Hurricanes are often very destructive and pose a threat to the cities they pass through. In Spain, we enjoy a climate and location where hurricanes do not affect. However, in September 2021, Hurricane Larry in Spain affected by different meteorological phenomena.
In this article, we'll tell you about the characteristics of Hurricane Larry in Spain and its consequences.
Characteristics and origin
Hurricane Larry, a powerful and prolonged Cape Verde-type hurricane, became the first hurricane to make landfall in Newfoundland, Canada, since Hurricane Igor in 2010. Named the twelfth storm, fifth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, Larry originated as a wave tropical off the coast of Africa and became Tropical No. 12 on August 31 low pressure.
The following day, the tropical depression underwent a period of rapid intensification, intensifying into a tropical storm and earning the name Larry. On the morning of September 2, Larry strengthened into a hurricane. Larry became a major Category 3 hurricane in the early hours of September 4 and it stayed strong for just over four days before starting to weaken. In the early hours of September 11, Larry made landfall in Newfoundland as a Category 1 hurricane. Later that day, Larry became an extratropical cyclone. Finally, on September 13, Larry was absorbed by a larger extratropical cyclone near Greenland.
Larry passed just east of Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane with minimal damage. In Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, Larry killed one person due to strong waves and rapids. Storm surges from Larry's powerful and expanding wind field have killed three people on the East Coast of the United States. in Newfoundland, Larry caused more than 60.000 power outages and damage to buildings. On September 12, powerful extratropical remnant Larry ran parallel to the east coast of Greenland, bringing more than 4 feet (1,2 m) of snow and hurricane-force wind gusts across much of inland eastern Greenland. Overall, Larry killed five people and caused about $25 million in damage.
Hurricane Larry in Spain
Hurricane Larry became a major threat beginning in the early fall and especially the following week. The studies predicted a significant drop in temperatures and the appearance of storms, especially in the Iberian Peninsula. The Saffir-Simpson scale classified the hurricane as a category 3, Estimated tropical storm strength, with winds up to 285 kilometers per hour. One of its effects is the temperature changes it caused in Spain and Europe.
The beginning of September marked the beginning of the so-called meteorological autumn, marked by a strong DANA that caused significant damage across almost the entire peninsula. Although the hurricane did not directly affect Spain, meteorologists were certain that its impact would cause the polar jet stream to shift significantly, causing the air mass to move away from its original latitude. For more information on how hurricanes affect Spain, you can consult the article on Why there are no hurricanes in Spain.
At that time there was a high degree of uncertainty since the subtropical air mass was expected to cause a sudden rise in temperature. This was followed by another DANA, which brought some rainfall to the northern part of the country early in the week following the start of autumn. It's also important to mention that climate change is a factor that can influence the formation of these dangerous systems.
Estimates suggested it could lead to a drop in winter temperatures, as exposure to highly erratic subtropical ocean currents could trigger new storms, especially on the peninsula. To learn more about the impact of these types of storms on the climate, you can read about Argos and climate change.
Forecast of Hurricane Larry in Spain
When it comes to making a medium-term forecast for a hurricane, there are numerous doubts. In the case of Hurricane Larry in Spain, as the mid-latitude circulation was already up and down, changes were expected over the next few days as temperatures gradually increased.
There was concern about the arrival of a new DANA, which left some cloudiness and heavy rains in the northern part of the peninsula. It all depended on the location of the hurricane. If Hurricane Larry made landfall on mainland Europe, temperatures would drop sharply and a cold front would reach northwestern Spain, creating typical fall weather.
On the contrary, if it is added to the polar jet stream over the Atlantic, the temperature drop would be smoother and its appearance would be later. In any case, direct exposure to highly unstable subtropical oceanic air currents can trigger new storms on the peninsula.
The hurricane joined the polar jet and became extratropical. Additionally, it became a severe storm in the central North Atlantic. In that sense, it did not directly affect Spain, but the collateral effects caused by changing the polar jets were important.
Affections to other countries
In Newfoundland, St. John's International Airport reported sustained winds of 96 km/h and gusts of 145 km/h after 05:30 UTC, while Cape St. Mary's reported that the gust was 182 km/h before transmission stopped. Waves reached a height of 3,6 m in Argentina, with tide gauges showing a maximum of about 150 centimeters above normal. The storm surge coincided with a high tide that exacerbated coastal flooding. In a short period of time, southeastern Newfoundland received between 25mm and 35mm of precipitation.
After Larry's passing, 60.000 people in the eastern part of the province were left without electricity. Trees were uprooted and branches scattered on the ground. A primary school was damaged and a performance tent for the Iceberg Alley Concert Festival near Lake Quedivedi was heavily damaged. The mayor confirmed that the hurricane had caused significant damage. The degree of devastation in the city.
