Review of the past hurricane season
TROPICAL CYCLONE SEASON SUMMARY
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- BULLETIN SUMMARIES 2016 2015
- Detailed summary of the individual events: Colin: Meteorological Conditions and Impacts
- Warnings Information Statements
- Tropical Depression Eight: Meteorological Conditions and Impacts
- Hermine: Meteorological Conditions and Impacts
- Meteorological Conditions and Impacts
- Newfoundland and Labrador
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2016 TROPICAL CYCLONE SEASON SUMMARY The 2016 tropical cyclone season in the Atlantic Basin was the deadliest since 2005. This was mainly a result of Hurricane Matthew’s devastating landfall in southwestern Haiti where approximately 1600 deaths were attributed to the storm. Additionally, the 2016 season was the costliest since 2012 with total damage estimates exceeding $11.6 billion USD (Wikipedia). The 2016 season was unique in several ways. Hurricane Alex formed on January 12, this being the first Atlantic hurricane to form in January since Hurricane Alice in 1955. In addition, Hurricanes Matthew and Nicole represented the first time that two category 4 or stronger hurricanes occurred in October since record keeping began. Tropical Storm Colin’s formation on June 5 marked the earliest third named storm on record in the Atlantic Basin. Colin exceeded the previous record for the earliest third named storm set in 1887 by seven days. Despite these rare characteristics of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, impact to Canadian territory was relatively minimal. The first storm that the Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC) tracked was Tropical Storm Colin. Messaging from the CHC started at 1800 UTC on June 6. There were no direct impacts to land associated with Colin. However, moisture from Colin likely enhanced rainfall over southern Newfoundland as the storm interacted with a trough of low pressure over Atlantic Canada. Offshore, gale-force winds and waves of 3 to 5 metres occurred over the southern Grand Banks. On August 26, the CHC issued one preliminary bulletin on Hurricane Gaston to inform Canadians that this storm was unlikely to affect Canadian territory. The next system generating a response from the CHC was Tropical Depression Eight. Messaging from the CHC on this system started at 1800 UTC on August 30. This system was expected to become a tropical storm and interact with another low pressure system and track south of Newfoundland. However, Tropical Depression Eight did not intensify to a tropical storm. Therefore Tropical Depression Eight gave little or no influence on Canadian weather. On September 1 at 1700 UTC, the CHC began messaging on Tropical Storm Hermine. This storm produced gale-force winds over marine areas southwest of Nova Scotia as it stalled off the northeastern United States coast. In addition, swell waves of 2 to 3 metres occurred along the southwestern shore of Nova Scotia. Farther offshore, waves of up to 6 metres occurred. The next tropical cyclone requiring response by the CHC was Hurricane Matthew. Messaging began at 1700 UTC on October 4. Although the storm became disorganized after landfall in South Carolina, considerable quantities of tropical moisture moved northeastward towards Atlantic Canada. This moisture contributed to the development of a very powerful fall storm in Atlantic Canada. This storm resulted in significant rainfall amounts throughout the region. Newfoundland and eastern Nova Scotia were severely impacted with heavy rain and very strong winds. The rain in these areas resulted in numerous reports of flooding, road washouts and infrastructure damage. In addition, these areas received damaging wind gusts resulting in fallen trees and structural damage. The last storm tracked by the CHC for the 2016 hurricane season was Hurricane Nicole. Messaging on this storm began at 1200 UTC on October 12. Hurricane Nicole tracked well south of Atlantic Canada. Swell waves of 2 to 3 metres reached the southern coastlines of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Gale-force winds and waves of 4 to 6 metres high occurred offshore as Nicole passed by. Figure 1 is a map showing the storms of tropical origin that generated attention for the CHC. 
Figure 1: Storms of Tropical Origin attended to by the CHC A summary of bulletins issued by the CHC is shown below, including bulletins from previous years. In terms of the number of information statements issued, 2016 was one of the less active years for the CHC.
