Tropical Storm Zeta

Tropical Storm Zeta was a very late-developing tropical storm over the central Atlantic that formed after the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season (had officially ended on November 30) and continued into January 2006. Becoming a tropical depression at approximately midnight on December 30 (UTC),[1] it became the record-breaking thirtieth tropical cyclone of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season and after intensifying into Tropical Storm Zeta six hours later, it became the season's twenty-seventh named storm. Zeta was one of only two Atlantic tropical cyclones to span two calendar years (the other being Hurricane Alice in 1954–55).

Tropical Storm Zeta
Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
Tropical Storm Zeta at peak intensity in the open Atlantic on January 3
FormedDecember 30, 2005
DissipatedJanuary 7, 2006
(Remnant low after January 6)
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 65 mph (100 km/h)
Lowest pressure994 mbar (hPa); 29.35 inHg
FatalitiesNone reported
DamageNone
Areas affectedNo land areas
Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season

Zeta originated from an area of low pressure on December 29, which previously developed within an upper-level trough. After becoming a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center continually predicted it would weaken rapidly. Like the previous tropical cyclone, Hurricane Epsilon, Zeta defied these predictions. The storm reached its peak strength on January 2, 2006, before degenerating into a remnant low on January 6 and dissipating on the next day. Since Zeta never approached land, there was no impact from the storm other than minor shipping problems. Several ships encountered the storm, and several crews in the 2005 Atlantic Rowing Race were affected by rough seas and high winds.

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

Tropical Storm Zeta originated from an upper-level trough that interacted with a weakening frontal system in late-December 2005. By December 28, the trough had developed into a low pressure area roughly 750 mi (1,210 km) west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands. The following day, a low-level circulation developed and convective activity began to increase around the low. By December 30, sufficient shower and thunderstorm activity had developed for the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to classify it as a tropical cyclone. Over the following several hours, convective banding developed around the storm's center and by 0600 UTC, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Zeta, the record 28th tropical or subtropical cyclone to form during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season.[1] Operationally, however, the NHC did not begin issuing advisories on Zeta until 1700 UTC.[2] Traveling slowly northwestward in response to a mid-level low to the southwest, the storm gradually intensified in a region of favorable anticyclonic outflow.[1]

By the afternoon of December 30, dry air caused the system to become slightly disorganized and led forecasters to anticipate further weakening of the storm and dissipating within three days.[3] The following day, a mid-level ridge to the north caused Zeta turn westward before nearly stalling due to upper-level westerlies. By this time, the storm attained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) but increasing wind shear caused convection to become disorganized, resulting in a brief weakening period. Despite the shear, the shallow structure of Zeta allowed convection to regenerate and the storm gradually re-intensified. Around 1800 UTC on January 1, 2006, Zeta attained its peak intensity with winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 994 hPa (29.35 inHg) about 1,035 mi (1,665 km) to the northwest of the Cape Verde Islands.[1] By January 2, the storm began tracking towards the southwest in response to a mid-level trough located east of the storm.[4] Tropical Storm Zeta continued to defy forecasts of weakening.[5]

The effects of wind shear finally took their toll late on January 4, and Zeta's convection began to die down. This led to Tropical Storm Zeta weakening to a minimal tropical storm. The NHC continued to overestimate how quickly Zeta would dissipate and early on January 5 they operationally downgraded Zeta to a depression, which was later confirmed to have been an error.[6] Zeta continued to move west-northwestward, barely holding on to tropical storm status before becoming disorganized again. Zeta weakened into a tropical depression on January 6 and degenerated into a remnant later that day. With this transition, the very active 2005 hurricane season finally came to a close. The remnant low retained its identity for another day, before it dissipated to the southeast of Bermuda during January 7.[1]

Impact and records
Tropical Storm Zeta shortly after being named on December 30

Several of the crews that were taking part in the 2005 Atlantic Rowing Race were affected with heavy seas and strong adverse winds from Tropical Storm Zeta.[7] Several teams encountered winds up to 50 mph (85 km/h) and large swells up to 12 ft (3.7 m).[8] Although battered by torrential rain and high winds, the direction of the winds assisted some of the ships in the race by speeding them closer to Antigua.[9] One Welsh vessel was blown 25 mi (40 km) off-course, ending with an encounter with a 12 ft (3.7 m) shark that battered their boat.[10] The ship Liberty Star made several reports of strong winds from Tropical Storm Zeta, including one of 40 mph (65 km/h) winds early on December 31, when the ship was about 45 miles (75 km) north of the storm.[1]

When Zeta formed at 0600 UTC on December 30, it became the second latest-forming tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic.[1] Only Hurricane Alice of December 1954 formed later than Zeta, becoming a tropical storm around 1200 UTC. Additionally, Zeta became the second known Atlantic tropical cyclone, along with Alice, to exist in two calendar years.[1] Tropical Storm Zeta also extended the record number of storms to form in the 2005 season to twenty-eight, seven more than the previous record held by the 1933 season;[11] NHC forecaster James Franklin noted that the atmosphere "seem[ed] to want to develop tropical storms ad nauseam".[3]

Although the storm affected several vessels during its existence, no land areas were threatened by Zeta. As a result, the NHC did not issue any tropical storm watches or warnings.[1]

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See also

References
  1. Richard D. Knabb and Daniel P. Brown (March 17, 2006). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Zeta" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  2. James Franklin (December 30, 2005). "Tropical Storm Zeta Discussion One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  3. James Franklin (December 30, 2005). "Tropical Storm Zeta Discussion Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  4. Lixion A. Avila (January 1, 2006). "Tropical Storm Zeta Discussion Eleven". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  5. National Hurricane Center. "Discussion for Tropical Storm Zeta, 10 a.m. EST, January 4, 2006". NOAA. Retrieved May 1, 2006.
  6. National Hurricane Center. "Discussion for Tropical Storm Zeta, 4 a.m. EST, January 5, 2006". NOAA. Retrieved May 1, 2006.
  7. Woodvale Events Ltd. "Atlantic Rowing Race 2005 Press Release: Tropical Storm Zeta". Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2006.
  8. Sophy Williams (2005). "At sea, Tropical Storm Zeta makes waves the size of houses for Atlantic rowers" (PDF). BYM News. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  9. Richard Mayon-White; Liz O'Keeffe (January 4, 2006). "At sea. Atlantic Rowing Challenge: Tropical Storm Zeta affects Row 4 Cancer". BYM News. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  10. Nathan Bevan (January 29, 2006). "Rower in terrifying shark ordeal". Wales Online. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
  11. "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. May 25, 2020.

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