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This article documents a current extratropical cyclone. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (October 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
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| Category 5 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Hurricane Lorenzo near peak intensity on September 29
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| Formed | September 23, 2019 (2019-09-23) |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | Currently active |
| (Extratropical after October 2) | |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 160 mph (260 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 925 mbar (hPa); 27.32 inHg |
| Fatalities | 9 total, 8 missing |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | West Africa, Cape Verde, East Coast of the United States, Azores, British Isles |
| Part of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane and 2019–20 European windstorm seasons | |
Hurricane Lorenzo, also known as Storm Lorenzo for Ireland and the United Kingdom while extratropical, was the easternmost Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on record.[1] The storm was also the largest tropical cyclone observed in the Atlantic Ocean since 1995's Hurricane Luis. The twelfth named storm, fifth hurricane, third major hurricane and second Category 5 hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, Lorenzo developed from a tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa on September 22, growing larger in size over the course of its development. On September 26, it rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane before weakening due to an eyewall replacement cycle. After completing the cycle, Lorenzo rapidly re-strengthened, peaking at Category 5 intensity. Steady weakening followed as the storm moved through harsher atmospheric conditions. With a fastening northeastward track and an expanding wind field, Lorenzo skirted the western Azores on October 2, producing the strongest winds for a tropical cyclone there in 20 years. It transitioned into an extratropical cyclone shortly after, racing towards Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Through late September and early October, large swells radiated from the hurricane’s massive wind field, impacting much of the Atlantic basin. A French ship capsized amid the violent seas on September 27; among its 14 crew members, three were rescued, four drowned, and the remaining seven went missing. Albeit more than 2,000 mi (3,200 km) west of the storm, four people drowned in rip currents along the coast of North Carolina. Dangerous sea conditions also spread to Bermuda and as far south as the Caribbean coasts of South America. On October 2, Lorenzo sped past the western Azores, bringing brief but strong winds to much of the archipelago. Flores and Corvo endured the worst of these winds, with a maximum gust of 101 mph (163 km/h) recorded on the latter island.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
On September 19, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor a tropical wave that was forecast to emerge from the west coast of Africa.[2] On September 22, the tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic Ocean.[3] Under favorable conditions, the system quickly organized afterward, and at 03:00 UTC on the next day, the NHC initiated advisories on Tropical Depression Thirteen.[4] Twelve hours later, the depression strengthened to a Tropical Storm and was named Lorenzo south of Cape Verde.[5] Early on September 25, still under favorable conditions, the storm further intensified into a Category 1 hurricane.[6] Several hours later, on the same day, Lorenzo further intensified into a Category 2 hurricane while initiating an eyewall replacement cycle, which hindered the development of the system somewhat.[7] Early on September 26, the storm completed the cycle and underwent rapid intensification, reaching Category 4 status by 15:00 UTC that day. At this point, Lorenzo had become one of the largest and strongest hurricanes on record for the eastern Atlantic in the satellite era—the only comparable hurricane in recent times with similar size and intensity was Gabrielle in 1989.[8] Lorenzo continued to intensify, reaching its initial peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a central pressure of 939 mbar (hPa; 27.73 inHg) early on September 27.[9] The pressure continued to drop to 937 mbar (hPa; 27.67 inHg) over the next few hours.
