Hurricane Kate (2015)

Hurricane Kate was the latest Atlantic hurricane to form in the basin since Hurricane Epsilon in 2005, as well as one of the northernmost November hurricanes on record. The eleventh and final named storm and hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, Kate formed out of a disorganized tropical wave that had moved off the coast of Africa on October 30. Unfavorable conditions prevented it from significantly organizing as it traversed the Atlantic. Once it neared the northern coast of Hispaniola on November 7, it began to become somewhat better organized. The next day it developed into a tropical depression; shortly afterwards it developed into Tropical Storm Kate. Kate moved northwest around an area of high pressure, gradually strengthening. On November 11, it intensified into a hurricane while simultaneously peaking in intensity. Shortly afterwards, it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone.

Not to be confused with Hurricane Katie (1955) or Tropical Storm Katia.
Hurricane Kate
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Kate at peak intensity to the northeast of Bermuda on November 11
FormedNovember 8, 2015
DissipatedNovember 13, 2015
(Extratropical after November 12)
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 85 mph (140 km/h)
Lowest pressure980 mbar (hPa); 28.94 inHg
FatalitiesNone
DamageMinimal
Areas affectedLesser Antilles (Martinique), Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, The Bahamas, Europe
Part of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season

Kate caused minor impacts in the Bahamas, other than gusty winds and some rain showers as it passed just to the east on November 9. It also caused minor surf along the East Coast of the United States.

Meteorological history
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

On October 30, a poorly-defined tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa with little thunderstorm activity. At this point in the season, tropical waves are uncommon due to increasingly unfavourable conditions, making the origins of Kate "rare, but not unprecedented" as described by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its post-season report on the storm.[1] Traversing through the eastern Atlantic in unfavourable conditions, the disorganised disturbance failed to organise any further. By November 5, however, as the wave approached the Lesser Antilles, a low-level vorticity split from the wave and traveled to the west-northwest, while the tropical wave headed towards Central America. The new disturbance then turned towards Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, at which point the National Hurricane Center began to monitor the disturbance for possible tropical cyclogenesis.[2][1] On November 7, convection increased as it passed to the northeast of Hispaniola; however, surface pressures were still relatively high. By early on November 8, showers and convection became more concentrated around the area of low pressure, and there was indications that the disturbance was producing gale-force winds in squally bands that were short-lived.[3] It is estimated that Tropical Depression Twelve formed at around 18:00 UTC, after further organization occurred, while located north of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The depression moved to the west in response to an area of high pressure that was situated to its north. Banding features began to develop along with a defined outflow pattern, and after an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft investigated the system on November 9, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Kate at 15:00 UTC that day.[1]

The overall size of Kate was initially relatively small, with a compact central dense overcast (CDO) extending only 40 miles (64 km) from the center of the storm. Kate continued to move to the west-northwest while steadily strengthening, and later made its closest approach to The Bahamas on November 9 – passing about 15 miles (24 km) from Cat Island.[4] However, observations reported that the circulation of Kate was very small and did not register in some of the operating stations.[1] By the early morning hours of November 10, Kate began to turn to the north in response to a trough that was coming off the East Coast of the United States.[5] Shortly thereafter, Kate strengthened to just below hurricane intensity with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h), and was initially predicted to become a hurricane shortly thereafter before passing over cooler sea surface temperatures,[6] however intensification briefly halted. By 00:00 UTC on November 11, Kate had intensified into a hurricane as it began to accelerate northeast into and become embedded into the mid-latitude westerlies, after a microwave pass revealed banding features had become more defined near the center.[7][1] This made it the latest-forming hurricane in the Atlantic basin since Hurricane Epsilon in 2005.[8] Shortly afterwards, Kate reached its peak intensity with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a pressure of a 980 millibars (29 inHg) based on continued improvement of its satellite presentation.[1] Afterwards, colder waters and increasing wind shear caused Kate to weaken, and it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone by 00:00 UTC on November 12. The remnants of Kate continued to accelerate over the North Atlantic Ocean for another day before slowing down dramatically and turning eastwards before being absorbed by a larger cyclone on November 13.[1]