Detailed summary of the individual events: Colin: Meteorological Conditions and Impacts Impacts were minimal. Enhancement of rainfall over the Avalon Peninsula was a result of moisture from Colin being absorbed by a trough of low pressure to its north. Gale-force winds and 3 to 5 metre waves occurred over the extreme southern Grand Banks. Swell waves of 2 to 3 metres reached the south and east coasts of Newfoundland as Colin tracked to the south. Warnings & Information Statements No public warnings were issued as a result of Colin. Gale warnings were in effect over the Grand Banks as a result of Colin’s passage. Coordination and Communications Efforts Coordination of potential rainfall impacts over the Avalon Peninsula as well as wind and waves over the Grand Banks occurred between the CHC and the Newfoundland and Labrador Weather Office (NLWO). Tropical Depression Eight: Meteorological Conditions and Impacts Gale-force winds occurred over extreme southern Grand Banks. Waves were 4 metres or less. There were no impacts on land from TD Eight. Marine impacts were confined to the extreme southern Grand Banks. Warnings & Information Statements The CHC issued ten unique information statements for this event. There were no tropical storm watches or warnings required. Gale warnings were issued for southern portions of the Grand Banks. Coordination and Communications Efforts The CHC coordinated the messaging on TD Eight with the NLWO before discontinuing messaging. Marine issues over the Grand Banks were discussed. Gaston: The CHC issued one bulletin on Hurricane Gaston to inform Canadians that the storm would not likely have any impact to Canadian territory. Gaston formed from a strong tropical disturbance that left the coast of Africa on August 20. The disturbance moved west-northwestward and became a hurricane on August 24. Hurricane Gaston then continued moving generally northwestward until August 30 when it turned northward and then took a sharp turn east-northeastward. This turn kept Gaston far out in the Atlantic. The storm therefore had no impact to Canada. Hermine: Meteorological Conditions and Impacts Swell waves of 2 to 3 metres occurred along the South Shore of Nova Scotia as a result of Hermine. Over extreme southwestern marine areas, gale force winds and waves of up to 6 metres occurred. Impacts from Hermine were minimal and confined to southwestern waters. Swell waves along the South Shore of Nova Scotia may have given rip currents at the beaches. Warnings & Information Statements Gale warnings were issued for the extreme southwestern marine areas of the Maritimes. The CHC issued 8 information statements on Hermine. Coordination and Communications Efforts The CHC coordinated messaging and gale warnings with ASPC throughout the event. Matthew: Although the circulation of Post-Tropical Storm Matthew remained well to the south, east of Cape Hatteras, much of the moisture sheared off to the north and energized another low pressure system that formed south of Nova Scotia. At 0600 UTC on October 10, a new low formed over Georges Bank. This low then tracked northeastward south of Nova Scotia to lie near Cape Race, Newfoundland early in the morning of October 11. Later that day, the low moved east of Newfoundland. Meteorological Conditions and Impacts The low pressure system that formed south of Nova Scotia tapped into moisture that streamed north from Matthew’s remnants. As a result, this low became very intense and produced strong winds and heavy rain in Atlantic Canada. Cape Breton and Newfoundland were particularly affected. Here are observations of rain and wind from the most impacted areas in Atlantic Canada: Nova Scotia Rainfall: 50 – 100+ mm on Mainland Nova Scotia the majority falling on Cape Breton Island of 125 to 230 mm Wind Gusts: 80 to 120 km/h Newfoundland and Labrador Rainfall: 90 mm in the west to 130 to 260+ mm in the central and southeast Wind Gusts: 100 to 130 km/h There were no direct impacts to Canada from Matthew. However, the indirect impacts due to the tropical moisture feed from the remnants of Matthew were substantial. The wind and rain from the energized low pressure system toppled trees, damaged homes, flooded roads and residences and caused some roads to be washed out. The hardest hit areas were Cape Breton and Newfoundland. Warnings & Information Statements There were two information statements sent by the CHC on Matthew. It became clear while Matthew was located off the Coast of the Carolinas that there would be no direct impacts to Canadian territory. Coordination and Communications Efforts ASPC and NLWO coordinated marine winds. ASPC discussed the public warnings with Weather Preparedness Meteorologist. Nicole: Meteorological Conditions and Impacts: Gale-force winds occurred over the extreme southern sections of Laurentian Fan and the southern Grand Banks. Swell waves of 2 to 3 metres affected the southern coastlines of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. There were no impacts to land areas on Canada except for an extended period of swell waves along south facing shorelines. Mariners had to be prepared for gale-force winds over extreme southeastern waters. Warnings & Information Statements There were eleven information statements sent by the CHC on Nicole. Gale warnings were issued for Laurentian Fan and the southern Grand Banks. Coordination and Communications Efforts CHC and NLWO coordinated marine winds and gale warnings. RA IV/HC-39/Doc. 3.2(1), p. 
Directory: pages -> prog -> www -> tcp -> documents documents -> Review of the ra IV hurricane operational plan documents -> Cyclone programme documents -> World meteorological organization technical document documents -> World meteorological organization ra IV hurricane committee thirty-fourth session documents -> World meteorological organization ra IV hurricane committee thirty-third session documents -> Review of the past hurricane season documents -> Ra IV hurricane committee thirty-fourth session ponte vedra beach, fl, usa documents -> World meteorological organization ra IV hurricane committee thirty-second session documents -> World meteorological organization ra IV hurricane committee thirty-fifth session documents -> English only review of the tropical cyclone operational plan for the south pacific and south-east indian ocean Download 178.61 Kb. Share with your friends:
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