Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 02:56, 8 October 2011

Tropical Storm Erick

Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
Tropical Storm Erick on August 1
Formed	July 31, 2007
Dissipated	August 2, 2007
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 40 mph (65 km/h)
Lowest pressure	1004 mbar (hPa); 29.65 inHg
Fatalities	None reported
Damage	None
Areas affected	No land areas
Part of the 2007 Pacific hurricane season

Tropical Storm Erick was the eighth tropical cyclone of the 2007 Pacific hurricane season, and the fifth to attain tropical storm status. Erick originated from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa, traveled westward across the Atlantic, and emerged into the Eastern Pacific Ocean without any further development. The wave spawned a small low-pressure system on July 28, which matured into a tropical depression later that day despite strong wind shear in the region. The depression intensified into a tropical storm, and received the name "Erick" while continuing its westward track. However, the shear prevented the storm from intensifying further, and broke up the storm's structure within a few days. The cyclone weakened to a tropical depression and degenerated into a remnant low shortly after. Because the storm remained far out at sea, no damage was reported in association with Erick.

Meteorological history

In the middle of July 2007, a tropical wave emerged from the coast of Africa and traveled westward across the Atlantic Ocean. On July 22, the wave passed through the Lesser Antilles with some strong, yet disorganized thunderstorm activity. The wave crossed Central America three days later and entered the Eastern Pacific Ocean, where it later spawned a small low pressure area. Wind shear prevented tropical cyclone development for a few days, leaving the area of atmospheric convection, or thunderstorms, separated from the low. The convection began to form closer to the center of the storm, and the system had become sufficiently organized to be designated as Tropical Depression Eight-E by Miami's National Hurricane Center on July 31. At the time the depression was located 1,060 miles (1,700 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.

The convection remained concentrated on the western edge of the storm because of the shear and the presence of dry air. Dvorak intensity estimates showed that the storm's winds had accelerated, so the depression was upgraded to a tropical storm, and given the name "Erick" twelve hours later, at 0000 UTC on August 1; it became the fifth named storm of the 2007 Pacific hurricane season. At the time of its upgrade, Erick attained its peak winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1004 mbar (hPa; 29.66 inHg). The wind shear did not relent, and the cyclone maintained a disorganized structure with a lack of banding features. Although the exact position of the center of circulation was difficult for forecasters to establish, it was estimated that the storm was tracking westward at around 10 mph (17 km/h) under the steering currents of a mid-level ridge located to the north of the system. Later on August 1, the strong shear separated the center from the waning area of thunderstorm activity, indicating that the storm was deteriorating. Erick weakened back to a tropical depression on August 2, only 24 hours after it had become a tropical storm.

The low-level center then became elongated and ill-defined; the depression continued to weaken quickly, and it had degenerated back into a tropical wave on August 2, thousands of miles from land. A weak low pressure system formed along the wave, although it did not reorganize into a tropical cyclone as it entered the North Central Pacific. On August 5, the low-level remnants of Tropical Storm Erick passed south of Hawaii, although they caused no effects on the islands. The low dissipated fully on August 8. According to the storm's Tropical Cyclone Report, the National Hurricane Center considered that it had poorly forecast Erick's evolution. In particular, the storm formed without significant warning, and dissipated similarly.

Impact and statistics

Because Erick remained, according to NHC forecaster Richard Pasch, "very far away from everywhere", no effects, property damage or fatalities were reported; no ships recorded tropical storm-force winds, and no tropical cyclone warnings and watches were issued. Throughout its course, Erick posed a threat only to shipping lanes.

See also

• List of Pacific hurricanes
• Other East Pacific tropical storms
• Other storms of the same name
• Timeline of the 2007 Pacific hurricane season

References

1. AMS DS Ocean Central Staff and Edward J. Hopkins (2007). "Weekly Ocean News". American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
2. ^ Eric S. Blake (August 23, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
3. Avila (July 31, 2007). "Tropical Depression Eight-E Discussion Number 1". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
4. Avila (August 1, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick discussion #2". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
5. Associated Press (August 1, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick Forms In Pacific". CBS News. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
6. Jonathan Tirone (August 1, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick Forms in Pacific, West of Central America". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
7. Pasch (August 1, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick Discussion Number 3". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
8. Rhome (August 1, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick Discussion Number 5". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
9. Staff Writer (August 2, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick weakens far off Mexico's Pacific coast". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
10. Associated Press (August 2, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick weakens far off Mexico's Pacific coast". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
11. Brown (August 2, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick Discussion Number 5". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
12. Associated Press (August 2, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick weakens far off Mexico's Pacific coast". Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
13. Honolulu National Weather Service (2007). "August 2007 Precipitation Summary". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
14. Associated Press (July 31, 2007). "Tropical Storm Erick forms in open Pacific, but is not expected to become a threat". International Herald Tribune.
15. "Tropical Storm Erick Churns the Eastern Pacific". Earthweek. June 29, 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-15.

External links

• Tormenta tropical "Erick"
• Tropical Storm Erick Tropical Cyclone Report
• Tropical Storm Erick Advisory Archive
• QuikSCAT satellite image

v t e Tropical cyclones of the 2007 Pacific hurricane season
Timeline
	TSAlvin TSBarbara TDThree-E TDFour-E TDFive-E 1Cosme TSDalila TSErick 4Flossie TSGil 1Henriette 1Ivo TDThirteen-E TSJuliette TSKiko
Category

• 2007 Pacific hurricane season
• Eastern Pacific tropical storms