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Tropical Storm Kirk
Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
Tropical Storm Kirk at peak intensity east of the Lesser Antilles on September 26
FormedSeptember 22, 2018
DissipatedSeptember 28, 2018
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 65 mph (100 km/h)
Lowest pressure998 mbar (hPa); 29.47 inHg
Fatalities2 total
Damage$444,000 (2018 USD)
Areas affectedLesser Antilles, Puerto Rico
Part of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Kirk was a strong tropical storm that affected the Lesser Antilles in late September of 2018. The eleventh named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, Kirk developed on September 22 from a tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa on September 21. Although only gradual organization was forecast, the wave quickly organized into Tropical Storm Kirk on September 22. Despite being forecast to gradually intensify, Kirk remained a weak tropical storm as it moved swiftly westward, weakening to a tropical depression early on September 24 before degenerating into a trough later that day. The remnant trough moved generally westward and quickly reorganized, and at 09:00 UTC on September 26, the remnants of Kirk reacquired a well-defined circulation and became a tropical storm once again. Kirk began to strengthen as it approached the Lesser Antilles, and at 18:00 UTC the same day it reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). However, the cyclone encountered strong wind shear as it neared the Caribbean Sea, causing it to weaken and become disorganized. The sheared tropical cyclone made landfall on Saint Lucia at 00:30 UTC on September 28. Weakening continued as Kirk entered the Caribbean Sea, and early on September 29 it no longer possessed the westerly winds required to classify a tropical cyclone and was declared an open wave.

Meteorological history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Early on September 21, the NHC began monitoring a tropical wave located more than 700 miles southeast of the Cape Verde Islands for possible tropical cyclone development.[1] Contrary to forecasts of gradual organization, the wave quickly organized as it moved westward at 15 to 20 mph (25 to 30 km/h) across the tropical Atlantic Ocean. At 15:00 UTC on September 22, the NHC initiated advisories on Tropical Storm Kirk after the wave had acquired organized deep convection and the well-defined circulation needed to classify a tropical cyclone.[2] Upon its designation as a tropical storm at 8.3°N, Kirk became the lowest-latitude Atlantic tropical cyclone of tropical storm strength since an unnamed hurricane in 1902.[3] For comparison, the lowest-latitude formation for a tropical cyclone of tropical depression strength in the north Atlantic basin was Hurricane Isidore in 1990, which formed at just 7.2°N.[4] Although Kirk was forecast to intensify as it approached the Windward Islands, it failed to do so and remained a weak tropical storm as dry mid-level air became entrained into the circulation.[5] At 05:00 UTC on September 24, Kirk weakened to a tropical depression as it continued west-northwestward at an unusually fast forward speed of 25 mph (41 km/h).[6] Twelve hours later, despite reacquiring gale-force winds, Kirk degenerated into a sharp trough of low pressure as it continued swiftly westward across the open Atlantic.[7]

The remnants of Kirk continued westward and gradually reorganized. Although they continued to produce winds of gale-force as well as a large area of showers and thunderstorms, they still lacked a closed center of circulation.[8] At 09:00 UTC on September 26, the remnants of Kirk reestablished a closed circulation and organized convection, and advisories were re-initiated on Tropical Storm Kirk.[9] Kirk finally began to intensify as it approached the Lesser Antilles, reaching peak winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) along with a minimum central pressure of 998 mb (29.47 inHg) at 18:00 UTC. However, Kirk began to feel the influence of strengthening vertical wind shear as it neared the Windward Islands, causing it to begin weakening as the center became exposed to the west of the main area of deep convection.[10] At 00:30 UTC on September 28, the center of Kirk made landfall on Saint Lucia, although with minimal consequence as much of the inclement weather was displaced to the east of the center.[11] Although a center of circulation remained apparent in satellite imagery in the early morning of September 29, an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter plane was unable to find westerly winds that would support a closed circulation, and Kirk was declared an open wave at 03:00 UTC.[12]

Preparations and impact

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Upon Kirk's regeneration as a tropical storm, the Government of Barbados and the Government of Saint Lucia issued a tropical storm warning for Barbados and Saint Lucia, respectively. A tropical storm watch was also issued for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.[9] Three hours later, a tropical storm warning was issued for Dominica, while the Government of France issued tropical storm warnings for Guadeloupe and Martinique.[13] All watches and warnings were dropped by 15:00 UTC September 28 as Kirk weakened over the eastern Caribbean Sea, although heavy rains continued over the Lesser Antilles until the storm's dissipation.[14]

Heavy rainfall and strong winds produced by Kirk led to flash flooding and landslides in Saint Lucia, with some reports of downed trees and power outages. Additionally, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake followed by a magnitude 4.2 tremor occurred in tandem with Kirk's arrival, although there were no reports of damages or deaths from the earthquake.[15] The storm also damaged much of the country's banana crop, with between 80 and 90 percent of the industry being affected in some manner.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Stacy R. Stewart (September 21, 2018). "NHC Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook Archive". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  2. ^ Michael J. Brennan (September 22, 2018). "Tropical Storm Kirk Discussion Number 1". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center.
  3. ^ Klotzbach, Philip. "Kirk has formed in the eastern tropical Atlantic at 8.3°N". Twitter. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  4. ^ Bahm, Daulton. "Tropical Storm Bret becomes earliest named storm in Atlantic MDR, Potential Tropical Cyclone Three a threat to Gulf Coast". Cyclonic Fury. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  5. ^ Richard J. Pasch (September 23, 2018). "Tropical Storm Kirk Discussion Number 6". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  6. ^ David Zelinsky (September 24, 2018). "Tropical Storm Kirk Advisory Number 7". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  7. ^ Richard Pasch (September 24, 2018). "Remnants Of Kirk Discussion Number 9". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  8. ^ John P. Cangialosi (September 25, 2018). "NHC Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook Archive". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Stacy R. Stewart (September 26, 2018). "Tropical Storm Kirk Advisory Number 10". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center.
  10. ^ Richard Pasch (September 27, 2018). "Tropical Storm Kirk Discussion Number 15". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  11. ^ Robbie Berg (September 28, 2018). "Tropical Storm Kirk Discussion Number 17". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  12. ^ Robbie Berg (September 29, 2018). "Remnants Of Kirk Discussion Number 20". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  13. ^ Richard Pasch (September 26, 2018). "Tropical Storm Kirk Intermediate Advisory Number 10A". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  14. ^ Jack Beven (September 28, 2018). "Tropical Storm Kirk Advisory Number 19". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  15. ^ Caribbean360 (September 28, 2018). "St Lucia Feels Dual Impact of Earthquakes and Tropical Storm Kirk". Retrieved October 2, 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Banana industry severely impacted by Tropical Storm". St. Lucia Times. October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
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