Hurricane Gordon (2000) - Meteorological History

Meteorological History

A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on September 4 and tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean without strengthening. On September 9 and 10, the tropical wave moved though the Lesser Antilles bringing local heavy rainfall and wind gusts reaching 35 mph (55 km/h). The wave then moved west-northwest and developed a well defined centre on September 12 in the central Caribbean. Satellite photos on September 13 indicated that the convective pattern in the system was disorganised. However, later that day, a broad low pressure area had developed along the wave's axis based on surface observations about 118 mi (190 km) southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. Early on September 14, it was estimated from satellite imagery that the low pressure system was near tropical depression strength, even though the convection was still disorganised.

The system was upgraded to tropical depression status in the morning of September 14, based on a report from a reconnaissance aircraft. The developing system moved slowly northwestward across the northern Yucatán Peninsula. Later that day, the depression's centre moved inland over the Yucatán Peninsula. The depression moved slowly to the northwest across the northern part of the peninsula without emerging over water, therefore, the depression did not gain intensity. At this time, the predicted track for the system was highly uncertain due to different computer models forecasting different tracks. The official forecast predicted a northwestward movement into the western Gulf of Mexico, but some models predicted the low to move towards northwestern Florida, while another model predicted the low to move southwards into the Bay of Campeche. Late on September 15 the tropical depression moved off the north coast of the Yucatán and into the Gulf of Mexico, where it showed signs of better organisation. The future track was still very uncertain, but a few models forecast for the depression to move northeastwards towards Florida, so the official forecast track was shifted slightly to the right, resulting with a more northerly track. Early on September 16, data from Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated that the storm had strengthened to about 60 mph (95 km/h) at the surface, and the sea-level pressure had fallen to 1,003 mbar (29.6 inHg), therefore, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Gordon. At this time, the storm was moving northeastward towards the Big Bend in Florida, continuing to slowly intensify. The official forecast track was again shifted, forecasting Gordon to track to the northeast. Early on September 17, a ship reported 75 mph (120 km/h) winds, indicating that Gordon had attained hurricane strength. Gordon reached a peak intensity of 80 mph (130 km/h), six hours later while located about 190 mi (310 km) southwest of Tampa, Florida.

Later that day, Gordon began to weaken due to entrainment from the south and increasing vertical wind shear. Gordon was downgraded to a tropical storm as it neared the Florida coast. The storm made landfall just northwest of Cedar Key, Florida early on September 18 as a tropical storm with 60 mph (95 mph) winds. After moving inland, interaction with the land and cool, dry air further weakened the storm. Gordon weakened to a tropical depression nine hours after landfall, and six hours later, Gordon had merged with a frontal system over southeastern Georgia and had undergone extratropical transition, as it moved to the northeast. On September 21, the system merged with a large extratropical system over eastern Canada.