Hurricane Gordon (2000)

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Hurricane Gordon

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Gordon making landfall on September 18, 2000
Formed	September 14, 2000
Dissipated	September 21, 2000
Highest winds	80 mph (130 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure	981 mbar (hPa; 28.98 inHg)
Fatalities	24 direct, 2 indirect
Damage	$10.8 million (2000 USD) $10 million (2008 USD)
Areas affected	Guatemala, Yucatán Peninsula, Florida, Carolinas
Part of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Gordon was one of two U.S. landfalling tropical storms of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season, and was the 7th named storm and 4th hurricane of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season. Gordon was a category 1 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico but weakened to a tropical storm before making landfall in Florida. Gordon left 24 dead and 2 missing and $10.8 million (2000 USD) in damage.

Contents 1 Storm history 2 Preparations 2.1 Florida 2.2 Gulf of Mexico 3 Impact 3.1 Latin America 3.2 Atlantic Ocean 3.3 United States 3.3.1 Florida 3.3.2 Carolinas 4 Aftermath 4.1 Lack of retirement 5 See also 6 External links 7 References

[edit] Storm history

A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on September 4 and tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean without strengthening. On September 9 and 10, the tropical wave moved though the Lesser Antilles bringing local heavy rainfall and wind gusts reaching 30 kt. The wave then moved west-northwest and developed a well defined centre on September 12 in the central Caribbean Sea. Satellite photos on September 13 indicated that the convective pattern in the system was disorganised. However, later that day, a broad low pressure area had developed along the wave's axis based on surface observations about 100 nmi (190 km) southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. Early on September 14, it was estimated from satellite imagery that the low pressure system was near tropical depression strength, even though the convection was still disorganised.^[1]

The system was upgraded to tropical depression status in the morning of September 14, based on a report from a reconnaissance aircraft. The developing system moved slowly northwestward across the northern Yucatán Peninsula. Later that day, the depression's centre moved inland over the Yucatán Peninsula. The depression moved slowly to the northwest across the northern part of the peninsula without emerging over water, therefore, the depression did not gain intensity.^[1] At this time, the predicted track for the system was highly uncertain due to different computer models forecasting different tracks. The official forecast predicted a northwestward movement into the western Gulf of Mexico, but some models predicted the low to move towards northwestern Florida, while another model predicted the low to move southwards into the Bay of Campeche.^[2] Late on September 15 the tropical depression moved off the north coast of the Yucatán and into the Gulf of Mexico, where it showed signs of better organisation. The future track was still very uncertain, but a few models forecasted for the depression to move northeastwards towards Florida, so the official forecast track was shifted slightly to the right, resulting with a more northerly track.^[3] Early on September 16, data from Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated that the storm had strengthened to about 50 knots (93 km/h) at the surface, and the sea-level pressure had fallen to 1003 mbar, therefore, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Gordon.^[1] At this time, the storm was moving northeastward towards the Big Bend in Florida, continuing to slowly intensify. The official forecast track was again shifted, forecasting Gordon to track to the northeast.^[4] Early on September 17, a ship reported 64 kt (74 mph) winds, indicating that Gordon had attained hurricane strength. Gordon reached a peak intensity of 70 knots (130 km/h) six hours later while located about 165 nmi (306 km) southwest of Tampa, Florida.^[1]

Later that day, Gordon began to weaken due to entrainment from the south and increasing vertical wind shear. Gordon was downgraded to a tropical storm as it neared the Florida coast. The storm made landfall just northwest of Cedar Key, Florida early on September 18 as a tropical storm with 60 mph (95 mph) winds. After moving inland, interaction with the land and cool, dry air further weakened the storm. Gordon weakened to a tropical depression nine hours after landfall, and six hours later, Gordon had merged with a frontal system over southeastern Georgia and had undergone extratropical transition, as it moved to the northeast. On September 21, the system merged with a large extratropical system over eastern Canada.^[1]

[edit] Preparations

[edit] Florida

Residents in Florida loaded up supplies on September 16 when the National Hurricane Centre issued a hurricane watch along Florida's west coast from Bonita Beach to the Suwanee River. The hurricane wtch extended northward and westward later in the day to Apalachicola. In various areas of Florida, spokesmen for the Emergency Operations Center advised residents to prepare for the storm and monitor the track of the approaching hurricane. At Cape Canaveral, NASA also took precautions against the hurricane, as the storm could force NASA to move the Discovery space shuttle off its launch pad at the seaside and into the hangar.^[5] Residents in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana were also advised by radio to keep track of the approaching hurricane.^[6]

