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Tropical Weather Summary


000
ABNT30 KNHC 011402
TWSAT 
MONTHLY TROPICAL WEATHER SUMMARY...CORRECTED
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
800 AM EST MON DEC 1 2008

...CORRECT OMAR FROM HURRICANE TO MAJOR HURRICANE IN THE SUMMARY
TABLE...
 
FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

HURRICANE PALOMA...THE SECOND-STRONGEST NOVEMBER HURRICANE ON
RECORD...WAS THE ONLY TROPICAL CYCLONE TO OCCUR DURING THE MONTH.
ON AVERAGE...A TROPICAL STORM IS OBSERVED ABOUT EVERY OTHER
NOVEMBER...AND A NOVEMBER MAJOR HURRICANE OCCURS ABOUT ONCE A
DECADE.  

TROPICAL CYCLONE ACTIVITY DURING THE 2008 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON
WAS ABOVE AVERAGE.  SIXTEEN TROPICAL STORMS OCCURRED...OF WHICH 8
BECAME HURRICANES AND 5 STRENGTHENED INTO MAJOR HURRICANES.  THESE
NUMBERS ARE FAR ABOVE THE LONG-TERM AVERAGES OF 11...6...AND
2...RESPECTIVELY.  IN TERMS OF THE ACCUMULATED CYCLONE ENERGY
(ACE) INDEX...2008 HAD 167% OF THE LONG-TERM MEDIAN ACE...ALMOST AS
MUCH ACE AS 2006 AND 2007 COMBINED.  
 
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTHUR APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF A
COMBINATION OF THE LOW- TO MID-LEVEL REMNANTS OF EASTERN PACIFIC
TROPICAL STORM ALMA...AND A WESTWARD-MOVING TROPICAL WAVE OVER THE
CARIBBEAN SEA. ARTHUR FORMED EARLY ON 31 MAY WHILE CENTERED ABOUT
50 MILES EAST OF BELIZE CITY AND STRENGTHENED INTO A TROPICAL
STORM... WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF ABOUT 45 MPH...BEFORE MAKING
LANDFALL IN NORTHEASTERN BELIZE. THE CENTER OF THE CYCLONE MOVED
SLOWLY FARTHER INLAND TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST OVER THE YUCATAN
PENINSULA OF MEXICO...BUT WINDS OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE CONTINUED
OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA UNTIL EARLY ON 1
JUNE...WHEN THE SYSTEM BECAME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION. THE DEPRESSION
THEN TURNED TOWARD THE WEST AND EVENTUALLY WEST-SOUTHWEST...
DISSIPATING NEAR THE NORTHERN BORDER BETWEEN GUATEMALA AND MEXICO
BY VERY EARLY THE NEXT DAY.

EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL...WITH STORM TOTALS OF UP TO 15
INCHES...CAUSED DEVASTATING FLOODS IN BELIZE.  FIVE DEATHS ARE
DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO ARTHUR IN THAT COUNTRY.  THE BELIZE
NATIONAL EMERGENCY ORGANIZATION ESTIMATES THAT TOTAL DAMAGE WAS
ABOUT 78 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS.

BERTHA DEVELOPED FROM A STRONG TROPICAL WAVE THAT MOVED OFF THE WEST
COAST OF AFRICA ON 1 JULY. THE SYSTEM BECAME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION
EARLY ON 3 JULY OVER THE FAR EASTERN ATLANTIC ABOUT 190 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. THE DEPRESSION
STRENGTHENED INTO A TROPICAL STORM A SHORT TIME LATER WHILE PASSING
SOUTH OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. BERTHA'S STRENGTH CHANGED LITTLE
DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS IT MOVED QUICKLY
WEST-NORTHWESTWARD OVER COOLER WATERS. LATE ON 6 JULY... BERTHA
STRENGTHENED WHEN IT REACHED WARMER WATERS...AND IT BECAME A
HURRICANE EARLY THE NEXT DAY ABOUT 850 MILES EAST OF THE NORTHERN
LEEWARD ISLANDS. BERTHA TURNED NORTHWESTWARD AND RAPIDLY
INTENSIFIED TO A PEAK INTENSITY OF 120 MPH...CATEGORY THREE
STRENGTH...BY EARLY ON 8 JULY. LATER THAT DAY...INCREASED SHEAR
CAUSED BERTHA TO WEAKEN...FOLLOWED BY RE-INTENSIFICATION ON 9 JULY
WHEN THE SHEAR DECREASED. DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...BERTHA
TURNED NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED. ON
12-13 JULY...BERTHA STALLED A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MILES SOUTH-
SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA AND GRADUALLY WEAKENED TO A TROPICAL STORM.
THE NEXT DAY THE CYCLONE BEGAN MOVING NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD...WITH
THE CENTER PASSING ABOUT 40 MILES EAST OF BERMUDA. AFTER PASSING
BERMUDA...BERTHA'S FORWARD SPEED SLOWED DOWN AGAIN AND THE STORM
TURNED EASTWARD...AND THEN SOUTHEASTWARD. BERTHA ACCELERATED
NORTHEASTWARD AND REACHED HURRICANE STRENGTH AGAIN ON 18 JULY.
BERTHA PASSED ABOUT 450 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CAPE RACE NEWFOUNDLAND
BEFORE BECOMING EXTRATROPICAL OVER THE NORTH ATLANTIC ON 20 JULY.
THE EXTRATROPICAL LOW CONTINUED NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD ICELAND WHERE
IT MERGED WITH A LARGER LOWER PRESSURE AREA.

