Tropical Storm Beryl
Tropical Storm Beryl at peak intensity on July 20
Meteorological history
FormedJuly 18, 2006
DissipatedJuly 21, 2006
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds60 mph (95 km/h)
Lowest pressure1000 mbar (hPa); 29.53 inHg
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone reported
DamageMinimal
Areas affectedLong Island, Massachusetts, Atlantic Canada
IBTrACS
Part of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Beryl was the third tropical storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season. Developing from a tropical disturbance on July 18, it tracked generally northward, and strengthened to attain peak winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) under generally favorable conditions. After turning to the northeast, Beryl weakened over cooler waters. On July 21 it struck the island of Nantucket, and shortly thereafter it became extratropical. The extratropical remnants continued northeastward through Nova Scotia, and on July 22 it merged with an approaching cold front.

Beryl produced rough seas along the northeast United States coastline. In Massachusetts, its impact was limited to light rainfall and gusty winds, with no reported damage. Beryl later produced moderate rainfall and gusty winds across Atlantic Canada, resulting in some localized power outages though little damage. No deaths were reported.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A cold front moved off the East Coast of the United States on July 16 and stalled off the coast of North Carolina. It gradually decayed into a surface low pressure trough,[1] and developed into two disturbances; one was centered 290 miles (470 km) south-southeast of Cape Cod and another was located 200 miles (320 km) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.[2] The first low quickly organized into an unnamed tropical storm,[3] and the other area initially remained broad and ill-defined.[4] However, by July 18, the system became much better organized with improved banding features, and the area developed into Tropical Depression Two while located 220 miles (350 km) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras.[5]

Tropical Storm Beryl off the North Carolina on July 19

The depression moved slowly to the north-northwest through a break in the subtropical ridge,[5] and as convective banding features became more prominent the system intensified into Tropical Storm Beryl. Throughout much of its duration, the storm tracked through an environment with light vertical wind shear and well-established upper-level outflow.[1] Shortly after becoming a tropical storm, the low-level circulation of Beryl became exposed with limited deep convection,[6] though deep convection re-developed the following morning.[7] Outflow continued to improve, and with warm sea surface temperatures Beryl gradually intensified to attain peak winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) early on July 20 while located about 120 miles (190 km) east of Nags Head, North Carolina.[1]

Beryl maintained peak winds for about 18 hours as it paralleled the Mid-Atlantic and New Jersey coasts,[1] during which an eye-like feature developed in the center of the convection.[8] Late on July 20, it began a slow weakening trend after passing over cooler waters. Steering winds ahead of an approaching mid-level trough caused Beryl to accelerate northeastward, and early on July 21 the center of the storm crossed the island of Nantucket.[1] The convection diminished as it moved through progressively colder waters,[9] and shortly after 1200 UTC on July 21 Beryl became an extratropical cyclone a short distance east of Cape Cod.[1] Hours later, it made landfall in southwestern Nova Scotia, and on July 22 the extratropical remnants of Beryl merged with an approaching cold front over Newfoundland.[1]

Preparations

Forecasters initially predicted Beryl to brush the Carolinas; as such, a tropical storm watch was issued for the eastern coast of North Carolina from Cape Lookout northward to Currituck Beach Lighthouse. When a more northeastward track became apparent, a tropical storm watch was issued about 33 hours prior to moving ashore from Woods Hole to Plymouth, Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard. About 22 hours before landfall, the National Hurricane Center replaced the watch with a tropical storm warning for the same area, and also issued a tropical storm watch from Woods Hole, Massachusetts westward to New Haven, Connecticut and for the eastern portion of Long Island from east of Fire Island to Port Jefferson.[1] In anticipation for the storm, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency was activated as a trial run for the hurricane season. Local Red Cross chapters were opened, as well,[10] with two volunteer teams placed on standby to assist.[11] Across southeastern Massachusetts, police departments maintained extra staff in preparation for any potential problems from the storm. Many fishermen secured their boats, while some business owners boarded up windows to prevent storm damage.[10]

Several days prior to the passage of Beryl through Atlantic Canada, the Canadian Hurricane Centre issued gale warnings for the coastal waters off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.[8] In anticipation of heavy rainfall, the agency also issued heavy rainfall warnings for western Nova Scotia, including Halifax.[9]

