1fs. Superstorm Sandy, 2012In October 2012 Hurricane Sandy—also
called Superstorm Sandy—made its mark as one of the most devastating
North American weather events in recent years (Figure 12-3-1). First
reaching tropical storm status on October 22, it hit Jamaica as a
Category 1 hurricane on the 22nd, strengthened further as it migrated
northward, and hit eastern Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on the early
morning of October 25.After departing Cuba, Sandy tempo-rarily lost
hurricane status, but it reintensified to a hurricane while passing east
of southern Florida. The hurricane then continued along a northward
track roughly parallel to the U.S. East Coast. On October 29 it hit the
mainland south of New York City at Brigantine, New Jersey, with 130
km/hr (81 mph) maximum sustained winds.Meteorologically, Sandy was a
remarkable event for a number of reasons:• It was an unusually large
hurricane in terms of area covered.• The hurricane brought
record-breaking low pressure across much of the East Coast.• Sandy
traveled farther northward than most Atlantic hurricanes, especially for
that time of year.• The hurricane merged with a midlatitude cyclone
that swept along the United States to become a hybrid system with
tropical origins but well- defined cold and warm fronts.• It made
landfall near the most densely populated area of the United States.•
Landfall occurred during a large high tide.Hurricane PathAs the
hurricane paralleled the East Coast (Figure 12-3-2) it gained
considerable latent heat as it passed over the warm Gulf Stream, where
water temperatures were anomalously high for that time of year (Figure
12-3-3). This would not be a huge problem on land under normal
conditions, because most hurricanes move to the northeast out to sea.
But a combination of an upper-level trough to the west and high surface
pressure to the east forced an unusual westward turn toward the mainland
on October 28, the day before eventual landfall on the U.S.
mainland.Transition from Hurricane to Midlatitude CycloneOne very
interesting aspect of Sandy was how it evolved from a purely tropical
system to one that joined with a midlatitude cyclone as it approached
the eastern shore. Refer to Figure 12-3-2 to observe this development.
On the 27th and 28th, the two systems are completely distinct from each
other (Figures 12-3-2a and b), but by the 29th and 30th the storms had
become one (Figures 12-3-2c and d.).Winds and Storm SurgeThough the
winds decreased rapidly after landfall, the storm—which by this time had
lost its tropical characteristics—continued across much of the
mid-Atlantic region, as far inland as Ontario and eastern Ohio. Many
areas of New York City and the New Jersey shoreline were completely
inundated by a storm surge of up to 3.86 m (12.65 ft) above normal level
at Kings Point on western Long Island. Tourist areas along the shores
of New York City and New Jersey were severely damaged by the flood
surge. The town of Breezy Point on Staten Island lost over 100 homes as a
fire spread and the volunteer fire department was unable to immediately
get to the burning structures. Ironically, when they did arrive, a lack
of water pressure prevented them from extinguishing the
flames.Fatalities and DamageAbout 150 direct fatalities such as drowning
and trauma from flying debris were attributed to the storm across the
Caribbean and the United States (about 70 of these in the United
States), with about an equal number of deaths resulting from indirect
causes such as heart attacks. The United States incurred about $70
billion in damages—second only to Hurricane Katrina.FIGURE 12-3-1 Damage
from Superstorm Sandy. Six months after the storm, the remains of
destroyed houses in Mantoloking, New Jersey were still evident....What
were some of the unusual features of Superstorm Sandy? Get solution
2fs. Superstorm Sandy, 2012In October 2012 Hurricane Sandy—also called Superstorm Sandy—made its mark as one of the most devastating North American weather events in recent years (Figure 12-3-1). First reaching tropical storm status on October 22, it hit Jamaica as a Category 1 hurricane on the 22nd, strengthened further as it migrated northward, and hit eastern Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on the early morning of October 25.After departing Cuba, Sandy tempo-rarily lost hurricane status, but it reintensified to a hurricane while passing east of southern Florida. The hurricane then continued along a northward track roughly parallel to the U.S. East Coast. On October 29 it hit the mainland south of New York City at Brigantine, New Jersey, with 130 km/hr (81 mph) maximum sustained winds.Meteorologically, Sandy was a remarkable event for a number of reasons:• It was an unusually large hurricane in terms of area covered.• The hurricane brought record-breaking low pressure across much of the East Coast.• Sandy traveled farther northward than most Atlantic hurricanes, especially for that time of year.• The hurricane merged with a midlatitude cyclone that swept along the United States to become a hybrid system with tropical origins but well- defined cold and warm fronts.• It made landfall near the most densely populated area of the United States.