BERTHA BROUGHT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS TO BERMUDA DURING ITS
CLOSE PASSAGE ON 14 JULY...AND HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS WERE
EXPERIENCED AT SOME ELEVATED LOCATIONS ON BERMUDA. HOWEVER...ONLY
MINOR DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.  BERTHA'S 17 DAYS AS A TROPICAL CYCLONE
MAKES IT THE LONGEST-LIVED JULY ATLANTIC BASIN TROPICAL CYCLONE ON
RECORD.

CRISTOBAL FORMED FROM AN AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH A
BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE THAT MOVED NORTHEASTWARD FROM THE GULF
OF MEXICO ACROSS FLORIDA. THE SYSTEM CONTINUED TO MOVE
NORTHEASTWARD NEAR THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES AND BECAME A
TROPICAL DEPRESSION ON 18 JULY ABOUT 65 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF
CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA. THE DEPRESSION CONTINUED MOVING SLOWLY
TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AND BECAME A TROPICAL STORM ON 19 JULY ABOUT
225 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA. WHILE
CRISTOBAL MOVED NORTHEASTWARD...THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST ESCAPED
THE STRONGEST WINDS SINCE MOST OF THE ASSOCIATED WEATHER WAS
LOCATED TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER. CRISTOBAL MOVED AWAY FROM THE
UNITED STATES WITH INCREASING FORWARD SPEED AND THEN REACHED ITS
MAXIMUM INTENSITY OF 65 MPH ON 21 JULY ABOUT 725 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA. CRISTOBAL THEN MOVED TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AND
BECAME EXTRATROPICAL ON 23 JULY ABOUT 380 MILES EAST OF HALIFAX. 

DOLLY ORIGINATED FROM A TROPICAL WAVE THAT EMERGED FROM AFRICA ON 11
JULY. THE SYSTEM MOVED RAPIDLY WESTWARD AND GENERATED A SURFACE LOW
PRESSURE AREA ABOUT 1600 MILES EAST OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS ON 13
JULY. THE LOW MOVED GENERALLY WESTWARD OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS
AND CROSSED THE WINDWARD ISLANDS EARLY ON 17 JULY. AS THE SYSTEM
TRAVERSED THE EASTERN AND CENTRAL CARIBBEAN IT HAD A BROAD
LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION WITH WINDS TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE IN
SQUALLS...BUT NO DEFINITE CENTER OF CIRCULATION. ON 20 JULY...WHEN
THE SYSTEM REACHED THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN...A WELL-DEFINED
CIRCULATION CENTER FORMED...MARKING THE FORMATION OF A TROPICAL
STORM ABOUT 300 MILES EAST OF CHETUMAL MEXICO. THE STORM MOVED
NORTHWESTWARD AND TEMPORARILY BECAME DISORGANIZED WHILE ITS CENTER
WAS REFORMING NEAR THE NORTHEASTERN YUCATAN PENINSULA. DOLLY
REORGANIZED OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO ON 21 JULY AND HEADED
WEST-NORTHWESTWARD TOWARD THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO. ON 22 JULY
THE CYCLONE TURNED TOWARD THE NORTHWEST AND STRENGTHENED INTO A
HURRICANE. DOLLY'S FORWARD SPEED SLOWED AND IT REACHED A PEAK
INTENSITY OF 100 MPH ON 23 JULY SHORTLY BEFORE ITS EYE MADE
LANDFALL ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TEXAS...A SHORT DISTANCE SOUTHEAST
OF PORT MANSFIELD. AFTER LANDFALL THE CYCLONE STEADILY WEAKENED. IT
BECAME A TROPICAL STORM EARLY ON 24 JULY AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION
LATER THAT DAY AS IT CROSSED THE RIO GRANDE RIVER...WHILE
CONTINUING TO DUMP HEAVY RAINS ALONG ITS PATH. DOLLY'S SURFACE
CIRCULATION DISSIPATED OVER NORTHERN MEXICO ON 25 JULY BUT ITS
REMNANTS ALOFT MOVED OVER NEW MEXICO ON 26-27 JULY WHILE CONTINUING
TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS. ONE PERSON DROWNED IN ROUGH SURF IN THE
FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND PRELIMINARY DAMAGE TOTALS RANGE FROM 750
MILLION TO 1 BILLION DOLLARS.

