Hurrikan Hermine

Vorlage:Infobox hurricane current Hurricane Hermine is a currently active tropical cyclone that is threatening northwestern Florida and eventually the East Coast. The ninth tropical depression, eighth named storm and fourth hurricane of the season, Hermine developed from a long-tracked tropical wave that had previously crossed the Lesser and Greater Antilles. It is expected to be the first hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005, and is the first to develop in the Gulf of Mexico since Hurricane Ingrid in 2013.

Meteorological history

Vorlage:Storm path On August 18, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) first noted a tropical wave as a potential area for development, associated with an area of disorganized convection about 300 mi (480 km) southwest of Cabo Verde. Environmental conditions were expected to be favorable for continued organization. Dry and stable air was an initial inhibiting factor in development, although the convection and circulation had become better defined by August 21. By August 23, the system had developed an elongated and poorly-defined circulation, as indicated by the Hurricane Hunters. On the next day, the low pressure area crossed Guadeloupe into the Caribbean Sea while producing gale-force winds. By this point, the NHC noted that the system could develop into a tropical depression at any time, as the system was only lacking a well-defined circulation.

Marginal wind shear disrupted the system's organization, and it passed north of Puerto Rico without further development, with winds dropping below gale-force on August 25. The low pressure area crossed the southern Bahamas with scattered convection, becoming more defined on August 27 while moving near the northern Cuban coast. Wind shear prevented quicker development, although conditions became more favorable closer to the Gulf of Mexico. On August 28, the convection increased and became more organized. Later that day, the Hurricane Hunters observed a well-defined circulation. Based on the observations and the convective organization, the NHC initiated advisories on Tropical Depression Nine at 21:00 UTC on August 28 about halfway between the Florida Keys and the north coast of Cuba. Deep convection increased further as the depression moved more into the Gulf of Mexico, steered by a ridge over southern Florida, although it remained ragged and displaced from the circulation. Dry air to the system's west negated the otherwise favorable warm waters. The depression failed to organize more on August 30 as the low- and mid-level circulations remained misaligned. A large plume of convection developed over the system on August 31 as outflow improved and wind shear decreased. Later that day, reports from the Hurricane Hunters indicated that the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Hermine about 395 mi (640 km) southwest of Apalachicola, Florida.

Late on August 31, Hermine began accelerating to the northeast, influenced by a developing mid-level trough over the southeastern United States.

Current storm information

As of 4:00 p.m. CDT (21:00 UTC) September 1, Hurricane Hermine is located near , about 85 miles (135 km) south of Apalachicola, Florida, or about 120 miles (195 km) west-southwest of Cedar Key, Florida. Maximum sustained winds are 65 knots (75 mph; 120 km/h), with gusts up to 80 knots (90 mph; 150 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 988 mbar (hPa; 29.18 inHg), and the system is moving north-northeast at 12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h). Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Hermine and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km).

For latest official information, see:

• The NHC's latest Public Advisory on Tropical Storm Hermine
• The NHC's latest Forecast Advisory on Tropical Storm Hermine

Preparations and impact

While in its developmental stages, the precursor low dropped Vorlage:Convert of rainfall across the northern Cuba. Candelaria in western Cuba recorded Vorlage:Convert. The rains alleviated drought conditions and helped replenish reservoirs, while also causing landslides. The Zaza Reservoir – the largest in Cuba – increased its total water volume by 495 million ft³ (14 million m³), bringing the levels to 30% capacity. In Batabanó on Cuba's southern coast, the southerly winds and Vorlage:Convert of rainfall caused moderate flooding. Near Havana, the electric company shut off power to prevent accidents, while damage occurred to gas lines.

On August 30, the NHC issued a hurricane watch from Indian Pass to the mouth of the Anclote River, while a tropical storm watch was issued westward to the Walton–Bay county line. On the next day, a tropical storm warning was issued between the Anclote River to the Walton-Bay county line, and a tropical storm watch was added for the Atlantic coast between Marineland, Florida, to the Altamaha Sound in Georgia. At 03:00 UTC on September 1, a hurricane warning was posted in Florida from the Suwannee River to Mexico Beach. Simultaneously, the tropical storm watch from Marineland, Florida, to the Altamaha Sound in Georgia was extended northward to the South Santee River in South Carolina. Six hours later, the tropical storm watch from Marineland to the South Santee River was upgraded to a tropical storm warning, while a new tropical storm watch was issued from the South Santee River to Surf City, North Carolina.

The tropical storm warning on the Atlantic coast, which stretched from Marineland to the South Santee River, was expanded to Surf City at 15:00 UTC, at which time a tropical storm watch was up into effect from Surf City to Oregon Inlet in North Carolina, including Pamlico Sound. On Florida's Gulf Coast, the tropical storm warning was extended southward to Englewood about two hours later, which included the Tampa Bay Area.

See also

• List of Florida hurricanes (2000–present)
• Other tropical cyclones of the same name
• Tropical Storm Barry (2001)
• Tropical Storm Andrea (2013)
• 2016 Atlantic hurricane season

External links

• Tropical Storm Hermine Advisory Archive