Preliminary Report
Hurricane Chris
16 - 23 August 1994

1994 PRELIMINARY REPORTS

Tropical Storm Alberto (TS)
Tropical Storm Beryl (TS)
Hurricane Chris (1)
Tropical Storm Debby (TS)
Tropical Storm Ernesto (TS)
Hurricane Florence (2)
Hurricane Gordon (1)

Hurricane Chris was a 75-mph hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. It brushed by bermuda with little consequence.

 

a. Synoptic History

Chris originated from as a tropical wave that moved across the African coast and into the eastern tropical Atlantic on 11 August. Moving westward, the wave acquired significant convection and signs of rotation on the 15th and became a depression on the 16th, midway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles.

The depression strengthened to a tropical storm by the 15th and to a hurricane on the 18th, while moving toward the northwest at 12 to 17 mph. This strengthening occurred even though there was evidence of vertical shearing from an upper-level low located to the northwest. Chris remained a hurricane for almost two days before the strong vertcal wind shear significantly disrupted the circular symmetry of the cloud pattern and caused weakening.

The weakening storm turned northward on the 20th and northeastward on the 21st, moving on a trajectory around the western periphery of a persistent subtropical high pressure ridge anchored over the central north Atlantic Ocean. The center passed about 75 nautical miles east of Bermuda late on the 21st, but maximum winds were on the east side of the center. Sustained winds at Bermuda remained below 17 mph.

Accelerating northeastward, Chris strengthened again to 52 mph while staying ahead of a cold front. By the 24th, the storm merged with an extratropical baroclinic zone southeast of Newfoundland and shortly lost its identity.

b. Meteorological Statistics

The maximum flight level winds mreasured by reconnaissance aircraft was 70 mph at 700 millibars midday on the 20th. This was the first aircraft into Chris and, based on satellite intensity estimates, weakening had already begun. The central sea-level pressure by then was up to 1009 millibars. Dvorak estimates give a minimum pressure of 979 millibars and a maximum 1-minute surface wind speed of 81 mph on the 19th.

c. Casualty and Damage Statistics

There were no casualties or damage from Chris. However, Bermuda received 2.83 inches of rainfall from the passage of Chris.