EDOUARD WAS A SHORT-LIVED TROPICAL STORM THAT FORMED AS A DEPRESSION
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO ABOUT 160 MILES SOUTH OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA ON
3 AUGUST. THE DEPRESSION MOVED SLOWLY WESTWARD TO WEST-
NORTHWESTWARD AND STRENGTHENED INTO A TROPICAL STORM LATER THAT
DAY...ITS INTENSITY REACHING 50 MPH EARLY ON 4 AUGUST. EDOUARD
WEAKENED SLIGHTLY BUT RE-STRENGTHENED LATE ON 4 AUGUST AS IT
APPROACHED THE UPPER-TEXAS COAST. EDOUARD MADE LANDFALL AROUND 7 AM
CDT 5 AUGUST BETWEEN HIGH ISLAND AND SABINE PASS...AT THE MCFADDIN
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE...WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ESTIMATED
TO BE 65 MPH. EDOUARD MOVED INLAND AND WEAKENED TO A DEPRESSION
EARLY ON 6 AUGUST...BEFORE DISSIPATING OVER NORTHWEST TEXAS LATE
THAT DAY. THE EFFECTS OF EDOUARD WERE RELATIVELY MINIMAL. SOME
MINOR COASTAL FLOOD DAMAGE WAS REPORTED IN TERREBONNE PARISH
LOUISIANA AS EDOUARD PASSED THROUGH THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO.
LITTLE DAMAGE WAS REPORTED ALONG THE UPPER-TEXAS COAST...MOSTLY
LIMITED TO FLOODING IN A SMALL NUMBER OF HOMES. RAINFALL AMOUNTS
OVER 6 INCHES WERE REPORTED...THE MAXIMUM OCCURRING IN BAYTOWN
TEXAS...AND SOME ROADWAYS WERE BRIEFLY UNDER WATER. THERE WAS ONE
DIRECT DEATH REPORTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH EDOUARD.

FAY WAS A LONG-LIVED AND SLOWLY-MOVING TROPICAL STORM THAT SPENT
MOST OF ITS LIFE CENTERED NEAR OR OVER LAND...DUMPING HEAVY RAINS
THAT PRODUCED DAMAGING AND DEADLY FLOODS OVER PORTIONS OF THE
GREATER ANTILLES AND FLORIDA. ORIGINATING FROM A TROPICAL
WAVE...FAY FORMED ON 15 AUGUST AS A TROPICAL STORM WITH MAXIMUM
WINDS OF ABOUT 40 MPH AS IT CROSSED THE EASTERN COAST OF
HISPANIOLA. ITS STRENGTH CHANGED LITTLE AS IT TRAVERSED THAT ISLAND
AND THE WINDWARD PASSAGE ON THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE STORM GAINED A
LITTLE STRENGTH...WITH MAXIMUM WINDS REACHING ABOUT 50 MPH ON 17
AUGUST AS ITS CENTER PASSED JUST OFFSHORE THE SOUTHERN COAST OF
EASTERN CUBA. RESPONDING TO A BREAK IN A SUBTROPICAL RIDGE OVER
FLORIDA...FAY TURNED NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD OVER CENTRAL CUBA THE NEXT
DAY. MAXIMUM WINDS INCREASED TO ABOUT 60 MPH AS THE STORM MOVED
INTO THE FLORIDA STRAITS...AND THE CENTER OF THE CYCLONE PASSED
OVER THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS LATE ON 18 AUGUST. FAY TURNED
NORTHEASTWARD ON 19 AUGUST...MAKING LANDFALL EARLY THAT DAY ON THE
SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA AT CAPE ROMANO WITH
MAXIMUM WINDS OF 60 MPH. EVEN AFTER MOVING INLAND FAY
STRENGTHENED...EXHIBITING WHAT RESEMBLED A CLASSICAL EYE IN RADAR
AND SATELLITE IMAGERY...AND IT REACHED ITS PEAK INTENSITY OF ABOUT
65 MPH AS IT PASSED OVER THE WESTERN SHORES OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE.
DURING 20-23 AUGUST...HOWEVER...CONTINUED INTERACTION WITH THE
LANDMASS OF NORTHERN FLORIDA CAUSED THE CYCLONE TO WEAKEN
SLIGHTLY...WITH FAY'S MAXIMUM WINDS REMAINING 50-60 MPH DURING MOST
OF THAT PERIOD. THE CENTER OF FAY MADE TWO BRIEF REAPPEARANCES OVER
WATER...OFF THE NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA COAST ON 20-21 AUGUST...AND
OVER APALACHEE BAY EARLY ON 23 AUGUST. UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A
HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER THE EASTERN UNITED STATES...FAY HEADED
SLOWLY WEST-NORTHWESTWARD OVER THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE ON 23
AUGUST...FINALLY WEAKENING TO A DEPRESSION EARLY THE NEXT DAY. FAY
REMAINED A DEPRESSION FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS IT MOVED
SLOWLY OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES...AND EVENTUALLY
DEGENERATED INTO A REMNANT LOW OVER NORTHERN ALABAMA ON 26 AUGUST.
DUE TO FAY'S VERY SLOW MOTION...STORM-TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN
SOME AREAS WERE STAGGERING...INCLUDING A FEW LOCATIONS IN
EAST-CENTRAL FLORIDA THAT RECEIVED MORE THAN TWO FEET OF RAIN.
FAY'S RAIN-INDUCED FLOODS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND WERE
DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR NUMEROUS DEATHS IN THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC...HAITI...AND FLORIDA. HOWEVER...FINAL FATALITY TOTALS AND
DAMAGE COST ESTIMATES HAVE NOT YET BEEN COMPILED.

