|
Hurricane Gustav was the only major hurricane to form during the 1990 Atlantic hurricane season. Developing out of a tropical wave on August 24, Gustav tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean, steadily intensifying. The storm reached hurricane-status on August 26 and reached its initial peak intensity as a strong Category 2 hurricane the following day. After turning towards the north and weakening due to increased wind shear, the storm encountered more favorable conditions and re-intensified, attaining peak winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) around 0600 UTC on August 31. Gradual weakening took place in the following days. on September 2, the former hurricane underwent an extratropical transition and dissipated shortly after completing it. At that time, the system was located roughly 230 miles (370 km) south of Iceland. Hurricane Gustav initially posed a significant threat to the Lesser Antilles which had already suffered severe damages from Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Several watches and warnings were issued for the islands between August 26 and 27; however, due to the northward turn, Gustav did not directly impact the region. Only light rain and large swells were reported. Offshore, a ship encountered the storm and sustained hull damage. ==Meteorological history== Hurricane Gustav originated out of a tropical wave that moved off the western coast of Africa on August 18. Shortly after, the system became embedded within the Intertropical Convergence Zone and tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean. By August 23, the system began to intensify while convective activity become consolidated around the center of circulation. By 0600 UTC on August 24, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) estimated that the wave spawned Tropical Depression Eight roughly 965 miles (1,555 km) east of Barbados. A weak ridge of high pressure to the north of the depression led to a general westward movement of the system. Gradually strengthening, the depression was upgraded to a tropical storm early on August 25, at which time it was given the name ''Gustav''. A cold-core low pressure system near Gustav was forecast to have an effect on the development of the system; however, the tropical storm continued to intensify, attaining hurricane status around 1200 UTC on August 26. Not long after attaining hurricane-status, the ridge steering Gustav to the west began to break down, causing the hurricane to slowly turn towards the north.〔 By 0600 UTC on August 27, the storm attained Category 2 intensity, with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). Later that day, the storm made its closest approach to the Lesser Antilles, passing 205 miles (330 km) to the east.〔 By this time, hurricane and tropical storm-force winds extended 35 miles (55 km) and 175 miles (280 km) from the center respectively.〔 Tracking towards the north, Hurricane Gustav slightly weakened due to increasing wind shear,〔 with winds decreasing to 80 mph (130 km/h) early on August 29.〔 A trough located near Bermuda and the ridge located to the east of the hurricane kept Gustav on a northward track. The following day, the hurricane re-intensified and again reached Category 2 status. Early on August 31, Gustav further developed into a major hurricane, a storm with winds of 111 mph (178 km/h) or higher.〔 Around this time, Gustav began to interact with the nearby Tropical Storm Hortense, located roughly 460 miles (740 km) from Gustav. This initiated a Fujiwhara interaction between the two storms, causing Hortense to track counterclockwise around the more intense Gustav. Around 0600 UTC on August 31, Hurricane Gustav reached its peak intensity with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 956 mbar (hPa; 28.23 inHg), making it the strongest storm of the season.〔 At this time, the storm was located about 450 miles (725 km) east of Bermuda.〔 Throughout September 1, the storm weakened and the following day, it began to track towards the north-northeast as the ridge located to the east of it strengthened. Additionally, nearby ship reports of sustained winds indicated that tropical storm-force winds extended 230 miles (370 km) northwest of the center of circulation. The trough located west of Gustav began accelerating late on September 2, causing the hurricane to track towards the northeast, away from Newfoundland.〔 Around 1800 UTC, Gustav weakened to a tropical storm, as winds decreased to 70 mph (110 km/h).〔 By this time, Gustav had entered the Canadian Hurricane Centres area of responsibility, leading to them initiating advisories on the weakening storm. Early the next day, the former hurricane underwent and completed an extratropical transition. The last notice on the remnants of Gustav were while the system was located roughly 230 miles (370 km) south of Iceland.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hurricane Gustav (1990)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|