantic tropical cyclones usually form in the northern hemisphere summer or fall. Tropical cyclones can be categorized by intensity. Tropical storms have one-minute maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph , while hurricanes have one-minute maximum sustained exceeding 74 mph...
. The wave entered the Pacific Ocean on August 30 and spawned an area of low pressure
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
off the western coast of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
on the morning of September 1. The low had become sufficiently organized to be declared a tropical depression the next morning. The depression quickly developed into a tropical storm later in the morning, at which time it was named Karina and reached its peak intensity of 40 miles per hour (65 km/h) with a minimum pressure of 1000 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...
; 29.54 inHg
Inch of mercury
Inches of mercury, ' is a unit of measurement for pressure. It is still widely used for barometric pressure in weather reports, refrigeration and aviation in the United States, but is seldom used elsewhere....
). Later that day, after being classified a tropical storm for 12 hours, 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...
weakened the storm to a depression on September 3 and it dissipated shortly thereafter.
Meteorological history
Tropical Storm Karina originated from the southern portion of the 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...
—a tropical wave is an elongated low pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
embedded within the easterly trade wind
Trade wind
The trade winds are the prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the tropics, within the lower portion of the Earth's atmosphere, in the lower section of the troposphere near the Earth's equator...
s—that also spawned Hurricane Gustav
Hurricane Gustav
The name Gustav has been used for five tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean:* 1984's Tropical Storm Gustav - Spent most of its existence as a tropical depression hovering over Bermuda, no major damage was reported....
in 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....
. The wave crossed 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 entered the eastern 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...
on August 28. After two days, the wave spawned an area of low pressure
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
south of Manzanillo, Mexico
Manzanillo, Colima
The name Manzanillo refers to the city as well as its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Colima. The city, located on the Pacific Ocean, contains Mexico's busiest port. Manzanillo was the third port created by the Spanish in the Pacific during the New Spain period...
. The low was located beneath an area of moderate 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...
, but was nearing cooler waters and a moist, yet stable, air mass. By later that night, a low-level circulation
Pressure system
A pressure system is a region of the Earth's atmosphere where air pressure is a relative peak or lull in the sea level pressure distribution. The surface pressure at sea level varies minimally, with the lowest value measured and the highest recorded...
developed partially underneath deep thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
activity. In an area favorable for development
Tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis is the term that describes the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which mid-latitude cyclogenesis occurs...
, a tropical cyclone formation alert
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone forming from a tropical disturbance that has been...
was issued on September 2. However, strong easterly 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...
separated the showers and thunderstorms from the center of circulation. Despite the shear, sufficient convection developed around the center; 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) classified it a tropical depression at 0600 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...
, while centered about 390 mile
Mile
A mile is a unit of length, most commonly 5,280 feet . The mile of 5,280 feet is sometimes called the statute mile or land mile to distinguish it from the nautical mile...
s (630 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
. The NHC initially did not recognize the system as a tropical depression and did not initiate advisories on it until several hours later. The depression quickly intensified into a tropical storm due to a brief relaxation of the wind shear and was given the name Karina while located about 25 mi (40 km) north of Socorro Island
Socorro Island
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying some 600 kilometers off the country's western coast at 18°48'N, 110°59'W. The size is 16.5 by 11.5 km, with an area of 132 km².- Geology :...
.
Karina was located to the south of a weakening mid-level ridge
High pressure area
A high-pressure area is a region where the atmospheric pressure at the surface of the planet is greater than its surrounding environment. Winds within high-pressure areas flow outward due to the higher density air near their center and friction with land...