GUSTAV WAS A MAJOR HURRICANE ORIGINATING FROM A TROPICAL WAVE THAT
EMERGED FROM THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA ON 13 AUGUST. THE WAVE FIRST
SHOWED SIGNS OF ORGANIZATION ON 18 AUGUST. HOWEVER...SIGNIFICANT
DEVELOPMENT DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE SYSTEM WAS OVER THE
SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA ON 24 AUGUST. A TROPICAL DEPRESSION
FORMED EARLY ON 25 AUGUST ABOUT 110 MILES NORTHEAST OF BONAIRE IN
THE NETHERLAND ANTILLES. THE DEPRESSION STRENGTHENED RAPIDLY AS IT
MOVED NORTHWESTWARD...BECOMING A TROPICAL STORM LATER THAT DAY.
GUSTAV BECAME A HURRICANE EARLY ON 26 AUGUST AND MADE LANDFALL
LATER THAT DAY ON THE SOUTHWESTERN PENINSULA OF HAITI AS A CATEGORY
1 HURRICANE. THE CYCLONE WEAKENED TO A TROPICAL STORM AND MOVED
SLOWLY WESTWARD JUST NORTH OF THE SOUTHWESTERN PENINSULA OF HAITI
ON 27 AUGUST...THEN TURNED WEST-SOUTHWESTWARD EARLY ON 28 AUGUST.
GUSTAV RESUMED A WESTWARD MOTION LATER THAT DAY AND MOVED OVER
JAMAICA. ON 29 AUGUST...GUSTAV TURNED NORTHWESTWARD AND
RE-INTENSIFIED INTO A HURRICANE AS IT APPROACHED THE CAYMAN
ISLANDS. THE CYCLONE PASSED THROUGH THE CAYMAN ISLANDS EARLY ON 30
AUGUST AS A CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE...AND RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED INTO A
MAJOR HURRICANE LATER THAT DAY. GUSTAV MADE LANDFALLS IN THE CUBAN
PROVINCES OF THE ISLE OF YOUTH AND PINAR DEL RIO ON 30 AUGUST AS A
STRONG CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 150
MPH. GUSTAV EMERGED INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO EARLY ON
31 AUGUST HURRICANE AND ACCELERATED NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS THE GULF.
IT MADE ITS FINAL LANDFALL NEAR COCODRIE LOUISIANA ON 1 SEPTEMBER
AS A CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE. AFTER LANDFALL...GUSTAV WEAKENED TO A
TROPICAL DEPRESSION OVER NORTHWESTERN LOUISIANA ON 2
SEPTEMBER...THEN BECAME EXTRATROPICAL OVER THE MID-MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY ON 4 SEPTEMBER. THE GUSTAV REMNANT LOW WAS ABSORBED OVER THE
CENTRAL GREAT LAKES ON 5 SEPTEMBER.

GUSTAV LEFT A LONG TRAIL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.  MAJOR WIND AND
STORM SURGE DAMAGE OCCURRED DURING GUSTAV'S LANDFALL IN CUBA...
WHILE HEAVY RAINS IN HAITI CAUSED DESTRUCTIVE MUDSLIDES. STRONG
WINDS...HIGH STORM SURGES...AND HEAVY RAINS ALSO CAUSED AN ESTIMATED
4.3 BILLION DOLLARS DAMAGE IN LOUISIANA.  THE ESTIMATED DEATH TOLL
FROM GUSTAV IS 112...OF WHICH AT LEAST 77 OCCURRED IN HAITI. 
HOWEVER...THIS ESTIMATE IS HIGHLY UNCERTAIN DUE TO THE SUBSEQUENT
EFFECTS OF HANNA AND IKE ON THE CARIBBEAN AREAS AFFECTED BY
GUSTAV...AND THE DIFFICULTIES OF DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN DIRECT AND
INDIRECT DEATHS.

HANNA FORMED FROM A TROPICAL WAVE THAT MOVED OFF THE WEST COAST OF
AFRICA ON 19 AUGUST. ASSOCIATED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
GRADUALLY INCREASED AS THE WAVE PROGRESSED WESTWARD ACROSS THE
ATLANTIC...AND ON 26 AUGUST THE WAVE SPAWNED AN AREA OF LOW
PRESSURE ABOUT 550 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD
ISLANDS. ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS LED
TO THE FORMATION OF A TROPICAL DEPRESSION ABOUT 350 MILES
EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS ON 28 AUGUST. THE
DEPRESSION BECAME A TROPICAL STORM SIX HOURS LATER. HANNA MOVED
BETWEEN WEST-NORTHWEST AND NORTHWEST OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
DAYS...PASSING A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES NORTH OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS
AND PUERTO RICO. PERSISTENT VERTICAL WIND SHEAR FROM AN UPPER-LEVEL
LOW TO THE WEST OF HANNA KEPT THE STORM FROM SIGNIFICANTLY
STRENGTHENING. ON 1 SEPTEMBER...HANNA BEGAN MOVING SOUTHWESTWARD
AND STRENGTHENED INTO A HURRICANE THAT AFTERNOON. HANNA REACHED A
PEAK INTENSITY OF 80 MPH AS ITS CENTER PASSED OVER PORTIONS OVER
THE CAICOS ISLANDS EARLY ON 2 SEPTEMBER. STRONG SHEAR WEAKENED THE
HURRICANE LATER THAT DAY AS IT CONTINUED TO MOVE VERY SLOWLY
SOUTHWARD. OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO HANNA WEAKENED TO A TROPICAL
STORM AND MADE A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE LOOP BETWEEN THE TURKS AND
CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE NORTHERN COAST OF HISPANIOLA. HANNA THEN
MOVED NORTH OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS LATE ON 3
SEPTEMBER...AND BEGAN MOVING NORTHWESTWARD...PASSING JUST EAST OF
THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS ON 4 SEPTEMBER. THE NEXT DAY...THE CYCLONE
MOVED JUST EAST OF THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS AND THEN TURNED
NORTHWARD...PASSING ABOUT 150 MILES EAST OF THE COAST OF NORTH
FLORIDA. HANNA ACCELERATED NORTHWARD AND MADE LANDFALL WITH 70 MPH
WINDS DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF 6 SEPTEMBER NEAR THE BORDER
OF NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. HANNA WEAKENED BUT REMAINED A TROPICAL
STORM AS IT PASSED OVER NORTH CAROLINA AND EASTERN VIRGINIA. THE
STORM TURNED NORTHEASTWARD AND MOVED ALONG THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST.
HANNA BECOME EXTRATROPICAL AS IT EXITED THE COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS
EARLY ON 7 SEPTEMBER. THE EXTRATROPICAL REMNANTS OF HANNA MOVED
ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN CANADA...THEN TURNED EASTWARD AND MERGED WITH A
FRONTAL BOUNDARY AFTER PASSING ST. JOHN'S NEWFOUNDLAND ON 8
SEPTEMBER.  