As Lorenzo began to turn slowly northward, the sea surface temperature dropped slightly and the hurricane weakened with the onset of another eyewall replacement cycle late on September 27.[10] Though sea surface temperature remained at 28 °C (82 °F), strong wind shear continued to disrupt Lorenzo, causing the hurricane to bottom out as a low-end Category 3 storm on September 28.[11] Although restrengthening was not forecast due to moderate wind shear and low ocean heat content, Lorenzo defied expectations and re-intensified to a Category 4 hurricane upon completing its eyewall replacement.[12] Lorenzo continued to intensify, reaching Category 5 strength early on September 29,[13] becoming the easternmost hurricane of such intensity recorded in the Atlantic basin, surpassing Hugo in 1989.[14][1]
Lorenzo’s peak was short lived because of increasing wind shear, cooler waters, an intrusion of dry air, and a third eyewall replacement cycle; the hurricane lost its Category 5 status several hours later.[15] This weakening trend became faster as it encountered increasingly hostile conditions. The hurricane's large size upwelled plenty of cool water, and Lorenzo dropped below major hurricane strength early on September 30.[16] Early on October 2, Lorenzo passed just west of Flores Island, and weakened to a Category 1 storm.[17] After passing the Azores, Lorenzo began to transition to an extratropical cyclone as the cloud pattern became increasingly asymmetric in appearance,[18] eventually completing the transition by 15:00 UTC on October 2.[19]
On September 27, the French ship Bourbon Rhode, with 14 crew members on board, issued a distress signal after sailing through Lorenzo. A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft was diverted from the storm to assist in the search for the ship.[20][21] On September 28, it was confirmed that the ship had sunk. Three crew members were rescued on a lifeboat, but the remaining 11 went missing.[22] Four of the missing crews have been confirmed dead as of October 2.[23]
Despite being over 2,000 mi (3,200 km) away from the storm, United States National Weather Service (NWS) offices in Florida and North Carolina warned that the swells from Lorenzo could cause rip currents and beach erosion. People in coastal areas were advised to avoid being by the beaches.[24][25] However, four people drowned after being caught in rip currents in North Carolina.[26]InNew York City, two people were swept away by strong waves. One of them was rescued later, but the other one remains missing.[27]
InBermuda, Horseshoe Bay was closed to swimmers because of the dangerous swells.[28] The storm’s influence on sea conditions was felt as far south as the coasts of the Caribbean and South America.[29]
Early on September 30, the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA) issued hurricane and tropical storm watches for the Azores,[30] which were upgraded to warnings later that day.[31] Schools and government offices were closed on October 2 and people were told to remain indoors. Azores Airlines cancelled all flights to the islands.[32] Lorenzo was regarded as the strongest storm to hit the islands in 20 years. Wind gusts of 101 mph (163 km/h) were recorded at Corvo Island, while gusts at Faial Island and Flores Island reached 90 mph (145 km/h) and 88 mph (142 km/h) respectively.[33] Wave heights reached 15 m (49 ft) in the islands. 53 people were left homeless and had to be relocated.[34] The most serious damage occurred at the Port of Lajes das Flores, the only commercial port on Flores Island.[35] The port building and some cargo containers were swept away, while the dock itself was partially damaged.[32] On October 3, the government of the Azores declared an "energy crisis situation" in Flores and Corvo due to difficulties in supplying fuel to the two islands. Limits were placed on the sale of petrol at petrol stations on the two islands for the rest of October.[36]
On October 2, Met Éireann issued a orange wind warning for six counties on the western coast. Met Éireann also noted the potential for coastal flooding and damage due to large storm surges.[37] On the next day, Met Éireann issued a yellow wind warning for the entire country, and issued yellow rainfall warnings for Connacht, Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.[38]
On October 3, the extratropical remnants of Lorenzo passed over a M6 Buoy, which is located about 250 mi (400 km) west of Mace Head in Galway, recorded a pressure of 969 hPa (28.6 inHg).[39] The buoy also noted waves of 12.5 m (41 ft) near the center of Lorenzo.[40] A peak gust of 107 km/h (66 mph) was observed at Mace Head.[41] Thousands of homes and businesses lost power, with the Electricity Supply Board restoring 12,000 outages during the night of October 3–4; another 7,500 homes remained without power in the morning.[42]
On October 2, the Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for parts of Northern Ireland, as well as Cornwall, Devon and parts of Wales.[43] Though Lorenzo became extratropical before arrival, the system could still bring strong winds and heavy rains to the country, and cause transport disruption and power outages.[44] A 58-year-old man was killed by a falling tree in Stafford.[45]
The Netherlands reported gusts up to 65 km/h and precipation of 20 mm.
In addition to being the easternmost Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on record, Lorenzo featured the highest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index of any Atlantic tropical cyclone on record to the east of 45°W.[46] Additionally, Lorenzo spent more days as a major hurricane east of 45°W than any previous cyclone on record, surpassing Carrieof1957.[47]
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