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| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
 Shary near peak intensity | |
| Formed | October 28, 2010 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | October 30, 2010 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 75 mph (120 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 989 mbar (hPa); 29.21 inHg |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | Minimal |
| Areas affected | Bermuda |
| Part of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Shary was a short-lived Atlantic tropical cyclone that stayed over open waters in late October 2010. The eighteenth named storm and eleventh hurricane of the unusually active 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, Shary originated from a weak area of convection associated with an upper-level and surface trough over the Central Atlantic. Initially not expected to exceed winds of 50 mph (85 km/h), Shary defied predictions and became a minimal hurricane on October 30, as it passed well east of Bermuda. Unfavorable conditions subsequently impacted the storm, and Shary quickly began to lose tropical characteristics. Later that day, Shary degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone, and the final advisory by the National Hurricane Center was issued. The storm brushed Bermuda with light rain, and wind gusts reached no more than 35 mph (55 km/h) as it made its closest point of approach to the territory.
Meteorological history
In late October, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor a weak area of disorganized weather along the southern periphery of a frontal system in association with a broad surface trough east-northeast of Puerto Rico. Supported by an upper-level low retrograding to its southwest, the system generated clusters of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms, otherwise known as convection. This convection gradually enhanced, as environmental conditions within its encounter became more favorable over time. Around 1200 UTC October 28, satellite imagery showed what appeared to be the formation of a surface low within the trough. Shower and thunderstorm activity accordingly intensified, and the NHC assessed a high chance for tropical or subtropical development. At the time, the center of circulation remained poor; however, it became better defined later that day, with a stable amount of corresponding convection. Although the upper low had remained adjacent, it was located well to the southwest of the considerably small associated wind radius — not quite a subtropical structure. The system was therefore operationally designated as Tropical Storm Shary at 0000 UTC October 29, though post-analytic estimates show a tropical depression had formed by 1800 UTC October 28 about 520 mi (830 km) south-southeast of Bermuda. The agency also noted that Shary would be a relatively short-lived tropical cyclone due to a forecast merge with a cold front within the next 48 hours.
Steered toward the northwest between the upper low and a mid-level ridge to its northeast, Shary's storm cloud patterns became less distorted while the storm continued to separate from the upper low. Although the center remained partially exposed, convection steadily deepened within the western semicircle during the next morning. However, as the upper low dropped to the south, northerly shear subsequently increased over the system, shifting the inner-core convective mass south of the center. Following a significant decrease in forward speed, dry air began to wrap into the eastern and northeastern quadrants of the storm, resulting in some convective erosion in those areas. As the upper low retained little to no further influence, the storm re-curved to the north, expected to only restrengthen slightly in response to marginally improving conditions aloft. However, several forecast models showed Shary becoming a hurricane within 36 hours, which at the time the NHC regarded as "highly unlikely given the very strong shear and cool sea surface temperatures forecast at that time." Nevertheless, data from a Hurricane Hunters flight revealed a drop in minimum central pressure and an increase in maximum wind speeds; convection re-fired later that day, quickly expanding over the eastern periphery of the cyclone. During the overnight hours, convective activity further amplified and deepened symmetrically near the center, supported by the development of a small eye feature noted on microwave images. Although Dvorak classifications were far from supporting such intensity, the system was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane on October 30 with winds set at 75 mph (120 km/h) — a case which specialists described as a case of a small hurricane that would not have been observed before the availability of microwave satellite imagery. Upon reaching this intensity, Shary was entrenched in a deep, southwesterly mid-latitude flow, resulting in an accelerated motion toward the northeast.
Located just to the east of a strong cold front, the minimal hurricane continued to speed over progressively cooler waters. Correspondingly, Shary gradually lost its convective symmetry, though the small eye remained distinguishable in additional microwave observation. Within hours, rapid interaction with the front began to occur, suggesting the storm was entering an extratropical transition. Subsequent data from cyclone phase space diagrams indicated Shary had become post-tropical about 530 miles (885 km) south-southeast of Cape Race, and the NHC discontinued advisories. Later that day, the extratropical remnants of Hurricane Shary were completely absorbed by the same neighboring system.
Preparations and impact
Immediately following the first advisory on Tropical Storm Shary on October 28, the Government of Bermuda issued a tropical storm warning for the entire island. In response to the presence of Shary, JetBlue canceled flights from the United States to Bermuda. The Causeway, a low-lying bridge that connects St. David's Island to the mainland, was to be shut down at 7:00 p.m. local time on October 29; several football cancellations were made as a result. Ferry service between Hamilton Parish and St. George's Island was temporarily suspended. Residents were also urged to secure their boats as a safety precaution. The tropical storm warning was later canceled during the evening of October 29 as Shary no longer posed a threat to Bermuda. Since Shary turned away from Bermuda before directly striking the island, its effects were limited. Only 0.54 in (14 mm) of rain fell during the storm's passage and winds gusted to 35 mph (55 km/h).
See also
- 2010 Atlantic hurricane season
- List of tropical cyclone names
- Timeline of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season
References
- ^ Lixion A. Avila (January 3, 2011). "Hurricane SHARY Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- Pasch/Kimberlain (October 27, 2010). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
- Blake/Brown (October 28, 2010). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
- Blake/Brown (October 28, 2010). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- Brown/Berg (October 28, 2010). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Brown/Berg (October 29, 2010). "Tropical Storm Shary Discussion One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Brown/Berg (October 29, 2010). "Tropical Storm Shary Public Advisory One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Blake/Brennan (October 29, 2010). "Tropical Storm Shary Discussion Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Stacy Stewart (October 29, 2010). "Tropical Storm Shary Discussion Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- Roberts/Brown (October 29, 2010). "Tropical Storm Shary Discussion Five". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- Eric Blake (October 30, 2010). "Hurricane Shary Discussion Six". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- John Cangialosi (October 30, 2010). "Hurricane Shary Discussion Seven". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- John Cangialosi (October 30, 2010). "Tropical Storm Shary Discussion Eight". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- Staff Writer (October 29, 2010). "Causeway To Close at 7pm Tonight". Bernews. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- Staff Writer (October 29, 2010). "Flights and ferry service canceled as Tropical Storm Shary heads for Bermuda". Go Jamaica. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- Elizabeth Roberts (October 29, 2010). "Tropical Storm Shary approaches Bermuda". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- Roberts/Brown (October 29, 2010). "Tropical Storm Shary Public Advisory Five". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- "Daily Climatology Written Summary: October 1, 2010 to October 29, 2010". Bermuda Weather Service. October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
External links
- The NHC's Tropical Cyclone Report on Hurricane Shary
- The NHC's Advisory Archive for Hurricane Shary
- The NHC's Graphic Archive for Hurricane Shary
| Tropical cyclones of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | 2Alex TDTwo TSBonnie TSColin TDFive 4Danielle 4Earl TSFiona TSGaston TSHermine 4Igor 4Julia 3Karl 1Lisa TSMatthew TSNicole 1Otto 2Paula 2Richard 1Shary 2Tomas | |