REPORTS INDICATE THAT HANNA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR VERY HEAVY RAINFALL
IN HAITI THAT RESULTED IN AN ESTIMATED 500 FATALITIES.  HANNA
PRODUCED MINOR WIND AND FLOOD DAMAGE IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS
ISLANDS.  IN THE UNITED STATES...DAMAGE WAS RELATIVELY MINOR IN
NATURE...BUT OCCURRED OVER A LARGE AREA...TOTALLING AN ESTIMATED
$160 MILLION DOLLARS.  

IKE WAS A MAJOR CAPE VERDE HURRICANE THAT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE
AND MANY DEATHS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE CARIBBEAN AND ALONG THE
COASTS OF TEXAS AND LOUISIANA. IKE ORIGINATED FROM A WELL-DEFINED
TROPICAL WAVE THAT MOVED OFF THE COAST OF WEST AFRICA ON 28 AUGUST
AND BECAME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION ON 1 SEPTEMBER ABOUT 1470 MILES
EAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS. THE DEPRESSION QUICKLY STRENGTHENED TO
A TROPICAL STORM LATER THAT DAY BUT THEN WENT THROUGH A MORE
GRADUAL INTENSIFICATION FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS AS IT MOVED
WEST-NORTHWEST OVER THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC. IKE BECAME A HURRICANE
ON 3 SEPTEMBER AND RAPIDLY INTENSIFIED TO A MAJOR HURRICANE LATER
THAT DAY. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING CONTINUED...TO CATEGORY 4
STATUS...AS IKE ACHIEVED A PEAK INTENSITY OF 145 MPH ON 4 SEPTEMBER
WHEN IT WAS LOCATED 550 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.
THEREAFTER...NORTHEASTERLY SHEAR INCREASED OVER THE SYSTEM WHEN
STRONG HIGH PRESSURE BUILT OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC...AND IKE
WEAKENED A BIT AS IT MOVED WEST-SOUTHWESTWARD FROM 5-6 SEPTEMBER.
THE WEAKENING TREND WAS SHORT-LIVED...AND IKE REGAINED CATEGORY 4
STATUS JUST BEFORE MOVING ACROSS THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND
GREAT INAGUA ISLAND IN THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS EARLY ON 7
SEPTEMBER. 

IKE CONTINUED WESTWARD AND MADE LANDFALL ALONG THE NORTHEAST COAST
OF CUBA IN THE PROVINCE OF HOLGUIN EARLY ON 8 SEPTEMBER WITH
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ESTIMATED TO BE 125 MPH. IKE THEN MOVED
ACROSS EASTERN CUBA FOR SEVERAL HOURS...RE-EMERGED OFF THE SOUTH
COAST LATER THAT DAY...AND MAINTAINED CATEGORY 1 STATUS AS IT MOVED
WEST-NORTHWESTWARD ALONG THE SOUTH COAST OF CUBA. IKE MADE A SECOND
LANDFALL IN CUBA OVER THE EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE PROVINCE
OF PINAR DEL RIO ON 9 SEPTEMBER WITH WINDS OF 80 MPH...AND MOVED
INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO LATER THAT DAY. 

