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Hurricane Gabrielle (2001)
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Hurricane Gabrielle (2001) was, at the time of landfall near Venice, Florida, a strong tropical storm that produced a torrential amount of rain. The storm caused 3 deaths, one of those indirect.
eptember 5, a weak low- to mid-level trough was nearly stationary a short distance off the southeastern coastline of the United States. It remained stationary for several days, and on September 11 a low-level circulation developed about south-southeast of Charleston.
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Hurricane Gabrielle (2001) was, at the time of landfall near Venice, Florida, a strong tropical storm that produced a torrential amount of rain. The storm caused 3 deaths, one of those indirect.
Meteorological history
By September 5, a weak low- to mid-level trough was nearly stationary a short distance off the southeastern coastline of the United States. It remained stationary for several days, and on September 11 a low-level circulation developed about south-southeast of Charleston. With minimal associated convection, the system degenerated into an open trough as it drifted southwestward due to weak steering currents. The broad feature extending from the Bahamas to the eastern Gulf of Mexico gradually developed a mid-level center by September 9 over Florida. A surface low pressure area developed on September 10 over the eastern Gulf of Mexico,
and despite disorganized convection conditions favored further development. The low gradually became better organized, and by the time of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the low was well-organized enough with sufficiently organized convection for the National Hurricane Center to classify it as Tropical Depression Eight while located about 170 miles (270 km) west-northwest of Key West, Florida.
Located in an environment of weak steering currents, the depression drifted to the west-southwest. Northerly wind shear and the presence of an upper-level low near the system initially prevented further organization, leaving the center of the depression poorly defined with minimal convection. The depression gradually became better organized as it slowly executed a small counter-clockwise loop, and early on September 12 the system developed increased banding features over the eastern half of its circulation. By early on September 13 the upper level outflow over the depression became much more conducive for intensification, though at the surface the circulation initially remained very broad with light winds around the center. Shortly thereafter, deep convection developed and persisted near the center, and at 1200 UTC on September 13 the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Gabrielle while located about southwest of Venice, Florida. Under the influence of a mid-level trough, the storm accelerated northeastward and quickly intensified despite increasing amounts of westerly wind shear. Its center reformed several times under the deep convection, and on September 14 Gabrielle made landfall near Venice, Florida with winds of . At the time, Hurricane Hunters reported gusts to hurricane force, and the National Hurricane Center indicated the possibility that Gabrielle made landfall as a hurricane.
Land interaction and vertical wind shear quickly weakened Gabrielle over land; its convection decreased markedly with the strongest remaining convection remaining well to the northeast of the center. Upon reaching the Atlantic Ocean 18 hours after it made landfall with winds of , one forecaster at the National Hurricane Center remarked that the storm resembled an occluded frontal low, with a large circulation devoid of convection in a non-symmetric wind field. Another forecaster likened the storm to a subtropical cyclone due to dry air continuing to limit organization. On September 15, convection gradually developed closer to the center, though operationally forecasters were unsure whether the convection was in association with Gabrielle or to a cold front to its west. A Hurricane Hunters flight into the system reported the center of Gabrielle became elongated, resembling a trough, with one forecaster considering the storm on the verge of becoming an extratropical cyclone. Shortly thereafter, convection increased near the center as the storm became stronger and better organized.
Despite strong amounts of wind shear, Gabrielle intensified to attain hurricane status early on September 17 while located about 350 miles (560 km) to the west of Bermuda. Continuing northeastward, the hurricane strengthened slightly further to reach peak winds of about northwest of Bermuda. Shortly thereafter, a banding eye briefly developed in the center of the convection. However, increased wind shear diminished the convection, and Gabrielle weakened to tropical storm status September 18. By early on September 19, wind shear dissipated nearly all of the associated deep convection, and Gabrielle transitioned into an extratropical cyclone about south of Newfoundland. The extratropical remnant continued to the northeast, passing a short distance southeast of Newfoundland before restrengthening to reach winds of . The storm weakened, and on September 21 the extratropical remnant of Gabrielle merged with another extratropical storm over the far northern Atlantic Ocean.