• Landfall occurred during a large high tide.Hurricane PathAs the hurricane paralleled the East Coast (Figure 12-3-2) it gained considerable latent heat as it passed over the warm Gulf Stream, where water temperatures were anomalously high for that time of year (Figure 12-3-3). This would not be a huge problem on land under normal conditions, because most hurricanes move to the northeast out to sea. But a combination of an upper-level trough to the west and high surface pressure to the east forced an unusual westward turn toward the mainland on October 28, the day before eventual landfall on the U.S. mainland.Transition from Hurricane to Midlatitude CycloneOne very interesting aspect of Sandy was how it evolved from a purely tropical system to one that joined with a midlatitude cyclone as it approached the eastern shore. Refer to Figure 12-3-2 to observe this development. On the 27th and 28th, the two systems are completely distinct from each other (Figures 12-3-2a and b), but by the 29th and 30th the storms had become one (Figures 12-3-2c and d.).Winds and Storm SurgeThough the winds decreased rapidly after landfall, the storm—which by this time had lost its tropical characteristics—continued across much of the mid-Atlantic region, as far inland as Ontario and eastern Ohio. Many areas of New York City and the New Jersey shoreline were completely inundated by a storm surge of up to 3.86 m (12.65 ft) above normal level at Kings Point on western Long Island. Tourist areas along the shores of New York City and New Jersey were severely damaged by the flood surge. The town of Breezy Point on Staten Island lost over 100 homes as a fire spread and the volunteer fire department was unable to immediately get to the burning structures. Ironically, when they did arrive, a lack of water pressure prevented them from extinguishing the flames.Fatalities and DamageAbout 150 direct fatalities such as drowning and trauma from flying debris were attributed to the storm across the Caribbean and the United States (about 70 of these in the United States), with about an equal number of deaths resulting from indirect causes such as heart attacks. The United States incurred about $70 billion in damages—second only to Hurricane Katrina.FIGURE 12-3-1 Damage from Superstorm Sandy. Six months after the storm, the remains of destroyed houses in Mantoloking, New Jersey were still evident....What factors led to the huge amount of damage from Sandy? Get solution
2fs. Superstorm Sandy, 2012In October 2012 Hurricane Sandy—also called Superstorm Sandy—made its mark as one of the most devastating North American weather events in recent years (Figure 12-3-1). First reaching tropical storm status on October 22, it hit Jamaica as a Category 1 hurricane on the 22nd, strengthened further as it migrated northward, and hit eastern Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on the early morning of October 25.After departing Cuba, Sandy tempo-rarily lost hurricane status, but it reintensified to a hurricane while passing east of southern Florida. The hurricane then continued along a northward track roughly parallel to the U.S. East Coast. On October 29 it hit the mainland south of New York City at Brigantine, New Jersey, with 130 km/hr (81 mph) maximum sustained winds.Meteorologically, Sandy was a remarkable event for a number of reasons:• It was an unusually large hurricane in terms of area covered.• The hurricane brought record-breaking low pressure across much of the East Coast.• Sandy traveled farther northward than most Atlantic hurricanes, especially for that time of year.• The hurricane merged with a midlatitude cyclone that swept along the United States to become a hybrid system with tropical origins but well- defined cold and warm fronts.• It made landfall near the most densely populated area of the United States.• Landfall occurred during a large high tide.Hurricane PathAs the hurricane paralleled the East Coast (Figure 12-3-2) it gained considerable latent heat as it passed over the warm Gulf Stream, where water temperatures were anomalously high for that time of year (Figure 12-3-3). This would not be a huge problem on land under normal conditions, because most hurricanes move to the northeast out to sea. But a combination of an upper-level trough to the west and high surface pressure to the east forced an unusual westward turn toward the mainland on October 28, the day before eventual landfall on the U.S. mainland.Transition from Hurricane to Midlatitude CycloneOne very interesting aspect of Sandy was how it evolved from a purely tropical system to one that joined with a midlatitude cyclone as it approached the eastern shore. Refer to Figure 12-3-2 to observe this development. On the 27th and 28th, the two systems are completely distinct from each other (Figures 12-3-2a and b), but by the 29th and 30th the storms had become one (Figures 12-3-2c and d.).Winds and Storm SurgeThough the winds decreased rapidly after landfall, the storm—which by this time had lost its tropical characteristics—continued across much of the mid-Atlantic region, as far inland as Ontario and eastern Ohio. Many areas of New York City and the New Jersey shoreline were completely inundated by a storm surge of up to 3.86 m (12.65 ft) above normal level at Kings Point on western Long Island. Tourist areas along the shores of New York City and New Jersey were severely damaged by the flood surge. The town of Breezy Point on Staten Island lost over 100 homes as a fire spread and the volunteer fire department was unable to immediately get to the burning structures. Ironically, when they did arrive, a lack of water pressure prevented them from extinguishing the flames.Fatalities and DamageAbout 150 direct fatalities such as drowning and trauma from flying debris were attributed to the storm across the Caribbean and the United States (about 70 of these in the United States), with about an equal number of deaths resulting from indirect causes such as heart attacks. The United States incurred about $70 billion in damages—second only to Hurricane Katrina.FIGURE 12-3-1 Damage from Superstorm Sandy. Six months after the storm, the remains of destroyed houses in Mantoloking, New Jersey were still evident....What factors led to the huge amount of damage from Sandy? Get solution