IKE DEVELOPED A LARGE WIND FIELD AS IT MOVED NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS
THE GULF OF MEXICO OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS AND GRADUALLY
INTENSIFIED AS IT APPROACHED THE TEXAS COAST. IKE MADE LANDFALL
ALONG THE NORTH END OF GALVESTON ISLAND IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
OF 13 SEPTEMBER AS A CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE...WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS OF 110 MPH. THE HURRICANE WEAKENED AS IT MOVED INLAND ACROSS
EASTERN TEXAS AND ARKANSAS AND THEN TOWARD THE OHIO VALLEY...WHERE
ITS EXTRATROPICAL REMNANTS PRODUCED WIND GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT FLOODING AND MUD SLIDES FROM IKE KILLED 74
PEOPLE IN HAITI AND 2 IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. NO DEATHS WERE
REPORTED IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND SOUTHEASTERN
BAHAMAS...ALTHOUGH ABOUT 70 TO 80 PERCENT OF THE HOUSES ON GREAT
INAGUA ISLAND SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE. IKE ALSO CAUSED EXTENSIVE WIND
AND STORM SURGE DAMAGE AS IT CROSSED THE ISLAND OF CUBA...WHERE 7
DEATHS WERE REPORTED. ALTHOUGH IKE PRODUCED SOME WIND DAMAGE ACROSS
SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...THE DESTRUCTION FROM
STORM SURGE WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ASPECT OF THE HURRICANE...
PARTICULARLY ALONG THE BOLIVAR PENINSULA EAST OF GALVESTON.
AS OF THE END OF NOVEMBER...MEDIA REPORTS INDICATE THAT THERE WERE
19 DIRECT DEATHS IN TEXAS...LOUISIANA...AND ARKANSAS...11 OF WHICH
WERE FROM DROWNING IN STORM SURGE. THE NUMBER OF MISSING PERSONS
HAS DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE THE STORM...BUT AT LEAST 11
PEOPLE ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR...MAINLY FROM GALVESTON AND THE
BOLIVAR PENINSULA. THE REMNANTS OF IKE ALSO CAUSED WIND DAMAGE AND
SEVERAL DOZEN INDIRECT DEATHS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI
AND OHIO VALLEYS.

JOSEPHINE DEVELOPED FROM A WELL-ORGANIZED TROPICAL WAVE THAT
DEPARTED THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA LATE ON 31 AUGUST.  A TROPICAL
DEPRESSION FORMED EARLY ON 2 SEPTEMBER...LOCATED ABOUT 170
MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. THE DEPRESSION
BECAME A TROPICAL STORM SIX HOURS LATER AS THE SYSTEM WAS
MOVING WEST-NORTHWESTWARD. JOSEPHINE REACHED A PEAK INTENSITY OF 65
MPH ON 3 SEPTEMBER WHILE THE SYSTEM WAS LOCATED ABOUT 305 MILES
WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. THEREAFTER...A
COMBINATION OF MODERATE TO STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WIND SHEAR AND
COOLING WATERS CAUSED THE STORM TO SLOWLY WEAKEN DURING THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS.  EARLY ON 6 SEPTEMBER...JOSEPHINE WEAKENED TO A
TROPICAL DEPRESSION AND SIX HOURS LATER DISSIPATED AS A
TROPICAL CYCLONE BECAUSE IT WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE DEEP CONVECTION.
THE REMNANT LOW OF JOSEPHINE CONTINUED TO MOVE GENERALLY WESTWARD
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE DISSIPATING ABOUT 520 MILES EAST
OF GUADELOUPE.

KYLE ORIGINATED FROM AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE THAT FORMED IN THE
WINDWARD ISLANDS ON 19 SEPTEMBER. THE LOW MOVED SLOWLY TOWARD THE
NORTHWEST AND THEN DRIFTED OVER WESTERN PUERTO RICO AND THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS...PRODUCING TORRENTIAL
RAINS AND DAMAGING FLASH FLOODS OVER PUERTO RICO. ONCE THE LOW
MOVED NORTHWARD AWAY FROM HISPANIOLA IT DEVELOPED A WELL-DEFINED
CENTER AND BECAME A TROPICAL STORM LATE ON 25 SEPTEMBER. KYLE MOVED
ON A GENERAL NORTHWARD TRACK AND PASSED WELL TO THE WEST OF BERMUDA
ON THE MORNING OF 27 SEPTEMBER AND BECAME A HURRICANE LATER ON THAT
DAY. KYLE ACCELERATED NORTHWARD WITH NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN
STRENGTH AND MOVED OVER WESTERN NOVA SCOTIA LATE ON 28 SEPTEMBER.
IT CONTINUED NORTHWARD AND LOST TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS AS IT
APPROACHED NEW BRUNSWICK. THE EFFECTS OF KYLE IN CANADA ARE STILL
BEING ASSESSED.

LAURA ORIGINATED FROM A NON-TROPICAL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE
CENTRAL NORTH ATLANTIC.  IT FORMED AS A SUBTROPICAL STORM WITH 60
MPH WINDS EARLY ON 29 SEPTEMBER ABOUT 1000 MILES WEST OF THE
WESTERNMOST AZORES ISLANDS.  LAURA INITIALLY MOVED WEST-
NORTHWESTWARD BUT IT SOON TURNED NORTHWARD.  ON 30 SEPTEMBER...THE
SYSTEM MADE THE TRANSITION TO A TROPICAL STORM.  LAURA TURNED
NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD AND LOST TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS ON 1 OCTOBER
ABOUT 300 MILES EAST OF CAPE RACE NEWFOUNDLAND.  THE EXTRATROPICAL
CYCLONE CONTINUED OVER THE NORTH ATLANTIC FOR A FEW DAYS AND LOST
ITS IDENTITY BY 4 OCTOBER.

