Meteorological Analysis
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Earl originated from a tropical wave which moved off the African coast on
August 17th. The tropical wave moved west across the Atlantic under the
subtropical ridge and showed little organization. The wave had some rotation
evident as it crossed the Caribbean but, was inhibited by the large outflow
pocket of hurricane Bonnie. The tropical wave then moved into the Gulf of
Mexico and became a tropical depression by the 31st over the northern Bay of
Campeche. The depression intensified into tropical storm Earl on the 31st under
favorable environmental conditions, about 500 nm SSW of New Orleans. The ill
defined center of Earl began to move NE around this time due to a weakness
in the subtropical ridge. Earl then began to get its act together and became a
hurricane on September 2nd, about 125 nm SSW of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Earl was a very asymmetric storm, with most of the strong winds on the eastern
side of the storm. This was due to shear from a trough approaching Earl. Earl
then reached its maximum strength of 100 mph on the 2nd but, shear began to
take its toll on Earl and Earl weakened to 80 mph by landfall on the 3rd, in
Panama City, Florida. Earl quickly weakened as it moved over land and became
extratropical as it raced over Georgia. Extratropical Earl then emerged into the
Atlantic off of the mid Atlantic coast on the 4th, and reached Newfoundland by
the 6th. Extratropical Danielle then absorbed extratropical Earl on the 8th.
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Casualty and Damage Overview
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3 deaths are attributed to Earl, with 2 in South Carolina and 1 in Florida. Earl
caused some significant surge damage in the very vulnerable big bend of
Florida, and also reaped some minor wind and fresh water flooding damage.
Total U.S. damage is estimated to be $79 million.
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Earl Hurricane Research Division Products
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Imagery
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Tracking Data
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Hurricane Earl
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
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12 GMT 08/31/98 21.6N 93.5W 35 1005 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 08/31/98 22.4N 93.8W 40 1002 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/01/98 23.2N 93.7W 40 1002 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/01/98 24.1N 93.4W 45 1001 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/01/98 25.0N 93.1W 50 999 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/01/98 25.8N 92.5W 60 998 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/02/98 26.8N 91.5W 60 998 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/02/98 27.6N 90.4W 60 996 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/02/98 28.2N 89.0W 80 994 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/02/98 28.7N 87.9W 100 988 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/03/98 29.4N 86.8W 90 985 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/03/98 30.1N 85.7W 80 987 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/03/98 31.3N 84.0W 50 990 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/03/98 32.4N 82.4W 45 994 Extratropical Storm
0 GMT 09/04/98 33.2N 80.5W 45 994 Extratropical Storm
6 GMT 09/04/98 34.5N 79.0W 60 995 Extratropical Storm
12 GMT 09/04/98 35.9N 77.2W 60 998 Extratropical Storm
18 GMT 09/04/98 36.5N 75.0W 60 1000 Extratropical Storm
0 GMT 09/05/98 38.0N 71.0W 60 1000 Extratropical Storm
6 GMT 09/05/98 40.0N 65.5W 60 998 Extratropical Storm
12 GMT 09/05/98 42.5N 61.0W 60 990 Extratropical Storm
18 GMT 09/05/98 45.0N 56.0W 60 986 Extratropical Storm
0 GMT 09/06/98 47.0N 54.0W 60 979 Extratropical Storm
6 GMT 09/06/98 48.0N 53.0W 60 968 Extratropical Storm
12 GMT 09/06/98 49.0N 52.0W 65 964 Extratropical Storm
18 GMT 09/06/98 49.5N 50.0W 65 966 Extratropical Storm
0 GMT 09/07/98 50.0N 48.0W 65 968 Extratropical Storm
6 GMT 09/07/98 50.5N 45.0W 60 970 Extratropical Storm
12 GMT 09/07/98 51.0N 41.0W 50 978 Extratropical Storm
18 GMT 09/07/98 51.0N 37.0W 50 978 Extratropical Storm
0 GMT 09/08/98 51.0N 32.0W 45 982 Extratropical Storm
6 GMT 09/08/98 51.5N 28.5W 45 982 Extratropical Storm
12 GMT 09/08/98 52.0N 25.0W 40 983 Extratropical Storm
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Tracking maps courtesy of NHC
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Selected Satellite Image
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