, leading to a relatively slow west-northwest movement at 9 mph (15 km/h). Upon becoming a tropical storm, Karina reached its peak with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). There was uncertainty as to the intensity of the storm, as 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—rendered an intensity of 50 mph (80 km/h); but because the center of the storm had just moved under the deep convection, the winds were held at minimal tropical storm intensity. That night, 12 hours after being declared a tropical storm, Karina was downgraded to a tropical depression. Strong easterly wind shear of at least 25 mph (40 km/h) tore away the deep convection that previously surrounded Karina. Karina was moving into a stable environment over cooling waters which would prevent convection from redeveloping, despite a forecast of lessening wind shear. The foreword motion gradually decreased. By the morning of September 3, convection had been sheared 125 mi (200 km) from the center of circulation, leaving only a swirl of clouds. Karina degenerated into a remnant low-pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
later that morning and the NHC issued their final advisory. The remnant low quickly dissipated that afternoon.
Preparations, impact, and naming
When the National Hurricane Center issued its first advisory on Karina, the storm was near the island of SocorroSocorro Island
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying some 600 kilometers off the country's western coast at 18°48'N, 110°59'W. The size is 16.5 by 11.5 km, with an area of 132 km².- Geology :...
. There were no known preparations taken before the storm, as the island is mainly a natural reserve and the only inhabitants reside in a military base. On Clarion Island
Clarion Island
Isla Clarión, formerly called Santa Rosa, is the second largest, westernmost and most remote of the Revillagigedo Islands, west of Socorro Island and over from the Mexican mainland and an area ². It has three prominent peaks. The westernmost and tallest peak, Monte Gallegos, is high...
, residents took minor actions to prepare for possible impact from the storm. Officials advised residents to cancel all coastal activities and comply with advice from the National Civil Protection. Small crafts were advised to exercise extreme caution. In Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
, officials closed the port due to high waves produced by Karina; small crafts such as water taxis and jet skis were to remain at the port. Port officials in Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
and Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
advised boaters of strong winds, rain, and low visibility that they may encounter when nearing the seas around Karina. Despite the proximity to Socorro, no damage was reported and Karina remained far enough away from Clarion that there was no impact on the island. There were no ship reports of tropical storm-force winds.
When the tropical depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Karina on September 2, it was the first use of the name Karina for a tropical cyclone. It was used to replace Kenna
Hurricane Kenna
Hurricane Kenna was the second-most intense Pacific hurricane to strike the west coast of Mexico in recorded history. Kenna was the sixteenth tropical depression, thirteenth tropical storm, seventh hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and third Category 5 hurricane of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season...
which was retired in 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...
due to the storm's impact in Mexico.
Since Karina was a short lived storm, it produced an Accumulated Cyclone Energy
Accumulated cyclone energy
Accumulated cyclone energy is a measure used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to express the activity of individual tropical cyclones and entire tropical cyclone seasons, particularly the North Atlantic hurricane season. It uses an approximation of the energy used by a...
(ACE) of 0.2450. This value—an approximation of the kinetic energy used by a tropical system throughout its existence—was the lowest of the season. The brevity of the storm was mirrored in the month of September as a whole. It was one of only two storms to form in the month, the other being Tropical Storm Lowell
Tropical Storm Lowell (2008)
Tropical Storm Lowell was a moderate tropical storm that developed during the 2008 Pacific hurricane season. The fourteenth tropical cyclone and thirteen named storm of the season formed out of a western side of a trough on September 6. It quickly intensified into Tropical Storm Lowell, peaking as...
. Because there were only two storms during the month, it was the least active September on record for the Eastern Pacific basin based on Accumulated Cyclone Energy.
See also
- 2008 Pacific hurricane season2008 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2008 Pacific hurricane season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started May 15, 2008 in the eastern Pacific, started on June 1, 2008 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2008....
- Other East Pacific tropical storms
- Timeline of the 2008 Pacific hurricane seasonTimeline of the 2008 Pacific hurricane seasonBelow is the Timeline of the 2008 Pacific hurricane season, documenting all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation. The 2008 Pacific hurricane season officially began on May 15, 2008, and will last until November 30. For...
External links
- The NHC's Tropical Cyclone Report on Tropical Storm Karina.
- The NHC's archive on Tropical Storm Karina.
- The NHC's Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Eastern Pacific.