MARCO FORMED OUT OF A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE THAT HAD PERSISTED
OVER THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN AND YUCATAN PENINSULA FOR SEVERAL
DAYS AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER. BY 4 OCTOBER THE LOW BECAME BETTER
DEFINED NEAR BELIZE...BUT THEN MOVED INLAND OVER THE YUCATAN
PENINSULA. AS THE LOW APPROACHED THE BAY OF CAMPECHE ON 5 OCTOBER
THE CLOUD PATTERN GAINED ORGANIZATION...AND THE SYSTEM
BECAME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION EARLY ON 6 OCTOBER WHILE CENTERED OVER
THE TERMINOS LAGOON IN THE STATE OF CAMPECHE. THE DEPRESSION
QUICKLY STRENGTHENED TO A TROPICAL STORM...AND ITS WINDS REACHED 65
MPH EARLY ON 7 OCTOBER AS IT MOVED TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST. MARCO DID
NOT STRENGTHEN FURTHER...AND MADE LANDFALL BETWEEN TUXPAN AND
VERACRUZ ON THE MORNING OF 7 OCTOBER. THE CYCLONE WEAKENED RAPIDLY
AFTER MAKING LANDFALL AND DISSIPATED LATER THAT DAY. THERE HAVE
BEEN NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES OR SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. IT IS
ESTIMATED THAT AT TIMES THE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTENDED NO
MORE THAN ABOUT 12 MILES FROM THE CENTER. ALTHOUGH THE HISTORICAL
RECORD ON STORM SIZE IS VERY SHORT...DATING BACK ONLY TO
1988...MARCO'S 12 MILE EXTENT OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS MAKES
IT THE SMALLEST TROPICAL STORM ON RECORD IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN.

NANA WAS A WEAK AND SHORT-LIVED TROPICAL STORM THAT DEVELOPED FROM A
TROPICAL WAVE ON 12 OCTOBER ABOUT 925 MILES WEST OF THE CAPE VERDE
ISLANDS. NANA BECAME A TROPICAL STORM LATER THAT DAY. AS IT MOVED
STEADILY WEST-NORTHWESTWARD...SOUTHWESTERLY UPPER-LEVEL SHEAR
CONDITIONS CAUSED NANA TO WEAKEN INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION ON 13
OCTOBER. THE SYSTEM DEGENERATED INTO A REMNANT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
ON 14 OCTOBER ABOUT 1300 MILES EAST OF THE LESSER ANTILLES AND
EVENTUALLY DISSIPATED LATE ON 15 OCTOBER ABOUT 1000 MILES
EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.

OMAR FORMED FROM A TROPICAL WAVE THAT MOVED WESTWARD FROM THE COAST
OF AFRICA ON 30 SEPTEMBER.  THE WAVE MOVED SLOWLY ACROSS THE
TROPICAL ATLANTIC AND REACHED THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA ON 10
OCTOBER.  THE ASSOCIATED SHOWER ACTIVITY SHOWED SIGNS OF
ORGANIZATION ON 11 OCTOBER...AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMED ON 13
OCTOBER ABOUT 220 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF CURACAO IN THE
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES.  THE CYCLONE MOVED SLOWLY AND ERRATICALLY ON
13-14 OCTOBER...AND IT BECAME A TROPICAL STORM ON 14 OCTOBER ABOUT
130 MILES NORTH OF CURACAO.  OMAR TURNED NORTHEASTWARD AND
ACCELERATED ON 15 OCTOBER AS IT BECAME A HURRICANE.  IT RAPIDLY
STRENGTHENED TO A PEAK INTENSITY OF 125 MPH EARLY ON 16 OCTOBER AS
IT PASSED THROUGH THE VIRGIN AND NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.  LATER
THAT DAY...SOUTHWESTERLY VERTICAL WIND SHEAR CAUSED RAPID WEAKENING
TO A CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE.  A TEMPORARY DECREASE IN THE SHEAR
ALLOWED OMAR TO RE-INTENSIFY ON 17 OCTOBER AS IT REMOVED RAPIDLY
NORTHEASTWARD OVER THE OPEN ATLANTIC.  HOWEVER...INCREASED SHEAR AND
COOLER SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES CAUSED OMAR TO WEAKEN...AND IT
DECAYED TO A REMNANT LOW ON 18 OCTOBER ABOUT 865 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CAPE RACE NEWFOUNDLAND.  THIS LOW MOVED SLOWLY
NORTHEASTWARD AND DISSIPATED EARLY ON 21 OCTOBER ABOUT 800 MILES
WEST OF THE AZORES ISLANDS.

OMAR DIRECTLY AFFECTED THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS...AS WELL AS ST.
CROIX IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS...WITH DAMAGE FROM WINDS...TIDES...AND
SURF REPORTED IN THESE AREAS.  SWELLS GENERATED BY THE HURRICANE
AFFECTED THE WESTWARD-FACING SHORES OF OTHER ISLANDS IN THE LESSER
ANTILLES.  AT THIS TIME...THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES FROM
OMAR.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION SIXTEEN FORMED ABOUT 50 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF
CABO GRACIAS A DIOS ON THE NICARAGUA/HONDURAS BORDER OUT OF A BROAD
AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN ON 14 OCTOBER. THE
SPRAWLING SYSTEM WAS NEVER ABLE TO GAIN MUCH ORGANIZATION AS IT
MOVED ALONG THE NORTH COAST OF HONDURAS. THE CENTER OF THE
DEPRESSION MOVED INLAND OVER NORTHEAST HONDURAS JUST AFTER 1200 UTC
15 OCTOBER AND DISSIPATED EARLY ON 16 OCTOBER.  THE DEPRESSION...
ITS PRECURSOR LOW...AND ITS REMNANTS CAUSED FLOODING IN PORTIONS OF
COSTA RICA...NICARAGUA...HONDURAS...EL SALVADOR AND GUATEMALA. 
FLOODS CAUSED BY THE DEPRESSION WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR NINE DEATHS
IN THE REGION.

