Hurricane Cindy (1999)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Cindy
Type=hurricane
Year=1999
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Cindy (1999) GOES.jpg


Formed=August 19
Dissipated=August 31
1-min winds=120
Pressure=942
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=
Areas=None
Hurricane season=1999 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Cindy was the third named storm, second hurricane and second major hurricane of the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed on August 19 from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa. It was upgraded to a tropical storm on August 20, a hurricane on August 21, and it reached its peak intensity on August 28. The system moved into the North Atlantic before merging with a large extratropical storm north of the Azores on August 31. Cindy had no major effects on land, or at sea.

Meteorological history

On August 18, a tropical wave emerged from the west coast of Africa, and tracked west across the Atlantic.cite web|author=Guiney|title=Hurricane Cindy Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999cindy.html] The wave was accompanied by a large pressure drop of 4.5 mb in 24 hours. Deep convection gradually increased as the wave organized, and on August 19, Tropical Depression Four formed in the eastern Atlantic.cite web|author=Guiney|title=Tropical Depression Four public advisory #1|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/pub/PAL0499.002.html] High wind shear prevented the depression from intensifying further over the next day as the depression was on a westward track.cite web|author=Guiney|title=Hurricane Cindy Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999cindy.html] However, while the system was not intensifying further, it did not seem to be affected by the wind shear.cite web|author=Guiney|title=Tropical Depression Four Discussion #2|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.002.html] Later in the day, the depression was nearing tropical storm strength,cite web|author=Beven|title=Tropical Depression Four Discussion #3|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.003.html] as the center of circulation became ill-defined, and difficult to locate due to high wind shear.cite web|author=Jarvinen|title=Tropical Depression Four Discussion #6|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.006.html] The minimum pressure dropped slightly to 1002 mb as the system passed south of the Cape Verde Islands.cite web|author=Jarvinen|title=Tropical Depression Four Public Advisory #6|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/pub/PAL0499.006.html] As the depression moved away from the Cape Verde Islands, the center of circulation soon became exposed on the northeastern section.Cite web|author=Beven|title=Tropical Depression Four Public Advisory #7|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.007.html] Although still sheared, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Cindy on August 20 as the convection became concentrated around the center.cite web|author=Beven|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Discussion #8|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.008.html] The convection around Cindy became further organized, although the persistent wind shear prevented intensification.cite web|author=Avila|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Discussion #9|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-28|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.009.html] Because of a strong ridge to the north of Cindy, the movement was generally westward, though by August 21, the rigde began to weaken, which allowed Cindy to turn slightly to the north-northwest.Cite web|author=Pasch|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Discussion #10|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.010.html] Satellite images soon indicated banding of the convection, although ragged central-dense overcast persisted within the center of circulation.cite web|author=Mayfield|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Discussion #11|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.011.html] Upper-level outflow improved slightlycite web|author=Mayfield|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Discussion #12|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.012.html] , as the maximum sustained wind increased to 70 mph (110 km/h) and the minimum central pressure dropped to 990 mb.Cite web|author=Mayfield|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Public Advisory #12|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/pub/PAL0499.012.html] Late on August 21, Cindy was upgraded to a hurricane, with minimum central pressure of 987.cite web|author=Jarvinen|title=Hurricane Cindy Public Advisory #13|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/pub/PAL0499.013.html]

Soon after, wind shear increased causing the center to be partially sheared away from the convection.cite web|author=Jarvinen|title=Hurricane Cindy Discussion #14|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.014.html] After six hours, the center of Cindy was located well to the east of the concentrated convection, although winds remained at 75 mph (120 km/h).cite web|author=Avila|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Discussion #16|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.016.html] Nearly two days later, high wind shear still persisted, and Cindy was gradually weakening, although, a burst of convection appeared late on August 22 but it was short-lived as the convection was soon sheared away from the center.cite web|author=Franklin|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Discussion #17|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.017.html] By late on August 24 and early on August 25, the wind shear slackenedcite web|author=Guiney|title=Hurricane Cindy Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999cindy.html] as a low-level vortex became more evident, and convection began to reform under more favorable conditions.cite web|author=Franklin|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Discussion #24|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane CenteR|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.024.html] Another sign that Cindy was re-organizing was the convection persisting around the center of circulation rather than to the west of the center as it was in the earlier stages of Cindy's existence.cite web|author=Mayfield|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Discussion #25|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.025.html] By late in the day on August 25, Cindy had regained hurricane status.cite web|author=Guiney|title=Hurricane Cindy Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999cindy.html]

Cindy continued to intensifycite web|author=Guiney|title=Hurricane Cindy Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999cindy.html] , and on August 27, a ragged eye appeared on satellite images as Cindy reached category 2 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.cite web|author=Franklin|title=Hurricane Cindy Discussion #35|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane CenteR|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.035.html] Within twelve hours, hurricane Cindy reached category 3 intensity making it a major hurricane.cite web|author=Jarvinen|title=Hurricane Cindy discussion #37|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/dis/NAL0499.037.html] Cindy turned north-northwest as it continued to intensify, now showing a well-defined eye.cite web|author=Guiney|title=Hurricane Cindy Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999cindy.html] On August 28, Cindy reached category 4 intensity with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and minimum pressure of 944 mb.cite web|author=Franklin|title=Hurricane Cindy Discussion #40|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/pub/PAL0499.040.html] It then reached it's peak intensity of 942 mb as the storm was tracking northward over the open waters of the North Atlantic.cite web|author=Guiney|title=Hurricane Cindy Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999cindy.html] The storm remained at peak intensity until August 29 and August 30 when wind shear became prominent again, and Cindy began to weaken.cite web|author=Guiney|title=Hurricane Cindy Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999cindy.html] On August 31, Cindy was downgraded to a tropical storm as winds fell below hurricane criteria.cite web|author=Jarvinen|title=Tropical Storm Cindy Public Adivosory #50|year=1999|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/1999/pub/PAL0499.050.html] Later that day, Cindy merged with a large extratropical storm northwest of the Azores, and it lost all of its tropical characteristics.cite web|author=Guiney|title=Hurricane Cindy Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999cindy.html]

Impact and naming

Cindy had no major effects on land and caused no known damage to ships in the Atlantic.cite web|author=Guiney|title=Hurricane Cindy Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-01-29|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999cindy.html] Because of the lack of effects, the name "Cindy" was not retired, and was used again in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricane Cindy was also one of five category 4 hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season, only later tied by the 2005 season.cite web|author=Hurricane Research Division|year=2007|title=Atlantic Hurricane Best Track File 1851-2006|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=2007-11-04|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easyhurdat_5106.html]

ee also

*Hurricane Cindy (2005)
*Tropical cyclone

References