Impact

Waves in Ocean City, New Jersey from Beryl

The storm caused high waves along the East Coast of the United States, with 19-foot seas (5.97 m) in the open ocean.[12] Waves along the southern coast of Nantucket reached 10 feet (3.0 m) in height as the storm approached the island,[13] resulting in four people being rescued by lifeguards from rip currents.[10] High surf also occurred along the southern coast of Massachusetts, prompting the closing of the ferries between Nantucket and Cape Cod.[12] Beryl produced a storm surge of 0.9 feet (0.27 m) on Nantucket. Winds across southeastern Massachusetts were fairly light, with no sustained tropical storm force winds and wind gusts peaking at 44 mph (71 km/h); unofficially gusts reached 51 mph (82 km/h).[1] Beryl dropped moderate precipitation just offshore,[14] though the maximum precipitation total in the United States was only 0.97 inches (25 mm) on Nantucket.[15] Rainfall along southeastern Massachusetts reached 0.33 inches (8.4 mm) at Chatham.[1] The only reported damage were some downed telephone poles and fallen tree branches.[16] Overall impact was minor; there were no reported power outages,[13] deaths, injuries,[1] or maritime emergencies in association with the storm.[14]

The remnants of Beryl dropped moderate precipitation in Atlantic Canada, officially peaking at 2.8 inches (71 mm) in Scots Bay, Nova Scotia[17] with an unofficially higher total of 3.5 inches (89 mm); in some locations 1 inch of rain fell in an hour.[18] Additionally, a station in Fredericton, New Brunswick reported 1.77 inches (45 mm) in two hours.[19] The rainfall caused some flooding, with some overflown streams flooding some streets. Moderate winds were reported along its path, which peaked at 60 mph (97 km/h) in southern Nova Scotia. The winds downed some tree limbs and led to some power outages. Overall damage was minor.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Richard Pasch (2006). "Tropical Storm Beryl Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  2. ↑ MAINELLI/BEVEN (2006). "July 16, 2006 Tropical Weather Outlook (2)". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2006-07-20.
  3. ↑ Eric Blake & John Beven (2006). "Unnamed Tropical Storm Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  4. ↑ Pasch (2006). "July 17, 2006 Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2006-07-20.
  5. 1 2 Stewart (2006). "Tropical Depression Two Discussion One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2006-07-20.
  6. ↑ Avila (2006). "Tropical Storm Beryl Discussion Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2006-07-20.
  7. ↑ Pasch (2006). "Tropical Storm Beryl Discussion Four". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2006-07-20.
  8. 1 2 Bowyer (2006). "Tropical Storm Beryl Information Statement on July 20, 2006". Canadian Hurricane Centre. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  9. 1 2 Fogarty and LaFortune (2006). "Tropical Storm Beryl Information Statement on July 21, 2006". Canadian Hurricane Centre. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  10. 1 2 3 Carolyn Johnson & Yuxing Zheng (2006-07-21). "Tropical Storm Beryl sweeps into region". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  11. ↑ Paul Shipman (2006). "Tropical Storm Beryl Threatens New England with Wind, Rain" (PDF). Charter Oak Chapter of the American Red Cross. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  12. 1 2 Andrew Ryan; Yuxing Zheng & Peter Schworm (2006-07-21). "Tropical Storm Beryl fizzles as it passes over Nantucket". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
  13. 1 2 NASA/GOES Project Office (2006). "Beryl's Effect on Nantucket Island, Mass". Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  14. 1 2 "Tropical Storm Beryl skirts Massachusetts". USA Today. Associated Press. 2006-07-21. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  15. ↑ Roth, David M (January 3, 2023). "Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 6, 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  16. ↑ Boston Globe (2006-07-22). "Tropical Storm Beryl Pays Nantucket a Visit". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  17. ↑ Canadian Press (2006). "Post-tropical storm Beryl leaves Atlantic Canada after dumping pouring rain". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  18. 1 2 Canadian Hurricane Centre (2007). "2006 Atlantic Hurricane Season Review". Archived from the original on 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  19. ↑ LaFortune and Bowyer (2006). "Tropical Storm Beryl Intermediate Information Bulletin on July 21". Canadian Hurricane Centre. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
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