PALOMA...THE SECOND STRONGEST NOVEMBER ATLANTIC HURRICANE ON
RECORD...FORMED FROM A BROAD AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER THAT
PERSISTED OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN
EARLY NOVEMBER. A TROPICAL WAVE THAT MOVED WEST OFF THE COAST OF
AFRICA ON 23 OCTOBER MOVED INTO THIS AREA ON 4
NOVEMBER...INCREASING THE COVERAGE AND ORGANIZATION OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. THE DISTURBANCE DEVELOPED INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION
ON 5 NOVEMBER ABOUT 115 MILES EAST OF CABO GRACIAS A DIOS ALONG THE
NICARAGUA/HONDURAS BORDER. THE DEPRESSION MOVED SLOWLY TO THE
NORTHWEST AND BECAME A TROPICAL STORM ON 6 NOVEMBER ABOUT 85 MILES
EAST-SOUTHEAST OF CABO GRACIAS A DIOS. LATER THAT DAY...PALOMA
TURNED TOWARD THE NORTH AND BEGAN TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY...BECOMING A
HURRICANE EARLY ON 7 NOVEMBER ABOUT 280 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF
MONTEGO BAY JAMAICA. PALOMA CONTINUED TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY AS IT
TURNED TO THE NORTHEAST AND MOVED VERY CLOSE TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
OF LITTLE CAYMAN AND CAYMAN BRAC ON 7-8 NOVEMBER. AS PALOMA
CONTINUED NORTHEAST TOWARD THE SOUTHERN COAST OF CUBA IT REACHED A
PEAK INTENSITY OF 145 MPH ON 8 NOVEMBER...WHEN IT WAS LOCATED ABOUT
35 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF SANTA CRUZ DEL SUR CUBA. AS VERTICAL
WIND SHEAR INCREASED...PALOMA BEGAN TO WEAKEN...MAKING LANDFALL
NEAR SANTA CRUZ DEL SUR LATE ON 8 NOVEMBER WITH AN ESTIMATED
INTENSITY OF 125 MPH.  

AFTER LANDFALL...PALOMA TURNED TOWARD THE NORTH...SLOWED...AND
RAPIDLY WEAKENED DUE TO STRONG VERTICAL WIND SHEAR AND INTERACTION
WITH LAND. PALOMA WEAKENED INTO A TROPICAL STORM ON 9 NOVEMBER NEAR
CAMAGUEY CUBA...AND THEN TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION EARLY ON 10
NOVEMBER ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CAMAGUEY. THE DEPRESSION
DEGENERATED INTO A REMNANT LOW ABOUT 40 MILES NORTH OF CAMAGUEY
LATER THAT DAY WHEN IT LOST ALL DEEP CONVECTION. THE REMNANT LOW OF
PALOMA MOVED SLOWLY NORTHWARD AND THEN MADE A LOOP OFF THE
NORTH-CENTRAL COAST OF CUBA ON 10-11 NOVEMBER. ON 11 NOVEMBER...THE
REMNANT LOW MOVED SOUTH AND THEN SOUTHWESTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL CUBA
INTO THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN. THE LOW TURNED TOWARD THE
WEST-NORTHWEST AND MOVED OVER THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA ON 12
NOVEMBER...AND EMERGED INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO ON 13
NOVEMBER. THE REMNANTS OF PALOMA THEN TURNED TOWARD THE NORTH AND
EVENTUALLY REACHED THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE ON 14 NOVEMBER.  

PALOMA DIRECTLY IMPACTED THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND CUBA WITH HIGH
WINDS...STORM SURGE...AND HEAVY RAINFALL.  DAMAGE WAS REPORTED
THESE AREAS...HOWEVER MONETARY DAMAGE FIGURES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. 
AT THIS TIME...THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES FROM PALOMA.  

SUMMARY TABLE

NAME            DATES          MAX WIND (MPH)         DEATHS
-------------------------------------------------------------------
TS ARTHUR    31 MAY-1 JUN           45                  5
MH BERTHA        3-20 JUL          125                  3
TS CRISTOBAL    19-23 JUL           65
H  DOLLY        20-25 JUL          100                  1
TS EDOUARD        3-6 AUG           65                  1
TS FAY          15-26 AUG           65                  *
MH GUSTAV    25 AUG-2 SEP          150                112
H  HANNA     28 AUG-7 SEP           80                500*
MH IKE           1-14 SEP          145                102*
TS JOSEPHINE      2-6 SEP           65
H  KYLE         25-29 SEP           80  
TS LAURA     29 SEP-1 OCT           60
TS MARCO          6-7 OCT           65
TS NANA         12-14 OCT           40
MH OMAR         13-18 OCT          125                  
TD SIXTEEN      14-15 OCT           30                  9
MH PALOMA        5-10 NOV          145 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
MH DENOTES MAJOR HURRICANE...CATEGORY 3 OR HIGHER ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE.  * DATA INCOMPLETE OR NOT AVAILABLE.

NOTES...DATES BASED ON COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME (UTC).  
 
$$
HURRICANE SPECIALISTS UNIT