Hurricane warnings were initiated on September 17 for areas along the Florida coast from Anna Maria Island to Ochlockonee River. Tropical storm warnings were issued south of Anna Maria Island to Bonita Beach and west of Ochlockonee River to Indian Pass. Tropical storm warnings were also issued along the east coast of the United States from Titusville in Florida to Little River Inlet in South Carolina.^[1] The Florida Division of Emergency Management in Tallahassee made a mandatory evacuation in Hernando County, while voluntary evacuations are called for some of the coastal areas along Florida's west coast.^[7] Anticipating that Gordon will make landfall and move inland, two tornado watches were in effect from Sarasota to Naples, and tornado warnings were issued from Orlando to Vero Beach. Flash flood warnings were also in effect in parts of Florida.^[8]

[edit] Gulf of Mexico

Chevron Corporation and Shell Oil Company evacuated offshore crews from the Gulf of Mexico on September 16 in preparation for a possible hurricane threat from Hurricane Gordon, even though there was little effect on oil and gas production before that day. The Chevron Corporation expected the number of people working in the Gulf to reduce from 1,700 on September 16 to 450 the next day.^[5]

[edit] Impact

[edit] Latin America

As a tropical wave, Gordon killed 23 people in Guatemala mainly due to flooding and landslides in mountainous regions.^[1] While drifting over the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, Gordon dropped heavy rainfall peaking at 9 inches (230 mm) in Cancún.^[9] The storm also dumped heavy rainfall in western Cuba with totals reaching 10 inches (250 mm).^[10]

[edit] Atlantic Ocean

Gordon forced the evacuation of several oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. This caused the companies of Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron to suspend oil production.^[5] Gordon also forced the cruise liner Carnival's Sensation, consisting of 2,200 passengers and 900 crew members, to remain at sea for one day.^[10]

[edit] United States

[edit] Florida

Before Gordon made landfall in Florida, one death occurred when a surfer drowned in the raging seas close to Pensacola in Florida. During landfall, the storm brought a storm surge to Cedar Key with waves over six feet high (over 1.8 m).^[10] The majority of the damage was to trees and power-lines, and as a result, 20,000 people in Florida lost power for over six hours.^[1] At the peak of the storm, 120,000 people were without electricity, mostly in the Tampa metropolitan area.^[11] Numerous homes along the Florida coast between the Tampa Bay area and Cedar Key received minor roof damage, and several roads near the coast experienced minor flooding due to the storm surge and were closed temporarily.^[1]

Many evacuations took place once Gordon crossed the Florida coast. The Emergency Operations Center in Florida said authorities had arranged mandatory evacuations for coastal regions in the Citrus, Franklin, Hernando, Levy and Taylor counties, while also recommending voluntary evacuations for numerous other counties.^[10] The Red Cross reported that the storm forced 500 people to seek refuge in shelters.^[12] Also, many flights were canceled at the Tampa International Airport.^[10] About 200 national guardsmen were called to help cleanup the damage in flooded areas. Officials forced schools in six counties - Gilchrist, Columbia, Citrus, Taylor, Lafayette and Suwannee to close down for one day.^[11]

Gordon also spawned two tornadoes that touched down as it made landfall. One tornado touched down near Cape Coral, Florida, damaging three homes, while an F0 tornado touched down near Ponce Inlet in Volusia County, Florida, causing minimal damage, mainly to trees and roofs.^[1]

[edit] Carolinas

Flooding in North Carolina occurred as the storm moved up the East Coast, indirectly killing two people when a car lost control and struck a tractor trailer during the storm.^[13] Two men in a fishing boat were also reported missing.^[13] The towns of Jacksonville, North Carolina received 6.25 inches (160 mm) of rain, the most since Hurricane Floyd a year ago. In South Carolina, there was also flooding from heavy rain. Despite the rain, Gordon did little to help a drought that had been affecting the southeastern United States.

[edit] Aftermath

In the Levy and Citrus counties, residents who were evacuated on the day when Gordon struck the coast were allowed early the next day to return to their homes after the storm passed.^[11]

[edit] Lack of retirement

As there was minimal damage from the storm, the name Gordon was not retired and was used again for the 2006 season.

[edit] See also

• List of Atlantic hurricanes

[edit] External links

• NHC NOAA (Gordon)
• CNN.com Weather
• Sky Chaser.com
• Hurricane Gordon report
• Hurricane Gordon Chase
• CNN.com Weather 2
• Hurricane Hunters
• Hurricane Gordon
• Gordon's aftermath leaves southeast soggy

[edit] References