Preparations
Shortly after Gabrielle become a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning from Craig Key through the Dry Tortugas in the Florida Keys and along the Florida west coast from Flamingo to the mouth of the Suwanee River. Additionally, a hurricane watch was issued from Chokoloskee to Tarpon Springs. The next day, a tropical storm warning was issued for Lake Okeechobee and the Florida east coast from Jupiter to Saint Augustine.
The government of Bermuda issued a gale warning for the island before changing it to a tropical storm warning on September 16.
The Newfoundland Weather Center issued severe weather warnings for portions of Atlantic Canada prior to the arrival of the extratropical remnant of Gabrielle. Rough sea warnings were issued for waters off of the Avalon Peninsula of eastern Newfoundland, and fishermen were recommended to remain away from the ocean.
Impact
United States
Upon making landfall, Gabrielle produced moderate winds along coastal areas of western Florida, reaching at Venice. High tides from rough waves and the storm surge reached , the highest tide since 1926. The tide flooded the northern shoreline of Charlotte Harbor and at the entrance to the Peace River, while further to the south a surge of greater than inundated the barrier island at Fort Myers Beach and flooded some cars. Beach erosion was common in the areas where the storm surge was greatest, as well.
While crossing the state, the storm produced locally strong winds along the Atlantic Florida coastline, peaking at at Saint Augustine.
Gabrielle, at the time a tropical storm, produced a torrential amount of rain over the state of Florida. Amounts added up to between the 4-7 inch range along its track. A foot of rain fell in Volusia and Lake counties in northeast Florida. Other reports of urban flooding and river flooding was also acknowledged throughout the state. In addition to the severe flooding of up to one foot, many reports of tornadoes also poured in. In all, there were eighteen reports of twisters as Gabrielle came ashore.
The hurricane coincidentally happened on the same day that the September 11, 2001 attacks happened in New York City and Washington DC, forcing the FAA to ground public and private air traffic on the very day that this storm formed. As the storm approached an exemption was issued for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama. Owners were able to evacuate their aircraft and provide emergency relief flights after the storm passed.
In all, Gabrielle killed two people directly and one indirectly. A fifteen-year-old boy died of drowning in Winter Springs, Florida. Another died due to a rip current off the coastline of Alabama. The indirect death was the cause of an individual falling off a boat and drowning due to intoxication.
Bermuda and Canada
In Bermuda, the combination of Gabrielle and the cold front to its west dropped about 1.8 inches of precipitation in a 4 day period. Wind gusts peaked at in an outer rainband. No damage was reported in the territory.
The extratropical remnant of Gabrielle passed a short distance south of Newfoundland, the second cyclone in less than a week to affect the area. The storm produced moderately strong wind gusts of over 60 mph (100 km) across the southern portion of the island, including a peak gust of 80 mph (130 km/h) at Cape Race. The storm also produced rough seas of up to 36 feet (11 m) in height. The remnant of Gabrielle dropped heavy rainfall in a short amount of time across Newfoundland, with one station at Cape Race recording in just 1 hour. The rainfall set the all time 6 hour precipitation record at St. John's, with a total of . Rainfall peaked at 6.9 inches (175 mm) at the Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's.
In St. John's, the rainfall caused severe flooding, with the mayor of the city considering Gabrielle "the worst storm in 100 years". There, the flooding washed out roads and parking lots, and also flooded some basements with several feet (1 m) of water. There were multiple reports of sewers unable to accompany the excess of water. Hurricane force wind gusts canceled flights and left thousands without power, telephone, or heat. Hundreds of homes and buildings were damaged by the passage of Gabrielle, totaling several million dollars in damage.
Aftermath
In response to the flooding in St. John's, Newfoundland, the city mayor activated the city's Emergency Preparedness Program. On September 27, about a week after the passage of the storm, the Emergency Measures Organization began accepting applications for flood-related damage. By about a month after the storm, 169 applications were processed, with an additional 1,762 received by the Emergency Measures Organization. Eligibility for the disaster assistance included restoration to property or household items of an essential nature. A few days after the passage of the storm, the government of Newfoundland appealed to the federal government for federal disaster relief fund; the government later approved. Ultimately, disaster relief assistance totaled $6.3 million (2001 CAD), primarily to individual assistance.
The name Gabrielle was not retired, and was re-used in 2007.
See also
External links
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