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This article is about the Atlantic hurricane
of 1989. For other storms named Gabrielle, see
Hurricane GabrielleHurricane Gabrielle was the seventh named
storm, fourth hurricane and first major hurricane of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane
season. Gabrielle formed from a tropical
depression on August 30, 1989, and moved west-northwestward
before recurving and becoming a Category 4 hurricane on
September 5. Gabrielle reached a peak intensity of 145 mph
(225 km/h) before weakening into a tropical storm seven days
later and dissipating southeast of Atlantic Canada on September 13.
Although the storm never made landfall, its large size and
powerful winds produced high surf across the northern Leeward
Islands, Bermuda and
Eastern United
States. The waves caused nine fatalities (eight in the United States and
one in Canada) and moderate
beach erosion.
Meteorological history
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 28 and
developed a well organized circulation and became Tropical
Depression Ten on August 30. Located 1,000 miles
(1609 km) southeast of Tropical Storm Felix,
the depression tracked westward as a high pressure ridge formed
between the two storms. Satellite imagery showed the storm
developing a good outflow pattern and the data from the satellite
imagery prompted the National Hurricane Center to
upgrade the system to tropical storm
status and name it Gabrielle
on August 31, 1989.[1]
Tropical Storm Gabrielle then moved westward at 17 mph
(27 km/h) where it rapidly reached hurricane strength late on
September 2, 625 miles (1006 km) west of Cape Verde.[2] On the
same day, Gabrielle's winds reached to 105 mph (169 km/h)
as the storm was 1,200 miles (1,931 km) east of the Leeward
Islands.[3][4]
By September 3, a ridge of high pressure formed a wedge between
Gabrielle and Felix and on September 4, a trough extending from the
Atlantic
Canada southeastward to Florida caused Gabrielle to recurve
northwestward, which had already reached Category 4 status at
that point.[1][3] On
September 5, hurricane hunter aircraft reported winds of
at least 74 mph extending 100 miles (161 km) from
the center and tropical storm force winds 250 miles
(402 km) from the center as Gabrielle recurved west-northwest
at 15 mph (24 km/h).[5]
Hours later, another recon flight into Gabrielle revealed that
the barometric pressure was slowly rising and the eye began to expand
which is sign that the storm was slowly weakening. However,
forecasters were unsure if the weakening was temporary or definite
prompting one meteorologist to say that "Gabrielle may have reached
its peak intensity, but its too early to tell"-to explain the
uncertainty of Gabrielle’s strength and if the storm will
strengthen even further.[10]
The concerns were addressed when Gabrielle reached a peak intensity
of 145 mph (225 km/h) and a low barometric pressure of
939 millibars although the National Hurricane Center
suggested the barometric pressure may have ranged from 935 to 944
millibars. The storm passed northeastward
of the Leeward
Islands and turned northward in response to a weakening in the
ridge of high pressure
caused by Hurricane Felix.[11]
Moving northward at 14 mph (23 km/h) [12],
the winds of Gabrielle weakened as it bypassed Bermuda as a Category 2 hurricane.[3]
Gabrielle then weakened to a Category 1 hurricane before it
stalled 475 miles (764 km) southeast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts by September 10 as
it interacted with a frontal trough extending north to south across the
western Atlantic
Ocean. Embedded in the jet stream, Gabrielle drifted slowly
westward as it weakened to a tropical storm and recurved again to
the east in response to an approaching cold front. Gabrielle then dissipated on
September 12 and merged with a developing extratropical storm on September 13.[3][11]
Preparations
The National Hurricane Center
stated in its forecast on September 3 that Gabrielle has a 10
percent chance of affecting the Leeward Islands in three days.[4]
On September 5, meteorologists forecast the storm to bypass north
of the Virgin
Islands and told the press that it is too early to suggest that
the storm might hit the United States four or five days ahead of
its current position.[5] In
Jamaica, although Gabrielle
was not officially forecast to hit the island, a missionary
traveling across the island told residents about a prophecy that
Jamaica will face doom and suggested that the disaster might be
ether Hurricane Gabrielle or another hurricane in the near
future.[13]
As Hurricane Gabrielle moved west-northwest, forecasters at the
National Hurricane Center
advised residents along the East Coast of the United
States to monitor the storm because of its large size and
strong swells it is producing.[10]
When Gabrielle, recurved northwestward, the National Hurricane Center
forecast the outer edge of the hurricane to graze Bermuda, bringing
tropical storm force winds and strong waves to the island.[12]
In Bermuda, cruise
ships and other water craft were advised of rough seas and many
residents rushed to stores to buy emergency supplies.[14]
Impact
Numerous ships came in contact with Hurricane Gabrielle, two of
the ships reported winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) and
barometric pressures of 992 and 997 millibars. None of the
ships reported any damage.[15]
East
Caribbean and Bermuda
In Barbados, Gabrielle
brought 10 ft (3 m) waves and flooding to the island
nation, causing minor damage. There were no fatalities or
injuries.[10] In
Dominica and Guadeloupe, waves from
Gabrielle caused severe beach erosion along the north and east
coasts of the island but moderate damage was reported. However, the
erosion brought by Gabrielle and later Hurricane Hugo resulted loss of
14 ft (4.4 m) of beach. The Caribbean islands of Nevis and British Virgin Islands also
sustained minor to moderate beach erosion.[16] In Bermuda, waves of 10–20 ft
(4.6–6 m) were reported.[17]
United
States
A weather buoy in Outer Banks, North Carolina reported swells up to
10 feet (3 meters).[10]
Waves between 5 to 13 feet (1.5-4 meters) were reported
along the East Coast of the United
States from Florida to
Maryland.[12]
In Rhode Island
two teenagers were rescued by the United States Coast Guard
after being swept into the water by the waves. In Tenants Harbor,
Maine, a 19 year old woman drowned after slipping off a
rock shoreline. Two men who were with her tried to rescue the woman
but to no avail as the rough seas overpowered them. The men
themselves were later rescued by the crew of a fishing boat.[18]
In New
Hampshire, the United States Coast Guard
rescued two surfers while looking for a swimmer who was reported
missing earlier. Near Boston,
Massachusetts, a 25 year old man was reported missing in
the Ipswich
River north of Cape
Ann after a motorboat capsized in the rough surf. Two other
occupants including an infant
were rescued. In New
York City, a 37 year old man was reported missing and
presumed dead after his houseboat capsized in the heavy surf.
Another houseboat also
capsized, drowning a 58 year old woman. On shore, a large wave
swept two fishermen into the sea, where they drowned.[18]
Overall, Hurricane Gabrielle left eight people dead. No damage
estimate from Gabrielle’s impact on the United States exists.[19]
Atlantic
Canada
Hurricane Gabrielle southeast of
Nova Scotia on September 8, 1989.
In Atlantic
Canada, Gabrielle produced waves 20–30 feet
(6.1-9.1 meters) high along the south coast of Nova Scotia.[19]
One fatality was reported in Atlantic Canada when a man drowned
near Ketch Harbour when a wave swept him into the ocean.[20]
Because the damage from Hurricane Gabrielle was minimal, the
name was not retired by the World Meteorological
Organization in their meeting in the spring of 1990 and as a
result it was re-used in 1995, 2001, and 2007. It is currently on
the list of names for the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.
See also
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