Preparations and impact

Eastern Caribbean

The precursor to Kate dropped heavy rainfall on Martinique from November 5 through 7. Up to 192 millimetres (7.6 in) of rainfall fell there, causing dangerous flash flooding on the island. No fatalities were reported.[4]

The Bahamas
Tropical Storm Kate over the Bahamas on November 9

Still recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Joaquin nearly a month prior, residents were advised on November 8, before Kate had formed, to take more precautions in the event that warnings were issued. New shelters were opened for the expected areas to be impacted by the then-precursor to Kate.[9] Ahead of the storm, on November 9, a tropical storm warning was issued for the northern portions of the Bahamas as Kate was expected to pass fairly close to the island chain.[1] However, effects were not as bad as expected, due to the storm's circulation being very small. Because of this, some islands did not even report tropical storm-force winds as Kate passed to the east.[1] The warnings were later discontinued as the storm moved away from the area.

On November 9, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced that they would closely monitor the progress of the tropical storm, after a Level II Activation code was put into effect.[10] NEMA Captain Stephen Russell advised residents that local administrators had been informed of the impending storm, to enforce that local disaster committees were prepared, and to have shelters opened, in case an evacuation needed to be ordered for low-lying areas, partially those near the outskirts of the island. In northern Eleuthera, the Glass Window Bridge was shut down in advance of tropical storm conditions.[10] One of the airline services in the Bahamas, Bahamasair, later stated that a flight from Nassau to San Salvador would be delayed by day to early on November 10 due to the weather conditions. Further changes regarding flights to other areas in the Bahamas were stated as being issued in the case that conditions worsened.[10]

That same day, public schools in Cat Island and San Salvador were closed due to the passing of Kate just to the north, advising students and staff to remain safe.[11] In addition, schools in Eleuthera also closed at noon in advance.

Bermuda

Only high surf and some outer bands from Kate impacted Bermuda as it accelerated to the north, which was still recovering from Hurricane Joaquin that had passed just west of the island in early October. No damage or deaths were reported.[4]

Europe

By November 16, the remnants of Kate had already begun to affect the United Kingdom, where some damage was reported.[12][13] In Wales, high winds from the system knocked down numerous trees, and heavy rain caused flash flooding, which covered roadways.[14]

In Ireland, reports indicated that up to 80 millimetres (3.1 in) of rain fell as the cyclone pushed through, which triggered flash floods and shortly after, evacuations. The area of Donegal reported that a bridge had vanished due to the rising tides.[15] Some people even woke to find their cars destroyed in the flood. Multiple road closures had to be put in place due to the heavy rainfall and floods. Rivers were also reported to have burst their banks, with one river, the River Deel, overflowed and flooded into the city of Crossmolina around 6:30 a.m local time on November 15.[15]

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See also

References
  1. Lixion A. Avila (4 January 2016). "Hurricane KATE" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  2. "Tropical Weather Outlook for 11/5/2015". National Hurricane Center. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  3. "Tropical Weather Outlook for 11/8/2015". National Hurricane Center. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  4. "Hurricane Kate Recap". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  5. "Tropical Storm Kate Discussion Number 4". National Hurricane Center. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  6. "Tropical Storm Kate Discussion Number 7". National Hurricane Center. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  7. "Hurricane Kate Discussion Number 10". National Hurricane Center. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  8. "Phil Klotzbach on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  9. "NEMA Met. continues to monitor developing weather system". The Bahamas Weekly. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  10. "NEMA Partially Activates to closely monitor Tropical Storm Kate". The Bahamas Weekly. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  11. "Schools in Cat Island, San Salvador and Eleuthera Closed Today". The Bahamas Weekly. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  12. "Post Tropical Kate to Bring Flood Risk & Gales This Weekend". Weather Scientific. November 13, 2015. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  13. "Surface weather showing Ex-Kate". Institut für Meteorologie (in German). The Free University of Berlin. November 16, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  14. "Flooding and fallen trees block roads in Bridgend County as forecasters warn there's more to come". Wales Online. Media Wales Ltd. November 16, 2015. Archived from the original on November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  15. "Hurricane Kate brings chaos to the West as towns hit by floods - Independent.ie". independent.ie. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
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